The Rules

How it all happens 

Motorcycle Podcasters Challenge – MPC2026
Roadside America Scavenger Hunt

General Rules:

NOTE:
Participants are welcome to obtain personal sponsors. However, these sponsorships are strictly between the rider and their sponsor and do not imply any official affiliation with the Motorcycle Podcasters Challenge. If you do acquire a sponsor for you or your team, you must NOT: Claim the event is sponsored by said sponsor, use the event logo in sponsor advertising without permission, imply in any way the sponsor is officially affiliated with the event, ask the MPC to promote the sponsor. 

  1. Open to American riders. Hopefully we can expand globally next year.
  2. Maximum of 100 participant’s total to include:
    1. Maximum of 10 teams, Maximum 6 riders per team, Minimum of 3 riders. 
    2. Solo Riders
  3. All participants will be required to sign a liability release form. It is on the sign-up page. 
  4. Riders may travel with a Pillion passenger, but the scoring only includes the driver of the motorcycle.
  5. Motorcycles, Trikes, Spyders, Scooters Permitted. 
  6. Mopeds, eBikes, bicycles, cars and Slingshots are not permitted.
  7. Event begins on July 1st at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and will end on August 30th at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
  8. Registration closes June 20th at midnight. Registration will be shut down at that time.
  9. Rider cards will be mailed out to registered riders as soon as you are registered. NOTE: If you lose your rider card, a new one will be sent to you up until August 1st. After that no new rider cards will be issued. So don't lose it.
  10. A week after the event is over, ALL participant data will be deleted from local computers. That means I will NOT retain your name, address or phone numbers. Standings and names will remain on the site unless otherwise requested.

The Plan:

  1. Participants will search for Roadside attractions and oddities found on the Roadside America website and/or the Roadside America App. NOTE: The Roadside America app is only available for IOS at this time. But the Roadside America website can be viewed on any smartphone.
    1. Only the sites listed with Roadside America are valid. Do not use Atlas Obscura.
    2. Always check the website or the app to ensure the roadside attraction is still there, still accessible and that there are no restrictions to viewing it. 
    3. Always check for the listing for hours of operation if there are any. Some attractions are indoors or may be behind locked fences and may not have after-hours access.
  2. Take a picture of the attraction with your bike and rider card visible in the picture. You do not have to be in the picture if you don’t want to be. See photo page.
  3. We will NOT be using the MPC Facebook page for submission of photos. DO NOT Post them on the page. You will be emailing the pictures. Details below. This is to keep the event more competitive and fun for all involved. If your competitors see where you are, they can get it too. Sure, it’s listed on the website and app, but not everyone will see the same ones. Plus, the suspense will add to the enjoyment of the event. If you want to post a photo on the MPC Facebook page you can, but do NOT share the location or the name of the attraction, your rider card or any information that might give away where it is. No points will be credited for attractions posted on social media. Meaning, if you post it on Facebook but do not email the photo, no points. You must email the photo.
  4. Choose the motorcycle that you will use for the entire event. If the motorcycle you plan to use for the event becomes inoperable during the event, you may switch bikes, but then that bike must be used for the remainder of the event. Advise me if this happens. If I see different motorcycles for the same rider card during the course of the vent, I will assume that someone else is using that riders card and that rider number will be disqualified and points lost.
  5. Mileage is not being tracked for this year's event.

Photos:

  1. Photos must show the riders card, their motorcycle and the attraction. Photos may show the rider if the rider chooses to do so.
  2. Some attractions are indoors. Take a picture of the outside of the location with your bike and rider card in the photo. Then, if possible, go inside to get a picture of the attraction, again showing your rider card and the attraction. Some attractions may charge admission, in this case, if you don’t wish to pay to get inside, we’ll excuse the need for the interior photo. But for the fun and adventure of the challenge, you should do your best to get that picture.
  3. In the event you are unable to park your motorcycle at the location or near the attraction, get a photo of the attraction with your rider card, a photo of your bike and rider card at the entrance or place that is close to the entrance to the attraction if is safe to do so.
    1. Do not park on lawns, sidewalks, driveways or any other location that may cause safety hazards to you, your bike or the public.
    2. Do not block driveways, fire zones, loading zones or emergency entrances or exits.
    3. Do not interfere with the daily operation of businesses or people going about their daily lives. If they complain, it could jeopardize the event. Be smart about it.

Submitting Photos:

This is very important. Not following this will cause you to not get credited for your acquisitions.

  1. Take your photo as described. Your bike, rider card, attraction.
  2. Upload them as soon as you can. Do not delay. You could accidentally damage or lose your phone or you could lose the photos. It’s happened to me and others. Send them right away.
  3. If you are using a smart phone to take pictures, please hold the camera sideways (Landscape) and take the photo, that will give a broader view, is better for posting and provide better clarity. 
  4. If you use a dedicated digital camera for the photos, ensure they are of a high resolution when taking them and they are clear.
  5. Blurry photos will not be accepted, I will advise you if your photo is not good enough, so please check them before you upload.
  6. Email all photos to: mpcphotos2026@gmail.com
  7. Here is the SUPER IMPORTANT PART: In the subject line, put your Rider Number, the attraction, the location. Example:  T1-1 – Giant Shrimp – Gulf Shores, Alabama or S-033 - Giant Shrimp - Gulf Shores, Alabama
  8. If you have a question before or during the event, email: MPCPhotos2026@gmail.com.
  9. REFER TO SAMPLE PHOTOS ON THE WEBSITE AT MOTOPODCHALLENGE.COM

Teams:

