Bed race coming to Zelienople
ZELIENOPLE — Zelienople locals will soon be able to compete in an obstacle course without ever getting out of bed.
As part of the town’s first-ever Bed Race Derby, residents can sign up as five-person teams to try their hand at a race using home-built bed frames on wheels.
Mayor Thomas Oliverio of Zelienople, who spearheaded the event, discovered the practice of bed races recently while visiting his daughter in Wisconsin.
“They’re all over the country, but they’re not as popular in this particular area,” Oliverio said. “They’re more popular in Florida and the Midwest.”
Competitors build their own bed frame or put wheels on an existing one. Beds must have a headboard and a footboard, be no bigger than 6 feet by 8 inches and have rubber wheels in order to compete.
Four members of a team will push their bed through an obstacle course, and one rider will sit on the bed itself. Competitors can decorate their bed however they like, and can compete for a “best decorated” prize along with a prize for best time on the course.
“This is something new I am doing for Zelienople,” Oliverio said. “As mayor, I’ve always done things for the adults and the businesses and so forth, but we never do anything for the kids.”
For the race, which will take place at 11 a.m. Aug. 13. High Street will be blocked off between Spring and Beaver streets.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., and participants must be 12 years of age or older.
To sign up, registering teams can visit the Zelienople Area Public Library before Aug. 10.
Registration costs $25 per team, and will benefit the planned children’s addition at the Zelienople Library.
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