Topic: Amazing Race Questions

[Platrium]

Hi - just now after watching the final episode I wonder two things, and I hope some of you experts can answer them

1.) Why was the winning team allowed to "Gate Check" their bags? Why is it so "secret"? What does is mean exactly, because why wouldn't all the teams do that on the final leg?

2.) How did they keep that Winning Team secret? I searched the spoiler threads after seeing it, and you only got them up to the check in to the stadium. Then they take a, I suppose pre-fixed taxi to a "secret" location and check in. Is the taxi so secret? I mean you had a drone up there! (I really researched before asking xD)
But especially this time. The location wasn't secret. I saw all the boats and spectators in the background, someone must have seen something? There were no decoy teams (this time? I read somewhere here, but - sidequestion - how do they use decoy teams?) so how do they keep that from the internet?

Thanks for your time and answers im advance =)

  and to RFF, Emil 007!

For number 1, I think that's technically like leaving the bags elsewhere on the race course. Then they'll just retrieve it after the race, since it's the final leg. If you remember or watched TAR16, Steve & Allie accidentally left their bags in Seychelles, and raced the following leg without their bags as they were not able to retrieve it themselves. I believe that rule applies. Since Brooke & Scott didn't need their bags anymore on the final leg, they just checked them in and plan to retrieve them after the race so that they'll be running the final leg with a lighter load. Someone please correct me if ever I'm wrong.

As for number 2, I'd rather have a different forum member answer that to be safe.

[Platrium]

Just wondering, would conjoined twins, if ever casted, count as 1 or 2 members of a team?

Also, biking seems to appear occasionally along the race. Therefore, is it a requirement for every racer to learn how to ride a bike before joining the race?

[Glamazon Racer]

Just wondering, would conjoined twins, if ever casted, count as 1 or 2 members of a team?

They would be two team members but running a very serious risk of violating Roadblock rules of not being allowed to help.

[Lemontail]

Just wondering, would conjoined twins, if ever casted, count as 1 or 2 members of a team?

They would be two team members but running a very serious risk of violating Roadblock rules of not being allowed to help.

I don't even know where to start with this one.

They would have to carry two (or one?) bags, self-drive, issue passports, book flights (one seat or two?), do two-people or more tasks, and whatever. So, the possibility of this being cast is very, very low. But anything can happen.

[Maanca]

2.) How did they keep that Winning Team secret? I searched the spoiler threads after seeing it, and you only got them up to the check in to the stadium. Then they take a, I suppose pre-fixed taxi to a "secret" location and check in. Is the taxi so secret? I mean you had a drone up there! (I really researched before asking xD)
But especially this time. The location wasn't secret. I saw all the boats and spectators in the background, someone must have seen something? There were no decoy teams (this time? I read somewhere here, but - sidequestion - how do they use decoy teams?) so how do they keep that from the internet?

Thanks for your time and answers im advance =)

As for number 2, I'd rather have a different forum member answer that to be safe.

I wasn't here then, but from a podcast I once heard it sounds like Season 21 was one of the last times they used "decoy teams". They had the last 2 eliminated teams (in that instance, Abbie & Ryan and Natalie & Nadiya) running around looking like they're racing in a location away from where the actual final 3 is, to divert attention.

Of course it there was no camera and sound crew with them, it's pretty obvious.

[G.B.]

Who can apply for the show? Is it only those living in the 50 states or Washington DC?

[BourkieBoy]

Who can apply for the show? Is it only those living in the 50 states or Washington DC?

I assume all 50 states plus Washington D.C. According to TAR Casting Website, you just need to be a US citizen and you must have a valid US passport.

http://www.theamazingracecasting.com/Faq

[Maanca]

I assume so, it is the capital lol.

Checked the contestants list on WP. One person has ever been cast from DC. Christina of 12/18

Along similar lines, Brooke has previously lived in the US Virgin Islands, read that on her website when she was first ID'ed. That's like the first instance of a territory.

[G.B.]

I believe Brooke just lived in the Virgin Islands, but wasn't a citizen of the islands. That was my question mostly. I was wondering if, say, a person born and living in Puerto Rico could apply.