  1. There must be at least 3 teams to have a team competition. If there are less than 3 teams, those who signed up for a team will be assigned a solo rider card. Get your team together!!
  2. Give your team a name and assign a team leader. 
  3. After the team is established, please provide a team logo or team photo and email to: MPCPhotos2026@gmail.com Again, in the subject line please indicate what the photo is, i.e.: <Team Name> Photo
  4. At signup, your teammates should indicate the Team Name and the Team Leader.
  5. Maximum of 6 riders Per Team. No less than 3 per team. 
  6. If the team leader has to drop out during the event, a new team leader should be selected by the remaining team members. The original team leader rider card will be retired for the remainder of the event.
  7. The name of your team can be: 
    1. That of a podcast you are representing (with approval of the podcast). I will not intervene here. If you choose a podcast name and get crap for it, that’s on you. Get permission. 
    2. A name you make up. Please keep the team’s name short or abbreviated for administrative purposes. If you give me a Gettysburg Address length name I will truncate it to something significantly shorter. Choose wisely. 
  8. If any number of teams pick the same name or podcast, the teams will have the choice of:
    1. Picking a new name 
    2. A number will be added to the name. -1, -2, etc. Like V-Twin-1, V-Twin-2.
    3. Be unique. Example: Your team could be V-Twin Podcast, VT Podcast, VTP, etc. I understand that there may be teams who want to support their favorite show and use that team name. It will be up to the discretion of the Podcast in question who gets to use their official name. ASK!
  9. You may use the name of a defunct or non-producing podcast. Just let them know in advance. If you can’t get in touch with them, at least you tried.
  10. Once a team has selected their name and members, the team will be posted on the website.
  11. If you can, provide a team photo or a team logo by emailing it to: MPCPhotos2026@gmail.com
  12. No replacement riders. If one of your team must drop out of the event for any reason, the team will continue with the remaining riders, even if that means the team will have less than 3. You keep the points you earn.
  13. No new riders may be added to a team after the event starts. If you start with 4 riders, you finish with 4 riders (or less should that happen)
  14. Teams will be scoring against other teams and NOT against solo riders.
  15. A member of a team cannot also participate as a solo rider. Or decide after the event starts to participate as a solo rider. Once the event starts, you are on a team.

Solo Riders:

  1. Riders may participate in the event as a solo rider. 
  2. After you sign up as a solo rider, please email a selfie of you and your bike to MPCPhotos2026@gmail.com
  3. Solo riders will competing against other solo riders and not scored against teams or team riders. 
  4. Solo riders may not join a team after the event starts OR start a team after the event starts. Once you are a solo rider, you stay a solo rider. You may ride with others, but your scoring will always be as a solo rider.

Scoring:

  1. Each Roadside Attraction listed is worth 1 point each.
  2. On Day 1, I will release Special and Bonus attractions with higher point values. 
    1. Five Special attractions from each state will be worth 5 points (selected randomly by AI). 
    2. A single Bonus attraction from each state will be worth 10 points. (selected randomly by AI)
  3. At the conclusion of each week, stats and standings will be posted on this website.
  4. Final scores will also be announced on a live YouTube broadcast a week after the conclusion of the event.

Rider Scoring:

There are thousands, and counting, roadside attractions and oddities around America and Canada, including Alaska and Hawaii.

  1. One attraction per team member. That means two or more members of a team cannot claim the same attraction. HOWEVER… see #2. Coordinate with your teammates.
  2. An entire team may claim the same attraction as long as they do it together on the same day, at the same time and are all shown in the same picture with the team leaders Card. Example: The team leader decides the whole team will show up at a muffler man attraction together. The Team leader will then take a photo of ALL team motorcycles, the attraction and Team leaders card in the photo. See example photo.
    Scoring for this will be 10 points issued to the TEAM. 
  3. If an entire team shows up at a Special or Bonus attraction, ONLY 10 Points will be issued. NOT 10 plus 5 or 10 plus 10.


General:

  1. The organizers of the Motorcycle Podcasters Challenge reserve the right to add, edit or remove rules at any time.
  2. Attractions are in a state of flux. Sometimes the owner will remove the attraction for maintenance or maybe new owners removed it permanently. If the attraction is listed on the site but is NOT there, no points will be given for showing up. Roadside America maintains the app and website, sometimes they just haven’t gotten to update the listings. So it is always wise to read through the listing to ensure that it is indeed there.
  3. Although you may see a van on a pole, or 6-foot metal chicken on a lawn, if it is not listed on the app or website, it is not a valid attraction. There are many odd sites out there, not all of them made it to the website/app or neither has been updated to show it.
  4. Do not send me an email with a picture that asks if it is a valid attraction. If it is not on the app or on the website, it is not. If it is on the app and website but not there or closed permanently, there are no points to be given.
  5. If a bonus location is given and it is closed or no longer there, a new one will be randomly selected by AI. I will do my best to ensure that all bonus sites are valid, but I make no promises.
  6. Don't cheat. Be an honest competitor. Be friendly, be nice, do the right thing. Anyone found to be dishonest, disrespectful, rude or behaving in a way that sheds a bad light on the event, during this event will be disqualified and not permitted to enter again. FAFO.

Prizes and awards:

  1. The official prizes are bragging rights.
  2. At this time, there is no budget for awards, t-shirts, trophies, cups, pens, or anything. There are none. 
  3. Winning team and Solo winner will have their photos placed on the landing page of the website. The landing page of the website will become a slide show of the places the winners went to and images of the riders if they so choose.
  4. The winning team and winning solo rider will get Yellow rider cards for the next year of the event and Team #1 and Solo #1 Rider Cards.
  5. There will be other awards for riders and that will translate to a different card color and rider number for the following years event.
  6. Suggestions, ideas, thoughts and critisisms welcome.