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THE
GREAT KNARESBOROUGH BED RACE
RULES
1.
THE TEAM
a)
The team shall consist of six persons who are at least 12 years of
age on the day of the race to propel the bed, and one other person on the
bed as passenger.
b)
The bed passenger must be at least 10 years of age and suitably
attired. Protective headgear must be
worn by the passenger during the Race on pain of disqualification.
c)
No substitutes will be allowed at any time during the Race.
d)
Except for the nominated passenger, any riding on the bed is
strictly forbidden, especially on the downhill parts of the course.
e)
Race competitors must obey instructions from all Race officials (eg
starters, timekeepers, marshals etc).
f)
All competitors must be able to swim for their own
safety.
g)
All beds must complete the course as far as High Bridge
within 30 minutes.
h)
The throwing of missiles or objects of any description is dangerous
and is strictly forbidden at all times (this includes water bombs, flour, eggs, sweets and
anything else that could cause alarm, damage or injury).
i)
There must be no deliberate obstruction of other beds during the
Race.
j)
During the Race beds should keep to the left hand side of roads
unless overtaking.
k)
All beds must participate in the Parade and be decorated in the
published theme of the year to qualify for entry to the Race.
2.
THE BED
a)
Each team must provide a bed, decorated in the theme for the year.
NB: it is the team’s responsibility to prove that they have the use
of a bed prior to their application being accepted.
b)
When decorated, the bed must not exceed 2 metres in width, 4 metres
in length and 3 metres in height. Decorations must be removed from the bed before the start of the Race,
provided that the bed will still conform to Race rules (under section f
below).
c)
The bed must have no means of mechanical propulsion.
d)
The bed must not be deliberately run on less than four wheels during
the Race.
e)
All bed must have been examined and passed by the scrutineers prior
to the start of the Race.
f)
The bed must: -
i Have
four wheels of not more than 0.25m (10 inches) in diameter.
The maximum is to include the tyres. NB: wheels/tyres must be a minimum of
5cm (2 inches) in width.
ii Allow
a gauge of 0.15m by 0.45 m wide to pass under the bed in the direction of
travel (ie ground clearance of 0.15m and the wheels must be at least 0.45m
apart, side to side).
iii
Allow a gauge of 0.15m by 1.25m long to pass under the bed in the direction
of travel (ie ground clearance of 0.15m and the wheels must be at least
1.25m apart, front to rear).
iv Have
a minimum length of 1.75m and a minimum width of 0.75m.
v Have
a maximum length of 3.0m and a maximum width of 1.35m.
vi Have
a built-in buoyancy aid capable of supporting the bed and the passenger for
not less than five minutes, and have an aperture large enough to allow the
passenger to escape quickly if required.
vii Display
the Race numbers given prior to arrival. These must be displayed and
securely attached on the front and sides of the bed. It is the team’s
responsibility to ensure that these stay attached during the Parade and the
Race.
viii Have
two ropes, each not more than 3.75m long, attached to the rear of the bed
in order to slow its progress when necessary. A maximum of two additional
ropes, not more than 3.75m long, also may be attached to the bed.
ix Have
an audible air horn or hooter warning device (no whistles).
PENALTIES:
Infringement of the rules will be penalised as follows: -
Rules 1a, 1b, 1k, 2c, 2e, 2f item ix –
disqualification and removal from Race prior to start.
Rule 2f item iv – judged when the bed is in
‘race trim’ and will be determined by the safety divers. They
are the sole arbiters of this rule and may request removal of a bed or a
demotion down the Race order for safety reasons.
Rules 1c, 1d, 1e, 1h – disqualification and
exclusion from future Races. The team may be stopped and removed from the
Race immediately.
Rule 1g – the team may be removed for safety
reasons at the discretion of the Race organisers.
Rules 2b, 2d, 2e, 2f (except items iv, vii and ix)
– 2 minutes penalty for each infringement.
Rules 1i, 1j, 2a and 2f item vii – 30 second
penalty.
Race marshals will be the sole judge of any
infringements during the Race, and the team captain will be notified of any
penalties after the Race.
Teams will be allowed until 15 minutes before the start
of the Race to rectify any construction faults or mechanical problems.
PRIZES: To be awarded to winners of
the various categories.
NB. To
enter for the fastest new team no team member must have competed in a
previous Bed Race. All members of a junior team must be under 16 years old
on the date of the Race.
Revised January 2010
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