Year-by-Year History

1974 to 2008

How it all began...

Eppie's Great Race, the World's Oldest Triathlon, started with an off-hand suggestion from a kayak instructor to Eppie Johnson, a restaurateur with a flair for unusual promotion. In 1973, Eppie met kayak instructor and K2 Ski salesman Mike Ewing at a kayak workshop. Ewing was an avid kayak racer who had recently moved to the Sacramento area from Salida, Colorado. Johnson was intrigued with kayaking, likening the fluid movements and speed to skiing, his main athletic passion, and hired Ewing for private lessons. In one of their first sessions, Eppie went to the Tennis South Swim and Tennis Club, which he also owned, and ordered everybody out of the pool on a hot summer day so he could learn to do an Eskimo roll.

Eppie's Restaurants co-sponsored a freestyle skiing event with Ewing at Boreal Ridge near Lake Tahoe. It was after that successful event that Ewing suggested Eppie start a race that featured skiing, kayaking, and cycling near Truckee in the Sierra. Creating an athletic event that required teams or individuals to complete three different physical feats during the same race was a new idea. No one had heard of a triathlon at the time. Eppie was fascinated by the idea. It was not unusual for him to perform curious, funny or athletic stunts in his television commercials to promote his regional restaurants. He had appeared carrying a tray of his food while on snow skis, water skis, conducting a symphony orchestra, or while dressed as an astronaut or Professor Eppie.

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.

"That's a great idea but, I don't have any restaurants at Alpine Meadows or in Truckee," Eppie responded. A week later, Mike told Eppie that he had found the perfect race course in Sacramento. The course would start near Highway 50 and Zinfandel Drive where Eppie had just opened a new restaurant named Eppaminondas (Eppie's real first name) and finish at the Eppie's Restaurant on Watt and El Camino Avenues. The first race was set for July 27, 1974. The run course was 2.8 miles from Eppaminondas to Lower Sunrise Park on the American River. Runners handed a wristband to paddlers who paddled five miles to Rio Americano High School. Cyclists rode a 4.7-mile course west on American River Drive and north on Watt Avenue to the finish. Prizes included a "Trak" bicycle ("Trek" was spelled incorrectly on the entry form), rafts, and "jogging" warm-up suits. The Aquarian Effort, a local drug rehabilitation center, was designated as the charity for the event.

Four days before the event, a Sacramento Assistant District Attorney and the Highway Patrol Area Commander called Eppie in 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. To his knowledge, few-if any-cyclists stopped for red lights, but there were no arrests made. Race instructions emphasized that "no motor driven boats" were allowed. Just about any other type of watercraft was entered in the race, including three sculls, two of which overturned.



The Great Race I - July 27, 1974
51 TEAMS " RUN, PADDLE, BIKE
Winner: 1:26:45 - Team Ram (named after another local restaurant): Runner Jim O'Neil, Cyclist Don Pickett, Paddler Gunther Hammersbach - formerly of West Germany and a member of the U.S. National Kayak Team
Great Team: Runner Burnett Miller, former Mayor of Sacramento; Cyclist Larry Turner, Executive Director of the Aquarian Effort, Paddler Eppie
"The key to the whole thing was to get a good water man," Don Pickett said, espousing advice that is still true. The runner's course was 2.8 miles, from Eppaminondas Restaurant to Lower Sunrise Park on the American River. Then paddlers stroked five miles to Rio Americano High School. Cyclists rode 4.7-miles west on American River Drive, then north on Watt Avenue to the finish.
Numerous challenges had to be overcome in this early attempt at mixing three athletic activities. Two examples: 1) only four days before the event Eppie was told he was required to have a permit and 2) he was informed that if any cyclist did not stop during the race for a stop sign or a red light, the cyclist would immediately be arrested!
Eppie quickly got the permit, and he emphatically cautioned the cyclists. Few, if any, cyclists stopped for red lights, but no arrests were made.
Just about any type of watercraft other than motorized was allowed entered the race, including three sculls, two of which overturned. The race entry fee was $10 and nobody even thought about printing up race T-shirts.
Thirty-seven teams finished. The finish featured a Dixieland jazz band, free beer, and hot dogs. Prizes included a Trek bicycle, rafts, and "jogging" warm-up suits. The Aquarian Effort, a local drug rehabilitation center, was the designated event charity.

Great Race II - July 19, 1975
100+ TEAMS - BIKE, PADDLE, RUN
Winner:1:44:47 - Nike Club of Berkeley; Cyclist Tom Simonson, Kayaker Fritz Mortiz, Runner Ron Wayne
The Great Team: Cyclist Dick Cable, news anchor for KXTV Channel 10; Runner Alan Galaway, Sacramento-area insurance and real estate broker; Paddler Eppie
With the help of local running race expert John McIntosh, a new course was designed to finish back at the same location as the start. The bikers led off the race in a mass start, riding eight miles on the Sunrise canal bike trail, including a tunnel under Highway 50 lit only with a single 45-watt bulb, to the American River bike trail and the Lower Sunrise Bridge. The cyclists were paced by a lead vehicle the first mile over a Highway 50 overpass, then turned loose to sprint through the course. Few of the riders wore helmets and crashes were common in the crowded turns. Paddlers raced 4.5-miles downstream to Cordova Park. Runners ran through the streets of Rancho Cordova back to the start, about 5.5 miles. Race prizes again included bicycles, this time an "Azuki 810," rubber rafts, and warm-up suits. The entry fee jumped 50% to $15, but a T-shirt was now included. More than 100 teams entered the race. On December 16, 1975, Eppie received the State of California Service Mark for the use of the name, "The Great Race."

