The defending Peach Bin team, the Greyback Construction Hammerheads are throwing down the gauntlet.
The event which kicks off the Penticton Peach Festival runs in the 100-block of Main Street and the Hammerheads are raring to go.
“Grease your wheels and tie your shoes,” is the keen advice they give competitors who are trying to dethrone them. As an experienced team with a skillfully decorated peach bin, the Hammerheads are expected to have a strong showing at this year’s race.
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“As defending champions, we had no choice but to return and protect our title,” said Kirsty Lindsay, Greyback’s marketing manager and racing team member. “We love being involved in fun community events and supporting local charities.”
Racing begins at 12:15pm sharp and up to eight teams will compete for the glorious winning title plus free admission into Saturday’s Peachfest Grand Parade.
For the second year in a row, the Downtown Penticton Association (race hosts) will be matching the combined teams’ entry fees and donating them to the winning team’s charity of choice. Last year The Boys and Girls Club received the donation on behalf of the Greyback Hammerheads after the Hammerheads defeated them in the final heat.
“We felt bad beating them.” said Lindsay.
For spectators interested in watching the races, the course runs from Link Road (between City Hall and Gyro Park) to Lakeshore Drive and back again. The 100 block of Main Street will be closed to traffic from 11 a.m. (and no parking as of 10 a.m.) until the races end around 1 p.m.
“We are lean, mean, peach bin racing machines!” said Lindsay, sounding certain that her team will make it to the podium once again.
Regardless of which team wins the title, it is a local Penticton charity that will be the real winner.
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