In bed with Tablers for EL charity race
15 teams do the rounds with their souped-up beds
HITTING the sack on a Saturday afternoon took on a new meaning at the weekend when 15 super-fit teams pushed their beds and “patients” around the 4.5km East London Grand Prix Circuit in a madcap charity race.
The teams who participated in the second annual Gonubie Round Table Bed Race, went to great lengths to decorate their beds to reflect the companies, organisations or schools they were representing, with some modifications bordering on the hilarious.
Clad in scarlet wetsuits and yellow helmets, the NSRI team fashioned their bed into a boat complete with an outboard motor and life buoys.
“The buoys are our fenders to protect us and prevent damage to our boat,” quipped Mandy Hatton.
“We even have a torpedo buoy upfront in case any of the other teams need rescuing.”
The NSRI team sailed in third after winners, NTT Volkswagen, and the Audi team which motored into second place.
The Ronnies Motors team also souped up their bed with Mercedes Benz accessories, including a steering wheel, hooter, turbo, fire extinguisher and a giant Merc logo.
Workshop foreman Shaun Sallgren said their bed took an afternoon to rig up.
“We have three technicians on our team and we built this in four hours on Wednesday. We will definitely do this again next year but we will have to be fitter,” said Sallgren.
Lilyfontein School – the only school to participate – entered two teams.
“We have our eco team bed decorated with hibiscus leaves and our adventure team with the paddleski, tube and harnesses to show the activities at our school,” said teacher Margaret Mitchell.
Pupil Mattheus van der Walt said his team’s progress had been hampered by a tyre “blowout” early on in the race.
Winning team, NTT Volkswagen, roared in way ahead of the other beds in a record time of 22 minutes.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch ahead of the race, Vusi Ncedana said the team had set out to win after coming second to the Audi team last year.
Helping them achieve their goal were some ingenious modifications, including the attachment of a bicycle wheel and handle bar upfront.
“It’s challenging, but we did it for charity. Next year we will defend our win,” he said.
Convener Nico Hand said teams bought a new hospital bed for R3 500 and was made up of five people – one of whom was the “patient”.
In addition to navigating a bed along the twists and turns of the circuit, they also faced obstacles on the track, including apple bobbing, balloon popping and swimming through small pools.
Round Table “forty-oner” Mark Crossley said he had pitched the fundraising idea after being inspired by a similar event held by the Midrand Round Table.
“It’s not your everyday fundraiser. We want to grow this into a really big event, but you have to be fit to do it,” Crossley said.
Beds and cash proceeds of the event are distributed to the Angel Outreach NPO and other local charities.