Andy Zimmermann wound up with a sore thumb Friday after prowling across The Villages for the Devil Dogs.
Zimmerman won the best decorated golf cart contest July 4th in a fund raiser for the Military Order of the Devil Dogs, The Villages Pound 335. The club is made up of ex-Marines with the nickname Devil Dogs, first used for Marines in World War I.
Zimmermann, a Caroline resident, earned his victory. He decked out his white cart with at least six flags, a plastic ornament of Uncle Sam on a bicycle, a Marine Devil Dog mascot and fire crackers stuck to the top of the vehicle.
It all resulted in a $75 first prize – the amount of money Zimmermann collected at five recreation center stops – and an aching
thumb.
“Everywhere I went, people gave me the thumbs up sign,” said Zimmermann, wearing a white and blue straw hat, tee-shirt and shorts, to go along with stirring red and white socks. “I kept putting my thumb up to them, and now it hurts. That’s OK; it’s for a good cause.”
About 60 carts participated in the event, which also included a poker run. Money raised goes to help the local Devil Dogs club and Marine Corps’ causes.
“We had an excellent turn out,” said Roy Thacker, junior vice president of the club. “This is the first time we tried this and the best part is that everybody had a good time.”
The event began in the morning at the Eisenhower Regional Center. Participants then
made five stops in the next hour or so, at Dunedin, Colony, Bacall, Lake Miona and SeaBreeze. In addition to collecting money at each stop, participants also picked up a playing card. Bob Kasprzak took home three Jacks and earned $100.
“It’s not bad work, making $100 an hour for driving your golf cart around The Villages,” Kasprzak said. “I was lucky and I had a lot of fun.”
So did Alan and Consuelo Punchar, who didn’t win any prizes but celebrated the Fourth by decorating their cart, driving around and enjoying a hot dog and soda at the tent party afterwards.
“It’s a good way to start the holiday celebration,” Alan Punchar said. “The best part was going to all the different recreation centers and seeing the support of the people. Everybody encouraged us.”
Thacker expects to do the cart contest next year. “We just hope it will be as much fun the next time.”
Jim Kelly also had a good day, but not quite as good as he thought. After he and his wife earned a top prize in a split club raffle, Jim shouted out to his mate: “Hey Dolores, I won.”
“No honey,” she answered, “I did,” as she put the money in her purse.
