Return of bed races provides fun, funds

Water Carnival Wednesday usually sees a water fight soak-down in the

park, but this year changed things up, instead giving Detroit Lakes a sight

it hasn't seen in 20 years.

The return of the bed races was a hit, with nearly 200 attendees and

nine teams.

"It seemed like everybody was having a good time," said organizer Aaron

Lauinger, who met both nostalgia and skepticism as he pitched the idea to

the community.

Local civic groups, businesses and one family made beds and collected

pledges toward the Lakes Crisis and Resource Center for beds and bedding as

they begin building their women's shelter.

"A lot of those beds were made over the past several weeks," Lauinger

said, noting that this wasn't the sort of event you decide to participate in at 3 p.m. on race day.

The beds ranged from mattresses atop bicycle wheels to the Jaycees' mini trolley replica. Each bed was made distinctive by its team and their theme.

Since the racing bracket only fit eight teams, time trials preceded the

evening's races.

The parking lot course had teams speed to one end, stop to pass an egg

between members using spoons, and turn the bed around and rush to the

finish.

Enjoying ice cream cones served by Jaycees and Miss Northwest Melissa

Paakh, the enthralled crowd was repeatedly reminded to step back from the

hay bales and caution tape surrounding the course.

The precautions became necessary as teams experienced technical trouble, like Ulteig's bent back wheel and Kiwanis' run-in with a hay bale.

The Lakeshirts "Bedrockers" showed technique by having its two back

runners jump up on the bed while turning, a move other teams emulated.

Zorbaz, which hurled mardi gras beads into the crowd, had difficulty

with their turns, nearly tipping over and then failing to turn around after

their egg exchange. A favorite amongst young watchers, Zorbaz got another

chance, during which they almost collided with the race's timer while

crossing the finish line.

The Lakes Crisis Center "Shelter Speeders" came in last with over two

minutes, taking them out of the running. Other groups averaged around a

minute and 20 seconds.

The first heat saw the Rotary Rastafarians, wearing wigs and goofy

sunglasses, beat the Jaycees' trolley. Zorbaz and the Kringen family

Highlighters, dressed in neon t-shirts, collided as they left the starting

gate, throwing one Highlighter off the course and ultimately allowing Zorbaz to take first.

Bergen's beat Lakeshirts in their face-off, and Ulteig, their wheel

reattached with crafty duct tape engineering, beat the Kiwanis team.

The next round was rough on both Rotary's bed, which dragged a wheel

across the finish line for the win, and Zorbaz¹, which lost a back wheel and the race.

Bergen's beat Ulteig in a neck-and-neck showdown, pitting them against

Rotary in the final heat.

A crash sent both teams against the caution tape, but Bergen's, with its Flower Bed design, finished first.

"It feels good," racer Sarah Delaria said of winning, mentioning, "I¹ve

never participated in anything like this."

"We put a lot of work into the bed, even though it doesn't look like

it," teammate Tiago Castro commented with a laugh. "It was rough by the

end."

Trophies were also awarded to Rotary for their Rasta theme and team

spirit and to Kiwanis for the largest pledge, weighing in at $2,600.

Although the Jaycees raised $3,060, they subtracted the $2,500 pledged

by last year's co-admirals from Water Carnival profits.

The check presented to the Lakes Crisis Center totaled $7,457.10, a

happy surprise to both Lauinger and Crisis Center executive director Jan

Logan.

"We set out a goal of about $6,000," Lauinger said. "I think that's a

success."

"We are extremely appreciative of the large amount of money that will go toward the shelter," Logan said, adding, "It was amazing how much money was raised in a short amount of time."

Lauinger added that seeing civic groups and businesses which have a

history of supporting the Water Carnival ­ race was fun, and that the event

was a success.

"Hopefully it'll come back for the 76th and we can raise some money for

another venue in need."