Great Race III - July 17, 1976
163 TEAMS " BIKE, PADDLE, RUN
Winner:1:21:22 - Ron's Raft Rental: Cyclist Walter Weed, Kayaker John Weed, Runner Richard Langford
The Great Team: Cyclist Pete Liebengood, TV personality; Runner Jim O'Neil, renowned athlete; Paddler Eppie
Eppie's Great Race III was held just two weeks after the country's huge Bicentennial Celebration. The honorary starter was Fair Oaks resident Billy Mills, 1964 Olympic gold medallist for 10,000 meters. The first "ironpersons" competed, albeit unofficially. Harry Cordellos, a blind athlete from Texas did the entire event with guides, finishing 39th overall among all teams in 1:35:15. Abe Underwood, one of the founders of the Buffalo Chips Running Club, finished in 2:01:22-he used a surfboard topped by an air mattress for the paddling leg!

Great Race IV - July 16, 1977
220 TEAMS - BIKE, PADDLE, RUN
Winner:1:25:14 - Cyclist James McKinstry, Paddler Andy Toro, Runner Ron Wayne
The Great Team: Cyclist Creighton Sanders, KCRA sports anchor; Runner Peter Snell, three-time Olympic gold medalist; Paddler Eppie
New Zealand's Peter Snell, three-time Olympic gold medallist in track distance events, was the honorary starter. Race administration grew to involve 200 volunteers. Unusual race equipment included eight CB radios, three divers, and the pace truck from Cal Expo's horse racing track to lead the bicycles the first mile. After the race Eppie remembers Ron Wayne stating that there were 'no class runners' in the Sacramento area, throwing down a challenge that was soon met.

Great Race V - July 15, 1978
270 TEAMS - BIKE, PADDLE, RUN
Winner:1:17:44 - Cyclist Peter Brunn, Paddler Stein Buer, Runner Dwayne Harms
Great Team: Cyclist General Willard Shank, California National Guard; Runner Bruce Reid, Sacramento Union reporter; Paddler Eppie
As the event grew, the cycling leg became more controversial. People claimed "pole" positions at the start: "Last year we had people there at dawn lining up their bikes for a good starting position," Johnson told The Sacramento Bee. "Then we had some late comers trying to push their way to the front. This year, we'll just check entry numbers to see which bikes belong there." Although the committee received complaints after crashes marred the start of the 1977 race, it decided not to change the order of events. A suggestion was made to reverse the running and cycling, putting the bikers last. Eppie responded that the bikers can't decelerate at the finish and there was no way to keep track of finishers coming in at such a high speed.
KCRA-TV, Channel 3 featured a half-hour highlight show of the 1977 race the week before the 1978 event, increasing public awareness. Great Race V added an inflatable watercraft division.

Great Race VI - July 21, 1979
478 TEAMS! " BIKE, PADDLE, RUN " IRONMEN and IRONWOMEN!
1:18:28 - Team Winner: "Cyakrun III," Cyclist Peter Brunn, Paddler Stein Buer, Runner Dwayne Harms
1:43:08 - Ironwoman Krista Roberts
1:32:14 - Ironman Steve Boutin
The Great Team: Runner Christine Hanson, KCRA weather & former Playboy Bunny; Cyclist Cary Nosler, Founder and Owner of Sunrise Natural Foods, Paddler Eppie
The race added the official Ironman and Ironwoman division, as well as a family relay division. The entry fee increased to $21. To reduce start crowding, the race implemented a two-heat start 30-minutes apart, but race morning had an unusual July rainstorm, contributing to slick streets and more bike crashes in spite of the split start. The first Ironwoman winner, Krista Roberts, had just graduated from Rio Americano High School where she was a star cross country and distance runner. She had borrowed a kayak, tried it out twice before the race, and used her old, recently repaired 10 speed. First in the new family division was "I'd Walk a Mile for a Campbell," Gary Campbell, Rick Campbell, and Craig Campbell, in 1:34:45. With matching Federal funds, the race raised $20,000 for the Aquarian Effort.


