Eddy the goldfish was poised for victory. Instead his short life was cut even shorter, when after dominating his first race Wednesday night, he was scooped up and swallowed by Jared the human in one drunken and loss-inspired motion. His namesake, Eddy 2, went on to become the champion of Beach Nascar: PB Shore Club’s weekly goldfish race.
There’s nothing special about this casual sports-meets-surf bar; its bro rock CD rotation and 30-something patrons clinging to their bedazzle-happy youth are actually kind of lame. But there’s no cover charge, the weighty beer goblets guarantee about two extra ounces of brew for standard Pacific Beach prices and the $5 races (Wednesdays at 9 p.m.) are good for a laugh and a chance at the $80-bar-tab winner’s trophy. Plus, it’s right on the sand and not too far from Garnet Street ‘mdash; so you can cap the night with a beach visit or bar hopping.
The race is held tournament style, starting with eight pairs. To earn tank bragging rights and a round of drinks for your friends you’ve got to get your goldfish down a six-foot-long trough by blowing bubbles at it through a crazy straw. Unsurprisingly, there’s not much skill involved. Strategies vary ‘mdash; choose a small and skittish fish in hopes he’ll scare easy, take a few shots of Jack Daniels because the fish don’t like the smell, remain sober enough to keep the straw in the water ‘mdash; but most wins were decided by a mixture of goldfish self motivation and announcer frenzy.
‘There’s no technique,’ first-tournament champ Duane Morris said. ‘Just pour ’em and go.’
My advice is to bring someone from out of town ‘mdash; Morris is visiting from Scottsdale, Ariz. and the second-tournament winner hailed from Detroit.
Pacific Beach Shore Club 4343 Ocean Blvd. San Diego, Calif. 92109 (858) 272-7873