The annual Fourth of July race began 19 years ago with no planning or concern for safety: Three young friends decided to celebrate America's birthday by racing down a steep San Clemente street in office chairs.
The unsanctioned derby has grown in popularity for almost two decades – last year it attracted 7,000 enthusiasts from across the county to residential streets. But some residents are fed up with the shenanigans that come with the race. They complained to the city that the race caused injuries and that spectators scattered trash around the neighborhood and used their yards as public bathrooms.
As a result, the city canceled the race and took over Victoria Avenue and Rose Avenue, two streets normally dedicated to the derby, for a more “family-friendly” celebration called Stars, Stripes & Slip 'N Slides.
“At times the event has become unsafe,” Samantha Wylie said of the derby during a City Council meeting last month.
He said firefighters have not been able to respond to incidents near the derby without being hit by water balloons. Last year, one person was injured after being hit by a frozen water balloon.
Stars, Stripes & Slip 'N Slides will feature a 300-foot inflatable water slide, an obstacle course and a smaller slide for kids. There will be a water balloon contest, pie eating contest, hula hoop contest, music, food trucks and a beer garden. The event is free to attend, but the city charges for wristbands for certain activities.
“We'll still draw the crowd that wants to be there, but we'll have the proper security dials in place that will protect the city a little bit more, as well as the property owners and residents that live on that street,” Wylie said.
Office chair race enthusiasts have accused the city of taking away freedom from a day meant to honour it.
What began as a simple office chair race has transformed over the years into a showcase of creativity and is the oldest event of its kind in the world, organizers say.
Over the years, the derby has attracted go-karts, tricycles, surfboards with wheels and even inflatable horses attached to a piece of wood nailed to two skateboards that roll through the neighborhood. In 2019, a group cruised down the street relaxing on a leather loveseat on wheels. As part of the tradition, spectators toss water balloons at the racers as they pass by.
“This sucks,” one person wrote in a city social media post promoting the new event. Another complained that since people “ruined” the office chair races, “now we have to pay for the city to take care of us.”
City Manager Andy Hall said residents have told him the event was enjoyed for many years, but it has grown so much that “it's a little more than that area can handle,” especially without bathrooms and other mod cons.
“A lady said someone came into her home and demanded to use the bathroom,” Hall said during a council meeting this month. “He may have been a little intoxicated.”
But the race for office chairs might not stagnate for long.
“Word on the street is that some of the runners might go underground for this year's race,” organizers wrote on the group's Facebook page.
