Our 2008 season came to an end in grand fashion! The National Champions results were affected by a minor penalty.
Kipley Fiebig and Dave Bogle of Team Vignette KD finished in 2:04, but forgot to take one picture (they had completed the challenge by getting 50 tickets from the Deal or No Deal game in Gameworks, but didn't take a picture in front of it, costing them the $10,000 National Championship prize).
Eight minutes later John and Marcy Beard of Team Vignette MJ finished with all clues properly completed and became the first Great Urban Race National Champs!
Congratulations to John and Marcy for an outstanding race!
Finals Results:
# denotes penalty
2008 National Champions - Vignette MJ (2:12) - John and Marcy Beard
2nd - toocoolracing.com (2:17) - Art Cook and Robyn Cantor
3rd - Dynamic Health Racing (2:23) - Richard McCormick and Chris McCormick
#4th - Vignette KD (2:34) - Kipley Fiebig and Dave Bogle
5th - Two Bulls (3:02) - Dannell Christian and Roy Retlin
#6th - Moxie Pucks (3:04) - Jim Sampson and Robert Butler
#7th - Tweedles (3:09) - Justin and Charlie Graham
8th - On the Rocks! (4:05) - Scott VanEyk and Garrett Delmas
At 2pm the GUR staff loaded the 16 finalists on a bus, took all of their gadgets (phones, cameras, gps', etc.) and blindfolded them. The bus drove the participants to a residential home seven miles from the finish and the race began inside the home with a large custom jigsaw puzzle consisting of a scene from The Great Urban Race Atlanta. Once the puzzle was solved, teams were given their first five clues, all gadgets and had to figure out how to get to the first clue, 3.5 miles away.
Teams worked their way up the Strip from the south finding Lenin in Mandalay Bay, Criss Angel's Hummer at Luxor, an obsure picture in a hallway in Tropicana, gathered 20 strangers for a picture in front of the MGM Lion and ended the first set of five clues by riding on the New York, New York roller coaster.
Teams completed a five question IQ test in a New York, New York board room for their middle challenge before being given their second set of five clues.
The last five clues were a straight shot up the Strip and back to the Rio and stops included getting a penny with M & M stamped on it, finding the Los Tucanos star, finding the "Meet the Cow" statue, getting 50 tickets from Deal or No Deal at Gameworks and finding the word Moules on a restaurant sign.
Only a little over two hours after starting the big jigsaw puzzle, John and Marcy Beard from Austin, TX ran through the casino in the Rio to a cheering crowd waiting in McFadden's and became the 2008 National Champions!
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Interview with 2008 National Champions John and Marcy Beard:
What was your strategy?
Get the clues to our crack research team as fast as possible, and put together an efficient route.
Did you study anything before the race?
Las Vegas history, bus schedules - neither of which helped!
Did you have any arguments?
Only when trying to figure out where the heck we where at the start of the Finals race.
How do you know each other?
We're even more happily married now:)
Which clue did you do first? Why?
Morning race = Brahma shrine because we knew where it was and it was on the way to Circus Circus.
Afternoon race = Mandalay Bay because we could see it from three miles away.
Do you have any secrets for your success?
Collaberation is a powerful thing.
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Earlier in the day, 83 of the top teams from 19 cities across the US left McFadden's in the Rio for a mad dash race up and down the north part of the Strip. The Championship race certainly uped the ante in terms of competition - teams were gunning for the win unlike any other 2008 race.
Teams strung 200 beads on a cord, played water pong, and zipped in and out of several hotels / casinos along the Strip.
Team Vignette KD from Austin returned to the finish mat first in 1:16. Team Vignette MJ finished in 1:24. Dynamic Health Racing rounded out the top three in 1:27.
