The Making of a Self-Built Float for the Tournament of Roses Parade, Part 2 Second part of a three part series on the making of the 2008 Sierra Madre Rose Float

By Bill Coburn, Don Mills, Leslee Hinton, Dick and Kay Sappington, and the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association

While last week saw an increase in hours spent at the barn, by a larger group of volunteers, this is the week when everything goes into overdrive, the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Volunteers will be descending on the barn en masse, and in the final days of December will be working round the clock to make sure the float is ready for the judges.  The last two floats have won awards.  The 2006 Sierra Madre Rose Float, "Wonder of Reading", was awarded the Founders Banner Trophy, and the 2007 Sierra Madre Rose Float, "Our Wonderful Wistaria", was awarded the Lathrop K. Leishman Trophy - "Most Beautiful Non-Commercial Float".  The bar has been set very high, but it appears as though this year’s entry has every possibility of continuing the streak.

Under the Flowers

The float moves at a speed of 2 to 21/2 miles per hour. It will take less than 20 seconds to make the turn from Orange Grove Blvd onto Colorado Blvd. It is at this time it is on television. Should a float break down, the driver has about 5 seconds to get it started before it is towed.  If the breakdown is before the turn there is a $1,000 fine. If the breakdown happens during the turn on camera, the fine is $1,500, and after the turn it is $750.  When it rained two years ago, many floats had to be towed because of the rain but the Tournament of Roses did not collect the fines.

The four people who will ride under the float are responsible for the operations and safety of the float.  Dave Gaydosh is the driver. He sits on the front left hand side of the float. Dave is responsible for the safe operation of the float. Dave Culture is the co-driver and observer. He is on the right hand side in front. Dave has a second brake in case something happens to the driver and he needs assistance.  Mike Dolce is the sound engineer and is responsible for the music.

And finally, Dick Sappington is the crew chief. He is responsible for the electrical and the hydraulics of the float. He is in charge of all the animation.  This year the butterflies will gently flutter their wings. If they move their wings too fast it would be a very bumpy ride for everyone.  Dick will be the one that is responsible to lower the large tree in the back of the float as it approaches the 210 Freeway overpass on Sierra Madre Blvd.  Dick and his wife Kay also supervise the construction and the decoration of the float.

Since all surfaces must be covered, the driver’s windshield is mesh wire which is covered with onion seeds. This allows the drivers to have a 180-degree view of the street. Drivers begin their service at about 5:30 pm on New Years Eve and except for a few necessary breaks, they work straight through till about noon on New Years Day.

Flowers and Decorations

The Tournament of Roses has rules for the materials that are used in decoration.

1. Everything must be organic material.

2. You must use roses.

3. Nothing can be dyed.  It must be its natural color.

4. Nothing can be used to represent itself.  You can not use a tree to be a tree.  It needs to be built from other material.

This year the Sierra Madre Rose Float will set an all time record for the most varieties of roses ever used.  The gardens will bloom with more than 80 different varieties of roses.   The record for the most varieties used is currently held by the FTD Florists Float in 2006 and the Bayer Advanced Float (2007) with 50 varieties.  The float will be covered with 22,500 roses and 7,000 irises. The roses will be coming from Ecuador and the irises from the Netherlands.  Unlike the roses from the United States, these roses have no scent.

The “Valentine” rose will make its Rose Parade debut on the Sierra Madre float. The rose is fluorescent red and will decorate several hearts at the front of the float. Sierra Madre is also proud to introduce the world to the brand new “Absolute” rose. This variety is the only white rose that is truly pure white.  It was developed for brides who want pure white roses to match their gowns.

The swans are delicately feathered in several different textures of coconut. It will take 400 lbs of coconut to cover the swans. This is enough coconut to bake 1,200 coconut cream pies. Each swan will wear garlands of Sorbornne lilies, Luxor and Shocking Versillia roses, green cymbidium orchids and green apples. The floral reins are woven from a half a dozen varieties of miniature spray roses and smilax. White dendrobium orchid florets will create the lacy effect of on the butterfly wings. The lake will glisten with hundreds of iris, white phalaenopsis orchids and Avalanche Cool Water roses. There will be thousands of Charlotte roses that create the intricate frame that encircles the float. Other materials used to decorate the float are straw flowers, marigolds, black and white sesame seeds, and melaleuca bark which will be used on the tree trunks.

Special Dedication This Year

The Rose Float Association has dedicated this year’s float to the memory of Knar Tufenkjian, a member of the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association who passed away in February.  For more on this story, see the article on page….

Pre-Parade Television Coverage

The Channel Five Morning News’ Gayle Anderson broadcast live from the Float Barn on Christmas Eve, with hourly live remote clips appearing throughout the Morning News broadcast.  One clip from the remotes that appeared is available for viewing on Channel Five’s website as of press time, though of course, that is subject to change.  To view the clip, which includes an interview with Sierra Madre’s Bonnie Colcher, volunteer coordinator for the SMRFA, go to www.ktla.trb.com, and click on the “Exclusive” button.  As of press time, Sierra Madre’s clip was the top video listed.

Fundraising

The Sierra Madre Rose Float Association raises funds to pay for the float throughout the year.  Membership dues help a lot, and twice a year, money is raised at a “Legendary Bingo” event. There’s a hamburger booth in the Park on 4^th of July, and volunteers stroll the boulevard during the 4^th of July parade selling roses to raise funds.  Each year, pins and t-shirts featuring that year’s design are sold.  Appeal letters are sent to the community, which donates generously.  And an opportunity drawing will be held at the Barn (behind Sierra Vista Park on Sierra Madre Blvd., between Santa Anita and Mountain Trail).  Sharp Seating Company has donated four Preferred Seat tickets, with parking, for the 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade.  Tickets are available at the Barn, with the drawing to be held Dec. 29^th.  Tickets are $5, or six for $20.  Stop by the Barn, pick up some tickets, buy a pin and a shirt or two, and if you have some extra time, why not volunteer a couple hours to help build the 2008 float?

Next week:  The final days of preparation, and the big parade.

If you’d like to make a donation, or become a member of the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association ($25 annual dues are a major fundraiser for the group), send your donation to Sierra Madre Rose Float Association, P.O. Box 603, Sierra Madre, CA 91025.  Membership applications can be downloaded by visiting the Association’s website, www.sierramadrerosefloat.org.