Great Race VII - July 19, 1980
500 TEAMS - BIKE, PADDLE, RUN
1:21:14:36 (Course Record) - Team Winner: "Maximum Performance Hooker Headers," Cyclist Thom Hunt, Paddler Albert Romuari, Runner Dave Spangler
1:39:30 (Course Record) - Ironwoman Krista Roberts
1:24:01 (Course Record) - Ironman Chuck Lyda
The Great Team: Runner Sally Edwards, founder of Fleet Feet Sports; Cyclist Jack Heckel, President of Aerojet Corp.; Paddler Eppie
Two new divisions were added. The senior women's team required that all three participants be age 40 or older. The adaptive division required that at least one team member be disabled. The race entry fee stayed at $21 "in an effort to curb inflation," the form explained. A new charity was adopted: Sacramento County Recreation for the Handicapped, later renamed Adaptive Leisure Services and now Therapeutic Recreation Services. The new adaptive division was won by Easy, Sleazy and Greasy, the team of Chip Turner, Gus Rosa, and Lewis Bar, in 1:43:34.


Great Race VIII - July 18, 1981
600+ TEAMS - BIKE, PADDLE, RUN
1:14:34 (Course Record) - Team Winner: "Maximum Performance Hooker Headers," Cyclist Thom Hunt, Paddler Albert Romuari, Runner Dave Spangler
1:45:50 - Ironwoman Winner E. Oberth
1:29:16 - Ironman Winner R. Ueltzen
The Great Team - Runner Tom Hannigan, California State Assembly Member; Cyclist Frank McPeak, Sacramento Bee Community Relations Manager; Paddler Eppie
The eighth Great Race added two more divisions: inflatable kayak and unlimited kayak (pro-open). The committee now specified that "International Canoe Federation (ICF) specifications for wildwater or down river K-1's will prevail." The race entry fee increased to $24, with the pro/open division paying $45. The race raised $8,251, which Eppie presented at a Board of Supervisors meeting with the check written on the bottom of a rubber raft. Also in 1981, Eppie received the Service Mark "The Great Race" from the United States Patent Office.


Great Race IX - July 17, 1982
459 TEAMS, 81 IRONPERSONS and BIG CHANGES! RUN, PADDLE, BIKE
1:49:06 - Team Winner: "Afoto Shoppe," Cyclist Robert Deis, Paddler John Weed, Runner Andy Christensen
2:10:00 - Ironwoman Winner Eva Ueltzen
2:07:10 - Ironman Winner Mitch Karandanis
The Great Team - Runner Illa Collin, Sacramento County Supervisor; Cyclist Bart Von Housen, Sacramento Businessman; Paddler John Weed, World-Class Kayaker
A new course truly showcased the American River Parkway. The run first leg followed a 6.5-mile course from the main parking lot at Goethe Park east, to and across, the Sunrise footbridge. Runners handed off to paddlers who paddled 6.5 miles back to Goethe Park. Cyclists rode 13.5 miles west across the Harold Ritchey footbridge, left the path at Harrington Avenue, continued west on American River Drive to University Drive to the Guy West Bridge, down the bike ramp to the trail, then east on bike trail back to Goethe Park. The goal of the race committee was for the run and kayak to be approximately the same length and the total distance to be close to a marathon of 26.2-miles.


Great Race X - July 16, 1983
MORE CHANGES: RUN, THEN BIKE, THEN PADDLE
1:43:58 - Team Winner: Runner Bob Deis, Cyclist Bob Hammond, Paddler John Weed
2:21:02 - Ironwoman Winner Janet Paris
1:51:00 - Ironman Winner Lin Feil
The Great Team - Runner John McIntosh, owner of McIntosh Sports Cottage; Cyclist Bob Duvall, Paddler Eppie
After the 1982 race, organizers realized that putting cycling as the final leg created a finish line timing challenge, so the order was changed to the current format of run, bike, and paddle. Runners ran west on the bike trail from the start at Arden Bar. The course crossed the river on the Watt Avenue bridge, ran west through Alumni Grove by CSU-Sacramento, then crossed the River again at the Guy West bridge to the start of the cycling leg. The bike course is the current 12.5-mile route from the Guy West Bridge east on the bike path to Jim's Bridge at Lower Sunrise Park. The paddle is the current course of 6.35 miles from Lower Sunrise to the Goethe Park finish line.
The $14,000 donation to Recreation for the Handicapped was delivered to the County Board of Supervisors in three wheelbarrows full of silver dollars-Eppie had not lost his flair for unusual promotions!


Great Race XI - July 14, 1984
463 TEAMS, 200+ IRONPERSONS
1:36:00 (Course Record) - Team Winner: Runner Rich Langford, Cyclist Andy Christensen, Paddler John Weed
2:04:05 - Ironwoman Winner Betsy Frick
1:47:47 - Ironman Winner Rich Hanna
The Great Team - Runner Bjorg Austrheim-Smith, Western States 100-Mile Run champion; Cyclist Jerry Ketchum, owner of Carmichael Honda; Paddler Eppie
The corporate team division was added. A race-day highlight show was broadcast on KXTV-Channel 10, and Triathlete Magazine featured the race in a multi-page story. Rich Hanna (who had kayaked only five times before) became the youngest-ever Ironman champion. '83 Champion Len Feil was behind him by over four minutes at the start of the kayak and, in spite of being in a kayak that was half full of water at the finish, Hanna managed to beat Feil by nine seconds. The family of Dr. Larry Skinner, who died of a heart attack in the 1983 race, filed a lawsuit against The Great Race and all Committee members alleging the race was operated "without proper pre-race planning for medical support and communications." The event insurance company settled out of court against the wishes of the Committee members.


