Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 7, July 2003

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'Milk Carton Martins'

part of North End Seafair royalty

By JAMES BUSH

Living just a block from Green Lake, Doug and Judy Martin were natural spectators for the annual Seafair Milk Carton Derby.

"We used to go to the races quite a bit with the kids," says Judy, "and we decided, 'Why sit here why not get involved.'"

With five sons to empty the milk cartons, a mechanically minded dad to create the boats, and a mom equally adept as cheering section or competitor, the Martins had it made. Over two decades, Martin family members have earned more than 30 trophies in the silly summer event, which will draw a crowd to Green Lake's south shore on Saturday, July 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Competitors race in people-powered boats buoyed by milk cartons.

The Martin era at the derby got off to a slow start. Doug's first effort was a square boat "which sort of went around in circles," Judy recalls. The V-shaped design he created in its stead proved an immediate success. "The boys ended up winning over and over again in those boats," she says. "We won some wonderful prizes over the yearsbicycles and radios and coolers and trips."

They also won the satisfaction of creating a downright milk carton dynasty. During the trophy presentation one year, a judge sympathetically addressed the other competitors after calling the name "Martin" several times. "As soon as the Martin boys get old enough and aren't doing this anymore," he said, "you'll all have another chance."

With youngest son, Eli, 17, entering his senior year at Bishop Blanchet High School, that day is fairly close at hand, although Judy predicts a couple of Martin-powered entries will compete in this year's event. The Martin boys are still an impressive lineup: Jason, 31, is a screenwriter who is working in Bolivia this summer as a mountain climbing guide; Tyler, 28, is a professional model, and student at the American College of Chinese Medicine in San Francisco; Lucas, 25, recently graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in anthropology; and Noah, 20, is working on a theater degree at Western Washington University.

The family has garnered a bit of fame over the years, with newspaper articles, and a television piece on Doug's now-famous "Formula V" design. The University of Washington engineering department even designed its own boat for a special challenge race against the Martins. "And, of course, our boat won," says Judy.

The Martins have also compiled a good record in the creative categories, although speed and creativity don't always mix. Judy remembers one boat featuring a milk carton on legs (on the theme of "Running Man"), that offered a little too much wind resistance. "We won in that one," she says, "but it was really difficult to paddle because the wind kept pushing it in the other direction." Another year, Lucas and his coworkers at Seattle's Best Coffee competed in a boat featuring a giant coffee cup.

And Judy brought home a few trophies herself by competing in the former "Powder Puff Derby" women's races.

But, like any family of boys, the young Martins loved competing against each other most of all. Judy's most vivid memory of the inter-family competition is the first year Lucas moved up to the age group where his older brothers had long ruled the roost. He struggled with the tippy boat, falling into the water three times and finishing last, but earned a huge ovation from the crowd for his effort. "We'd sometimes have two or three of them in one race," says Judy. "We'd try to cheer for them at the same time."

The Martins tell all: Secrets of milk carton competition

Getting together enough milk cartons for their several boats isn't that hard when you have five sons, says mom Judy Martin. She just starts saving cartons in March. (Judy's No. 1 tip: Rinse them out thoroughly before storing, or suffer the smelly consequences.) Last-minute entrants can catch up by asking a local espresso shop to save their milk cartons, she says, "as long as you pick them up daily."

Tip No. 2: Sealing the cartons for buoyancy is accomplished using a single staple to reclose the carton, then sealing with hot glue. Try not to burn your hands.

Tip No. 3: The Martins bundle cartons in sets of four with clear tape while boat-building. Boats can be reused from year to year by simply replacing the damaged milk cartons.

Tip No. 4: Easy does it on the course. Milk carton boats are notoriously top-heavy and therefore will tip easily. A contestant who stays out of the water has a good chance of winning.