Results for the Preliminary Race (Finals Race Results Below)
*denotes team qualified for Elite Eight Finals
#denotes team received a penalty
*1st - Vignette KD (1:16) - Kipley Fiebig and David Bogle
*2nd - Vignette MJ (1:24) - John Beard and Marcy Beard
*3rd - Dynamic Health Racing (1:27) - Richard McCormick and Chris McCormick
*4th - Two Bulls (1:30) - Dannel Christian and Roy Retlin
*5th - toocoolracing.com (1:30) - Robyn Cantor and Art Cook
*6th - Moxie Pucks (1:30) - Jim Sampson and Robert Butler
*7th - The Tweedles (1:36) - Charlie Graham and Justin Graham
*8th - On the Rocks (1:39) - Scott VanEyk and Garrett Delmas
9th - Two Girls (1:41) - Gail Loving and Sandy Kimbrough
10th - Sun Devils (1:41) - Ricky Lindwall and Sean Butler
11th - Gals a Cookin' (1:47) - Yoko Kasai and Annelise Bauer
12th - Alaska Grown (1:47) - Brett Rogers and Kevin Rogers
13th - Boston 26.2 (1:47) - Dina Colman and David Luczynski
14th - Team McGee (1:49) - James McGee and Phil McGee
15th - Blu Cru (1:55) - Brandon Patchett and Chris Womack
16th - Avenging Narwhals (1:55) - John Zobel and Eric Zobel
17th - Mountain View Mamas (1:55) - Karen Moreland and Alexa Morris
18th - Sunduners (1:55) - Amy Horst and Jennifer Williams
19th - Lost and Found (1:58) - Sara Morneau and Sheila Kahwati
20th - Lois and Clark (1:59) - Kevin Poff and Krystal Cope
21st - Hoity Toities (1:59) - Casey Dahl and Ryan Ritzer
#22nd - Moonwalkers (2:00) - Mark Davenport and Julia Metcalfe
23rd - Disco Cookies (2:01) - Ryel Kestano and Jeff Corn
24th - North Avenue Trade School (2:01) - David Weathers and Ray Neal
25th - Batwing & Kelly (2:04) - Kristin Stoltenberg and Bruce Doscher
26th - Caped Crusaders (2:04) - Kevin Downs and Carl Jamison
27th - 20 til NOON (2:05) - Shawn Bernardi and Brenda Bernardi
28th - Team Booty (2:05) - Stephanie San Antonio and Marco San Antonio
29th - Jody & Angie (2:05) - Jody Newberg and Angie Koplan
30th - Team Titanic (2:06) - Tim Aberle and Dave Aberle
31st - The DAWGS (2:07) - Nathan Miller and Jillian DeLeon
32nd - Peanut Butter Jelly Time (2:07) - Marian Rosaaen and Sanjay Nayar
33rd - Two Old Divas (2:10) - Erica Heskamp and Mary Jo McKibben
34th - Where Am I? (2:10) - Jeffrey Pickar and Josh Pickar
#35th - Three Orange Whips (2:11) - Andy Colella and Jim Riesenman
36th - Rother Parkita (2:11) - Heather Henry-Parker and Robert Laurita
37th - Salty Penguins (2:11) - Brion Friedman and Reilly Friedman
38th - M.I.L.F. with a Kitchen Pass (2:11) - Jennifer Shafer and Mary Shapleigh
39th - Kitchen Pass (2:12) - Kerri Pagel and Josh Pagel
40th - Team Tiger (2:12) - Anne Vermillion and Sarah Staton
41st - Superstar Too (2:12) - Carly Fenner and Panos Papaconstantinou
42nd - Great Urban Eaters (2:12) - Adam Shumaker and Gin Cheng
43rd - Rice Cracker (2:13) - Matt Spencer and Andrea Spencer
44th - Jersey Girls (2:13) - Colleen McCarthy and Jeanne Bayers
45th - Double D's (2:13) - Kevin Dee and Deanna Culbreath
46th - Team Letts (2:15) - John Letts and JC Letts
47th - Kissing Bandits (2:15) - Aretina Trepczyk and Elizabeth Austin
48th - Couging It (2:15) - Jennifer Cullison and William Gardner
49th - EMC2 (2:16) - Jim McHorney and Nicole McHorney
50th - Team OFF (2:19) - Brian Welch and Ruth Chen
51st - The Twisted Sisters (2:22) - Diana Kirkpatrick and Robin Clarke
52nd - The Wonderful Kevin Hall (2:22) - Joe Kenney and Sophie Lek
53rd - The Irish Rover (2:22) - Hilary Phelan and Jessie Hazen
54th - Booty Girls (2:23) - Jaime Kennemer and Christy Owens