Great Race XII - July 13, 1985
520 TEAMS, 165 IRONPERSONS
1:44:37 - Team Winner: Runner Matt Yeo, Cyclist Andy Christensen, Paddler John Weed
2:08:19 - Ironwoman Winner Betsy Frick
1:53:10 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Team - Runner Frank Corfee, owner of Heavenly Valley Ski Resort; Cyclist Colonel John B. Wood, Commander of McClellan AFB, Paddler Eppie
The course remained unchanged from 1984. A new Ironman champion was crowned as Don Hicks, 25, passed Len Feil with 1.5 miles to go in the kayak. "Gee, I hope I'm in as good of shape as he is when I'm 40," Hicks told a reporter after the race. The race raised $32,000 for Recreation for the Disabled.


Great Race XIII - July 19, 1986
1:40:38 - Team Winner: Runner Rob Anex, Cyclist Brad Hayes, Paddler Joe Burlingame
2:20:00 - Ironwoman Winner Betsy Frick
1:48:14 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Team - Runner Ken Campbell, Sacramento-area dentist/motivational speaker; Cyclist Bill Briner, Director, Sacramento Dept. Parks & Rec.; Paddler Eppie
"Due to February 1986 flooding, our exact course is somewhat uncertain," wrote race director Richard Ongerth in the 1986 Great Race entry form. Several washed-out sections of the trail near Cordova Park were repaired just in time, and the course was unchanged. The Senior Ironwomen (ages 50-over) division was added. The winning team's paddler, Joe Burlingame, finished only one foot in front of the second place team's paddler in the closest team finish to date. The donation for Recreation for the Handicapped grew to $43,000.


Great Race XIV - July 18, 1987
TOTAL OF 809 TEAMS and IRONPERSONS
Team Winner : "Team Boss," Runner Leonard Sperandeo, Cyclist Dan Brown, Paddler John Weed
1:54:47 - Ironwoman Winner Kitty Perry
1:46:18 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Team - Runner Peter Raffetto, President of River City Bank; Cyclist Ramey Osborne, President of Spare Time Fitness Centers; Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Cindy Trimble
Great Race Ironman - Rich Ongerth, Sacramento Attorney
A coed team division was added and Great Race Ironpersons were chosen to set the "Win a Breakfast at Eppie's" pace for the first time. Hawaii Ironman champion Dave Scott of Davis was a commentator on the Channel 10 race program. Don Hicks won his third straight Great Race after holding off a late charge in the water by Mitch Karadanis of Reno.


Great Race XV - July 16, 1988
1:34:26 - Team Winner: Runner Leonard Sperandeo, Cyclist Steve McClelland, Paddler John Weed
1:49:47 - Ironwoman Winner Kitty Perry
1:44:18 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Team - Runner Charlie Massey, General Manager of A.T. & T; Cyclist Bess Polakoff, owner City Bike Works; Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Shirley Willd-Wagner, Eppie's Great Race Director
Great Race Ironman - Frank Cirrill, Director Emeritus of Eppie's Great Race
On a scorching 100-plus degree day Don Hicks, coping with stomach ulcers, won his fourth straight laurel wreath by 90 seconds.


Great Race XVI - July 15, 1989
284 IRONPERSONS!
1:32:46 - Team Winner: Runner Leonard Sperandeo, Cyclist Steve McClelland, Paddler John Weed
1:52:19 - Ironwoman Winner Betsy Frick
1:42:56 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Team - Runner Dave Spottiswood, Sacramento-area Attorney; Jeff Holden, Dir. of Sales, 100.5 The Zone; Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Nancy Fish
Great Race Ironman - Frank Cirrill, Director Emeritus of Eppie's Great Race
The run course changed to 5.8 miles after river crossings at the Watt Avenue and Guy West bridges were dropped. Don Hicks won his fifth consecutive Ironman title, and, after finishing second the last two years, Betsy Frick returned to the top spot among Ironwomen. Race entry fees increased to $45 for teams and to $30 for Ironpersons. Fraser Beauchamp, the first race director, passed away in February 1989, of cancer at the age of 45.


Great Race XVII - July 21, 1990
1:30:07 (Course Record) - Team Winner: Runner Shad Warren, Cyclist D.J. Dart, Paddler Jon Fishburn
1:51:24 - Ironwoman Winner Vickie Pell
1:39:23 (Course Record - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Team - Runner Butch MacElwee, VP of Markstein Beverage Company; Cyclist David T. Lane, General Manager, KXTV-Channel 10; paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironman - Richard Ongerth, Eppie's Great Race Director
A new division for media teams was added. After finishing in the top three for three years, Vickie Pell won her first Ironwoman title. It was Don Hicks sixth consecutive victory.


