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ANXIOUS AT the
start,
rock race competitors follow the course of their pet rocks down the shoot.
P et rock race
Blair survives ransom scare to repeat as champ
CHAMP MIKE Blair displays pet rock “ Roller
Coaster” during trophy presentation.
Mike Blair of Estacada and pet rock “ Roller Coaster”
successfully defended their title as world champions in
Sandy Mountain Days’ pet rock race last week.
But they had to survive a ransom scare earlier in the
season when Blair’s black nugget was “ rock-napped” and
held ransom overnight for 69 cents.
“The money was placed under a downtown Estacada
mailbox,” Blair said. “ I suspect an inside job.”
The two-time world’s champion faced serious com
petition this year in a run-off race of divisional winners.
Clark Hall of C & L Remodeling placed second to Blair
with “Flash.” with Norma Miller’s “ Baby Duck” third,
Paul Helton’s “White Lightning” fourth, and Sandy Fire
Department’s “Fire Bug” fifth.
Mark Grable won the Chamber Pot division with
“George,” while Dan MacDonald won the Media Medley
with “ Missy.”
The International Challenge Cup was won by a
mysterious character dressed as Big Bird and racing a
pet rock named “ Egg Head.”
The third annual championship was visited even by
Santa Claus, who surprised race fans with an early
Christmas greeting and compliments to the people of
Sandy on “their fine festival and festivities.”
The average spectator at the Pet Rock Race in town last
week may have a few questions about one of the more
unusual entries.
For instance, what in blazes is a Rondy Katmai Cat?
Where did it (he? she?) come from? And why was it at the
Sandy Mountain Days?
Well, “Rondy” is a she, hails from Katmai National
Park in Alaska, was at the festival as the official entry of
the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous in the Mountain Festival
Pet Rock Race. And if you’re wondering how to determine
the gender of a rock, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
The rock’s owner and trainer, Harriett Whittington,
seems to have little doubt as to the sex of her pet, but
admits being surprised that she came all the way toSandy
to display it.
“ I promised that I’d send them a rock," Mrs. Whit
tington said of the festival organizers. “ I never dreamed
that I’d actually come down here myself.”
Mrs. Whittington met with promoters of the Sandy
festival at the Northwest Festival Convention in Canada
this year. She attended the festiva, representing the
Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, a large annual fete held in
February. After swapping a few tricks of the festiva,
trade, she learned of some of the unusual happenings that
take place at a typical Sandy Mountain Festival.
“ I’ve never heard of a rock race, much less a pet rock
race," she said, “and the idea was very intriguing.”
When Sandy City Manager Paul Helton wrote to Mrs.
Whittington saying that everything was arranged for her
to come down including T V. coverage and a police escort,
she had little choice but to pack her bags.
Sure enough, when she disembarked from the plane at
the Portland Airport, there was a Channel 8 news camera
and a police escort waiting for Rondy and her owner.
The prized rock made it unharmed to the festival, and
was even on hand as a spectator at the Pet Rock Race
though she didn’t compete. She was just here to watch
After all, it wouldn’t be ladylike for her to plummet down
a board with eight other rocks, now would it?
“ Rondy must be treated with respect and in every way
as a lady," Mrs. Whittington said. “She is not and never
has been an easy pick up ”
PLENTY OF trophies for the world’s fastest pet rocks.
TIGHT RACES in previous years prompted pet rock
race judges thia year to install an electronic panel with
lights that light up when each rock passes the finish
line.
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AT THE finish line, rock race judge' crane their neck' to determine
who cro"ed the line first.
AN ALASKAN entry from the Anchorage Fur Ren
dezvous competed with local pet rocks this year, hut
found its fur coat an obstacle at the starting shoot.
Rendezvous officials have insited champions from
Sandy's world's championship race to compete in the
Anchorage version of the race.