Temperatures supposed to be high of 78 degrees tomorrow (not exactly Alaskan Iditarod weather, but just about right for Tucson). I’m just re-announcing it for those of you who missed it the first time (with some updates):

The Great Tucson Iditarod Race:
April 1, 2012

You are invited to enter a shopping cart race in which teams of from 2 to 5 people tie themselves to a dressed up shopping cart, and manage their outrageously costumed-selves down the sidewalks of downtown Tucson.

Description
This is an urban adventure, with a shopping cart tied to your waist or being hand pulled. Mushers and “dawgs” must have a theme, and be in costume to support that theme. The races are fun competitions, but are not based on speed, or who gets to the finish line first. Racers wear costumes of the absurd such as Spanish bullfighters, javelina astronauts, favorite vegetables or fruit, puppies, or human pinatas.

Teams can be used to advertise their charity, their business, their school, their class, their program, their singing group, their church, their golf team, their class, their neighborhood, their office, their yoga group, their family, their brand, their politics, their dance class, etc.

There must be a musher riding in, or on, the cart at all times. Team members can switch at their discretion. The event will be video documented and photographed along the way. At the end of the race, 5 teams will be chosen and awarded $100 each in prize money. All ages welcome to participate.

Iditarod: (pronounced: Eye-DIT-uh-rod)

History:
The most famous Sled Dog Race in the world was the Iditarod which ran 1160 miles through the roughest and most beautiful Alaskan terrain. Mushers and dogs raced through fierce mountains, frozen rivers, thick forests, and desolate tundras.

The Present:
The Great Tucson Iditarod is tougher still. Mushers have to brave the U of A Mall, University Avenue, 4th Avenue and it’s perilous underpass, Congress Street, and Sixth Ave, only to end up at the center of the world: The Tucson Food Truck Roundup, if they survive their frostbitten journey.

The Race:
The race occurs on April 1, 2012, April Fools Day. There is no exact start time. Each team starts between Noon and 3pm, but at a time of their choosing. Check in at Bentley’s House of Coffee and Tea, 1730 E. Speedway.

Smart Mushers Register Beforehand:
Not necessary, but it will help all of us.
Entry fee: $30. Payable on Paypal (pay dinnerwareartspace@gmail.com), or check, or cash, day of the race. Get last minute updates before you set out on your journey. The race ends at the Tucson Food Truck Roundup at 5pm. Five, $100 cash prizes will be awarded at 5:30pm.

Along the way, you have to check in at certain stops. Each stop will give the team something to take with them on their journey. Those items must be presented at the end of the race. Some items may be small. Some may be large….

Start at Bentley’s, 1730 E. Speedway, then mush through the UA Mall to
-Time Market, then
-Skybar, then
-Xoom Juice on Congress, then head to the finish line at the Tucson Food Truck Roundup, 76 E. Sixth Street.

Awards: Clever theme selection, amazing costuming, animal decoration, artistic and crazy, award because the judges just loved them.

Preparing for the race:
Get a shopping cart. Where? Use your imagination, but a lot of times rejected shopping carts reside behind super markets. Just sayin. Shopping carts can be ‘adjusted’ to fit your needs including chopping them up. But keep the wheels on. Get your friends together, create some fun costuming, and you’re good to go. As always, be safe and be legal.

Iditarod stops are subject to change.
Guidelines subject to enhancement.
Award categories may be added or adjusted.

For updates:
http://www.tucsonfoodtruckroundup.com/Tucson_Iditarod.html

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Great-Tucson-Iditarod-Race-April-1-2012/348140168539406

Created by
David Aguirre
Dinnerware Artspace
520-869-3166

Yow — this sounds grueling, to push or pull a shopping cart (without dogs) in the hot Southwest desert sun at high noon on Sunday April Fool’s Day! The route goes from Bentley’s at Nob Hill near Campbell, through the UA Mall along University Blvd., then down 4th Avenue through the underpass to downtown Congress Street, up 6th Avenue, and finally to Benjamin Plumbing (N. 7th Ave & E. 6th St.) Maybe only fools need apply?

I think I’ll just meander along this concrete pathway on a bicycle, sans the shopping cart. And don’t forget that the fun Food Truck Roundup starts at 4 p.m. (where the race ends), and goes to 8 p.m. I wonder if you can hitch your husky dog to a shopping car for good luck (and help pulling?)

At the end of the race, 5 teams will be chosen and awarded $100 each in prize money.
Be there to see who wins!

4/1/12 update: photos of 1st Iditarod race on April Fool’s Day 2012 (click here).

Tucson Food Truck Roundup Calendar from www.tucsonfoodtruckroundup.com:

March 5th, 2012: At Tower Theatres at the Cortaro/IH-10 Exit, 4:30-8:30pm.
See mytowertheatres.com for more detailed directions.

http://www.facebook.com/events/296358167092166/

March 16-18th: Roundup at Tucson Museum of Art, 10am-6pm, 140 N. Main, Tucson. Six food trucks per day. http://www.facebook.com/events/125666494222767/

April 1st: Benjamin Plumbing Supply Parking Lot, 76 E. Sixth St

-April 15, Bookman’s Event Center for Tucson Roller Derby Championships, 11am-3pm. Full out Tucson Food Truck Roundup.

-April 20: Pennington Street Block Party.

-May 6th: U of A West Gate Tucson Food Truck Roundup.

-July 28: Garlic Festival Food Truck Roundup at the Triangle T Ranch at the Dragoon/IH-10 Exit.

Tucson Food Truck Roundup supports Dinnerware Artspace

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Read more about the upcoming March 5 roundup in Marana by blogger Karyn Zoldan “To Market to Food Market” (click here).

For more info contact:
David Aguirre
Tucson Food Truck Roundup
dinnerwareartspace@gmail.com

4/9/12 Update:

`April 10th: 4-8pm: Tucson Food Truck Roundup at Lazydays RV, 3200 E. Irvington.

`April 11th: Neighborhood Chef with Jones St. Bistro, Street Delights, and Cyclopsicle, at Ralph’s Service Station at S. 4th Ave/19th St.

`April 15th: Tucson Food Truck Roundup at Bookman’s Event Center, 5120 S. Julian, 11am-3pm, Dust Devil Roller Derby Tournament.

`April 15th: Crossroads Festival, 4811 E. Grant, next to the Grand Cinema Theatres, 4:30-8pm, Arizona International Film Festival Kickoff.

520-869-3166