Great Race XVIII - July 20, 1991
1:31:35 - Team Winner Open Division: "The Sissies from Hell," Runner Dave Welsh, Cyclist Barry Vial, Paddler Brent Ritz
1:27:05 (Course Record) - Adaptive Div. Team Winner Runner Jim Schoenherr, wheelchair Lance Donnell, Paddler Charlie Albright
1:50:40 - Ironwoman Winner Bety Rypins
1:33:17 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Team - Runner Jim Sochor, Football Coach for UC-Davis; Cyclist Michelle Canny Gilles, Dir. of Nutrition Wenmat Fitness Centers; Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Shirley Willd-Wagner, Eppie's Great Race Director
Great Race Ironman - John Green, Owner of Carmichael Honda
Two new race divisions were added in 1991: Men 50-plus Team and sit-on-top kayaks. Hicks made up a 90-second deficit to win his seventh Ironman title and Beth Rypins won the Ironwoman after passing Karen Olsson and Ann Gerhardt in the water. It was an emotional finish for Team Transplant. Paul Fillebrown, Kim Monroe, and Jim Wehvila each had successfully undergone heart transplant surgeries two years before the race.


Great Race XIX - July 18, 1992
1:36:03 - Team Winner: "Pink Dogs Stop Rest Stop," Runner Shawn Smallwood, Cyclist Tim Imai; Paddler Bryan Podgorski
1:43:10 (Course Record) - Adaptive Div. Team Winner Runner Jim Schoenherr; wheelchair Lance Donnell; Paddler Charlie Albright
1:57:55 - Ironwoman Winner Linda Casillas
1:43:10 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Team - Runner Jim Sochor, Football Coach for UC-Davis; Cyclist Michelle Canny Gilles, Dir. of Nutrition, Wenmat Fitness Centers, Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Shirley Willd-Wagner, Eppie's Great Race director
Great Race Ironman - John Green, Owner of Carmichael Honda
Don Hicks won his eighth straight Ironman, this time by over four minutes, and Linda Casillas won her first Ironwoman race in five tries. Blind athlete Stephen Adams was disqualified when he tried to compete as an Ironman. Race officials blocked his participation as they thought it was too dangerous for a sight-impaired athlete to cycle the crowded, narrow, and winding Great Race course alone. Adams refused to ride on a tandem bicycle and a preliminary injunction against his participation was upheld.


Great Race XX - July 19, 1993
1:37:30 - Team Winner: "The Pink Dogs," Runner Art Huff, Cyclist Barry Vial, and Paddler Bryan Podgorski
1:52:25 - Ironwoman Winner Linda Casillas
1:41:11 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Race Team - Runner Taylor Carey, Asst. Chief Counsel, State Dept. of Health Services; Cyclist Jeff McMurray, morning personality, 96.9-The Eagle, Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Shirley Willd-Wagner, Eppie's Great Race director
Great Race Ironman - Lin Feil, Stockbroker
This was an amazing number nine in a row for Don Hicks, and Linda Casillas also returned to the victory stand. Stephen Adams tried to get into the race again but was denied a race number and removed from the course. Well-known paraplegic athlete Mark Wellman, who had previously climbed El Capitan and Half Dome in Yosemite, competed as an Ironman and, refusing any help, dramatically crawled across the finish line.


Great Race XXI - July 16, 1994
1:33:12 - Team Winner: "The Untouchables," Runner Mike McManus; Cyclist Chris Barker; Paddler Brent Reitz
1:59:34 - Ironwoman Winner Vickie Pell
1:46: 36 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Team - Runner Carl Otto, Principal for John Otto Const. Company; Cyclist Jeff McMurray, radio personality, 96.9, The Eagle, Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Shirley Willd-Wagner, Eppie's Great Race Director
Great Race Ironman - Jeff Stevens
Don Hicks continued his winning Ironman streak, winning his 10th title only 8 seconds in front of Leonard Veare. Jim Sapienza was third in 1:50:38. "I said if I won, I was selling the boat," Hicks said after the race. Vickie Pell returned to the victory stand for her second win.


Great Race XXII - July 15, 1995
1:30:18 - Team Winner: Runner Mike McManus, Cyclist Chris Baker, Paddler Brent Reitz
1:51:47 - Ironwoman Winner Linda Casillas
1:41:45 - Ironman Winner Jim Sapienza
The Great Race Team - Runner Patrick Johnston, California State Senator; Cyclist Will Kempton, Folsom, Calif. Assistant City Manager, Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Shirley Willd-Wagner, Eppie's Great Race Director
Great Race Ironman - David Ono, KOVR Anchor
A new division was added for tandem recreational canoes. Shirley Willd-Wagner, who had directed the race since 1978, passed the baton to Will Kempton, an active Committee member for many years. Don Hicks did not go for his 11th straight win, competing on a relay team instead. Jim Sapienza used the opportunity to vault from third last year to first, beating Leonard Veare by 45 seconds. Linda Casillas won her third title by less than a minute over Vickie Pell (1:52:43).


