Clouds threatened St. Gregor on Saturday morning, but the elements held off long enough to see bikers take to the road and racers pile into waiting vehicles. Rain or no rain, the St. Gregor Shake Rattle and Roll, and its accompanying Shake Rattle and Race got into full swing Saturday morning to raise funds for Parkinson’s Disease Reseach and for the St. Gregor Community Hall Fund.
Around a dozen motorcycles took to Highway 5 for a route run after their riders collected pledges to make the trek.
Inside the St. Gregor Community Hall, a large crowd of patrons gathered for the delicious breakfast. After breakfast, everyone wandered the aisles of tables to peruse the dozens of silent auction goods donated by area individuals, businesses and organizations.
We talked to Wanda Kiefer, organizer of the event, on Saturday morning just after the race teams departed in a flurry.
“It’s been awesome. We had a great turnout for breakfast this morning. We got six teams out for the amazing race.”
The race has those teams chauffeured throughout the area and surrounding communities to complete a variety of puzzles and challenges. This year, one of those challenges brought racers directly back to their starting point at the hall. Team members had to toss plastic balls while blindfolded, and they had to score baskets off their partners’ hula-hoop inspired pantaloons. The gyrations the catchers had to make were an absolute showstopper of athletic and kinesthetic skill.
Outside a tractor parade made its way past the hall for all to enjoy.
As always, the Roll and the Race are great community ventures that lean on the support of a lot of folks.
“It’s amazing that we hardly have to ask for donations,” Kiefer says. “People just phone us up and tell us they want to donate. The community put out a notice for volunteers to help work – everybody shows up. It’s a good team effort.
While the much-needed rain did eventually make its way to the St. Gregor district, it didn’t dampen the spirits of the riders, the racers or the countless volunteers.
As one long term attendee noted, “It wouldn’t be the Shake Rattle and Roll without some rain.”
Enjoy a picture catalogue of the morning’s events.