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Watch your back for adorned shopping carts today, the Idiotarod has officially begun! Seems like just yesterday that Team Danger Zone was running through the streets blaring Kenny Loggins and channeling their inner-Top Guns, but can they top themselves this year? We got our hands on some video (courtesy of NFGTV) of their shiny new carts, and it looks like the other racers have some major competition again. They're literally bringing the fire, with a pair of torch-led carts called Remus and Romulus.
The race started at 11:30 a.m. at a heliport in Midtown East, and you'll allegedly be able to watch a live stream of it as it goes on (from the chariot, of course). Stay tuned for more images and reports from the front lines...and let's hope everyone watched this PSA about cleaning up after themselves (the organizers actually told us that teams throwing "messy stuff are banned from subsequent races"). Remember to send your photos to tips(AT)gothamist(DOT)com, or tag them "gothamist" on Flickr.
UPDATE: At 12:45 p.m. we heard that the cops have shown up at the second checkpoint and are posing for pictures! (To keep things fair they should really have to be in NYPD-themed carts.) A map tracking the race is now after the jump.
UPDATE II: We are being told that "Coco 66 in Greenpoint and on Greenpoint Ave between West and Franklin. Confirmed finish line. So far only staff are there." Expect to start seeing the race wrap up there around 2:30 or 3 p.m.
UPDATE III: This just in from the race, at 2:54 p.m., "Seems like Coco66 is just last checkpoint—finish looks like at the end of Kent Ave in Greenpoint where it started two years ago."
UPDATE IV: The after party will be held at Public Assembly in Williamsburg, starting around 3:30 p.m. (The awards get handed out at 6 p.m.) Racers are being told they have to go to the finish line where a truck will be waiting to collect carts and trash.
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WHOA WHOA!!!! There is NO flame thrower on the actual cart!!! Offensive weapons and hostility run completely counter to what we practice, preach, and stand by.
Here's another incredibly important thing to note - There were WAY more than four guys working on this - In fact there were about 30 people working for hundreds of hours in freezing cold shops doing painting, stenciling, woodworking, CNC work, metal fabrication, costume design and production, sound design, electronics, dozens of cans of spray paint, and so, so much more. Every member of the team pulled an enormous amount of weight, the logistics are out of control, and again, so many talented people poured their heart and soul in to this project, and they all deserve a big round of applause.
I am personally very excited to see what this years race turns out to be, and I really hope that we've got some stiff competition, and lots of it. The race has come a long way from the days of throwing paint and stabbing people. I hope it keeps moving in the right direction.
Douchebags.
paper or plastic?
Nice image - will be fun to see the rest after the event.
goddamn, that is one hell of a cart. already 100 times better than anything i saw last year.
i really wanted to enter this year but time and money was just way too short.
Judging by the chariot pic above it would seem U.S. military budget cuts have already begun to go into effect.
I like the steampunk looking one a lot.