Crowd Cheers Bed Race WinnersBy Tammy Daniels
10:25AM / Sunday, September 30, 2007
NORTH ADAMS - A custom-made conveyance and a quick-change technique help vault the Bronco Entertainment to victory in the first-ever Fall Foliage Charity Bed Race on Saturday afternoon.
The Broncos beat out six other teams in double-elimination qualifiers to take home the trophy. Team Rolling Thunder from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts battled bravely but fell seconds behind in the final sprint to take second place as the crowd cheered.
It was certainly a sweet victory for Brian Flagg, organizer of the event and owner of Bronco Entertainment.
"This has just been awesome," said Flagg. "It was very successful. I think it's sure to become a regular event. You could see the excitement from the crowd."
People lined the race route along the north side of Main Street from Eagle Street to 85 Main St. The race had first been planned to end at Holden Street, then there was the idea to go part way down, then have them turn around and return to Eagle.
Those plans were changed after North Adams Regional Hospital donated 15 hospital beds. "They weigh 300 pounds," said organizer Janeen Flagg. "We couldn't make them push them uphill."
Five of the teams used decorated hospital beds; only the Broncos and Special Forces created their own.
Flip Fortin rests up for the next race. |
The weight of the beds - and difficulty steering them - affected some teams' performances. The pajama drill, however, was make or break for all the teams.
Each team consisted of four people pushing and one person in the bed wearing "pajamas," the choice of clothing being up to the team. At the halfway mark, near Hoosac Bank, one person held the bed, two people ran around the bed and the "sleeper" exchanged pajamas with another person. The bed couldn't continue until the second sleeper was in the bed with the pajamas on.
The first teams eliminated were the ones stuck at the halfway mark as their competition crossed the finish line. The "Get Bedder" team found itself in just such a situation because they'd chosen a zip pajama - tough to get on and off.
After struggling with the zipper in their first race, team member Billie Allard said "we're going to change our tactics." It was not enough, and Get Bedder was the first team out. They did pick up a gift bag for being the most creative.
Rolling Thunder in between heats. |
As the afternoon went on, it became apparent that Broncos, Rolling Thunder and the Mountain Goat were the teams to beat as Special Forces, Municipal Movers and Bed Bugs also fell to the wayside.
"For our experience in this field, we were spectacular," said City Councilor Gailanne Cariddi of Municipal Movers. "We can't wait for a rematch next year. We're ready to go."
Fellow councilor and team member Richard Alcombright agreed. "We're not going to beat a team with a light bed - ours weighed 600 pounds, theirs weighed 60. We're thinking ahead to next year."
The other three Municipal Movers were City Councilor Christopher Tremblay and his wife, Melissa, and MCLA volunteer John Delsordo.
The Broncos had an edge - their bed was a lightweight, low-slung metal frame (welded together at A-1 Septic) with a plywood platform. The headboard and footboard were high with handles extending past the bed, allowing four people to easily push it along. Their secret weapon - an oversized nightgown big enough for two people that made exchanging clothing a snap.
That was enough to knock team Mountain Goat - Amy Merselis, Richard Joy, Michele Stines, Ed Joy and Flip Fortin - to third place. The Goats vow to come back next year.
Even so, Rolling Thunder - teamed by MCLA fraternity Pi Upsilon Pi and sorority Pi Upsilon Omega members - nearly nabbed the prize despite pushing a heavy hospital bed. Team Rolling Thunder will also appear in the Fall Foliage Parade on Sunday afternoon. Members are Sarah Buckley, Michele Wendling, Scott Greenberg, Zach Siano and Derek Staples.
A teddy bear is the mascot for Get Bedder. |
Team Bronco - David Cellan, Brent Braman, Grant Amos, Lita Williams and Shannon Luczynski - will be attending a football party, said Flagg.
He said the outpouring of support from local businesses and the city boded well for a return of the bed race next year. Some 40 or more MCLA students volunteered to help out, Northern Berkshire Healthcare donated beds and provided several teams, Central Radio offered up trophies and ribbons and other businesses provided gift certificates and items for gift baskets.
Proceeds of the race will go to Northern Berkshire Healthcare programs.
"I think it's great," said Mona Mohoski, who'd brought along a lawn chair to watch the event. "We need something like this. We need something different."
Flagg had room for 48 teams and only seven registered. But after Saturday's turnout, "next year, everybody is going to want to put in a bed."
Tammy Daniels can be reached at tdaniels@iberkshires.com
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