[HavaDrPepper]

INA: ACT 302 - PERSONS BORN IN PUERTO RICO


Sec. 302. [8 U.S.C. 1402] All persons born in Puerto Rico on or after April 11, 1899, and prior to January 13, 1941, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, residing on January 13, 1941, in Puerto Rico or other territory over which the United States exercises rights of sovereignty and not citizens of the United States under any other Act, are hereby declared to be citizens of the United States as of January 13, 1941. All persons born in Puerto Rico on or after January 13, 1941, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, are citizens of the United States at birth.
https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-29/0-0-0-9711.html

[georgiapeach]

Who can apply for the show? Is it only those living in the 50 states or Washington DC?

I assume all 50 states plus Washington D.C. According to TAR Casting Website, you just need to be a US citizen and you must have a valid US passport.

http://www.theamazingracecasting.com/Faq

Well you just would have eliminated Sara with those rules...

[georgiapeach]

The show doesn't care WHERE you live as long as you are a US CITIZEN.

I think you all mean Sara...not Brooke.

[Maanca]

The show doesn't care WHERE you live as long as you are a US CITIZEN.

I think you all mean Sara...not Brooke.

Yes, my bad. Coincidentally, Sara mentioned that in a tweet today. I was probably thinking Brooke remembering she has a website for her legal practice.

[G.B.]

I'm in Canada and we don't have fancy overseas territories, so I don't always understand the rules.

What about American Samoa? I remember from a CGP Grey video that people from there are only "foreign nationals" of the USA, or something like that.

[CanadianOwl]

I'm in Canada and we don't have fancy overseas territories, so I don't always understand the rules.

we may not have fancy overseas territories, but we do have cold, northern territories.

[Pi/]

^

What about American Samoa? I remember from a CGP Grey video that people from there are only "foreign nationals" of the USA, or something like that.

Anyone born in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands automatically becomes a citizen.

American Samoans are only citizens if one of their parents is a U.S. citizen or if they go through the naturalization process like other non-Americans to become a U.S. citizen.

[Lemontail]

Is there any TAR season where everyone except the first eliminated team have been checked in Top 3 at Pit Stop?

[CanadianOwl]

Is there any TAR season where everyone except the first eliminated team have been checked in Top 3 at Pit Stop?

In the US version, none have, but 4, 5, and 22 are the only seasons (as far as I'm aware) where only one team hasn't been in the top 3.

4: Russell & Cindy never made it to the top 3, the rest (except Debra & Steve) did. In fact, Monica & Sheree are the only other team to not win a leg (but were 2nd on one leg). You can discredit this season however, as two other teams only had their appearance in the top 3 from the Fast Forward.

5: Bob & Joyce only made it to the top 4, the rest (apart from Dennis & Erika) made it to the top 3 at least once.

22: Idries & Jamil were never in the top 3, everyone above them did.

There might be international versions that has done this, but TAR 5 is the closest you can get in the US.

[Maanca]

Internationally, Asia 1. Though it was actually everyone except the second team out - Leg 1 was a Non-Elimination.

[Lemontail]

I've checked and it seems to be TAR (new) China 2 and TAR Vietnam 4 (2015).

[cbacbacba1]

Is there any TAR season where everyone except the first eliminated team have been checked in Top 3 at Pit Stop?

I don't think there is one
But season 4 and season 5 came close by having two teams each failed to get any Top 3 placement throughout the season

[toanglobal]

I've checked and it seems to be TAR (new) China 2 and TAR Vietnam 4 (2015).

TAR Vietnam 4 began with 3 back to back NELs, and only two teams of them (Song Ngư & Trúc Như, Ly Ly & Joo Young) not checked-in at top 2 in any legs

[RaceUntilWeDie]

Is there any TAR season where everyone except the first eliminated team have been checked in Top 3 at Pit Stop?

I don't think there is one
But season 4 and season 5 came close by having two teams each failed to get any Top 3 placement throughout the season

This happened in Seasons 18 and 22 as well. 

18 was a unique case because 11th place finishers Amanda & Kris actually finished 2nd on the first leg--It was Mel & Mike and Jaime & Cara who failed to place in the top 3 at least once during the season.

[toanglobal]

Internationally, Asia 1. Though it was actually everyone except the second team out - Leg 1 was a Non-Elimination.

Asia 1, Asia was an air sponsor thus It equalized teams with each others by only one available flight in every legs except final one

[Lemontail]

I read somewhere that Chip from Chip & Kim from TAR 5 once made a list of strongest individual TAR racers, which all 11 spots were men, with top female racer being a physical trainer. Their names please?