The WBKR/Halloween Havoc Road War Solution 2014

Congratulations to Team Shut the Front Door!  Sydney and Isaac Warren, Jared Gibson and Tabitha Morris are the champions of the 2014 WBKR/Halloween Havoc Road War!  They will share our $1,000 grand prize for nailing the mileage of our mystery course.  Here's the official solution to this year's Road War!  How close were you???

ROAD WAR LEG #1

As a species we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, we pick sides and start dreaming up reasons to kill one another- Stephen King's The Mist (2007)

YOU MUST GO!  HOLD NOTHING BACK!-  The clue makes two references to the liquidation sale going on now at Sears and suggests that drivers should turn left and proceed toward the retailer.

WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP SIGN, TAKE THE PARADE ROUTE-  At the stop sign, just beyond Sears, turn right.  "Parade route" refers to the Macy's and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

THERE'S ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO DO- KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND AND KEEP REACHING FOR THE STARS-  Casey's General Store sits behind Towne Square Mall and the clue makes reference to radio legend Casey Kasem.  Turn out of the mall parking lot toward Casey's.

A RIGHT ISN'T WHAT IT'S “CRACKED” UP TO BE-  At the stop light, warriors have three options.  Right onto Southtown, across Southtown, or left onto Southtown.  The "cracked" clue makes reference to the Tinius Chiropractic billboard to the left.

ROGER FEDERER'S ELBOW HURTS, RIGHT?-  Roger Federer is one of the world's top-ranked tennis players and tennis courts litter the intersection where warriors can turn right toward Apollo High School.  

A GROOVY KIND OF RIGHT WOULD BE FUL”PHIL”ING-  Take a right onto Collins.  The clue, naturally, refers to pop legend Phil Collins

THERE'S LOTS LEFT TO DO BECAUSE WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN-  Take a left onto Carpenter.  Clue refers to The Carpenters

YOU LOVE THIS, RIGHT?-  Turn right onto Lovell

GET LOCKED AND LOADED IN THE HOME OF ALE 8-  Drivers must take a right onto Tamarack, then an immediate left onto Winchester.  Winchester is a popular gun maker and Winchester, Kentucky is the home of Ale 8.

TAKE A LEFT WITH DANIEL AND THE DEVIL-  A literary clue indicating teams should take a left onto Webster.

THE NATIONAL CEMETERY IS ON YOUR LEFT-  Turn left onto Arlington

TAKE A RIGHT AT THE WOOLEY SWAMP-  This Charlie Daniels song reference suggests teams should turn right onto Legendary

YOU STILL HAVE THE LEGS FOR THIS, RIGHT?-  Take a right onto Legacy Run

NOW, DRIVE TOWARD THE CLIFF LIKE THELMA AND LOUISE-  Warriors must turn right onto Buckland Square and proceed toward the Cliff Hagan Boys and Girls Club

2 RIGHTS DON'T MAKE A WRONG-  Turn right at Wright Implement onto Carter Road

LESLIE, ANDERSON AND MORLEY ARE LEFT-WINGERS-  This reference to the hosts of "60 Minutes" indicates warriors should turn left onto U.S. 60 Bypass West

HEY!  IT'S WEST CHICAGO'S AREA CODE, RIGHT?-  West Chicago's area code is 331, which is the bypass exit that takes drivers toward downtown Owensboro

CONGRADDULATIONS, YOU'RE ON THE WAY!-  Pass the GRADD offices

HEY, IT'S OWENSBORO!-  Drivers will re-enter the Owensboro city limits

WAVE WHEN YOU PASS VANESSA-  Vanessa's Place sits on the right hand side of the route.  Drivers continue driving 4th street toward downtown.

HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO ENJOY THE CRUSHED VELVET SEATS, RIDING IN THE BACK, CRUISING DOWN THE STREETS TOWARD YOUR FIRST PIT STOP-  "Chance" refers to 3rd Chance Auto Sales.  At the intersection just beyond it, there is a large billboard for the Cadillac Motel.  "Crushed velvet seats, riding in the back, cruising down the streets" makes reference to the Bruce Springsteen/Natalie Cole hit "Pink Cadillac."  Warriors must look for that Cadillac sign and turn left, in front of it, onto Frayser.

