The Twin Third Race

We were not going to do another one until the Fall. But we were "hired" to put on a race for a local bar. The owners helped us on our first race by being a "stop". And they were participates in our second race. They came in third.
Anyway, it will be on Sat July 25th. And we have a much larger buget. So things will get a little more interesting when it comes to "tasks".
Plus the sponser is going to buy t-shirts for everyone that signs up. He is expecting 20 teams (2 per team). So we have our work cut out for us.
There will be a $20-25 per person entry fee. This will include the race, t-shirts, prizes, and party at the finish line.
Still working out the many details.

If anyone is interested I will post the race details after it's over.

Can't wait.

Things are coming together nicely. We plan on 12 "stops" and should cover over 50 miles. Taskes include eating, "fishing", putting together puzzles, and running up and down stairs.
1st prize is a 3 day/2 night trip. 2nd is $100. There will also be prizes for 3rd, 4th and 5th place.
All racers will get a T-shirt. And there will be lots of other give aways.
Also we are asking all racers and judges to bring a camera and take pictures during the race. These will be down loaded and made into a photo disk and played at the finish line for all to enjoy.
Still some details to work out. If anyone is interested I will post details after the race.
Avé

OK,
Things are moving along. The Rules, Sign-up sheet, and Prize list has been posted at the bar. We have a few more minor details to work out, then we will go and pre-pay for the racers at certain stops. We will also have a ballot to give each team at the start of the race. This will ask racers things like... What was the funniest thing you saw tonight? What was the biggest mistake your team made? and so on. The ballots will be collected at the finish and read during the Finish Line Party.
I can't really say much more, never know who's lurking out there.
Stay Tuned.
Avé

This site is set up differently to most, in that most people will come in, read your posts, and then disappear. But don't underestimate how useful it might be to someone else!
It's great to read about all your work. Thank you so much for coming back to keep us in the loop!

Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you over the next month!
You were hired? Is that a job/business, or did they just hear about you by word of mouth? I can imagine that all sorts of groups could have a great time with a race like that (work colleagues, sports teams)!

The ballots are a great idea. No doubt teams will all have a funny story or two which just adds to the fun of it!
I'm involved in a small race in the next few weeks, which is the 'sequel' to the one which made me start this site. Haven't done one in ages. Excited!
I'll check back soon and see how you all went

Keep posting.....I offen check here for ideas... looks like a couple are brewing... YEAH !!!

Tonight is the night. We have 14 teams signed up and ready to go. Sis and I have been hard at it since 9 this morning. Plus jugde's meeting last night.
It should be a blast.
Bob, We were "hired" but we won't really make any money. The money collected will cover expenses, gas, and supplies. But we had BIG FUN getting everything together. Not about to quit my day job.
More details tomorrow.
Avé

Gosh, TOO tired to post yesterday. What a night we had. Everyone had fun, and all 14 teams finished. We had 12 "stops" spread over 50 miles. The fastest team finished in 2.5 hours. All teams paied $25.00 per person to join in the fun. Limit of two people per team. We also had 12 very cool friends and past racers help us will all the stops.
OK, here goes:
Starting Line was the bar that sponsered the race, called Time Out. All teams met at 6pm, signed a release of liability waiver, then handed over thier car keys to Stan. (owner) He gave keys to with starter envelope to a judge. Starter envelope contained copy of the rules, race ballot, and first clue. Each judge then got the car, moved it into the parking lot of the hotel behind the bar, put envelope on front seat, locked the car and returned to the bar where Stan collected keys in a small bucket. Rules were reviewed, questions answered, and teams were told to get ready to race. Stan and I then snuck out the back door, and tossed the keys onto a small grassy area between the bar and the hotel.
Then we returned to the bar and told the teams where they might find thier keys and cars. And said GO!
This helped to stagger the starters a little bit. Each team got the first clue when they got to thier car.
First Clue: Detour Go to the local park and get on a waverunner, ride across the logoon to Limes, a local waterfront eatery, eat a plate of wings, then ride back to the park for the next clue. OR Drive to Limes and run down a very long dock, eat wings, and get next clue from judge stationed there. Most went with the waverunners, but 4 teams choose to drive.
Second Clue: Go to Dock Hoppers, another waterfront eatery, with a pool out back. Find your rock at the bottem of the pool. Turn it into the jugde for next clue.
Each team had a team name. We wrote these names on small smooth stones and placed them at the bottom of the pool. Lots of fun, plus racers got to rinse off from the salt water of the lagoon.
Third Clue: Brought teams to the local airport. They had to park, get parking stub, and go into the terminal to find the judge and show him the stub for the next clue.
Fourth Clue: Go to the park at the foot of the Baily bridge, put together a simple 25 piece puzzle, and get next clue.
Fifth Clue: Find the garden inn town, (the Hilton Garden Inn), ride the elevator to the top floor, then run down the south staircase, collecting numbers along the way. We posted a big 0 and a big 4 on two of the landings. The judge met the teams at the bottom, and gave them the next clue. Of course most teams went down the north staircase, wound up outside and had to run around the building to start again. LOL
Sixth Clue: This one led teams downtown to the Civic Center. There is a large fountain in front and this is where they need to go. At the fountain the judge had bamboo fishing poles, and in the fountain were floating plastic squid. (these were pool toys we found at the dollar store) On the sqid were two more numbers the teams would need later in the race. Turn in your sqid for your next clue.

