BRUNSWICK

Brunswick Downtown Association’s sixth annual Rolling Slumber Bed Races was a ton of fun for both young and old on Saturday. Hundreds of on-lookers watched as 14 teams raced decorated beds on wheels down Park Row toward the finish line, one passenger and four pushers doing the job.

There was a bouncy house and a tractor-pulling train full of kids on the Brunswick Mall, and BDA members passing out hot chocolate to combat the chilly wind that gusted up from time to time. But the atmosphere was warm as folks huddled together to watch the races unfold.

In a parade before racing began, each team rolled their bed down Park Row so the crowd could familiarize themselves with the various designs. Then the teams raced — two at a time, with the top four times advancing to the semi-finals. The two winners of the semis moved on to the finals, where the winner was crowned champion.

Though Wendy Herrick Floral Designs narrowly edged out Brunswick Downtown Association’s “The Beast” for the win, every team brought something to offer on this brisk, sunny November morning.

“This is a great way for consumers and staff to be involved in the community,” said Terri Cross of Independence Association of Maine, whose bed theme was Dr. Seuss’ Thing 1 and Thing 2. “We have both consumers and staff running for us.”

Athletic prowess was a factor in teams’ success, but designing and assembling the beds was perhaps the most important ingredient.

“I built this thing in three weekends because I work at Bath Iron Works all week,” said Bob Cardali, who designed the bed for Byrnes Irish Pub. Cardali and his wife frequent the pub.

“I would work all weekend until the sun went down,” Cardali said. He said working at the BIW yard allowed him to get “certain kinds of metal, scrap wood and two-by-fours” needed to build the bed frame. The bed was painted green to represent the Irish heritage.

“I think it took 28 cans of spray paint,” said Cardali.

Susan Biggs, whose husband Rob Biggs is executive director at Saco Main Street, remarked that Saturday’s event was “the bed race of all bed races.”

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