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Race your bed down Main Street – no, really!

June 17, 2016   ·   0 Comments

By Michelle Janzen

 

It’s that time of year again when you can race your bed down Main Street in downtown Shelburne!

Last year’s winners of Shelburne Street Festival’s Bed Races, the team at Auto Centre Dufferin County Inc., awarded People’s Choice, Best Bed Design and then being crowned the Grand Champions, they are ready to defend their titles.

The first-ever documented bed races were held in Knarsborough, England in 1965 and was only open to Army, Navy and American Marines.

Here, competitors raced in teams of six, plus one on the bed, with each team providing their own bed, decorated in the theme for the year.

The beds run on four wheels, but also need to be able to float. The original 3km run race would begin and end at Conyngham Hall and, about halfway through the run, the teams face the one-in-five gradient climb to Castle Top before it’s back down the hill and toward the final challenge – crossing a river.

Now, Shelburne’s race is not quite as gruelling however it should prove to be just as entertaining.

The bed has to meet certain restrictions and requirements, and safety, of course, is very important. Participants are asked to wear good running shoes or boots along with suitable attire for the weather conditions, and to be aware of the fact that accidents may occur such as falling down on pavement, scrapes, bruises, tripping, collisions, etc. Safety gear to avoid such hazards, is recommended.

Bed racers can be between six and seven feet in length, and the width must be between three and four feet. The beds must be constructed in a fashion that all four pushers must be able to see the race course in front of the bed when they are pushing the bed, and the frame of the original bed must be used in the construction.

The bed racer is also required to have the team name clearly displayed.

A mattress is not required, but some form of covering is required so the rider cannot fall through. Foam mattresses, car seats, surfboards, and so forth, are examples of acceptable coverings. Personal safety must be a top priority when considering the transportation of the rider.

Beds must have four wheels, no more or less, and be designed so that all four wheels contact the ground at all times.

They may be fixed or swivel.

Wheels of any size may be used and all wheels do not need to be the same size. Steering mechanisms may be used.

Handles are permitted, however the bed has to be propelled by human energy only. No bed may have motorized or mechanical means of motion. All means of motion is limited to race team members. The bed cannot have any means of propulsion or brakes other than provided by the runners.

Teams will consist of five or six people, between the ages of 11 and 70, with one rider only, who must ride on top of the bed and with only four runners being able to propel the bed, with an alternate runner making up the sixth member.

Beds will be on display starting at 10 a.m. with the first race beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Final bed races will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday with awards being handed out immediately following.

You still have time to enter if you want, and to do so simply go to the Town of Shelburne website www.townofshelbnurne.on.ca and for a registration fee of $25 you too, can race a bed down the streets of Shelburne.

 

         

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