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Second Annual DeTour (Cardboard) Freighter Race 2006
The new Mackinaw sprinting back to 9 mile point for the turn, the captain was eventually disqualified for an improper docking maneuver (heh,heh) All pictures on this page credited to Ann Belden.
We had 9 very nice entries ranging from 5 to 20 feet long, in the Second Annual Freighter Race. The race course consisted of a replica of the St. Mary's River, from "9Mile Pt" to the DeTour Reef Lighthouse. Contestants raced their entries around the light, navigating (Coca-Cola and 7-Up) "Bouys" and barrels, then through the exciting and cardboard removing "Rock Cut", to end up docked at a pier at the south end. Entrants had to pass a mock Vessel Safety Inspection performed by US Coast Guard Aux members, start times were handicapped based on this inspection. (amazingly both USCG themed entries passed with no handicap delay, hmmm) Entries included the Mesabi Minor, Paul Tragurtha, Edgar Speer, both the new and old Mackinaw Ice Breakers, the Paul Martin, the Ryerson, Herbert Jackson, and the "Fat, Fast, and Furious" Viking Race Boat team. Several hundred people suffered from severe belly-laughs that afternoon, and no competitors were injured this year! The Ryerson "won" the race. The prize raffle (prizes donated by local businesses) raised almost $500 for a Coin-op Binocular set at the Museum.
The "Boats" were made out of various wheels/axels including old mower decks, lawn chairs, wheel dollies, skate boards and wagons, a small amount of random wood for structure, plus a generous supply of cardboard, paint and imagination.
Official Rules for 2006: (these rules will vary for 2007, guaranteed) 1. Construction: Primarily Cardboard and wood. Boats are human powered, no motors. Turning capability recommended. 2. Cost for construction materials is limited to be less than the actual prize money. 3. Entry cannot be “Actual Size”, we cannot support an “Actual Sized” entry in this race, we only have one block setup for the race. 4. If there is anything left of your entry after the race, save it to be a parade float.
The new Mackinaw gets the lead at the cut, against the old Mackinaw.
The Mesabi (not so) Minor, with smokestacks blazing gets wedged in the Rock Cut..
The old Mackinaw ice breaker team, dashes for the dock.
The 20' version of Herbert C. Jackson rounds the light. (as you can clearly see... ropes around the front wheel made this hard to pull that is why I lost... gd.)
Team "Fat, Fast, & Furious" provided enough intensity to scare most of the other boat captains... hey just like real vikings.
The very nicely painted Ryerson, "won" the race.
Paul Tragurtha rounds the DeTour Light, with the Paul Martin nosing in on the inside line. (More exciting than NASCAR) |
Come On U.P. Get away from the downstate hassles, follow the signs to DeTour.
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