KEYBOARD SPEED RACING!

Take a swig of espresso, carefully lock the wheels of your desk chair, and tell your boss to hold your calls.
It's time for Keyboard Speed Racing!



Palm Springs is the birthplace and home of the exciting and sometimes dangerous indoor sport known as Keyboard Speed Racing. Created by a team of non-professionals, the race was designed to help prevent computer users from slipping into a coma while working at their desk in the late afternoon. The contest attracts speed typists throughout Southern California, all vying for a shot at fame and glory by winning the coveted award presented by the Society of Working Hard American Typists (SOWHAT).

The widespread problem of computer users slipping into a coma in the late afternoon hours has plagued employers for decades. The business world had nowhere to turn with this embarrasing problem that effects billions of computer users worldwide, as well as the millions of other office workers that often show signs of life, but are virtually unresponsive from approximately 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. Although Keyboard Speed Racing is proven to be habit forming, it has shown positive results in numerous non-clinical studies. Within just a short period of time, workers begin to show signs of alertness and the ability to type at a feverish pace.

In some rare cases, a medical evaluation may be required before entering Keyboard Speed Racing competition. Keyboard Speed Racing is not for the faint of heart. It requires skill, speed, intelligence, and a keen ability to move quickly while locating information on the Internet at warp speed. The event generally involves the ability to answer a racing related question. The winner that answers the question, or series of questions correctly with the fastest overall response time wins the racing title as well as a really great gift certificate.

When the first Keyboard Speed Racing contest was held on May 19, 2004, Lisa Calvino, an office worker from Newport Beach entered the race by responding with the correct answer in less than three minutes! Lisa won two tickets to the Petersen Automotive Museum's "Speed Queens: Women in Land Speed" event and instantly became a legend at the Keyboard Speed Racetrack. Competitors from throughout Southern California raced to beat Lisa's 3-minute record. These accomplished Keyboard Speed Racers have all been inducted into the:

KEYBOARD SPEED RACING WALL OF CHAMPIONS (DRAG CATEGORY)

DATE
 WINNER
 WINNING RACE TIME
March 19, 2004
 Lisa Calvino, Newport Beach
 3 minute response
April 2, 2004
 Elisa Garrett, Laguna Niguel
 12 minute response
April 16, 2004
 Deborah Schwartz, Palm Desert
 3 minute response
April 30, 2004
 Lisa Calvino, Newport Beach
 11 minute response
May 8, 2004
 Deborah Schwartz, Palm Desert
 *
June 4, 2004
 Lisa Calvino, Newport Beach
 6 minute response
June 25, 2004
 Shelly Thacker, Palm Springs
 *
Jul;y 9, 2004
 Barbara Snow, Indio
 4 minute response
July 16, 2004
 Orie Mann, Cathedral City
 10 minute response
April 21, 2005
 Gene Hetzel, Cathedral City
 *
April 28, 2005
 Lisa Calvino, Newport Beach
 24 minute response
May 19, 2005
 Diana Welsh, Newport Beach
 24 minute response
May 26, 2005
 Linda Cobarrubias, Santa Monica
 *
June 2, 2005
 Marcia Fisher, Palm Desert
 14 minute response
June 9, 2005
 Barbara Snow, Indio
 *
June 16, 2005
 Lisa Calvino, Newport Beach
 20 minute response
December 28, 2005
 Jon Schultz, Newport Beach
 *
January 5, 2005
 Clare O'Dowd, Palm Desert
 *
January 19, 2005
 Beth Camero, Yuba City
 10 minute response
January 26, 2006
 Lisa Calvino, Newport Beach
 19 minute response
February 9, 2006
 A.C. Harrell, Indio
 *

* Finishes over 24 minutes are not listed.

ENDURANCE RACING



In 2006, a new Keyboard Speed Racing contest was introduced and was sponsored by Vicky's of Santa Fe. Named The DaVicky's Code, the contest requires that a series of challenging questions be answered with both accuracy and speed by looking for clues that relate to racing on the Vicky's of Santa Fe Wine List. This elite group of Keyboard Speed champions make up our endurance team of racers. They are:

Elizabeth Wholihan of Rancho Mirage, California
2006 Da Vicky's Code Champ

Rebecca Seldomridge of Palm Desert, California
2007 Da Vicky's Code Champ

Alison Elsner of Palm Springs, California
Da Vicky's Code Reigning Champion

FORMULA CHAMPS

On January 16, 2008, Alan Harrell of Indio, California, won the Keyboard Speed Racing contest by correctly answering the following question: What car did Juan Manuel Fangio drive in the 1957 Grand Prix of Germany in the last win of his F1 career, securing a record-setting 5th title? Answer: Maserati 25F.

On January 23, 2008, Dave Wolin of Oakhurst, California, won the Keyboard Speed Racing contest by correctly answering the following question: What short-lived American automaker produced the first production fiberglass sports car, designed by Howard "Dutch" Darrin in the USA, beating Corvette to market by one month? Answer: Kaiser.

On January 31, 2008, Marlon Mitchell, of Chatsworth, California, and president of the All Mustang and Ford Club of Southern California, won the Keyboard Speed Racing contest by correctly answering the following question: What model went on to dominate racing in the late 60s that included four stgraight victories at Le Mans and was the result of Enzo Ferrari suddenly cutting off negotiations to sell his company to Henry Ford, II? Answer: GT40.

On February 20, 2008, Linda Cobarrubias of Los Angeles, California won the Keyboard Speed Racing contest by correctly answering the following question: What British driver won the Grand Prix de Monaco five times in the 1960s? Answer: Graham Hill.

Our thanks to the

KEYBOARD SPEED RACING SPONSORS

Vicky's of Santa Fe, Palm Springs Volvo, Boomers!, Desert Hills Premium Outlets, Petersen Automotive Museum, Derrik Lewis's Musical Chairs, Palm Springs Community Concert Association, Palm Canyon Theater, Pepper Tree Bookstore, Las Casuelas Cafe, Palm Springs Film Noir, Keith McCormick's Collector Car Show and Auction, GoodGuys Del Mar Nationals and D.G. Cook.