March 18, 2024

Residents Relate: Ridiculous Races are really fun

7 teams compete Saturday in second annual Ridiculous Races

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With an admonishment not to throw any elbows, Amanda Price sent her seven teams hunting through downtown Newton on Saturday for the Ridiculous Races. The event, sponsored by the Newton Chamber of Commerce, is a challenge that pits teams against each other while they visit local businesses and search for clues throughout the community.

Price, the executive director of the Newton Area Chamber of Commerce, said she created the event to help bring attention and awareness to local businesses in the community. It also didn’t hurt that she’s a big fan of the CBS television show The Amazing Race.

“I’ve always been kind of obsessed with the show,” Price said. “I actually wish I was able to participate, it’s really fun making everything.”

This year, four local businesses participated in the Ridiculous Race, Mattingly Music and Book Store, Mojo Cycling, Fine Things Reclaimed, and E-Clips. With seven teams competing, Price has seen interest in the event nearly double in only two years.

While Price’s goal is for teams to have fun, she hopes by visiting local businesses, contestants will see something that brings them back into the business, creating more customers for local stores.

“We want to try and get people into these businesses, and get them more business,” Price said.

Joe Urias, owner of Mojo Cycling, has participated in the event both years. He said he thinks it’ll only get bigger and better as time goes on. As he watched teams throw a frisbee disc into the a basket at his shop to claim their prize, Urias said the real value of the event was just getting people into the door.

“I don’t know if these people will come back or not,” Urias said. “But hopefully they’ll tell their friends, and word of mouth is everything in a small community like this. You can’t buy that kind of advertising.”

When Bryan Friedman found out about the Ridiculous Race, he thought it sounded like so much fun that he talked his entire family into competing, even his teenage son, Isaac. Friedman’s wife Robyn rustled up matching costumes for the entire family, including a set of sparkly vests, which she bought at the Newton Community Theatre garage sale for a $1 each. The Friedman’s praised Price for her efforts in creating the event.

“Amanda has been a fantastic ambassador for downtown businesses,” Bryan Friedman said. “It’s great to have her in Newton.”

Robyn Friedman said the event was so much fun, they’d definitely plan on coming back next year to defend their championship.

“I loved how the businesses came up with creative challenges, this was just a lot of fun,” Robyn Friedman said.

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com