6 Adults Pedal 3-Wheelers in 1st Kaiser 500

The six competitors sat poised on their vehicles on the parking garage roof of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center on Friday, intent on crossing the finish line first.

They were a motley bunch, one dressed in surgical scrubs, another with a necktie wrapped around his head and still another with a sign proclaiming “Zero to 50 mph in 10 years.”

As the horn sounded the start of the medical center’s first Kaiser 500, Edward “Fast Eddie” Browning took an early lead and never let up.

He raced across the center parking lot, leaving the competition in his wake.

For someone who was 5 years old when he last rode a tricycle, Browning looked like a pro in the Kaiser-sponsored fund-raiser that benefited the United Way.

“I’d like to thank all my fans, my publicist and the Call Center,” Browning shouted, as he accepted first prize.

Browning, a senior supervisor in the Medical Services Area Call Center, and others in the race said they were willing to ignore any possible embarrassment and ride children’s tricycles for a good cause.

The event, which organizers hope will spread to other medical centers, was planned by Peter Feron and Dennessa Riddick, employees in the MSA Call Center, which makes appointments for Kaiser members.

Employees from several departments hooted and cheered their supervisors on, watching their sponsorship money pay off in laughs and prizes donated by local businesses.

Collectively, the contestants raised $305 for United Way, which noted that the event was the charity’s first tricycle benefit.

“We encourage all companies to make the United Way campaign their own,” said Pamela Spencer, community ambassador for United Way, Ventura County. “This is an example of a company taking the initiative. This is fun. It gets employees out and having fun together.”

Becky Weiner, an administrative services manager, was the contestant with the biggest single cheering section. Decked in dark coveralls, a pilot’s cap and goggles, she sat astride her new tricycle adorned with streamers, stickers and a horn.

Although Weiner finished fourth, she said she was out to have fun.

“What I don’t have in speed I make up for in style,” she said.