The Great Race
"The Great Race" Slate Creek Relays Official Site Link
2024 GREAT RACE RELAY PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Katie Ford and Tanner Ford
2023 GREAT RACE RELAYS PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Katie Ford and Tanner Ford
2022 GREAT RACE RELAY PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Katie Ford and Tanner Ford
2021 GREAT RACE RELAY PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by CRU CREW - Ms. Katie Ford, Jaxson Irey, Tanner Dillon, Maddie Nance, Averie Burns, Drake Hendrix, Dakota Lynnes, TD Nichols, and Steve Sturgis
2020 - Cancelled due to COVID
2019 GREAT RACE RELAY PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Steve Sturgis
2018
The 28th GREAT RACE RELAY took place Saturday afternoon (072118) at South Woods Park and points beyond. "8" teams participated in the "13" event relay which includes motocross, horseback, bicycles, canoes, long and short distance running. Each team carries a colored railroad spike from start to finish - if you don't cross the finish line with it, you don't win! Jack Potucek has been the Racemaster for all 28 races, dating back to 1977.
The 2018 top 3 finishers were:
THE DORE ENCHIES finished first, followed by the 2017 defending champion, SECURITY STATE BANK. In 3rd this year, a first-time entry for the MANILA GORILLAS! Great showing!
There were participants from across the country Saturday,Texas, Oklahoma, New York, Illinois, Florida, many from Wichita and other area Kansas communities. Truly a GREAT RACE!! Congratulations to the DORE on reclaiming the trophy.
2017
South Woods Park was the place to be Saturday afternoonif you were cruising about our fine south central Kansas community. "9" teams squared off in 2017 "Slate Creek Depot Great Race" with participants from "7" different states according to the race's founder and director Mr. Jack Potucek. The skies were cloudy and for late July, seasonably cool with the thermometer reading 88 as the race began. There was a slight delay in starting the race, bicycle contestants and others being hauled out on trailers and trucks to "their segment of the race starting points" had to wait on a train. Melanie Dawson summoned all with her trumpet that the race was about to begin and then the starter's pistol fired...
The action would soon depart the immediate Woods Park area as participants headed out into the country for the horseback, motocross, bicycle, etc. segments of the 40 minute plus event. Racers return to view later as they run east on Hwy 160 to the Slate Creek Bridge on the west side of Wellington.
The team "railroad spikes" are then handed off to the Canoe Teams and the competitors head back towards South Woods Park via Slate Creek and lots of arm strength. A 2nd canoe duo receive the spike eventually and continue around the park towards the dam.
As it began, the race climaxes with a couple final sprints through the park back to what was originally the starting line some 40+ minutes earlier. This year, for the first time, the Security State Bank Big Bucks team claimed the trophy with a time of 44m 23s - the Anders Spinalators (who had won the Great Race the past 2 years) a minute or so behind, followed by the Dore Enchies who actually lead through several of the first segments until motocross issues pushed them back for a time to 7th place. Congratulations to the SSB Big Bucks team and to Jack Potucek and Darlene Ferguson who organize and oversee this "great" event each summer.
SECURITY STATE BANK BIG BUCKS team members hoisting the HARDWARE following the 2017 Great Race in Woods Park and many points beyond! CONGRATS!
MORE 2017 GREAT RACE PICS
GREAT RACE UPDATE 073016
In a photo-finish, the Anders Spinalators "inch out" the Dore Enchies by just .08 secs for the 2016 Great Race Cup! Just 10 secs behind them, Security State Bank! Closest finish since the late 70's when the "top 3" finishers were all within 7 secs. of each other.
THE GREAT RACE - July 31, 2015
Anders Spinalators Finish 1st for 4th Time This Century!
Anders have finished in the TOP THREE "8" Times Since 2001!
Not far behind the Spinalators this year were the Security State Bank Big Bucks Team and then a distant 3rd, the Dore Enchies, defending champions from 2014!
MORE PICS HERE