Just Ducky: River Park comes alive

Picture perfect weather conditions, combined with the attraction of classic cars, racing ducks and many entertaining familyoriented activities were a recipe for success for the Sheboygan Falls Chamber Main Street’s 21st annual Ducktona 500 Duck Race and Car Show Sunday, July 5, at River Park in Sheboygan Falls.

With clear, sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s, the popular summer event drew an estimated 7,000 people to downtown Sheboygan Falls.

Chamber-Main Street Program Coordinator Shirl Breunig was pleased with the stellar turnout.

“It was a wonderful day,” Breunig said. “It was great to see so many families out enjoying the weather and generally having a good time in our city.

After welcoming a record 349 entries last year, this year’s Ducktona Car Show shattered that record, drawing a total of 407 classic cars, modern cars, trucks, race cars, school buses and nearly every type of motor in between.

“The turnout for the car show was outstanding,” Breunig said. “It was amazing to see all of those cars covering nearly every inch of available space at the park.”

Former Sheboygan Falls resident Mike Chervany of Cedarburg won the Best of Show Award for his rare all-original 1966 Shelby GT 350.

The Sponsor’s Choice Award went to John Seaman of Sheboygan Falls, with his 1935 Woodie. Larry Vogel of Grafton captured the inaugural People’s Choice Award wit his 1936 school bus.

Not to be outdone by the record setting car show, thousands of rubber ducks took to the waters of the Sheboygan River to see which duck-race ticket holder would claim this year’s $1,000 top prize.

The duck race encountered its share of challenges, as a prevailing head wind and reverse water current slowed the race to a crawl.

With the ducks unable to paddle against the stagnant current, the Sheboygan Falls Fire Department stepped up to use a highpressure hose to move the ducks along.

When the marathon 40-minute race finally came to an end, Meygan Thelen of Sheboygan Falls claimed the winning duck to take home the $1,000 top prize.

Second place went to Ryan Moyer ($500), Steve Schmitt of Sheboygan Falls place third ($250) and Susi Sutherland, visiting the area from Tennessee, notched a fourth-place finish ($100).

“We are very happy that the Sheboygan Falls Fire Department came in to help us out,” Breunig said. “We had the same kind of situation two years ago and the fire department was nice enough to use a hose to get the ducks moving then as well.

“The breeze and the current were going in the wrong direction, but we did get the race in,” she said. “It just took a little longer than normal.”

A total of 94 youngsters competed in the annual Big Wheel races. Age division winners were Erin Koeppen of Sheboygan Falls (age 3), Jessica Teetzen of Sheboygan Falls (age 4), Hannah Elias of Howards Grove (age 5), Payton Schneeberg of Sheboygan Falls (age 6) and Jonathan Waldhuetter, Howards Grove (age 7).

Breunig is proud of the continued success of the event.

“There were a lot of people all around the park nearly all day long,” she said. “The food and midway vendors that I talked to were very pleased with the day.

“There were tons of people in the car show area. It was quite a sight. I was thinking how this has become the best-attended event that goes on in Sheboygan Falls each year. It is so nice to see that kind of support, not only from residents of Sheboygan Falls, but the surrounding area as well.”