This year is a bit different from previous Hunts. The winner is decided by POINTS, not time!   The maximum amount of BASE POINTS THAT A TEAM MAY EARN IS 350:


Tasks:  190 points possible (if you complete ALL tasks)

(3 worth 10 points, 2 worth 20 points, 1 worth 30 points, 1 worth 40 points and 1 worth 50 points)


Scavenge items:  160 points possible (if you scavenge every item)

(20 items worth 2 points, 10 items worth 5 points and 10 items worth 7 points)


Bonus Points:

TaskMasters, Roaming Gnomes and Checkpoint Charlies will have bonus points to give out at their discretion. You can earn these credits for good sportsmanship, encouraging bystander participation, and flirting shamelessly.  Your team can earn endless points for charming all within range.


Prizes will be awarded as follows:

* Grand Champion

* 2nd Place (a.k.a. 1st Loser)

* Best Costumes

* Best Team Spirit

* Jackass Move of the Day

* The Coveted Hans Huber DFL (Dead F**kin’ Last) Award


As always, in the event of a tie, a dance-off judged by crowd applause will determine the winner at the Final Party.


Still want more info?  Check out the Official Rules!

Saturday, June 28, 2008 — Check in from 12:30 – 2:15 pm; The Race begins promptly at 2:30 pm.

DC and surrounding environs via bus, metro, and foot. Nobody drives. Nothing on wheels. Bring a map.


We start at The Front Page in Dupont Circle (1333 New Hampshire Ave, NW).   Everything else is kind of nearby.


Join us for the Post-Hunt Final Party starting at 6:30 pm at Wonderland (1101 Kenyon St, NW).  The first few kegs are on us, so drink up for free until they’re gone!  Invite your friends to celebrate with you! The party is free for racers and $10 for guests (who also get in on the kegs as long as they last).

Form a team of your nearest and dearest. Or just find some fast people if none of your friends are very clever!


Team Requirements:

1) Your team must consist of at least 4 members, but not more than 6 people, and have a catchy team name and a designated captain.

2) All scavengers/members of the team must be 21 years of age or older and have their own insurance.

3) You must have at least two members of each sex on your team (well you should really try- if you 100% cannot find someone of the opposite sex, email us and we’ll talk).   We’ll make a ruling on hermaphrodites on a case by case basis.

4) The team pays a $50 race fee. (This covers your entry at the final party and is your charitable donation.  It does not cover any other expenses during the day.)

5) All members of the team must read the official rules and disclaimer below at some point before the race.


YOU MUST pre-register your team by 11:59 pm on Thursday, June 26.  Go to our Sign Up page for all the info you need to pre-register and pay.


You might also consider trying to get matching funds from friends or a team sponsor to help send even more money to our charity. Let’s be really clear — raise more money and you get bonus points!!


• $100–$200 in donated funds earns your team 10 bonus points

• $201–$400 in donated funds earns your team 20 bonus points

  1. •$401+ earns your team 30 bonus points


If you’d like to race, but can’t scrounge up enough friends willing to make fools of themselves, send us an email at dcscavengerhunt@gmail.com, subject line “Find me a home”, and we’ll put you in touch with others who need a team or a mate.

The Scavenger Hunt begins at exactly 2:30 pm. All members of the team must check-in and be present between 12:30 and 2:15 pm Saturday, June 28 at The Front Page at Dupont Circle. You MUST pre-register your team!


The race happens regardless of weather—rain or shine. Kind of like the Postal Service, but without the surly attitude and rising cost of stamps. (Sure it’s a real race and we will crown a winner, but in the end, it is an opportunity for you to act like a fool with your friends. That’s the real challenge. Or for some of you clowns, the easy part!)


At 2:30 pm your team will eagerly rip open your race envelope, and you will head off! Your envelope will contain a list of 8 tasks and 40 scavenge items. You must complete at least 4 of the tasks (you choose!) and scavenge a minimum of 20 items to qualify. Tasks and scavenged items will have different point values based on their difficulty.


You choose the order you want to follow. There will be clues about the locations of the tasks.  Figure out your best route.  Your team will head to the location and complete the task.  Maybe you’ll pick up a few items form the Scavenge list along the way.  Once a task is completed you’ll earn a special clue to find a Roaming Gnome for extra points. Roaming Gnomes will be in secret nearby locations…  Either find the Gnome for points or run on to the next task, gathering Scavenge items along the way.


The maximum number of scavenge items you may claim at any offload site is 15 items (point value will vary depending on what you turn in), so you MUST hit two locations before the end of the day.


Your race packet will include a list of 3 possible offload sites. You must visit at least 2 of these places to earn your Scavenge points. You must offload everything before the final party at Wonderland.


Do not bring your scavenged items to the Final Party! You should only bring your scorecards!


Make sure someone on your team has a knapsack.  Maybe even some Ziploc baggies.  A digital camera is also good idea, along with other urban exploration supplies (you never know what you might need).


A rough breakdown of the day appears below. Because this race is point-based, instead of time-based, you can choose the order and speed at which you compete.


1) Start at Front Page.

2) Either begin collecting items, or head to a Task location.

  1. 3)Complete task, earn points, Go find Roaming Gnome for extra points.

  2. 4)Head on to next task location, finding Scavenge items along the way.

  3. 5)Visit an offload location to redeem scavenge item points (remember: max 15 items per offload site)

  4. 6)Continue the routine set out above.

  5. 7)Check in at Wonderland for the Final Party and hope you are a winner!


IMPORTANT: To be eligible to win, you must complete at least 4 out of 8 tasks and must find at least 20 Scavenge items  Other than those requirements, everything is at your pace. You may choose to spend as much or as little time at any of the checkpoints or Gnome locations.  You can always earn extra points by amusing the Gnomes and Tsars.


Remember that the Final Party does not begin until 6:30 pm. If you finish early, feel free to hang out there or elsewhere.  All the task sites and Offload locations will shut down at 6:30 as they head to the Final Party.


At 6:30 pm we will begin accepting scorecards at Wonderland!

The 2008 DC Scavenger Hunt: Amazing Race Style is brought to you by SMASHED!  If you’d like to get on our mailing list for other fun events, just send an email to dcsmashed-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.