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Golden City Days: Fun, laughs and community pride come with Outhouse Race

It takes a team of five to race, one sitting on the toilet and four pushing and pulling the cart to the finish line.

If you want Rosslander Mike Williams, he’s likely on the can. The chainsaw carver is busy building a fourth outhouse rickshaw to roll out next month in the Golden City Days’ Outhouse Races held Sept. 6.

His team of retired firefighters intend to wipe out the competition and are calling on the Rossland Fire Department for a rematch after their controversial win last year.

“I think it’s something that everyone in town can look forward to either participating in or watching,” he said.

“I think it can eventually become a highlight of Golden City Days.

It takes a team of five to race, one sitting on the toilet and four pushing and pulling the cart to the finish line. Racing against the clock, each team does the course twice and the winner is selected based on the best combined time of the two runs.

Teams roll the rickshaw down the course 100 feet where they stop and do a fire drill, three laps around the outhouse ending with swapped positions, before continuing another 100 feet. At that point, participants ditch their rides with a roll of toilet paper in hand and hustle the rest of the way to set the roll on a plunger 30 feet further at the finish line.

“It’s just so much fun doing it and it’s not expensive to do,” added Williams. “I put it together with all recycled materials so it doesn’t cost a lot to build an outhouse or it doesn’t have to.”

That’s the message he’s hoping residents will hear loud and clear as he hypes up the event in hopes that more people will join in on his enthusiasm. Those looking to step up to the challenge are encouraged to contact Williams for details on building their very own vessel.

Participants are encouraged to come in costume and decorate their outhouse to match their team’s theme. Williams is hoping that a little rivalry will build and the event will follow the popularity of Winter Carnival’s bobsled races. He can be reached at mikescarvings@hotmail.com or 250-362-5244 for further information.