Double the Fun: 2008 MOST Amazing Race Recap

What started in 2006 as long-shot idea to raise money by replicating a popular television reality show has become a phenomenon.

This summer 82 teams of two registered for The Salvation Army’s third-annual MOST Amazing Race, nearly doubling last year’s 43 total entrants.

“Word is finally catching on about how much of a blast this race is,” said race coordinator Julie Orlando.

The 2008 race, held July 26 as an official Minneapolis Aquatennial event, had qualifying teams racing across Minneapolis and completing mental and physical challenges that ran the gamut: shooting paint ball guns; hurling bowling balls between their legs at Bryant Lake Bowl; singing the National Anthem through blaring speakers at the Target Center; and much more.

A qualifying event was held the morning of the race at the University of Minnesota. Challenges included an obstacle course; finding obscure locations on a Metro Transit map; racers using their toes to pick up marbles in a pool of ice; finding red kettles on street corners throughout Dinky Town; and more. Of the 82 teams that entered, 20 qualified during this event, while another five teams qualified by being top fund-raisers.

The MOST Amazing Race began and ended near the Stone Arch Bridge. Qualifying teams traveled across Minneapolis on foot or by using Metro Transit. Their total travel distance was just over 25 miles, most of which was spent on a bus or train.

“People ask us every year what we are doing when we are running around asking for directions or jumping on a bus – it’s great publicity (for The Salvation Army),” said Beau Ellis, who with teammate David Hilden won the race as the “Adventure Guys” for the second time in three years.

Their prize: $5,000 courtesy of Wells Fargo. Ellis and Hilden also won two Northwest Airlines tickets by being the top fund-raising team ($5,013.33).

Orlando attributed this year’s sharp increase in contestants to beefed-up promotions.

“We diversified our marketing,” she said. “People heard about the race from everywhere - Metro Transit advertising, Aquatennial publicity, WCCO Radio and Office Max inserts. Other teams heard about it though the Facebook group we set up. We’ve been trying to reach a younger demographic, and it’s working.”

The 2008 MOST Amazing Race raised a total of $38,000 for The Salvation Army's Bed and Bread Club®, which fights hunger and homelessness.

Race sponsors included Wells Fargo, WCCO 830, Office Max, Metro Transit, Northwest Airlines, Mill City Museum, Wheel Fun Rentals, Bryant Lake Bowl, Pham’s Deli, Splatball Inc., the Minnesota Historical Society, Minneapolis Sesquicentennial, Minneapolis Aquatennial, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Swarm.  

To view photos of the race, click here.