La primera reina SLUG
Era el año 1983. Más de 25.000 personas se habían reunido en el centro para una celebración pública del nuevo Hult Center en 1982, y los funcionarios de la ciudad estaban tratando de lanzar un festival anual que de manera similar uniría a la comunidad.
“Algunos de nosotros pensamos que era importante no tomarnos demasiado en serio como ciudad”, contó recientemente la entonces concejala Cynthia Wooten. "Queríamos llamar a este evento Eugene Slugfest".
But a majority of city leaders opted for the more generic but less slimy “Eugene Celebration.”
By way of lighthearted protest, Wooten and others created a gastropodous entry for the first Eugene Celebration parade: a giant, Chinese dragon-style slug accompanied by the first Slug Queen bicycle designer/engineer Bruce Gordon.
“I think they picked me because I already had a gown,” Gordon recalled from his home in Petaluma, Calif. “I’d gone to a Halloween party in drag the previous year.”
In his silver lame gown, blond wig and long gloves, Gordon waved to the crowd from a vintage MG convertible to the strains of “Happy Trails to You.”
Thus began the Society for the Legitimization of the Ubiquitous Gastropod.
As a master designer/creator of that ultimate alternative transportation vehicle—the bicycle—Queen Bruce set the tone to “keep it GREEN” for all future Slug Queens. Currently Queen Bruce lives in Petaluma, CA where he designs and handcrafts award winning touring bicycles. Check out his winning creation for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Now that’s a sweet royal ride. In the market for a one of a kind classic? Contact Bruce at Bruce Gordon Cycles to get your custom bike built for next season.