Great Race XXIII - July 20, 1996
1:34:30 - Team Winner: "The God Squad," Runner Ben Ayers, Cyclist Barry Vial, Paddler Brent Reitz
1:56:11 - Ironwoman Winner Linda Casillas
1:44:48 - Ironman Winner Jim Sapienza
The Great Race Team - Runner Patrick Johnston, California State Senator; Cyclist Will Kempton, Folsom, Calif. Assistant City Manager, Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Shirley Willd-Wagner, race director
Great Race Ironman - David Ono (I), KOVR Anchor
Jim Sapienza repeated his victory and Linda Casillas won her fourth title. A new option provided free race entry for athletes collecting pledges for Adaptive Leisure Services: $100 for an Ironman, $300 for a team, and $400 for a tandem canoe team.


Great Race XIV - July 19, 1997
1:36:37 - Team Winner: "Too Fast for Me," Runner Ben Ayers, Cyclist Bran Deromen, Paddler John Campbell
2:02:20 - Ironwoman Winner Vickie Pell
1:44:48 - Ironman Winner Leonard Veare
The Great Race Team - Runner Midori Waugh, Reporter for KOVR- Channel 13; Cyclist John O'Farrell, Administrator, Sacramento Co. Community Development & Neighborhood Assistance, Paddler Eppie
Leonard Veare finally moved up from his multiple-second place finishes to win the event, and Vickie Pell returned to the victory podium for her third win. Legally blind athlete John Stephen Adams was finally granted race participation in 1997 following a court settlement that ended a six-year legal effort. He was allowed to start five minutes behind the last biker and would be led by race officials wearing bright vests. Race day, however, he ended up only doing the run.


Great Race XXV - July 18, 1998
387 TEAMS " 419 IRONPERSONS
1:33:30 - Team Winner:"Too Fast for Me," Runner Ben Ayers, Cyclist Bran Deromen, Paddler John Campbell
1:58:24 - Ironwoman Winner Vickie Pell
1:42:59 - Ironman Winner Leonard Veare
The Great Race Team - Runner Dan Koellen, Vice President of Level One Communications; Cyclist Michael P. Lyon, President of Lyon Real Estate, Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Eleni Tsakopoulous (I), President, AKT Development
Great Race Ironman - Will Kempton, Race Director
For the first time, the number of Ironpersons exceeded the number of teams. A new corporate entry fee of $360 provided a $300 donation to Adaptive Leisure Services. Leonard Veare repeated his win, this time by less than a minute over 10-time champion Don Hicks. Vickie Pell repeated as the Ironwoman champion, her fourth win.


Great Race XXVI - July 17, 1999
1:35:26 - Team Winner: Runner Chad Worthen, Cyclist Jim Diepenbrock, Paddler Don Hicks
1:55:53 - Ironwoman Winner Linda Casillas
1:45:20 - Ironman Winner Leonard Veare
The Great Race Team - Runner Roger Niello, Sacramento Co. Supervisor; Cyclist Lou Blanas, Sacramento Co. Sheriff, Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Beth O'Farrell
Great Race Ironman - Mike O'Farrell
The Ironwoman and Ironman champion awards were renamed the Eva Ueltzen and Lin Fiel Award, respectively, after two longtime participants who had recently passed away. Dr. Thomas Marshall completed his 25th straight race, missing only the inaugural event because he didn't know about it. Leonard Veare won his third straight Ironman title and Linda Casillas won her fifth title in eight years.


Great Race XXVII - July 29, 2000
1:40:02 - Open Team Winner: Runner Ben Ayers, Cyclist Brendon Lyon, Paddler Eric Buer
1:37:00 - Adaptive Team Winner: Runner Tim Klinefelter, Cyclist Garth Schmeck, and Paddler Bill Michel
1:58:25 - Ironwoman Winner Vickie Pell
1:46:28 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Race Team - Runner Mike Ammon, State Dept. of Waterways; Cyclist Pat Zinn, Computer Salesman, Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Noelle Buel, past champion team member
Great Race Ironman - John Weed, past champion team member
The Great Race was moved a week later than its traditional third weekend in July due to the 2000 Olympic Track & Field Trials at CSU-Sacramento. Don Hicks returned to capture his 11th Ironman title. Vickie Pell returned to the Ironwoman podium for her fifth win. In recognition of his efforts on behalf of the disabled community, Sacramento County in 2000 renamed the La Sierra Community Building the Eppie G. Johnson Therapeutic Recreation Center.


Great Race XXVIII - July 21, 2001
1:40:40 - Team Winner: "Current Adventures Kayaking" Runner Conrad Knutsen, Cyclist Carlos Casillas, Paddler Dan Crandall
2:01:48 - Ironwoman Winner Vickie Pell
1:49:06 - Ironman Winner Don Hicks
The Great Race Team - Runner Nina-Germaine Salarno-Ashford, Dir. CA Office of Victims Services; Cyclist Bill Griffith, Sacramento Dept.of Parks & Rec., Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Deirdre Fitzpatrick (I), morning news anchor for KCRA-TV
Great Race Ironman - Charlie Fox, commercial real estate broker
Don Hicks won his 12th Ironman title and Vickie Pell won her sixth Ironwoman title, each for a record number of Ironperson wins. The first overall open team trophy was renamed the Paul A. Garcia Memorial Trophy, in honor of a long-time Eppie's supporter who had recently passed away.