Clue Seven: Took teams to a speed track on the beach. They had to turn in thier vocher for a ticket, then ride the go carts together. The judge met them at the exit of the ride with the next clue.
Clue Eight: Took teams to a Funland. Another local place down the beach. Teams had to either get thier phote together in the photo booth, OR win 50 tickets. They were given $3.00 cash along with the clue. Had to turn in tickets or photo for next clue.
Clue Nine: Passes to a skateing rink. Both team members had to put on skates and go around the rink 3 times. Judge met them at the exit with next clue.
Clue Ten: Roadblock. Find Joey's Pizza, then one team member must eat one slice of pizza. We left the topping choice up to the employees. They made it with anchovies, feta chesse and brocalli.
Clue Eleven: This led them to a small gated condo. The gate code was the four numbers they collected earlier in the race. Then at the clubhouse they were instucted to take apart and rebuilt a small Lego tower. (my son donated the Legos)
Clue Twelve: Brought teams back to Time Out, where we had a keg of beer, food and prizes. First three teams got metals, (trickets from a mardi gras parade on gold ribbon) First five teams got prizes. And last place got two beanie babies, a skunk and a cow.
We also read the ballots which each team turned in. What the the funnist thing you saw tonight? What was the easiest task? What was the hardest? More details tomorrow, if you want them.

Is there anyone out there? Or did I do all this typing for nothing?

I misread when you were doing this. I was thinking in the fall...... Glad I checked back to see if anything new happened. Sounds like alot of fun. I plan on using the questions from the player in my next race. This board doesn't get alot of hits. But I am sure your hard work that you listed here today will help someone tomorrow. Keep on the good work. I will list my next race soon.

RGoff,
Thanks for your kind words and comments. The bar owners tell us they want to do a race every year. And we are now "quasi-famous" at our local hang out. I don't mind (much) that this is a slow board. I figure the in-the-know folks know where to come for ideas. Can't have everyone checking it out, that could ruin it for everyone.

I wanted to mention that the idea of re-parking the cars at the start was gleaned on this site. And it worked beautifully.

Already working on new task ideas for next race.

Avé

That's great, that they asked you to host another one. This site is on my list to come to gather ideas from. I wish Bob would post his lastest event. I thought I read he had one coming up soon. I said that too and havent' set a date. Just keep looking and getting more Roadblock & Detour ideas. I will list the ideas I have found at different sites and maybe they can be helpful to you and/or anyone else who stops by and reads. If you you have any ideas on How to come up with clues for the locations, that would be great. ( puzzle ideas, Scramble Letters) any advise would very helpful.

Renee

Most of our clues were in poem form, with certain words in italics to help the racers figure it out. I am always amazed at what some people see as a really hard clue, and ones they say were too easy. But we try to keep them somewhere in the middle. After all it IS a challage right?
I would be happy to list my clues as the teams got them if you think this could help you. Let me know.
Avé

Just came back from TIME OUT. Photos from the Race are playing on the TV screens. And Stan added some great captions. Too funny!!!!!!!

Too Bad, we can't add pics here,

I have been still working on our next race, My husband has even getting into it. We are looking at October when the weather is not so humid.

RGoff, plese let me know howyour race goes. Either on this sight or by e-mail. Mine is Twinave@aol.com We had a few minor problems with teams not following the rule exactly. LOL
more detail are better.

[B]AVé

I enjoyed reading about your race so much. I just came across this site. Please post about your race this Fall too. I am thinking about trying to do a family amazing race for Thanksgiving.

Leta,
Welcome. Great site, but not a lot of traffic. And great ideas for races can be found here.
Sis and I are always coming up with ideas.
We hope to put on another race in the next few months.
A few new ideas are:
Have teams find and buy a certain item in a grocery store. Example: Go to Foodworld and buy one grape. Team must show grape and cash reciept at finish.
Just make sure that Foodworld has grapes for sale and the grapes are not prepackaged.
Find a certain cemetary, then find gravestone with the name -------. behind the stone place a bucket with some flowers think carnations. On the stem will be the name of another person who is buried in the cemetary. Team must take flower and place it on that person's site. There they will get the next clue.
Since it's for a Thanksgiving get together, you could get 10 small turkey items, think small turkey centerpieces from the dollar store, and hide them in a yard/field/ parking lot, whatever. Team must find the turkey for the next clue.
Well I'm rambling.. doesn't take much to get me started. LOL
Hope this helps.
Avé

Glad to see another person onboard. Please list any ideas you are thinking.... Here are few on my list. Holding back the ones I want to use for our up coming race. I think I might have left this page up before and well my girls will cheat.

Blockbuster- ask the manager if you could place your cases with your family name or pre-race pictures on the cover. and have them find them and turn into the check-out for their next clue.

gulp down a jar of buckwheat honey.

Buckets set in fountains, they must overflow the bucket using a sponge.

Choice between Hot ( Hot wings ) or freezing Cold ( Ice Cream)

take a picture of certain setting around town or something and have them find it.

Paper ( look for certains items in a store and write down their prices) or Plastic (ask a grocery store manager, if you could bag a few customers groceries.)

stick a few hundred forks in someone yard and have the team find one of the ones painted black.

Look for a car in a huge parking lot and have them write down the licence plate #.

Bowl over a certain score.

For a fun Photo op - Send them where a crowd of people are have them get a certain # of people in a photo with them . ( all wearing hats, or sport shirts, )

Send them into a place like Taco Bell and can't leave until they get a certain number of people to do the macarena with them.


Hope some of these help.

Renee

Reneé,
Wow! Great ideas. LOVE the macarena dance thing. I would HAVE to be a judge at that location.
The buckets / water / sponges is also something we may have to do. Lots of ways to vary it. Also LOVE the fork thing. Great at night! (We TOLD you to bring a flashlight. LOL)
Let us know how your race goes.
Avé