Director Dave Komives and crew came up with a "race" format that will be remembered for years. It was a rolling treasure hunt with a pirate motif. Here's how it went:
F
irst
there was a one-lap time trial around the crit course, with 
permission
to roll through the one clear-view stop sign there. Next
came a balloon game guaranteed to leave stressed out time trialists on the
verge of collapse.
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| (#1) Take one of the balloons and blow it up so that it is fully inflated. Tie a knot in the end so that no air can escape. Then with any part of the body except the hands, feet or mouth, bust the balloon to receive your next set of instructions. |
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Victims ... er ... contestants, then headed off to the University campus, armed with instructions and a course map. Workers (there were lots of the) guessed that some of the juniors might end up map challenged, but it was Vet Jon Brinkman who turned North and got terminally off course. Buckeye Gary Tarsh was DQed when he rolled through the stop sign at the first turn
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| (#2) You are about to leave the TT course. You will be required to obey ALL the traffic laws, which includes stopping at all traffic lights, stop signs etc. Failure to obey the traffic laws WILL RESULT in ELIMINATION. Head west on Wood Bridge Blvd, turn left (south) on N. Dunbridge Rd, turn right (west) on SR #105. Cross I-75 and at the first intersection (Alumni Dr.) turn right (north). Proceed to the information kiosk, locate item #60, and remember this name, it will be your password at the next pit stop. Next, locate parking lot “L” and proceed there for your next set of instructions. |
Faster riders were often tripped up at the next stop when they failed to take the next information sheet seriously.
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| (#3) Treasure Tale Guard this information with your life for there are many who seek the location of the fortune of the greatest pirate that ever rode a bike……..Marco Pantani, “Elephantino”. Marco’s treasures are hidden in a cove on the island of Tonga in the South Pacific. One of the items is the Yellow Jersey that Lance let him win on stage 12 of the 2000 tour that ended on Mont Ventoux. Remove your shoes and socks; tear the treasure tale in half, hide one-half in one sock and the other half in the other sock. Next, put your socks and shoes on. When this is complete, you are ready to sail, get your next set of instruction from the wench. |
At the
next stop one had to answer a questionnaire based on the info now residing in
wet socks. Errors were most costly; wiser folks got their papers out of their
socks and didn't get penalized.
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| (#4) Proceed to parking lot #12, the next pit stop as per your map. You will receive your next challenge when you get there. Make a complete stop at East Merry and Mercer Rds. with one foot on the ground. Failure to make a complete stop will result in elimination. (#5) Treasure Tale Questions Write your name on this page and turn it into the timekeeper at the end of the race. Write the answers below each question. Note that a blank answer will add 5 minutes to your time and a wrong answer will add 10 minutes to your time. Misspelled answers will be considered wrong. 1. Who was the greatest pirate that ever rode a bike? 2. What was the pirate’s nickname? 3. ..., etc. If you answer the following question correctly, 10 minutes will be deducted from your time. There will be no time penalty for an incorrect answer. |
Finally, almost everyone got this one right:
| (#6) Head west on Merry St. to N. College St., turn south on N. College St. and stop at the corner of N. College and Ridge Sts….. What is the name on the door at the end of N. College St.? Insert name here [it was ΑΦπ] (5m added for no answer, 10m added for wrong answer). Next turn west ... to the Woodbridge Industrial Park where the race started. Turn east into the industrial park and go to station #1. Turn in this paper and the answers to the Treasure Tale questions to stop your time. |