Turtles, Owners Come Out of Their Shells

Call it Marina del Rey’s weekly marathon.

Every Thursday night, people bring their pet turtles--usually two dozen or so--to Brennan’s Pub for races in which prestige, fame and fortune--but mainly bragging rights--are on the line.

There are 16 races on a given night. Turtles race by size and types, including water turtles (midgets, medium and large sizes), land turtles and box turtles.

Owners feed their turtles special meals, speak tender words of advice, hold practice races and prepare a host of racing strategies.

Longtime competitor Steve Wesolowski, 41, never misses a competition at the pub. He began racing turtles 10 years ago when a former girlfriend bought him a large one, which he named Snowblind. Since then, the Delta Airlines customer service agent has increased his stable to 25, all of which have been named in honor of Grateful Dead songs and reside in a spacious turtle habitat in his Marina del Rey back yard.

“I come here for the fun and spirit of it,” Wesolowski said. “It’s a night out for me and the turtles.”

As spectators sit on bleachers and folding chairs around the circular green racetrack and turtles get last-minute wet-downs, emcee Kelly Bakst explains the rules. No pointing at the turtles; no shadows from spectators are allowed on the track because it scares the turtles. If you violate either of these rules, your drink will be taken away from you or you may suffer a verbal assault from Bakst.

Turtles are placed on the center of the track, behind a metal cylinder, before Bakst calls for the race to begin and the referee lifts the starting gate. Sometimes the turtles are off and running. Most times, though, they just sit there, looking for inspiration. Suddenly, one of them will get the idea and bolt for the finish line. All the while, people are cheering and screaming for their favorite turtle.

If you do not have a turtle, you can rent one from Lynn Nelson, the pub’s official turtle secretary and record keeper.

“It’s a great place to come during the week and blow off some steam,” said James Ford, a 27-year-old computer programmer from West Los Angeles.

The event is sanctioned by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Regulation. Winners receive blue ribbons that can be accumulated and exchanged for prizes such as T-shirts and bottles of champagne. Those who are able to collect 800 blue ribbons can exchange them for a new video camera.

Brennan’s Pub, 4089 Lincoln Blvd., Marina del Rey. Races start 9 p.m. Thursdays. Information: (310) 821-6622.