Butler Bed Race Looking For Participants

BUTLER, NJ - Have you ever wanted to decorate a bed and race it down Main Street for the benefit of the community? Well your weird dreams are about to come true as egistration for the Butler Economic Development Committee's bed race is now open.

The event is set for Sunday, Oct. 18 but registration is now open. According to officials, you don't have to be from Butler to enter and only 16 teams will be accepted. The race is for people 18 and over, but if your group is under 18, such as Girl/Boy Scouts, officials suggest letting the kids do the decorating and the parents run the race.

2020 Bed Races notes:

• First heat commences at noon
• 16 teams only will be admitted
• $25/5-person team until Sept. 18
• $35/5-person team after Sept. 18

Those looking for rules and guidelines can email sandi@souljourney.com but here is a preview:

• Each team will consist of 5 members: 1 person to remain on the bed and 1 person in each
• corner.
• Each team member must wear some kind of protective head gear, such as a bike or motorcycle helmet.
• Each team member must be 18 years of age or older.
• Mattresses must be Twin-size in dimension ONLY. Full-, Queen- or King-size beds arenot allowed.
• Decorate your bed however you wish. Nothing may extend over the edge of the bed frame more than 6”. Judging of all beds will be prior to the races. Ribbons will be awarded for various categories (Best Decorated, Most Patriotic, etc.) as well as First, Second, and Third places.
• There will be no smoking, propane, or engines attached to any bed in the race.
• Each bed frame must be on wheels no bigger in diameter than 4”.
• Each mattress, box spring, and frame must be disposed of in a proper manner after the race. This means they must be deposited in a proper garbage disposal, not just left on the curb. A dumpster will be available at the race’s end.
• The races will be run on Sunday, Oct. 18, with a course of approximately 1/10 mile. There is no rain date.
• Racers may gather and set up at 11 a.m. in the staging area between Manning Ave. and the race’s start. Please plan on being ready to race at noon.
• The race will run from 12.00pm until all heats are finished. Two teams will run at one time, the winner of each heat to meet another winner, etc., until we have an ultimate winner.
• There is a limit of 16 beds that will be admitted. You will be notified if you are accepted or not.
• Each heat will be clocked with a stop watch and the winner of that heat will be announced immediately. That team will advance back to the staging area to wait for their next heat.
• This is a family-oriented event and profane language on a bed or a racer will result in immediate disqualification.
• You do not need to be a resident or own a business in Butler in order to participate. Any and all are welcome.
• The EDC and its judges reserve the right to disqualify any bed or racer that violates any of the above guidelines.
• If you have any questions, please contact Sandi at sandi@souljourney.com.

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