Zucchinis race down track at farmers’ market in Medina

Photo courtesy of Chris Busch: These two yellow squash are ready to race in Saturday’s Zucchini 500 at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market. There were 18 competitors in the zucchini races on Saturday. The races continue July 26 and Aug. 2 and begin at 10 a.m. and last until 1:20 p.m.

MEDINA – Zucchini and yellow squash can be more than nutritious foods. They also can be turned into sleek racing machines.

The Canal Village Farmers’ Market on Saturday hosted the first of three Zucchini 500s. There were 18 racers they put wheels on zucchinis or yellow squash. They also decorated the produce for the trip down a wooden track built by Dave Miller. His wife Gail is the farmers’ market manager.

Dave Miller sends a yellow squash racing down the track on Saturday. This car was made by Roux Gilman of Medina. It covered the distance in a speedy 1.782 seconds.

The races started at 10 a.m. and continued through 1:20 p.m. They will be back on July 26 and Aug. 2.

The racing classes include:

• Sprout – under 8
• Tenderfoot – 8 to 16
• Young-at-Heart – 16-plus
• Outlaw Class – Open to all ages and any vegetable. Entrants can use their imagination to create a racing vegetable, keeping to the vehicle specs in the rules.

The farmers’ market provides the produce (donated by Human Farms) and the participants have access to stickers, flags and other decorations for their racing vehicles.

Roux Gilman, 4, holds his yellow squash that was turned into a speed machine for Saturday’s Zucchini 500.

Dave Miller served as starter for the races. He built the track which is equipped with al electronic timer to the nearest thousandth of a second.

All of the participants get a certificate for competing in the Zucchini 500.