Idiotarod '08 Has Taken Off!

As of 8 this morning the starting points for this year's Idiotarod had already been changed twice. As with every year, the effort to dodge police and the scramble to find the most updated starting line is still underway, but the carts should be off soon...and we'll keep you updated. In the meantime, check out Team Danger Zone's ride!

Photo via lobster rocket's flickr.

12:35pm - Where are the carts? We just received this message: "There's multiple starts and no one seems to know what's up-- we're at ft green park with a few teams."

12:45pm - Nearly 300 people, including contestants and judges, just crossed the Manhattan Bridge and seem to be coming from Chinatown.

1:00pm - Our team is on their way from Checkpoint 1 to Checkpoint 2 reporting there's "now about 350 involved and a million photographers and video crews chasing them. It looks like contestants are headed towards cobble hill. Lots of food is being thrown. one team has a catapult in their cart lobbing balloons filled with beer, mustard, and mayo. People dressed as ninjas, in jumpsuits, there's a downtown urban exploration team. Lots of x-dressing contestants."

1:30pm - Checkpoint 2 is at the yard near the silo at the Canal St. Bridge (over the Gowanus Canal). Two or three teams have already arrived there. All non-contestants are being told to leave!

1:40pm - Still at 2nd checkpoint, our team is reporting "no cops--best cart is Top Gun jet complete with exhaust and soundtrack. Last checkpoint is Columbia and Hamilton--bar is called Moonshine in Red Hook."

2:07pm - "At last checkpoint at Moonshine, three cop cars on scene but they're not hassling--first teams arriving now."

2:18pm - "Team Danger Zone just arrived, jet blaring Top Gun finale music--cops beginning to get a little uptight about people in street."

2:19pm - "Cops said one more complaint and they're shutting it down--a fistfight just broke out between two teams."

2:20pm - "Cops said precinct not informed about block party--not at all happy."

2:53pm - "Kind of a festival atmosphere--someone brought out a grill and is making hot dogs--cops are letting it go on."

2:58pm - "Someone is setting off smoke bombs--cops back on the scene."

3:08pm - "Lots of cops finally on scene clearing Columbia and giving warnings about blocking traffic and open containers."

Photo via Runs With Scissors Flickr.

Below is a video of Team Danger Zone. We'll have a "best of" post tomorrow, and look forward to seeing your videos and photos of the day (you can send them to us at tips (a) gothamist dot com, or tag them with "Gothamist" on Flickr).

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on January 26, 2008 5:44 PM

Comments [rss]

ilikelotsastuff

Smoke bombs are required reading for skunks.

JMH

Fucking hipsters.

Nick S

"couple hundred"

blablanyc

Nick S - Where can you buy a digital SLR for $100? The cheapest I've seen is $500.

McGG - LOL!

McGG

maybe we should get these losers to race without pants and we could combine two stupid events in to one.

Nick S

re: blablanyc

that's true, and there are way wayyyyy too many "photographers" (read: people who ponied up a couple hundred bucks for a digital SLR) who are more than willing to document it.

blablanyc

attention whoring is new york's new past time.

aprilnyc

filthy idiots.

Gothamist_Cynic

Fuckers, I waited at the India St. starting point to take pictures and no one showed up.

maevemealone

Yeah, I just got home from my night out and my sidewalks are covered in paint(!), rotten bananas, trash, tomatoes and just lots of crap. It's really filthy and I'm not really cool with that at all. There are no street cleaners coming by like in the marathon. The organizers need to get some rules in place about throwing stuff.

andicandi

I live near the finish line and saw some teams coming in. I thought it was cool and fun until I saw all the garbage and abandoned shopping carts all over my neighborhood. Thanks, guys.

redhookreject

again, is this for charity? is this to raise money for a cause?

You see a lot of English folks in the NYC marathon who raise a mint in silly costumes, is this the same type deal?

otherwise what is the point.

redhookreject

again, is this for charity? is this to raise money for a cause?

You see a lot of English folks in the NYC marathon who raise a mint in silly costumes, is this the same type deal?

otherwise what is the point.

bgallagher

I vouch for Steph despite the fact that she's a double poster?

Team Danger Zone! Thanks for having me :)

Brendan

sgoralnick

i am happy to report that team danger zone won best in show without the aid of flour, eggs, rotten fish, goop or glop, punches to people in the eye for no reason, or tackling any strangers to the ground.

sgoralnick

i am happy to report that team danger zone won best in show without the aid of flour, eggs, rotten fish, goop or glop, punches to people in the eye for no reason, or tackling any strangers to the ground.

hchinaski

You know for a second I thought it was a creative and fun idea and then you morons showed me what you were made of. Marching up the streets of Brooklyn throwing food and flour at each other and getting it all over peoples cars not giving a hoot about anyone else but your own so very interesting selves. I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt but no. Way to go fools. You know how to ruin even a simple creative plan.