55th - The Devil Inside (2:23) - Sam Levenberg and Claire Levenberg
56th - Lil Scampers (2:23) - Sylvia Haney and Veronica Peralta
#57th - The Muppets (2:25) - Cameron Burg and Ashley Burg
58th - Team Brody (2:25) - Alex Self and Margie Self
59th - Grammar Girls (2:26) - Autumn Brewington and Clare Martin
60th - Berg Squared (2:26) - Aaron Wulfsberg and Michael Herberg
61st - Anorak (2:26) - William Siu and Mai Siu
62nd - The Biggest Losers (2:28) - Annemarie Batur and Bear Fisher
63rd - Tactic Tigers (2:28) - Christine Melen and Debbie Rice
64th - Jew Crew (2:28) - Jennifer Tetreault and Anne Nyer
65th - The Busy Devs (2:28) - Robinne Burrell and Brandon Lucas
66th - Cal Paulie Girls (2:28) - Dana Torres Rivas and Marissa Waggoner
#67th - K-Squared (2:33) - Karen Veeneman and Kellyy Lyle
68th - PRE (2:33) - Carson Cooper and Vince Cirello
#69th - Polish Leprechauns (2:39) - Kristin Igusky and Meghan Kelly
70th - Furrocious (2:40) - Debbie Muller and John Muller
71st - Wanderlusters (2:41) - Marilyn Shultz and Stephen Urbrock
72nd - Save Pluto (2:45) - Adam Atkinson and Paul Kent
73rd - Cool Runnings (2:46) - Amy Byal and Robb Evans
74th - Goonies (2:51) - Holly Carlson and Scott Ahrenholz
75th - The 11th Year Itch (2:51) - Jim Pearson and Wendy Pearson
76th - Team Gerety (2:51) - Julie Gerety and Daniel Gerety
#77th - A-Team (2:59) - Danny Reeves and RJ Inawat
##78th - Meat Machine (3:06) - Erik Stuart and Chris Maliwat
79th - Team Magoo (3:12) - Carol Matsuzaki and Katy Quinn
80th - Sassy Senoritas (3:17) - Bridget Casey and Leigh D'Ambra
81st - Oh Craps! (3:46) - Claire Mays and Colleen McBride
#82nd - Rockstar Beagle (3:54) - James Gentes and Jill Olin
DQed - ClubEdventures - Edward Wagner and Kris Hall
Final Rostr (83 teams):
| Team Name | Teammate 1 | Teammate 2 | Finish | |
| Tampa Bay | ||||
| Oh Craps! | Claire Mays | Colleen McBride | 6th | |
| Team Brody | Alexandra Self | Margie Self | 9th | |
| North Avenue Trade School | David Weathers | Ray Neal | 15th | |
| Jew Crew | Jennifer Tetreault | Anne Nyer | 23rd | |
| Phoenix | ||||
| Save Pluto | Adam Atkinson | Paul Kent | 1st | |
| The Devil Inside | Sam Levenberg | Claire Levenberg | 6th | |
| Lil' Scampers | Sylvia Haney | Veronica Peralta | 15th | |
| 20 Til NOON | Shawn Bernardi | Brenda Bernardi | 16th | |
| Los Angeles | ||||
| Lois and Clark | Kevin Poff | Krystal Cope | 3rd | |
| Moonwalkers | Mark Davenport | Julia Metcalfe | 4th, also 1st in Boston | |
| EMC2 | Jim McHorney | Nicole McHorney | 11th | |
| The Biggest Losers | Annemarie Batur | Bear Fisher | 13th | |
| Sun Devils | Ricky Lindwall | Sean Butler | 15th | |
| The Busy Devs | Robinne Burrell | Brandon Lucas | 18th | |
| Cal Pauli Girls | Dana Torres Rivas | Marissa Waggoner | 21st | |
| Rother Parkita | Heather Henry-Parker | Robert Laurita | 25th | |
| Atlanta | ||||
| Salty Penguins | Brion Friedman | Reilly Friedman | 6th | |
| Wanderlusters | Marilyn Schultz | Stephen Urbrock | 21st | |
| Dallas | ||||
| Vignette KD | Kipley Fiebig | David Bogle | 1st, also 6th in Austin | |
| Team Tiger | Anne Vermillion | Sarah Staton | 25th | |
| Cincinnati | ||||
| Two Old Divas | Erica Heskamp | Mary Jo McKibben | 1st | |
| K-Squared | Karen Veeneman | Kelly Lyle | 4th | |
| Goonies | Holly Carlson | Scott Ahrenholz | 16th | |
| San Francisco | ||||
| Gals a Cookin' | Yoko Kasai | Annelise Bauer | 1st | |
| The Tweedles | Charlie Graham | Justin Graham | 2nd | |
| Boston 26.2 | Dina Coleman | David Luczynski | 3rd | |
| Meat Machine | Erik Stuart | Chris Maliwat | 9th | |
