Bird Key Yacht Club holds annual potato car races

By Dana Kampa
| 3:30 p.m. July 7, 2025

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Having a background in aviation doesn't hurt when it comes to crafting a lightweight, streamlined racing vessel in one of the most highly anticipated games for the Fourth of July. David Hillmyer put that knowledge to good use to pull off his first win at Bird Key Yacht Club's holiday potato races on Friday.

Hillmyer is no stranger to receiving awards at the yacht club. He has taken first place in the spinnaker division of the Sarasota Bay Cup, but he said he may be even slightly more proud of this commendation.

"We've seen the debate over the years between the heavier cars and the lighter cars," he said. "On a longer track, with more momentum to build, you want a heavier car. But on this track, the lightweight design paid off. Next year, I might even shave more off."

The potato races are a fixture of the Fourth of July festivities at Bird Key, which were largely planned to take place indoors.

Circuit Judge Jay Plager, Judge Lynne Pettigrew, Irene Britt and Commodore Tony Britt spend the Fourth of July together at Bird Key Yacht Club.

This bracket-based competition pitted individuals and small groups in one-on-one races that frequently came down to a photo finish. Contestants got creative in their bids to make a vehicle with precisely aligned wheels and carefully calibrated tonnage — even if that meant biting off a bit of carrot at the last second before sending the tuber careening down the track.

New Commodore Tony Britt and his wife, Irene, closely monitored the results, even going frame by frame in the closest contests.

Lynne Pettigrew and Longboat Commissioner Gary Coffin play cornhole before preparing for the potato race at Bird Key Yacht Club on July 4.

There were a few rules for the race. Contestants could only use the given potato, carrot, wheels, and toothpicks to craft their race cars. Though they could include as little or as much as they wanted, both tubers had to be included, and potato had to be the first material to cross the finish line.

A collective team of yacht club staff members made a solid bid for the title, coming in second place this year.

Emma Bailey Gaddy and Vivienne Hansen carefully line up their potato race car at Bird Key Yacht Club's Fourth of July festivities.

Harold Flynn and David Hillmyer face off in their bracket at Bird Key Yacht Club's Fourth of July potato car races. Hillmyer took the top title this year.

Brian Moore, who won the potato races two years ago, gives his race car a final exam before sending it down the track.

Contestants of all ages vied to add their name to the coveted potato races trophy, which holds a place of honor at Bird Key Yacht Club.

Irene and Commodore Tony Britt examine the finish-line footage frame by frame to determine the winner of this year's potato races at Bird Key Yacht Club.

Bird Key Yacht Club Commodore Tony Britt and former Commodore Michael Landis celebrate the Fourth of July at the club.

Parker Gaddy, Marabella Hensen and McLean Gaddy prep their potato race car for the Fourth of July race at Bird Key Yacht Club.

From left, Mat, Lauren and Jack Helme; Gary Coffin; Brooks, Ashley and Travis Rogers.

Ronald Messer and Renee Harkavy dress to impress for the Fourth of July at Bird Key Yacht Club.

Former Bird Key Yacht Club Commodore Michael Landis smiles next to the potato races track.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.