Four local dads beat 23 teams in Madison street race

The Red Bull Chariot Race returned to Madison this month, bringing together university students and local residents for a series of street competitions. On Oct. 17, a team of four men from a church group claimed the victory in a field of 24 entries.

The winning group, named Fast and Fatherly, collected a cash prize of $1,500 and 60 cases of Red Bull. None of the four members were college students, a distinction that set them apart from the majority of the competitors. Three of the men are new fathers, while the fourth described himself as a soon-to-be dad. Their vehicle was constructed to look like a baby crib and featured decorations made from their children's toys.

Sam Peterson, one of the competitors, said the physical effort of the race was more demanding than he had anticipated. He participated while wearing a baby carrier that held a doll. His teammate Micah Palmer dressed as an infant during the event. Palmer stated that he hopes their children will learn from the experience that it is acceptable to embarrass oneself in public while still enjoying the moment. The three fathers said they intend to use the money to fund a family vacation.

The race format required teams to compete in 12 head-to-head matchups that started outside the Memorial Union building. At the turnaround point on Lake Street, racers had to solve a puzzle and switch positions before continuing. Judges evaluated the vehicles based on construction, creativity, and a short skit performed before the race. Red Bull provided each team with $200 to cover building materials.

Aaron Colton, a professional motorcycle stunt performer and Red Bull athlete, served as one of the three judges. He noted that creativity accounted for more than half of the scoring. Colton pointed to the required puzzle as a leveler between teams that had built their carts that morning and those that had worked on them for weeks. The other judges were Kayla Ruedebusch, a foil athlete, and Jay Wanserski, a local bar owner. Ruedebusch said the creative elements distinguished this event from other races on the tour.

The event was the fifth stop on a nine-city tour that primarily targets college towns. Jada Cerniglia, a former UW-Madison volleyball player, and Tommy Violet, a Milwaukee comedian, hosted the show for the first time. More than 3,000 spectators watched the races on Langdon Street. Among the audience were prospective students, family members, and local residents. Tohnie, a university alum who previously lived on Langdon Street, said he enjoys returning to the area he considers his second home.