Not just cardboard and duct tape
By ABBY SCALF - editorial@nwherald.com
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| Todd Collins (left) and Doug Eaton race in their Mystery Machine boat Saturday as boaters pelt them with water balloons in the 25th annual America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta at the Crystal Lake Main Beach. Proceeds from the event benefit local charities. (Amanda Schwengel – aschwengel@nwnewsgroup.com) |
CRYSTAL LAKE – Between 40 and 50 boaters raced Saturday along Crystal Lake’s Main Beach to join the 25th annual America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta as spectators cheered all ages who designed boats using cardboard, duct tape and creativity.
Todd and Lynette Collins came for their fourth year from DeKalb to design three boats.
Taking five weeks to build was a Mystery Machine from the Scooby Doo cartoon, proving that vans can float.
“This is the one fun thing we do every year,” Lynette Collins said. “We put more into it than cardboard and duct tape.”
The youngest racers hit the water in the kiddie cup. Winning second place were brothers 10-year-old Andrew and 7-year-old Brian Stripp of Crystal Lake. Andrew said they named the boat The Sulu after their hamster of the same name.
“Our hamster motivated us to win,” Brian added.
Some racers used oars or water wheels to move. Members of Lost Cause used snow shovels to cross the finish line first. Team member Josh Brownell of the eight-member crew said he was surprised, as they expected that their boat would sink halfway through.
“It doesn’t hurt we had twice as many people as the other boat,” Brownell said.
Races were filled with dramatic moments when team Down, who designed the house with balloons from the movie “Up,” took an early dive. There also were close races, such as when Shark Steaks defeated POS #4 by a nose.
“It was adrenaline that got us to the end,” teammate Joe Fike of Crystal Lake said.
First-, second- and third-place prizes were awarded to top racers in four classes as well as other categories.
Earning the title of most enthusiastic crew and third place people’s choice was the team called Kiss.
Rich Ladderbough and Ron Rogers, wearing Kiss face makeup, earned cheers when they decided halfway through the course to stand on their boat shaped like an guitar and entertain the crowd. Ladderbough said they chose their theme after learning that Kiss was performing the same day at Summerfest and thought it would be a fan favorite.
Bringing Rogers from Dallas, Texas, for four years to come up for the race, Ladderbough of Crystal Lake said, “In 50 weeks, we’ll plan for next year.”
Created by members of the Crystal Lake Yacht Club, all proceeds from America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta benefit a variety of local charities.
Winners
SFlbOar-powered
First: The Metal
Second: Baxter Woodman
Pedal- or mechanical-powered
First and second: Torqpedo
Third: Miss Behave
Kiddie Cup
First: Gatorade
Second: The Sulu
Third: Eat My Wake
Kwiki Cup
First: The Destroyer
Second: The PL
Third: Golden Eagle
Stars and Stripes
First: Miss Behave
Second: America’s Freedom
Third: Hope (by the Hair Cuttery)
Most Enthusiastic Crew
First: Kiss
Second: Eileen (by Other World Computing)
Third: Buffalo Wild Wings
Ugliest Boat
First: Lost Cause
Second: POS #4
Third: Obnoxious Orange
People’s Choice
First: Go Cubs Go
Second: Mystery Machine
Third: Kiss
Most Creative Theme
First: Mystery Machine
Second: Down
Third: All Fired Up 4 Unity
Most Spectacular Sinking
First: Down
Second: Da Frogs
Third: Asparagus
