Drivers include safety features in chariot designs for Red Bull race in downtown Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Red Bull took over portions of Tenth and Cherry Streets on Saturday afternoon, to make room for chariot racing.

Participants made chariots out of varying materials, allowing one person to sit in the chariot and two other people to push or pull it through the track. A total of 24 teams, each with four members and a theme, competed.

Many participants had safety in their design plans. Team Dumb and Dumber used an abandoned shopping cart as their base and layered carpet on top in the design of a dog.

Team member Ryan Kampschroeder said safety was a key part of the design.

"This thing was built pretty sturdy, so we should be fine going down a race track like this and then of course Red Bull gives us helmets," Kampschroeder said.

Emergency medical personnel from MU Health were on standby in case anyone got hurt, but every participant who ran in the race had to wear a helmet.

According to a Red Bull spokesperson, the company also hired a private security group to keep everyone in attendance safe. A Colubmia Police Department spokesperson told ABC 17 News that four off duty police officers were hired to work the event too.

CPD along with the Columbia Fire Department were participants in the event as well. The two departments raced each other in their own chariots.

Another group, the Turbo Tubbies -- named after the kids' show Teletubbies -- designed the base of their chariot using wood, also with safety in mind. Team member Sydney Stevens broke down the design.

"We added more support underneath, so our weight is supported evenly," Stevens said. "We also added a little safety rail in the back so if we're facing backwards or we're facing forwards and we start to slide, we can have something that will catch us."

CFD did not respond to any calls for service related to Saturday's event. No serious injuries were reported either.