FULLERTON : Elvis Makes Waves at CSUF Race

The murky green pool behind the art department at Cal State Fullerton was alive with floating Elvis paraphernalia--blue suede shoes, a jailhouse rock and a glittery guitar.

About 50 competitors toed the edge of the pool for the 6th annual rubber band-powered boat races Thursday afternoon. In the event, billed as the “I Saw Elvis Regatta,” art department students and faculty were given an “official rubber band” to incorporate into a boat design sporting a curious combination of speed and Elvisness.

Before each heat, the boat racers vigorously twisted their rubber band into a coiled source of nautical propulsion, then lowered the vessels into the water. When the whistle sounded, the boats began navigating toward the finish line about 15 feet away, leaving little wake.

Each race lasted about 30 seconds amid cheering from onlookers, with the winner advancing to the next round of competition.

The winning boat, built by art professor George James, was a pair of Styrofoam blue suede shoes connected by wooden sticks and driven by a hand-carved redwood propeller. The second-place boat resembled a cross between Elvis’ coffin and a speedboat.

“This is not a very fast boat,” said James, whose boat won the championship when the second-place boat stalled halfway down the course. “I went for consistency.”

The art department there has hosted the lunchtime races and picnic for extracurricular fun between classes for students and faculty.

“The races are based on silliness, with a serious intent behind it,” said Al Ching, an art professor and founder of the regatta. “As a commuter school we need something to intermingle and intermix faculty and students outside the classroom.”

The Elvis theme was chosen amid the excitement of the postal balloting to decide which stamp would best capture the essence of the King.

After the regatta, students and faculty gathered for a picnic and a ceremony honoring participants with awards including Best Elvis Image, Best Use of Glitter and Best Use of Recycled Material.