Jinkies and Zoinks! 360th TRS's "Team Scooby" takes home costume prize at Bed Race

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tonnette Thompson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  About 1,000 Airmen in Training marched out to the Community Activity Center to cheer on their costumed counterparts in the Bed Race Oct. 27. For one team, the race began the night before.

The Origin of Mystery, Inc. 

When reminded of the competition during their final formation, some AiTs decided that night that they would participate, leaving them only a few hours to prepare. The contestants would have to dress themselves and the bed in themed costumes, come up with a chant and be physically prepared to push the bed around the CAC parking lot that Saturday morning.

Many of the teams, including one from the 360th Training Squadron, were up to the task. Airmen Michael Bickmore, Joseph Beckman, Karina Whittington, Alexandra Leo and Jerome Salgado stayed up till 3 a.m. hunting for wigs and clothes, cutting cardboard and construction paper and spray painting the finished product.

By Saturday morning, the Scooby Doo Gang - Fred, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Scooby - were ready to take their Mystery Machine for another wild ride.

Blast from the Past

"I'm the perfect build for Shaggy," the tall, lanky, Airman Beckman said, as he and Airman Bickmore, a.k.a. "Fred," posed for the many cameras aimed at the team.

Indeed, while the parking lot swarmed with bedbugs, served as a playpen for babies and subbed for the open sea for pirates that day, it was the five Airmen resembling a beloved, classic cartoon show who received the most praise. Airmen in Training who weren't even alive when the original "Scooby Doo" series was on the air lit up with recognition as they passed the Mystery Machine bed, and surrounded the team with compliments, laughter, and even offers to help assemble the bed's décor.

"They're going to win," Airman Anthony Jackson, 360th TRS, said. "I'm proud they represent the 360th."

Even members of opposing teams offered kudos, assistance and advice. Several teams representing the 360th TRS were in attendance, and seemed happy to assist their squadron-mates in building the Mystery Machine.

"I've got to give them an 'A' for effort," Airman Justin Hamby, 360th TRS, said, before rejoining his own team.

The Case of the Cardboard Cave-In

As the Mystery Machine pulled up at the start line, several of the people who'd cheered the Scooby team on before began to express doubt at their chances, muttering words like "aerodynamic" and "wind resistance." While other teams' beds had more unobtrusive décor along the sides or back, the Scooby team had made every attempt to make their bed look like a van, creating a large makeshift cardboard box held together with masking tape.

"Guess we weren't thinking about what it would be like to push this," said Airman Bickmore.

Yet when the word "Go!" sounded out over the bullhorn, the Airmen gave it their best try, pushing the bed down to the end of the parking lot as fast as they could, collecting a ball that had to be balanced on a plate, and looping back to the finish line.

The cardboard van, which began detaching itself the moment the Airmen started running and even lost its roof at the halfway mark, flew completely apart on the home stretch.

"At one point, I was trying to balance the ball with one hand and holding up the cardboard with the other," said Airman Salgado, who rode on the bed as his teammates also tried to win the race and valiantly keep their van together at the same time.

Scooby Snacks!

Their efforts paid off: although Team Scooby didn't win for finishing first, they did take home a trophy - for best costumes/decorations.

"I knew they'd get that," said Airman Tristan Scott of the 362nd TRS. "Theirs was the most creative one."

In talking about their van's deterioration, it's fitting that the Airman representing Velma would view the situation with both logic and a touch of humor.

"Well, the Mystery Machine was always breaking down on the show," said Airman Whittington. "Makes sense that it would happen again."

And how did the gang decide to celebrate?

"Maybe we'll go to the BX dressed like this," said Airman Salgado, still wearing his cardboard Scooby Doo dog collar. "See if anyone recognizes who we're supposed to be."

The prize for running the fastest race went to the 264th Delta Company Army Dragons, while trophies for most spirited team and best overall score went to the 362nd TRS zombie team, the Ramrods.

They might have taken the prize for best costumes and decorations, too ... if it weren't for those meddling kids.