| Rockstar Beagle | James Gentes | Jill Olin | 11th | |
| SanDuners | Amy Horst | Jennifer Williams | 25th | |
| Philadelphia | ||||
| Clubedventures | Edward Wagner | Kris Hall | 1st | |
| Berg Squared | Aaron Wulfsberg | Michael Herberg | 11th | |
| Caped Crusaders | Kevin Downs | Carl Jamison | 13th | |
| The DAWGS | Nathan Miller | Jillian DeLeon | 23rd | |
| Boston | ||||
| Where Am I? | Jeffery Pickar | Josh Pickar | 6th | |
| Lost and Found | Sara Morneau | Sheila Kahwati | 11th | |
| Sassy Senoritas | Bridget Casey | Leigh D'Ambra | 12th | |
| Team Magoo | Carol Matsuzaki | Katy Quinn | 15th | |
| Seattle | ||||
| Avenging Narwhals | Eric Zobel | John Zobel | 5th | |
| Jody & Angie | Jody Newberg | Angie Koplan | 18th | |
| Anorak | William Siu | Mai Siu | 24th | |
| New York City | ||||
| Batwing and Kelly | Kristin Stoltenberg | Bruce Doscher | 1st | |
| Alaska Grown | Brett Rogers | Kevin Rogers | 5th | |
| Great Urban Eaters | Adam Shumaker | Gin Cheng | 6th | |
| The Double D's | Kevin Dee | Deanna Culbreath | 7th | |
| Mountain View Mamas | Karen Moreland | Alexa Morris | 11th, also 10th in Portland | |
| Madison | ||||
| Team Gerety | Julie Gerety | Daniel Gerety | 10th | |
| Cool Runnings | Amy Byal | Robb Evans | 11th | |
| Denver | ||||
| Vignette MJ | John Beard | Marcy Beard | 1st, also 7th in Austin | |
| Three Orange Whips | Andy Colella | Jim Riesenman | 3rd | |
| On The Rocks! | Garrett Delmas | Scott VanEyk | 5th | |
| Disco Cookies | Ryel Kestano | Jeff Corn | 6th | |
| The 11th Year Itch | Jim Pearson | Wendy Pearson | 15th | |
| The Irish Rover | Hilary Phelan | Jessie Hazen | 18th | |
| Team Titanic | Tim Aberle | Dave Aberle | 25th | |
| Washington DC | ||||
| Team McGee | James McGee | Phil McGee | 1st | |
| Peanut Butter Jelly Time | Marian Rosaaen | Sanjay Nayar | 3rd | |
| Grammar Girls | Autumn Brewington | Clare Martin | 6th | |
| Tactic Tigers | Christine Melen | Debbie Rice | 9th | |
| Jersey Girls | Colleen McCarthy | Jeanne Bayers | 12th | |
| The Polish Leprechauns | Kristin Igusky | Meghan Kelly | 15th | |
| Kitchen Pass | Kerri Pagel | Josh Pagel | 23rd | |
| M.I.L.F. with a Kitchen Pass | Jennifer Shafer | Mary Shapleigh | 23rd | |
| Chicago | ||||
| A-Team | Danny Reeves | R.J. Inawat | 14th | |
| Furr-ocious | John Muller | Debbie Muller | 20th | |
| The Wonderful Kevin Hall | Joe Kenney | Sophie Lek | 23rd | |
| Portland | ||||
| Two Bulls | Dannel Christian | Roy Retlin | 2nd | |
| Team Letts | John Letts | JC Letts | 23rd | |
| The Kissing Bandits | Aretina Trepczyk | Elizabeth Austin | 25th | |
| The Twisted Sisters | Diana Kirkpatrick | Robin Clarke | 25th | |
| Coughing It | Jennifer Cullison | William Gardner | 25th | |
| Twin Cities | ||||
| Hoity Toities | Casey Dahl | Ryan Ritzer | 5th | |
| Austin | ||||
| Moxie Pucks | Jim Sampson | Robert Butler | 1st | |
| toocoolracing.com | Robyn Cantor | Art Cook | 2nd | |
| Two Girls | Gail Loving | Sandy Kimbrough | 4th | |
| Dynamic Health Racing | Richard McCormick | Chris McCormick | 5th | |
| San Diego | ||||
| Team OFF | Brian Welch | Ruth Chen | 1st | |
| PRE | Carson Coooper | Vince Cirello | 4th | |
| Blu Cru | Brandon Patchett | Chris Womack | 6th | |
| Team Booty | Stephanie San Antonio | Marco San Antonio | 8th | |
| The Muppets | Cameron Burg | Ashley Burg | 11th | |
| Rice Cracker | Matt Spencer | Andrea Spencer | 12th | |
| Booty Girls | Jaime Kennemer | Christy Owens | 16th | |
| Superstar Too! | Carly Fenner | Panos Papaconstantinou | 23rd |