The Amazing Race 10, Episode 3 First Class and Cargo Class Awards

The latest episode of The Amazing Race started with the teams only having the money they had saved from previous legs to rely on until they sold flowers during the Roadblock. What seemed like it could create HUGE problems at the start of the leg only really affected one team, but other rules of the race came back to haunt another team. By now you’ve surely read Jenn’s thrilling recap, so you know who was Philiminated and who is still racing. Now, it’s time for some awards!

The recipient of this week’s First Class award is the brother team of Erwin & Godwin (aka Team ErGo). The brothers started out close to the bottom due to their misplaced helmets on the previous leg. Despite their position, they were not discouraged. Godwin felt they were already winners because of the places they were getting to see and the people they were meeting, and because they were getting to experience it all together.. Yes, it’s a race, and the point is to win the money, but making the most of the experience and taking in all that is possible about their surroundings is definitely something teams should do. All of the teams were equalized by getting on the same flight to Hanoi, so the brothers quickly made up all of the time they lost in the previous leg. They exited the airport in the middle to rear of the pack but were again equalized at the Hanoi Hilton.

Once at the Hanoi Hilton, ErGo really showed their First Class behavior. Instead of just running blindly through the halls in search of Senator John McCain’s flight suit, the brothers consulted a map. Although they were not the first team to find the flight suit, it was still a smart move and they weren’t just relying on luck to complete the task. Once they did find the flight suit, they showed a LOT of class and earned my respect forever by pausing for a few moments to reflect on the sacrifices of servicemembers past and present. Although it put them in last place at the time, they realized the importance of the place where they were standing, and as it was early in the leg they knew they had enough time to pull themselves ahead. And they made up that time right away by arriving at the flower shop in second place.

ErGo ended up on the first bus to Vac, and were the first to reach the Detour clue box, properly refusing an offer of a motorbike ride. More about that later. They were so far ahead they had time to make 30 unacceptable bricks, start over and make 30 acceptable bricks, and finish in first place for the leg. The brothers finally made an impressive showing and became the contenders they were predicted to be. So, for showing a LOT of class, and a real appreciation for the places and experiences they are sharing, ErGo, head on in to First Class. Kick back, relax, and wrap yourselves in a warm blanket. You’ll be traveling in style to your next destination!

Cargo Class this week was a tossup between Duke & Lauren and Tom & Terry, so I decided to award it to both teams. Duke & Lauren started with much less money than the other teams, which implied they hadn’t been managing their money as wisely as the other teams. Then, at the airport, Duke found a local to help get them to their next location, but insisted on waiting for her at the airport, thus making them last to leave. Although he had promised her a ride in exchange for directions, he should have left without her instead of wasting so much time waiting. Yes, being kind to the locals and making use of their expertise is always a good idea, but Duke should have remembered that they were on a race and cut their losses. Duke & Lauren’s problems compounded when the woman instructed the cab driver to take her to her brother before taking them to the Hanoi Hilton. It was probably a language barrier, but I found myself wondering if there would be a cab driver in Hanoi who couldn’t find the Hanoi Hilton. I have to believe every driver has been there many many times, thus making the local guide unnecessary.

Lauren & Duke just seemed to run into problems everywhere on this leg. Being penniless meant they had to walk to the flower shop when other teams were able to take a cab. However, Duke performed fairly well at the flower-selling task, and they were right in the middle of the pack as they approached the Detour. This is where they made their biggest mistake on the leg. Several teams were lost trying to find the Fuel task, Duke & Lauren among them. All of those teams were together, so they would all start on equal footing once they found the location of the task, and would have things more firmly under their control. However, Duke & Lauren allowed themselves to become separated from the rest of the pack, and though they eventually found the Fowl task by accident and completed it with what appeared to be very little difficulty, it simply took longer than Fuel. This was their fatal mistake, and not even Tom & Terry’s 30-minute penalty could save the father-daughter team from Philimination.

Tom & Terry committed the cardinal sin of The Amazing Race by failing to read and follow all parts of their clue. Racers were expressly forbidden from riding motorbikes but Terry & Tom accepted a ride from a local once they arrived in Vac. If they had read their whole clue they would have known this was forbidden and avoided the 30-minute penalty. They went from second place all the way down to eighth, and had Duke & Lauren found the Fuel task with the other teams it’s very likely Terry & Tom’s race would have slipped right through their fingers as they stood on a mat watching.

More Cargo Class behavior was exhibited by Tom & Terry at the travel agent in Mongolia. They bypassed an open agent and then criticized Kandice & Dustin for stepping up to the counter. It’s a race, and in the same position the boys would have done the same thing. What was even more ridiculous about their behavior towards the pageant queens was the fact that all of the teams ended up on the same flight to Hanoi. It was a minor event and Terry & Tom blew it way out of proportion. So Duke & Lauren, and Tom & Terry, you’ll be riding under the plane this week. Hang on, because it’s sure to be a bumpy ride!

Next week seems to be relationship drama week, as Sarah goes off on Peter and Rob & Kimberly argue (what else is new?). I’ll be back to hand out First and Cargo Class again, and make sure you stick with Reality News Online for full coverage of The Amazing Race 10!

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent Amazing Race 9 articles:

Sandy Lamparello is an Assistant Editor for Reality News Online a Legal Editor for a publishing company in Washington, DC. She wishes her cousins Cindy & Ryan a very Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary! You may reach her at realitytvjunkie@gmail.com.

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