Great Race XXIX - July 20, 2002
1:34:59 - Team Winner: "Current Adventures Kayaking;" Runner Conrad Knutsen, Cyclist Carlos Casillas, Paddler Dan Crandall
1:55:16 - Ironwoman Winner Vickie Pell
1:44:46 - Ironman Winner Vic Vicari
The Great Race Team - Runner Dan Kennedy, Publisher of The Sacramento Business Journal; Cyclist Jeannine Kuhn, Co-Founder of California Family Fitness, Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Barbara Ashe, Business Analyst for EDS
Great Race Ironman - John Segerdell, Director of Engineering & Construction for Sacramento Regional Transit
Vic Vicari, competing in the Ironmen 40+ division, had the overall fastest Ironperson time and Vicki Pell won her seventh title. Don Hicks competed on a second-place relay team. Leonard Weed, a multi-time participant and father of champion kayaker John Weed, passed away just after the race. He paddled in the race in 2001 at age 78. The Family Division was renamed the Leonard Weed Memorial Division.

Great Race XXX - July 19, 2003
367 TEAMS - 516 IRONPERSONS
1:36:50 - Open Team Winner: "Current Adventures Kayaking;" Runner Conrad Knutsen, Cyclist Carlos Casillas, Paddler Dan Crandall
1:57:52 - Ironwoman Winner Vickie Pell
1:45:35 - Ironman Winner Vic Vicari
The Great Race Team - Runner Gary Pruitt, President of McClatchy Publishing; Cyclist Ron Suter, Director, Sacramento Co. Parks and Recreation, Paddler Eppie
Great Race Ironwoman - Deirdre Fitzpatrick, morning news anchor for KCRA-TV
Great Race Ironman - Charlie Willard, Great Race Co-race Director
The 30th Annual Eppie's Great Race was celebrated with much fanfare and many notable performances. Vickie Pell became the first women in the Women's 50+ division to win the Ironwoman Division outright, and in so doing she notched an unprecedented eighth Great Race Ironwoman victory. Vic Vicari had to duel three-time winner Leonard Veare to win by less than a minute. Twelve-time winner Don Hicks paddled for the River City Rebels Team that came in a close second to three-peaters Current Adventures Kayaking.


Great Race XXXI - July 24, 2004
413 TEAMS - 557 IRONPERSONS
1:36:52 - Open Team Winner: "Current Adventures Kayaking;" Runner Conrad Knutsen, Cyclist Carlos Casillas, Paddler Dan Crandall
1:58:48 - Ironwoman Winner Elizabeth Collins, Carnelian Bay, CA
1:38:22 - Ironman Winner Miroslav Podborsky, Czech
2:02:37 - The Great Race Team - Runner David Luchetti, President Pacific Coast Building Products; Cyclist Eric Heiden, MD, 5-time Olympic Speed skating Gold Medalist; Paddler Eppie
2:20:29 - Great Race Ironwoman Jennifer Whitney, KOVR-Channel 13 News Anchor
2:08:31 - Great Race Ironman Jeff Holden, Clear Channel Director of Sales, Sacramento Region
World-class Czech athlete Miroslav Podborsky won the Ironman competition 16 minutes ahead of David Schneider of Tiburon. Podborsky's appearance came from the collaboration of Eppie with "Team Trikokot," three naturalized Czech U.S. citizens who have competed in the Great Race since 1979. They worked with Eppie to have a similar event (Sept. 2003) in the Czech Republic and Eppie invited that event's winner (Podborsky) to come to the Great Race here.
Ironwoman winner Elizabeth Collins of Carnelian Bay, Calif. finished a mere 47 seconds ahead of Vickie Ammon. Vickie, who had recently married longtime Eppie competitor Mike Ammon, is one and the same as the 8-time Eppie's Ironwoman Vickie Pell. Mike once again captured the men's 50+ division with a 1:53:30 time.
The date of this year's Great Race was again moved back a week due to the Olympic Track and Field Trials being held in Sacramento. In keeping with the Olympic theme, George Katsoulis, who carried the Olympic Torch in the ancient Greek city of Argos earlier in the year, carried the torch at the start.


Great Race XXXII - July 16, 2005
375 TEAMS - 464 IRONPERSONS
1:36:12 - Open Team Winner: Runner Keith Hankins, Cyclist Dean Alleger, Paddler Don Hicks
1:58:21 - Ironwoman Winner Elizabeth Collins, Carnelian Bay, CA
1:48:32 - Ironman Winner Vic Vicari, Sacramento
1:59:53 - The Great Race Team - Runner Will Kempton, Director of Cal Trans; Cyclist Jot Condit, President/CEO California Restaurant Assoc.; Paddler Bob Hanna, Great Race athlete for over 20 years
2:14:00 - Great Race Ironwoman Lynne Ruddell, River City Paddlers Treasurer
2:01:04 - Great Race Ironman Pat Hambright, KTXL Weeknight Weathercaster
This was the hottest day ever for Eppie's Great Race, with a high of 107 degrees. The winning team of Keith Hankins, Dean Alleger and 12-time Eppie's Ironman winner Don Hicks bested four-time team winner Current Adventures by a mere 15 seconds. Elizabeth Collins had an Ironwomen repeat victory, although 8-time winner Vicki Ammon was only 13 seconds behind her. Vic Vicari captured the Men's Ironman title, his fourth Eppie's victory.


