In June 1974, while paddling in his kayak on the American River with Instructor and K2 Ski Salesman Mike Ewing, regional businessman and restaurateur Eppie Johnson was challenged to sponsor and launch a race that featured three different athletic events.

Eppie, who was (and is) an avid skier and all around athlete, was intrigued by the idea. It was not unusual for him to perform curious, funny or athletic stunts within his own television commercials to promote his regional restaurants. His commercials often featured him carrying a tray of his food while on snow skis, water skis or running. But actually forming an athletic event that required teams or individuals to complete three different physical feats during the same race…could that be done?

No one had heard of a triathlon at that time.

Mike suggested that Eppie could begin his “Great Race” by skiing down from the top of Lake Tahoe’s Alpine Meadows Ski Resort to the road, then biking to the Truckee River at River Ranch. Participants could then finish the race by kayaking to the City of Truckee.

Eppie said that's a great idea but, “I don't have any restaurants at Alpine Meadows or in Truckee.”

A week later, Mike declared to Eppie that he had discovered the perfect potential race course in Sacramento: starting at Olson Drive where Eppie was building a restaurant named Eppaminondas (Eppie’s real name) and ending at the Eppie's Restaurant on Watt Avenue.

With that, Eppie decided the launch his “Great Race.”

However, simply implementing a three-phased race in Sacramento wasn’t as easy as it first sounded.

Four days before the event, Eppie was called by a Sacramento Assistant District Attorney and the Highway Patrol Area Commander for a meeting. Who knew he needed a permit? No one had ever done this before!

Eppie quickly obtained a permit. But the challenges didn’t stop there. He was also told that if any bicyclist did not stop during the race for a stop sign or a red light on busy Watt Avenue, the bicyclist would immediately be arrested!

Eppie emphatically cautioned the bicyclists...and to his knowledge, none were arrested.

The entry fee for Eppie’s first “Great Race” was ten dollars and there were 138 participants.

On December 16, 1975, Eppie received the State of California Service Mark for the use of the name, “The Great Race.” On May 12, 1981, he received from the United States Patent Office the Service Mark “The Great Race.”

The very first (and now oldest) annual triathlon in the world was inaugurated. And many exciting, famous and heart-warming stories have been generated during “The Great Race” ever since.

For thirty years, the Great Race has attracted hundreds of the world’s most famous athletes and celebrities to Sacramento; while at the same time generating over $600,000 in donations for regional programs that benefit the physically and mentally disabled.

One of the famous athletes that traveled to Sacramento to compete in Eppie’s Great Race was nationally known blind athlete Harry Cordelios. In 1976, Cordelios competed as an Eppie’s Great Race Ironman, and was the first blind athlete to finish the entire course.

Chuck Lyda, an Olympic medalist kayaker, and his team won The Great Race in 1986.

In 1993, well-known paraplegic athlete Mark Wellman, who had previously climbed El

Capitan and Half Dome in Yosemite, competed as an Ironman and dramatically crawled across the Eppie’s Great Race finish line.

Each year, Eppie leads a “Great Team” that features renowned sportspersons, luminaries and regional business leaders. The “Great Team” sets the pace for the competition. And anyone or team that beats the “Great Team’s” finish time is treated to a free meal at Brookfield’s restaurants.

Kristine Hanson, a KCRA Channel 3 newscaster and former Playboy Magazine centerfold competed on “Eppie's Great Team.” Assemblyman Tom Hannigan, Sheriff Lou Blanas, Supervisor Illa Collins and Roger Niello have also participated on “Eppie's Great Team.”

However, the “Great Team” is often as entertaining as they are athletically gifted.

For example, Olympic champion “miler” Peter Snell competed as the runner of “Eppie's Great Team,” and upon completion, downed two 16-ounce glasses of beer at the finish line before a cheering crowd.

This year’s Eppie’s Great Race is scheduled for July 19, 2003 and is expected to attract over 2,000 people. Any team or individuals interested in learning more about Eppie’s Great Race or wish to register, are encouraged to check the event’s web site at: www.thegreatrace.org.