The majority of these races were won by Liz Chesser, wife of Leonard, or Bonnie Hancock, wife of Lee. Both of these gents are legends in the grimy sport.
Most of the other women in the race had no experience, making the event exciting and unpredictable. My wife Sandy, was one of those who succumbed to the madness. With her passenger, Charlene Graham, she piloted one of Lee Hancock's buggies, the six-cylinder version. They are pictured in the thick of the action above.
In those days, the track was not as smooth as it is today. There were boulders, logs, and God knows what else hidden under the soupy mud. Driving a high-powered buggy, at speed, through this obstacle course caused many a causality. Broken off wheels were common. Flipped buggies not unusual. Crashes commonplace.
Sandy and Charlene made a good start, plowed through the Sippy Hole, hit a boulder, bounced high is the air, and landed on a steep bank, where they perched, half tipped over. The crowd oohed and aahed when, with each of their movements, the buggy teetered and seemed ready to tip over, dumping them in the water with the huge beast on top of them.
Sitting there, afraid to move, waiting for rescue, there was conversation.
Charlene: "Hope this doesn't tip over, I can't swim."
Sandy: "If it tips over and lands on us, swimming isn't going to be an option. Besides, I can't get out anyway."
The reason Sandy couldn't get out was that being diminutive her legs wouldn't reach the gas pedal. We solved that by duct taping a 2"x4" block on the pedal then taping Sandy's foot to both of them.
I know, I know, it was a stupid thing to do. But with all the excitement, and the mud, and the beer, it seemed like a real good idea at the time.
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