THE GREAT BLIND GOLF CART RACE AT TT CHESAPEAKE BAY!!

It was Memorial Day Weekend 2009 and the crowd gathered to watch and participate in the annual Blind Golf Cart Race at TT Chesapeake Bay. It was a beautiful day for the activities. Participants took to their carts in teams of two. The driver was blindfolded and attempted to negotiate the course (a Figure 8) by following frantic instructions from the team navigator. Teams raced against the clock and were judged by total time to negotiate the course, plus points for any penalties.

Delores and Diane came to watch in Diane’s new brigt RED Club Car!

Ken even came out for the event.

He drove himself over using his cane to accelerate. He should have been in the races! HA HA

Ru, our Assistant Manager, directed the race, with Barb and Shannon helping with the officiating.

Brad was the MC, announcing race times with his own colorful comentary, providing music, between the racers, etc.

Brad caught me taking his picture.

Diane refused to race with Mike, so guess who said, “I’ll race with Mike!” Here we are making a practice run, learning the course. Mike has his eyes open, but later he will be blindfolded. He thinks if he leans far enough to the left, the cart will go left!

Oh No!! In our second practice run, I forgot Mike had his eyes closed pretending to be blindfolded. I yelled “Stop, Stop!!” But it was too late. We crashed into another cart in the middle of the figure eight!! It was so funny! No one was hurt.
But I can’t say the same for the front left tire of our golf cart!! (See Below.) Although the race was about to begin, we were number 17. Mike thought he had time to make an unscheduled pit stop. He drove with a flat to the Maintenance Shed and pumped up the tire. He came racing back laughing – “Jimmy Johnson can’t do better than that!! A 2-minute pit stop!!”

Great job, Mike. Everything is A-OK now!!

Mike getting his blindfold.

Here we are, ready to go. BOGGADY, BOGGADY, BOGGADY. LET’S GO RACING, BOYS!!

Ooops!! First penalty! And we just started!

Oh, Dear!! Second penalty!! Notice Barb giving the fingers to indicate our penalties!!

Oh Crap!! We hit a bale. That means we have to back up to get around it. How much time will THAT take??
Keep going, Mike. Can’t you tell which way I’m pointing!!??

Note the flag in the right corner. We're at the finish line!! Hit it, Mike!!!!!

There were more than 22 teams in the race. Here are some of OUR friends who also participated!!

Pickleball player, Amy and her young driver. They are the ones who crashed into us during the warm-up!! Or did we crash into them?? Anyway, we all got to the center of the figure 8 at the same time!!!

Amy’s husband, Tom and his partner. He’s also a great Pickleball player. (You’ll see these guys again later.)

Billy Babb and driver Gilbert. Gilbert is always challenging Ken to a Pickleball match, especially now!!! (You’ll also see them later.)

Pickleball Players, Wayne and Linda

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Linda can’t wait to get her blindfold off!!

Friend Buzzy and his driver!! Either Buzzy can’t navigate or his driver can’t drive!! They were ultimately disqualified for driving over the flag at the finish line!! I think this picture is hysterical!! I love it!!!

Buzzy trying to redeem himself. This time he fired his driver, changed carts, and brought along Little Bear to help navigate!! You can just about see him sitting in the middle.

The Winners!!

Third Place: Billy and Gilbert. WOW!! I don't believe it!!! Just kidding, guys!!

Second Place: Sorry, I don’t even know these two expert racers.

First Place: Tom and his driver. CONGRATULATIONS, TOM!!

And LAST Place: Two pretty young ladies who gave it a good try!! At least Mike and I beat them!!!

WHAT A GREAT JOB BY THE STAFF, ALL THE PARTICIPANTS, AND THE SPECTATORS!! Let's do it again next year!!!