NEWBURYPORT - Sleep aficionados beware. There's a bed event today that has nothing at all to do with comfortable mattresses or snoozing, but it has everything to do with speed and hilarity.
It's Yankee Homecoming's Annual Bed Race, sponsored by the Newburyport Lions Club, and if last year's crowded event is any example, onlookers need to get to Federal Street early to get a good spot for viewing.
Race Chairman Dr. Chad McDonald has organized the event for the past six years and said part of the reason is because the event is "very entertaining." The race also promotes Lions Club charities; the race's profits support Lions Club programs on behalf of eye health, its scholarship program and its annual Thanksgiving dinner.
Entrants are motivated by any number of reasons. Some come for fun, some for the engineering challenge, some for sport, some for competition, and some for the cause the race represents.
The latter is a reason last year's Bed Race champion, Simply Sweet Bed Race team, takes part, said Simply Sweet candy shop owner Wendy Smith-Kennedy and team captain Kevin Winn. The team took the blue ribbon in 2004 and 2006. Simply Sweet will be back with its original team this year, Smith-Kennedy said. Team captain Winn takes his responsibility very seriously, she said, noting he started planning in November.
"We'll see what our original team brings to the race this year, but it's all for fun and a very good cause," Smith-Kennedy said.
Along with Winn, the team includes pushers Mark Doyle, Steve Richards, Tom Siemasko and Ed Morse. Christina Kelley is the Braveheart who volunteers to ride in the bed, one of the rules of the race.
Even though the team won last year in a record-smashing 1 minute, 8 seconds for the 400-yard push, the team's goal this year has nothing to do with speed.
"We won in the speed category two out of the three years we entered," Winn said yesterday. "This year, we decided we're too old for that, so we're going for the best theme award."
They're pulling out all the stops. Never remembering a bunk bed in a previous race, the Simply Sweet team bought a bunk bed three weeks ago and have been customizing it ever since.
"It's going to look like a London double-decker bus," Winn said. "We'll be dressed like the Keystone Cops, and the driver (Kelley) will be dressed like a prisoner. So it will be the Keystone Cops chasing a prisoner. We've named the team the Simply Sweet Keystone Pops, after lollipops to keep the reference to candy."
Winn agreed to give away a few secrets to promote today's race.
"We try to build interest in the Bed Race," Winn said. "We try to get others to sponsor teams and get more people to come to the race. This is a very good cause."
Amy Bride is another Bed Race backer. This will be her sixth Bed Race, winning the best bed theme trophy for the fifth year with last year's Tortoise and the Hare angle. Bride supports the race wholeheartedly because she suffered from eye problems as a child and wants to support the work the Lions Club does worldwide on behalf of eye research.
"We're the Shark Attack this year; the bed looks like a shark," she said.
She was anxious when she learned she'd have competition from Simply Sweet as it goes after the theme award, too.
"Oh no!" she wailed. "We always count on them going for the speed award."
But last year's second-place winners, the Desperate Midwives, are definitely going for speed this year, Bride said.
"They took their bed to a mechanic in Seabrook to get it souped up," Bride said. "It's getting very competitive."
Also back this year is the Newburyport Cub Scout Pack 21, Den 4, McDonald said. They brought the largest team of Cub Scouts last year but followed the rule. The scouts rode on the bed; the adults pushed it.
Although McDonald has the names of a few entrants, many teams enter the day of the race, he said. The hope is he'll have all the registrations by 5 p.m. today about an hour before start time.
"But we never turn anyone away," McDonald said.
Third prize last year went to the 2005 champions, the Plum Island Lifeguards, who showed up to defend and hopefully beat their 2005 record of 1 minute, 13 seconds. They did, coming in at 1 minute 12 seconds. But the competition was so fierce last year, that didn't get them the blue ribbon. But on an emotional level, they won a lot of hearts. They could make an appearance this year to redeem their speedy reputation.
Others who took part last year were the Knights of Cami-lot, the design staff of local lingerie manufacturer Bennett and Co.; Watts Eye Associates technologically advanced bed - it had a steering wheel, and the Old South Church, which celebrated its 250th anniversary.
IF YOU RACE
* Team entry fee is $30 per bed
* Preregistration is required
* Deadline for registration is 5 p.m.
* Start line: Top of Federal Street
* For rules and regulations: contact Dr. Chad McDonald, 978-314-9000 or chadmcdonald@comcast.net
IF YOU GO TO WATCH
When: the race is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. today
Where: Start: Racers push off at the top of Federal Street
Finish: The bottom of Federal Street.
Cheering squads are needed along the entire 400 yards in between
Why: For the fun of it and to support Lions Club charities.
Extras: Enjoy a Bed Race Burger served at the Old South Church on Federal Street, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Home-cooked burgers while you wait.
