Four dads beat 23 rivals in Langdon Street race

The race on Langdon Street ended with an unexpected champion. A group of four Madison men, none of whom are college students, defeated 23 other teams to win the Red Bull Chariot Race on October 17. The event drew a crowd of more than 3,000 spectators. The winning group, known as Fast and Fatherly, secured $1,500 and 60 cases of Red Bull. Their victory stands out because the competition is typically dominated by university students.

The team consists of three new fathers and one man who describes himself as hopefully soon to be a dad. They built a chariot designed to look like a baby crib and decorated it with their children's toys. Sam Peterson, one of the competitors, wore a baby carrier holding a doll during the race. He told The Daily Cardinal that the event was much harder than he anticipated. Teammate Micah Palmer dressed as a baby. He said he hopes their kids learn that you can humiliate yourself and still have a good time. The three fathers plan to use their winnings for a family vacation.

The race format paired the 24 teams into 12 head-to-head contests starting outside Memorial Union. Racers had to solve a Red Bull Puzzle and switch positions at the Lake Street turnaround. Judges also evaluated chariot construction, creativity, and a pre-race skit. Red Bull provided each team with $200 to help cover building costs. The event mixed university students with community members, creating a diverse competitive field.

The Eagle Has Landed took second place. The team performed a patriotic skit featuring a choreographed lift. Joe Jaroski, a senior on the Wisconsin cheer team who dressed as Uncle Sam, said he spent hours practicing the lift with fellow senior Erin Kelly. Matt Kleist, another teammate, noted that the race provided a memorable experience for their senior year. Grouchiator Maximus finished third, beating Minion Mayos. The Minion Mayos team had about 30 supporters dressed as Minions cheering from the sidelines. The second and third place teams also received unique Red Bull sponsored events.

Aaron Colton, a professional motorcycle stunt performer and Red Bull athlete, served as one of three judges. He stated that creativity accounted for more than half of the score. He noted that some teams built their carts that morning while others had worked for weeks. Colton called the puzzle the great equalizer. The other judges were Kayla Ruedebusch, a Madison based creator and foil athlete, and Jay Wanserski, owner of Wando's and Jay's Bar. Ruedebusch said the creative elements made this race different from others.

Some participants were new to the event. Team Super Badgers was one of the few all freshman entries. Teammate Brennan Schumann said a friend filled out the application and told them the next day that they had been selected. Madison was the fifth stop on a nine stop tour that visits college towns. Jada Cerniglia, a UW Madison volleyball alumna, and Tommy Violet, a Milwaukee comedian, hosted the event for the first time. Colton had judged the race in two other locations. The crowd included prospective students, residents, and alumni. Tohnie, a UW Madison alum who once lived on Langdon Street, said she loves coming back to her home away from home.