24th July 2013
Event: Dirty Weekend 2013
Client: Rat Race Events Ltd
Live Date(s): 11th May 2013
Location: Burghley Estate, Lincolnshire
Brands Involved: Rat Race / Men’s Health
Event / Project background:
Rat Race’s Dirty Weekend was a new off road running / obstacle race event added to their calendar for 2013. By introducing Dirty Weekend, Rat Race wanted to set the bar with the biggest and toughest event of this popular new genre and to create the first ‘weekend’ event of its type with camping and evening entertainment. They were looking to create a course over 20 miles long with approximately 200 obstacles, with the chosen event location being the estate grounds of Burghley House, Lincolnshire.
GORILLA role summary:
Design, build and de-rig of 200 obstacles over 20 mile course.
GORILLA role detail:
- Project / Event management
- Obstacle / course design and structural engineering calculations
- Obstacle / course budget management
- 3D modeling – course and obstacles
- Obstacle / course on-site construction and de-rig
- Site mapping and aerial visuals
- Logistics and transport
- Specialist sourcing
- Health and Safety – planning, documentation and risk assessment
On site build:
- Ground excavation and prep – various plant and machinery
- Chainsaw and tree work
- Joinery
- Metalwork / light engineering
- Boat / water install on relevant course water sections
Timescales involved:
2 month planning, design and budgeting period. 5 week on site build, 1 week de-rig.
Result / Outcome:
Successful setup, operation and de-rig – both the client and the historic venue involved were very happy. Historic and sensitive venue and grounds dealt with with due care. Little obstacle maintenance during event. No bottle necks and smooth flow of 5,500 plus competitors due to good course design.
Feedback:
“I thought Gorilla were excellent and worked incredibly hard to build a challenging set of obstacles in not only a tight timescale but over different terrain from water to woodland to a listed park! All done with great humour, skill and dedication.
I would not hesitate to recommend you and your team to people as it has been nothing but straightforward and simple to deal with Gorilla across the board.
Good luck on your other projects and see you next year for Burghley’s Dirty Weekend 2014.”
– David Pennell, Burghley Estates Director