Children, Get Ready to Race Your ... Zucchini

"Peeling" rubber has taken on a whole new meaning in Wyandotte this summer.

Rather than hosting a typical pinewood derby race for children, organizers of the are making things a bit more organic.

Don't worry about buying a piece of wood and spending hours carving it into a car. Instead, buy a zucchini at the farmers market and mold it into a lean, mean (and green) fighting machine.

The inaugural Zucchini 500 will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 16 on the farmers market site at First and Elm. The free event is open to children ages 3 to 16.

The market will provide free axles and wheels, but the zucchini base must be purchased at the farmers market, either this Thursday or on race day.

A creation station will be set up at the market on Aug. 16th for those wanting to build their zucchini cars on-site.

Zucchinis will be weighed upon entry and will race with other entries of comparable weight.

Prizes will be awarded for the fastest and best decorated zucchini cars.

"We are encouraging kids to 'play with your food' at the Zucchini 500," said Natalie Rankine, director of . “We want to get more children involved in the importance of local agriculture and our hope (is) families will come out to enjoy the event and meet our farmers.”

Children must register and check-in prior to 5:30 p.m. on race day in order to participate. Registration forms are available online.

The farmers market is open from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 18.