Boat race takes creative spirit

The Fourth of July celebrations in Clovis will include the second annual Dairy Boat Race at Greene Acres Lake.

Participants were given a simple row boat and allowed to modify it within the rules, according to event organizer Steve Reshetar of the Matt 25 Hope Center, an office center for non profit organizations. He also said the rules had to be modified this year due to the creativity of last year’s participants.

“Last year the rules stated no combustion engines and no electric engines, but a couple of them last year used nitrous oxide to drive a couple of the engines,” Reshetar said, laughing. “So this year we had to say it has to be totally human powered.”

During the race, teams must carry the boat 50 yards from the starting line to the water, and three men must be in the boat as it crosses Greene Acres Lake, according to Reshetar. After reaching the other side, one man must run to the finish line.

Two teams said their strategies for winning this year were a little different than last year.

“We may tie a rope at the other end and pull the boat across,” Ramiro Garcia of the Dodge Valley Farms Team joked. The team used a nitrous oxide engine last year.

“Our plan is to go as hard as we can.” Bobby De Leon of the Desert Star Dairy said. “Our boss did it (the race) with his two little kids last year, but I guess this year he wanted to get some stronger people in there.”

Preliminary races will begin at 2 p.m. with the finals at 6 p.m Friday.