YOU’LL GET MISTY-EYED WHEN YOU SEE AN OUTLET FOR YOUR FRUSTRATION-  "Misty-eyed" refers to the main plot line of Stephen King's "The Mist."  That movie, which takes place at a grocery store, was the inspiration for this leg of the course.  Taylor's Grocery Outlet is the 1st pit stop.

ROAD WAR LEG #2

One, two, Freddy's coming for you.  Three, four, better lock your door.  Five, six, grab your crucifix. Seven, eight, gonna stay up late.  Nine, ten, never sleep again. - Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

A DOLLA MAKES YOU HOLLA, RIGHT?-  Proceed across the Taylor's Outlet parking lot toward Family Dollar and turn right onto Woodford

EXERCISE YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT-  Take a right onto 1st

TAKE A RIGHT WITH BILLY REID-  Take a right onto Orchard

PASS THE BACHELOR-  Just across the next intersection warriors should notice Bachelor Apartments.  Proceed.

NOW YOU'RE EATIN' HALF A DOZEN EGGS-  Drivers will run into GooseEgg Park and the clue indicates that you should circle the small egg-shaped park 6 times before proceeding further in the course.

FRAY-JA VU-  Drivers cross Frayser, where they were earlier en route to Taylors' Grocery Outlet

THERE ARE HOUSES FOR SALE LEFT-  The clue makes reference to local real estate agent Steve Castlen and indicates drivers should turn left onto Castlen

TAKE FIVE, STORE IT, THEN IT MAKE A NIGHTMARISH RIGHT-  Take a left onto 5th, proceed beyond the storage facility, then take a right onto Elm Street

MAX LEFT TO GET HOT DOGS AND NUTS-  This clue is layered and indicates that drivers should take a left onto 7th.  "Max" refers to Max Rhoads Park, which lies at the intersection of 7th and Walnut Streets.  "Hot Dogs" refers to the signage on the business at the other end of 7th and Walnut.  And "nuts" indicates a right turn onto Walnut, which is, in fact, a one-way street.

TO AVOID BREAKING OUT IN BOILS, TRACK LEFT-  Another reference to "Nightmare on Elm Street," the clue means to turn left onto 11th and proceed the opposite direction from Freddy Krueger's lair, The Boiler Room.

AT THE STOP SIGN, EARN YOUR BROWNIE POINTS-  Turn right onto Frederica toward Browning Furniture

WE HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY, YOU SHOULD TRAVEL LEFT-  When you see the Travel Authority, turn left onto 21st Street

RUN AWAY FROM DEBBIE NUNLEY-  Proceed on 21st Street until you reach J.R. Miller Boulevard.  At that intersection is a huge campaign sign for Debbie Nunley.  It resides to the left, so warriors must turn right.

DON'T STOP FOR BIMBOS OR GAS-  Continue on J.R. Miller beyond Bimbo Bakeries and Franey's

YOU WANNA BRAID YOUR HAIR, RIGHT?-  Turn right onto Byers Avenue.  "Braid" refers to the offices of Alan Braden

YOUR NEXT LEFT IS CREEPY AND KOOKY, MYSTERIOUS AND SPOOKY-  Turn left onto Adams.  The clue, of course, refers to the theme song of "The Addams Family"

YOU SHOULD PLAY THE STOCK MARKET, RIGHT?-  Turn right onto Stockton Drive

PORT ON THE STARSHIP- The clue indicates turning onto Jefferson (reference to Jefferson Starship).  "Port" is a nautical turn for "left"

WHY CALL THIS A STREET?-  Turn left onto Weikel

LET'S GO DUTCH-  A sign to the right at the intersection of Weikel and J.R. Miller Boulevard is for Dutch Bank Apartments.  Warriors, prompted by the word "Dutch" should turn right.

YOU'RE LOOKING A LITTLE GREEN.  LOOSEN YOUR BELT AND GET COMFORTABLE-  Makes reference to Greenbelt Crossing, which is at the intersection of J.R. Miller Boulevard and Salem Drive.  Warriors must turn right and proceed beyond Comfort Suites.

WELCOME TO MY HOME, YOUR SECOND PIT STOP!-  "My Home" refers to My Home Sales and Leasing, a relatively new business on Salem Drive in Owensboro.  It is the 2nd pit stop on the course.