Great Race XXXIII - July 15, 2006
374 TEAMS - 502 IRONPERSONS
1:34:18 - Open Team Winner: Team California Canoe and Kayak; runner Corey Creasey, cyclist Michael Brown, paddler Craig Tanner
1:57:37 - Ironwoman Winner: (Women's 40+ Div.) Elizabeth Collins, Carnelian Bay, CA
1:45:16 - First Ironman: (Men's 40+ Div.) Don Hicks, Carmichael, Ca
1:59:53 - The Great Race Team - Runner Meredith Bean, Director of Sports Medicine, Kaiser Permanente ?s South Sacramento Medical Center; Cyclist Steve Boutin, Co-founder, Sacramento law firm of Boutin Dentino Gibson Di Giusto Hodell Inc; Paddler Meredith Wharton, President, River City Paddlers
2:14:00 - Great Race Ironwoman Jennifer Whitney, former news anchor at KOVR-13
2:01:04 - Great Race Ironman Jon Thomas, Director and Owner of Campus Commons Physical Therapy Inc.
A new companion event for kids, temperate weather, fast times, close finishes, and some interesting participant stories characterized the 33rd Annual Eppie’s Great Race. The Inaugural Kaiser Permanente Kids Duathlon was enjoyed by nearly 150 youths and will be held again in 2007.
Don Hicks, many time Ironman winner and this year posting the overall fastest finish time as an 40+ Ironman, dedicated the race to his long time best friend Jake. Jake, a speedy German Shorthaired Pointer who often accompanied Don in his training runs and races, passed away earlier in the year. Rachel Pond Camero, competing as an Open Ironwoman, finished 24th in the division (2:28:36). Rachel dedicated her race to her 88-year-old grandfather, William B. Pond, after whom the park where the race begins is named. Her “Grandpa Bill” was
Bill Griffith (79) and John Weed (53) finished the event for their 32nd time: John as the paddler for the winning Men’s 40+ Division Team and Bill as the paddler on the winning Tandem Canoe Team. Ironwoman 40+ Elizabeth Collins notched a mere five second victory over Ironwoman 50+ Vicki Ammon. Open Ironwoman Erika Woolsen finishing more than nine minutes back, just might have something to learn from her elders. The best team name without a doubt is Waddle, Straddle and Paddle – and no slouches at that. John Kennedy, Doug Arnold, and Marsha Arnold waddled, straddled and paddled their way (respectively) to 38th overall among both teams and Ironpersons, 4th in the Co-ed Division.
Eppie’s Great Race total contributions to Sacramento County Therapeutice Recreation services surpassed the $800,000 mark.


Great Race XXXIV - July 21, 2007
XXX Teams • XXX Ironpersons
1:51:02 - Adaptive Team Winner: Y.B. Dogs - Muddy Dog, Karen O'Connell, Jon Houde
1:32:12 - Open Team Winner: Team California Canoe & Kayak - Runner Patrick Boivin; Cyclist Michael Brown; Paddler Craig Tanner
1:58:41 - Ironwoman Overall Winner & Ironwoman 50+ Winner Vicki Ammon, Carmichael, CA
2:06:33 - Ironwoman Open Winner Denise Rowland, Sacramento
2:11:13 - Ironwoman 40-49 Winner Debbie Heilman, Sacramento
1:43:28 - Ironman Overall Winner & Ironman 40+ Winner Vic Vicari, Carmichael, CA
1:46:43 - Ironman Open Winner Chris Heath, Sacramento
- The Great Race Team - Runner Mike Ammon, Calif. Dept. of Boating & Waterways Contract Administrator; Cyclist Blair Robertson, Reporter, Sacramento Bee; Paddler Bob Hanna, Representative, West Side Boat Shop
- Great Race Ironwoman Deirdre Fitzpatrick, KCRA TV News Anchor
- Great Race Ironman Rick Braziel, Deputy Chief of Police, Sacramento Police Dept.
Record numbers were the big story at the 34th Annual Eppie’s Great Race.The event posted a 21 percent increase in participation over the previous year. The total 1,958 participants included 269 in the 2nd Annual Kaiser Permanente Kids Duathlon, up from 150 in 2006. Perennial competitors Vic Vicari (1:43:28) of Sacramento, and Vicki Ammon (1:58:41) of Carmichael, were the overall “Ironman” and “Ironwoman” winners. Vickie was the first woman aged 50+ to be an overall Ironwoman winner, besting both the open women’s winner Denise Rowland (2:06:33) and the 40-49 winner Debbie Hellman (2:11:13). Team California Canoe & Kayak three-peated with a solid victory, besting Team Fair Oaks (Phillip Reid, Peter Allen, John Easterbrook) by over two minutes.