Redmond Derby Days;
The nation's Oldest Bicycle Race

Redmond Derby Days, the nation’s oldest bicycle race, began in 1939 with a 25-mile race around Lake Sammamish. That first year, race spectators bought raffle tickets to guess what the winning racer’s time would be. The ticket holder with the closest guess won a $25 prize, and the rest of the money went towards purchasing Town Christmas decorations and jerseys for the Redmond High School football team. In 1940, Betty Anderson (nee Buckley) was crowned the first Derby Queen.

During the war years (1942 – 1945), no Derby was held. The annual event resumed in 1946, bigger than ever, with the first annual downtown parade. Raffle tickets were sold once again, but this time the prize was a 1947 Plymouth donated by Kirkland Chevrolet dealer Lee Johnson. The raffle also determined who would be crowned queen: local service groups each nominated a candidate for queen and then sold raffle tickets. The candidate whose group sold the most tickets won!

In 1952, Charlene Sugden (nee Johnston) was crowned the first Derby Junior Queen. Also that year, local mayors from Redmond, Fall City, Kirkland, Houghton, Bothell and Bellevue participated in their own bike race – Redmond’s Mayor Lewis Green came in first. A local mayor’s race occurred at least one other time in Derby history, in 1972.

No raffle was held in 1970 or 1971 due to a state law prohibiting such events, but by 1972 the law was repealed and a new Plymouth Duster helped raise money for the high school stadium, aid car equipment fund and other needed items. In addition to the bike race, raffle and crowning of a Queen, the Derby has included a parade and, since the 1970s, three full days of activities. In 1964, three sky divers added excitement to the festivities by parachuting into the celebration. Two years later, a sailboat race was added for the first and only time. In 1974, Paul Revere and the Raiders were featured as part of the celebration at Juanita High School. This year is Redmond Derby Days 70th anniversary – come see for yourself July 9-10! Be sure to check out this video on Derby Days by the Redmond Historical Society.

All photos courtesy of the Redmond Historical Society