On your mark. Get set. Pedal.

Downtown Southern Pines will once again be the setting for the most exciting and interesting race in the area: the second annual United Way of Moore County Tricycle Race, or the Tour de Trike.

A group of local leaders will go head-to-head Thursday, starting at 5:30 p.m. The trike riders will speed down NW Broad Street between New Hampshire and Connecticut avenues to determine who has the bragging rights for the year.

According to Linda Pearson, executive director of the United Way of Moore County, the success of last year's race has caused more racers to sign up for the event. There are now 46 contestants competing for the gold, compared to the 24 participants last April.

Each contestant pays a minimum $100 fee to enter the race and is encouraged to dress in costume. The rider with the best ensemble will receive a $50 gift certificate.

In an added twist, sponsors of the contestant can purchase several different advantages for the racers. For $25, a rider can be given an advantage of starting five feet ahead of the starting line. Sponsors can also pay $25 to handicap their opponents five feet behind the starting line.

If advantages or hindrances are not enough, before each race there will be a chance to buy a "monkey on the back." The "monkey," who rides on an opponent's back, however, is actually a human being dressed in a monkey suit.

"Let's just say that [Southern Pines councilman] Mike Fields is facing off against [The Pilot publisher] David Woronoff and both really want to win," says Pearson. "If either of them wants to put the 'monkey' on the other, one starts off with a bid of $50. Then the other can bid $60 and so on until one wins the auction and the monkey on the other's back."

When questioned if the Fields-Woronoff race is a definite match-up, Pearson comments that the two "may meet each other."

As well as the potential councilman versus newspaper publisher clash, the race could also pit village manager against mayor, restaurant owner against banker or lawyer against librarian. But in the end it is all for a good cause.

The United Way is an umbrella organization that raises funds and doles them out to 22 local nonprofit organizations.

"The tricycle race is the most entertaining fundraiser that we have," says Pearson. "Plus it's also the funniest to watch."

Contact Jonathan Summey at 692-7271.