The wildly comedic bed race is returning to the streets of Coconut Grove, this time with injury protection on its side.
Teaming up with this year’s bed race is title sponsor 1-800-411-PAIN, whose attorneys are revved up for trial — timed trials that is. The 1-800-411-PAIN Great Grove Bed Race will take place during Labor Day Weekend, with the races starting on Sunday, Sept. 5.
Spectators will witness fast-paced action and possible “bed-on” collisions. Luckily 411-PAIN will be on hand for damage control, including shattered egos and side-splitting pains from uncontrollable laughter. 411-PAIN also will be getting plenty of “bed action” as a race sponsor for one of the participating teams.
Prior to Sunday’s race, the weekend’s festivities will kick off with a Pajama Pub Crawl on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. Onsite registration opens at 6 p.m. at Sandbar & Grill in Coconut Grove.
Sunday events start with the Ford Motor Company Family Pajama Party, featuring musical performances, face painting, a petting zoo and story telling at 11:30 a.m. at The Bookstore in the Grove. The Pit Row Parade of decorated beds begins at 1 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. green flag for the start of the one-eighthmile Bed Race in the heart of Coconut Grove.
“The Great Grove Bed Race has reinvented bed racing in partnership with the Homestead Miami Speedway and Coconut Grove community, who have embraced this tradition with open arms,” said event director Daisy Lewis. “Last year’s race was a huge success and featured Miami’s three-time Indy500 Champ, Helio Castroneves, as the event’s grand marshal.
“Thousands of spectators came out to support and cheer for their favorite team. We had 36 participating teams in 2009 and I’m expecting this year to be twice as crowd-pleasing,” Lewis added.
The race involves rolling beds down two village streets (Commodore Plaza and Grand Avenue) in Coconut Grove with the local South Florida community, individuals, businesses, organizations, and clubs sponsoring the beds. Comprised of fivemember teams (one rider, four racers), each team will be racing against the clock until the fastest eight beds are determined. Those eight finalists go head-to-head in a race for the top position.
Speed earns the ultimate checkered flag, but awards also will be presented for theme, creativity and décor. Similar to last year, the race will begin with a DUI checkpoint for all participants. However, this year, teams will be up against a more grueling sobriety test known as, The Inferno Challenge.
The 1-800-411-PAIN Great Grove Bed Race is produced by the Grove Merchant Group and proceeds benefit the University of Miami Sleep Program and Alonzo Mourning Foundation Charities. For additional information visit online at www.thegreatgrovebedrace.com.
