LAMORINDA WEEKLY | "I Am Your Father" zucchini racer squashes the competition on Fathers' Day


Photos Sora O'Doherty

A sunny Fathers' Day at the Moraga Farmers Market saw a zucchini car named for an infamous father win a $100 "most creative" prize as the Zucchini Car Races returned to the market on Sunday June 16. Their car was called "I Am Your Father," after the Darth Vader character in the Star Wars movie series.

The first place winners took home a $200 cash award for their car, "The California" constructed from a zucchini and deemed the fastest race winner of the day. Another two entries, "Zoe" and "LYZOO2" were also deemed most creative winners and took home $100 each. The four winners ranged from ages four to 12.

Dozens of zucchini cars zoomed down the track to the finish line. Some didn't quite make it, others smashed through the ping pong net barrier erected to protect the crowd of spectators.

Competitors were able to build their own zucchini race cars at at the pit stop set up by the market and test them out on the track. The market provided all the materials for wheels and decorations.

The rule provided that zucchini cars could not be wider than 6.5 inches with wheels or longer than 16 inches. No weights or motorized devices were allowed, and the axles of the car were required to go through the zucchini. All of the zucchini had to be farm fresh from the farmers' market or locally grown. Competitors were allowed to bring zucchini cars constructed at home also.