Star Wars, music icons inspire winning names for California city’s first snowplow naming contest
It’s a Fast and Flurryous announcement sure to ward off those winter blues. ... Catch My Drift?
On Monday, the city of South Lake Tahoe announced the winning names of its inaugural snowplow contest.
According to officials in the Northern California city, residents cast 1,194 votes within three weeks to choose between 36 snowplow names.
The top vote-getter, with 42.5% of all votes was The Big LePlowski, a nod to a 1998 cult cinema classic. But, not to be lost to pop culture, Plowy McPlowface was the second-best with more than 40% of the vote — a name no doubt inspired by the viral campaign waged in 2016 to name a fleet of autonomous British submersibles (also, the newsroom’s prediction for the winner).
Other names that topped the list: Call-outs to “Star Wars” — including Snowbi Wan Kenobi, Darth Blader and Snowbacca (sorry, Hans Sno-low) — and music icons like Fleetwood Mac and Snoop Dogg.
Surprisingly, according to the city’s full tally, Taylor Drift received no votes. But residents warmed up to Sled Zeppelin. Slay.
“The Name a Snowplow Contest has been a great way to kick off our winter snow removal operations and to engage our residents in a fun activity,” said Anush Nejad, the city’s director of public works. “We look forward to seeing the winning names on the city’s snowplows during this winter season.”
These are the ten names, in order, that will be affixed to the city’s fleet of specialized winter vehicles.
The Big LePlowski
Plowy McPlowface
Scoop Dog
Snowbi Wan Kenobi
Darth Blader
Sled Zeppelin
Clearopathra
Sleetwood Mac
Austin Plowers
Snowbacca
The full vote tally, as well as the full list of 36 names submitted, is available on the city’s website.
These names will be placed on the city’s powder-clearing Frost Responders over the next few weeks, city officials said.
The Bee’s Daniel Hunt contributed to these jokes.
