Racers Take Slopes By Storm During Mount Southington Cardboard Race

The slopes of Mount Southington were transformed into a raceway filled with cardboard and duct tape Saturday afternoon as area residents took to the trails for the third annual Cardboard Box Race.

The race was the main event of Mount Southington’s Third Annual Winter Carnival. More than 1oo participants gathered halfway up the black-diamond Thunderbolt Trail and took off, one at a time. 

Some were gunning for the $100 Grand Prize awarded to the fastest sled, while others carefully prepared for the Best Overall Presentation trophy. The teams ranged anywhere from two to six riders and were sent off with a helpful shove from family and friends.

Fluffy snow slowed down the first few runs and some sleds even came to a halt, having to be pushed on by thoughtful crowd members, but the surface gradually became slicker with each run. 

One of the first competitors “Pucky the Whale,” a green 5-foot long sled designed after the old Hartford Whalers symbol, got unlucky and was caught in the snow. That didn’t stop its riders, Mary Moe and Michelle Seaman, from getting everyone to join them in singing “Brass Bonanza,” the Whalers theme song. 

“I’m exhausted,” Mary said as they trudged back up the hill for another run, “but that was great.”

The “Crazy Komodo” ran a few turns later and took advantage of the conditions, speeding down the course before flipping in one of the more stunning crashes of the day.

The 7-foot long model lizard held four young racers - Caleb, Faith and Noah Richert and their friend Philip Kaftan. Each one was stacked behind the dragon’s wide, bulging eyes and a bright red tongue sticking out of its mouth. 

“Did you see us? Did you see us?” asked Caleb excitedly as he scampered away to his parents.

The fan favorite, and winner of Best Overall Presentation, was the “Mount Southington Fire Truck.” Fully equipped with blazing sirens, “Engine No. 5” only made it about halfway down the hill before stalling, but still managed to be one of the event’s most memorable entries. 

The massive red truck, the largest entry at 7 feet long and almost 6 feet high, was created by a group of Cheshire teens led by 18-year-old Collin Bogrette, who said he actually got the idea while skiing at Mount Southington.

“We were joking around about it, then we just decided to do it,” Bogrette said. “We have some friends in the Cheshire Fire Department.”

Wrapping things up after a long day, Tanya Richert, Events Coordinator at Mount Southington, walked out of the cold and into the lodge with a group of younger racers. Each one had rosy cheeks and smiles on their faces. 

“The event was a definite success,” she said. “Everyone had a great time. The kids especially had a blast.”