Polar Bear Tank Race #14 in the books

MULLEN - The Hooker County Community Center on the fairgrounds west of Mullen was the site for the 14th annual Polar Bear Tank Race, (PBTR) March 4-5. This would have been the 15th but COVID prevented last year’s race from happening.

Some 70 brave souls from the states of Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa and Wyoming attended, knowing there would be close to a 50-degree difference from the 2020 race temperature of 72 degrees to this year’s temperature of 25 with a wind chill in the minus column. Of the 14 PBTRs, this was the fourth time coveralls and warm outerwear was needed.

Mitch and Patty Glidden, owners of Glidden Canoe Rentals, have been the organizers and hosts with family and friends helping. The weekend starts with a Soup CookOff on Friday night. Many of the soups are made and brought in by Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway (SJNSB) members. This year, eight soups were taste-tested.

Winning “Best Decorated Table” was Linda Lacy of Ashby who was dressed as a Swiss Miss serving up Swiss Cheese soup. Lacy had visited her father’s homeland of Switzerland in the fall, providing the inspiration for her table and her soup.

Linda Teahon of Dunning, current SJNSB president, was selected “Best Named Table” – Brando’s Bunkhouse. This is the name of Teahon’s business venture in Dunning. “It is my version of Airbnb without breakfast – they are on their own there,” Teahon said.

SJNSB secretary Twila Phillips and husband, Lyle, from Mullen won “Best Soup” for their Cheeseburger Soup. Lyle Phillips works extra hard the day of the race, helping pull the tanks from the river.

There were five racing teams and nine “floating” teams.

Official results of the race day finalists weren’t immediately available however, the Muddy Water Tankers (Denny, Tracy and Kyle Whitfield and Colby Walton) came in at 1 hour, 5 minutes. Denny Whitfield is the only racer who has attended all 14 PBTR events.

Other contests occurring race day include for “Best Dressed Team” which this year was the American Tankers, all dressed as very pudgy Uncle Sams. Members included Cindy Wiley of St. Francis, Kan.; Lonna Clegg of Haigler; Cindy Fernadez of Wray, Colo.; and Paula Konruff of North Platte.

“Best Decorated Tank” was a close race between the American Tankers and the Slumber Party, who wore gray unicorn pajamas and decorated their tank in a dreamland of stars on a backdrop of pink. To spread bragging rights around, Slumber Party took the award.

Custer County had former residents in the race, with this being the first race for them. Carson Vaughn, son of Jerry Vaughn and now living in Chicago, was the instigator of his friends forming a six-man team named “Horace Easterwood and the Muddy Creek Tankers.” Team member Cody Shea took a Polar Bear plunge in the river after the race. His comment after stripping in minus wind chill temperature and taking a plunge was “This might not have been a good idea.”

Additional sponsors for the event inlcude the Hooker County Visitor’s Committee, Thomas County Visitor’s Committee, Consolidated Telephone, Kwik Stop, Mullen and Sandhills Natural Water of Mullen. Caterers and cash bar for the evenings were Greg and Dawn Mallory of the Chuckwagon N Jug restaurant. Mullen’s FFA chapter provided Saturday breakfast.

The 2023 Polar Tank Race is scheduled for March 3-4.

Terri Licking Above, the team of Horace Eastman and the Muddy Creek Tankers start the race. The team was comprised of Carson Vaughan of Chicago, Ill.; Scott Peterson of Broken Bow; Colby Shea of Lincoln; Bill Rowden of Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Jared Hanson of Cheyenne, Wyo.

Terri Licking Pictured above is the first place team in the 2022 Polar Bear Tank Race. Members include, from left, Denny Whitfield, Travis Whitfield, Kyle Whitfield and Colton Walton. Mitch Glidden, one of the hosts of the race, is on the right.