A popular annual event is deeply rooted in a friendly rivalry.
The Callaway Cup Mule Derby, conducted every year as a part of the Fulton Street Fair, is the result of a friendly bet between a few local companies.
"It was Bruce Harris' idea," said John Bell, formerly of the Ovid Bell Press. "I think he threw down the gauntlet, and Roger Moser and I accepted the challenge."
The event, which involves the racing of toy mules on wheels attached to guidelines, takes place on Court Street. The cables, stretched from the top of the Court Street hill to the bottom, guides the "mules," which are released from the top of the hill and roll down to the bottom using weight and velocity. They are stopped with bales of hay.
Entries are judged on their appearance and speed. According to Bell, the race has a similar feeling to another childhood memory that many Fulton residents have.
"It's like the Pinewood Derby if you were a Cub Scout, on a larger scale," said Bell.
The event has two parts: the Callaway Cup, and a second race that began as a friendly bet between Harris, Bell and Moser.
The first race is open to all. Contestants can build a mule that follows the competition guidelines, and enter the race.
The second race, however, has a $1,000 entry fee. The fees are donated to local charity SERVE Inc., and the two losers of the race have to donate an additional $1,000 to SERVE. Historically, Callaway Bank, Moser's and Ovid Bell Press have been the only companies involved in the SERVE Inc. bet.
Bringing out their inner Cub Scout
Harris and Bell's friendship had a history, according to Glenn Harris of Callaway Bank.
"Bruce and John had a great friendship that goes back many many years," said Harris of his late father.
Debbie LaRue of Callaway Bank says that their friendship gave the event a competitive feel.
"Bruce and John always tried to trump each other," said LaRue.
Contestants would often have fun joking one with another. According to Moser, every year leading up to the street fair, he purchases an ad with the Fulton Sun to gloat to his fellow competitors.
LaRue said the ultimate trump card in this friendly rivalry belongs to Bell.
"(John) brought a real live mule into the lobby of Callaway Bank," she said. "John was secretly hoping that the mule would 'make a deposit.'"
Luckily for Callaway Bank employees, the mule did not make a deposit that day.
Raising the stakes
Last year's event was headlined by a dominant showing from the Ovid Bell Press.
"The Ovid Bell Press blew everyone away last year," said Bell. "(Ovid Bell employee) Troy Williams is a mechanical engineer and put his knowledge to use."
However, Moser attributes the win to a legal loophole.
"We consistently beat them year after year until last year when Ovid Bell Press hired a high-dollar lawyer to tell them how to interpret the rules," said Moser. "He's a loophole racer."
According to Moser, last year's event is changing how they design this year's mule.
"Jack, my mule, took it pretty hard," added Moser. "Jack is being rebuilt to the new modern specification that their lawyer deemed appropriate."
This year's Callaway Cup Mule Derby will be 6-7 p.m. June, 17. All are welcome to enter the contest. For more details and application information, visit the street fair website at fultonstreetfair.com.