ROAD WAR LEG #3

How long are you gonna keep driving around without knowing where we're going? -  Midnight Madness (1980)

In the 1980 movie "Midnight Madness," characters competed in a game called "The Great All-Nighter."  The game was played much like the Road War, but the clues were far more vague.  In fact, instead of clues, participants were basically given riddles to solve.  That movie inspired this leg of the course and this rather vague riddle/clue.

PICTURE A THOUSAND DOLLARS

THERE NESTLED IN YOUR HANDS

THE 3RD LEG CONTINUES

WHERE EVERYTHING BEGAN

SHOW ME YOU'RE COMMITTED

FOR YOUR TEAM TO BE THE BEST

RELIVE A RECENT PAST UNTIL

YOU CHOOSE FROM EAST AND WEST-  This portion of the clue indicates that drivers will be reliving the early portions of the Road War course.  Drivers must exit My Home Sales and Leasing, turn left onto Salem Drive, then turn left onto Frederica Street and proceed toward Towne Square Mall.  There, drivers must turn right into the front entrance of the mall and proceed to the starting line location at Show Me's.  Drivers continue retracing the first steps of the course until they reach the 60 Bypass again.

NOW SOPHIE MAKE THE OTHER CHOICE- Here, instead of following Leslie, Anderson and Morley left (west), drivers will get onto the Hwy 60 Bypass traveling east.

THEN TURN WHERE THE X'S LIVE-  This clue refers to the song "All My Ex's Live in Texas" and indicates Texas Roadhouse.  Drivers should exit the bypass and turn right onto South Frederica

HEAD SOUTH TO YOUR NEXT CHECKPOINT

WITH THIS FINAL CLUE WE'LL GIVE

TO FIND PIT STOP #3

THROUGH THE NIGHT YOU'LL CREEP

YOU MUST FIND YOURSELF A PILLOW

ON WHICH YOU DO NOT SLEEP-  This clue refers to Trunnell's Farm Market, which this year, features the all-new Jumbo Jumper.  The Jumbo Jumper is a large inflatable pillow that kids and adults can jump on like a trampoline.  Trunnell's is the next pit stop on the course!

ROAD WAR LEG #4

Bare-headed as we were, we ran out at once into the gathering evening and the frosty fog. The hamlet lay not many hundred yards away, though out of view on the other side of the next cove, and what greatly encouraged me, it was in an opposite direction from that whence the blind man had made his appearance. And I shall never forget how much I was cheered to see the yellow shine in the doors and windows-  The Skeleton Key (2005)

YOU NOW HOLD THE SKELETON KEY

BUT CAN YOU READ THE SIGNS?

WHEN THESE PHOTOS MAKE SOME SENSE

YOU'LL KNOW THE FINISH LINE- After entering the Trunnell's Giant Corn Maze and finding the two halves of our Skeleton Key, warriors are presented with a packet containing five photographs.  Those photographs feature: Tina Turner, a couple dancing, a soda can, a container of Fruit Fresh and a photo of Rita Moreno.  Warriors must realize the photos have very specific meanings: SALSA dancing, RITA Morena, FRESH fruit, soda CAN, and TINA Turner.  Once warriors decipher that the photos are code for Salsarita's Fresh Cantina, they can proceed to the finish line!

TRAVEL THE SHORTEST DISTANCE

IT TAKES FROM FROM TO TO

SOMEONE'S GONNA SNAG A GRAND

IT COULD POSSIBLY BE YOU!-  There are three/four possible ways to get from Trunnell's Farm Market to Salsarita's on Hwy 54.  But the clue indicates that teams should take the "shortest" distance.  The "shortest" distance, based on mileage, is to take Hwy 431N to the Bypass, turn right onto the Bypass, proceed east, take the Hwy 54 exit, turn into the front entrance of the Kohl's Department Store parking lot and proceed to Salsarita's.  This route is between .2 and .9 shorter than other possible routes.

TOTAL MILEAGE FOR THE COURSE: 

The initial course design was 40.1 miles.  However, an unexpected road closing caused a slight detour in the 2nd leg of the race that added, for the teams that took it, an additional tenth of a mile.  Therefore, the official mileage of the course on competition night was 40.2 miles.  That's the exact mileage Team Shut the Front Door finished with!