THE RETURN OF COCONUT GROVE’S ANNUAL GREAT GROVE BED RACE SPEEDS INTO TOWN LABOR DAY WEEKEND
Sponsored by 1-800-411-PAIN MIAMI
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 Labor Day Weekend, with the races starting on Sunday, September 5, 2010. Spectators will witness fast paced action and possible “bed-on” collisions… luckily 411-PAIN will be on hand for damage control, including shattered egosand side-splitting pains from uncontrollable laughter. 411-PAIN will also 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 Saturday, September 4 th at 7 p.m. On-site 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 1/8th-mile Bed Race in the heart of Coconut Grove Village.
“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,” says Event Director, Daisy Lewis. “Last year’s race was a huge success and featured Miami’s 3-time Indy500 Champ, Helio Castroneves, as the events Grand Marshall. Thousands of spectators came out to support and cheer for their favorite team. We had36 participating teams in 2009 and I’m expecting this year to be twice as crowd- pleasing,” adds Lewis.
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 five-member teams (one rider, four racers), each team will be racing against the clock until the fastest eight (8) 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 will also be judged on 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 a wonderful community event and the 411-PAIN team is proud to be a part of this humorous competition of speed and creativity,” says 411-PAIN Owner, Mark Cereceda. “Safety is everyone’s number one priority, however, this race is a ‘no pain, no gain’ competition, and the verdict is still out for this year’s winner,” adds Cereceda. The 1-800-411-PAIN Great Grove Bed Race is produced by the Grove Merchant Groupand proceeds benefits the University of Miami Sleep Program and Alonzo Mourning Foundation Charities. The Grove Merchant Group welcomes visitors and patrons to enjoy the tree-lined streets of Coconut Grove while branding the neighborhood as an attractive and viable village. For additional information visit, www.thegreatgrovebedrace.com