The bathtub racing competition between the Hot Springs Fire Department and the Hot Springs Police Department has always generated a red-hot level of heat as part of the World Championship Running of the Tubs competition on Bathhouse Row in downtown.
Throw a bag of Kingsford Applewood Flavored Briquets on the flames this year.
The Garland County Sheriff’s Office has entered the fray for the June 7 Battle of the Badge.
That’s right. The deputies are going up against the firefighters and police officers for bragging rights in the wettest world championship event involving four-wheeled regulation bathtubs.
“We always thought the Battle of the Badge brought the heat in this water-soaked event,” Visit Hot Springs Special Events Manager Alexis Hampo said. “But this year the judges will have to wear asbestos bathrobes when the police, firefighters and deputies duke it out on Central Avenue.
“It’s all in good fun, but we often think there’s a real flame of pride burning in the hearts of Garland County’s first responders as they push their bathtubs through a gauntlet of thousands of fans showering them with water blasters. Now, the heat is being turned up even farther.”
To make Hampo’s point for her, Tom Braughton, assistant fire chief, had this to say: “Great to see the Sheriff’s Office become a part of this historic race. We work very well with them at mutual aid calls and [Joint Hazard Assessment Team] events.
“I have no doubt they will give the Hot Springs Police Department a good run for second place — because neither of them wants to be third. Of course, it will be hard for HSFD to watch them battle it out for second place because it’s not safe for us to turn around while pushing a fast moving bathtub.”
Whew!
The cops’ response from Sgt. Richard Nunez.: “The Hot Springs Police Department is looking forward to this day of fierce competition . . . as long as the Fire Department can prevent their tub from being stolen from their station and the {Garland County Sheriff’s Office] actually shows up.”
Yipes!
Sheriff Mike McCormick’s take on the situation is downright polite: “We are proud to announce the Sheriff’s Office will be participating in this year’s Battle of the Badge. It has been over a decade since our agency has participated in this fun and competitive community event. No longer will we remain on the sideline while others triumph. This year, we race. We’re excited to bring competition and aim to win.”
Twenty-seven five-person teams have signed up to push actual bathtubs full of water down World Famous Bathhouse Row June 7 in the 19th edition of the Running of the Tubs.
“These competitors are primed for the races,” Hampo said. “They’ll push for glory in the World’s Wettest Four-wheel Vehicle Competition.
“The competition is going to be fierce. Between the tubs full of water and thousands of fans lining the course showering the competitors with water blasters, we guarantee that folks are going to get wetter than anyone this side of the snorkelers on the Great Barrier Reef.”
Teams compete in three divisions: Traditional, for actual cast-iron bathtubs; Modified for fiberglass tubs, and Stock, for nonprofit organizations which receive tubs supplied by the race organizers.
Each team must consist of five members: a captain, who must ride in the tub; a Bath Towel Attendant, a Bath Mat Attendant, a Soap Attendant and Loofah Mitt Attendant. The bath towel, bar of soap, loofah mitt and bath mat must still be in possession of the team members at the finish line. Added this year is a requirement that each tub must also carry a Hot Springs quartz crystal, a container of Hot Springs water, a stamp from Hot Springs National Park and some flamingo food.
The 19th edition of the Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs is presented by Bathhouse Soapery and Caldarium, whose owner, Charlene Simon, will start each race with the starters pistol. Other sponsors are Wrapped Gift Boutique, Resort TV Cable, the Diamond Lakes Travel Association, Riser Ford and Bath Planet (obstacle sponsors).
The bathtub races bring thousands of fun-loving spectators to downtown Hot Springs to watch as costumed teams push customized bathtubs on wheels down Bathhouse Row in hopes of winning glory and a big ol’ trophy. Fans soak the racers — and often themselves — with water-soakers as the tubs go past. The races are free, family friendly and the cleanest fun in America, Hampo said.
The Running of the Tubs started in 2006, and this will be the 19th Running. (No races were held in 2020 because of the covid epidemic.)
The competing teams’ decorated tubs will be judged in downtown Hot Springs at 6 p.m. June 6, in the Judging of the Tubs celebration.
The races have drawn national attention as teams dress in wacky costumes to push regulation-sized bathtubs full of water and a driver through the historic downtown district of America’s Spa, which once had as its slogan “We Bathe The World.”
The Running of the Tubs is named in honor of the late Hot Springs businessman Stueart Pennington, who advocated tirelessly for the establishment of bathtub races to emphasize Hot Springs’ reputation as a thermal bathing mecca.
“The Running of the Tubs is another of the great family-friendly celebrations that are so popular with our residents and visitors,” Visit Hot Springs Marketing Director Bill Solleder said. “The crowds lining Bathhouse Row and joining in the wacky fun by shooting Super Soakers at the racers have been growing every year as word spreads about this super free event.”
Prizes are awarded in six categories: Traditional, Modified, Stock, Most Spirited, Most Original and Best Overall. The Traditional division is open to cast iron bathtubs. The Modified division is open to plastic or fiberglass tubs. The Stock division is open to nonprofits, religious and governmental organizations. Visit Hot Springs provides free tubs to those entrants.
Tubs must be at least 48 inches long and 24 inches wide. The wheels on the tub cannot exceed 30 inches in diameter mounted on axles and may not exceed 44 inches wide. Costumes are required.