Kevin and Drew from the first season made a cameo in the first episode of the Family Edition. They were a couple of hot dog vendors that, when asked for a "Frank," were to give the clue to the teams. It should be noted that upon review that the Paolo family, who are from that New York area, was the only team to possibly recognize them because they said "You guys are the best" while chuckling when Kevin and Drew were spotted.
The Family Edition (Season 8) differed from previous installments of The Amazing Race in that instead of pairs of adults with a pre-existing relationship, this race featured families of four and allows the participation of minors as young as the age of 8. The limits on individual Roadblock attempts, found in seasons 6 and 7, did not apply to this season. Furthermore, some roadblocks in this edition required the participation of two team members. Also, for the first time since season 5, a mid-race leg (4) was aired without a Roadblock.
Route Markers were colored yellow, white, & black, similar to the yellow & white Route Markers of Season 1 (and in contrast to the yellow & red of all other seasons).
In addition to also having easier challenges, the race also placed less emphasis on international travel as numerous legs were contained within the continental United States, and no race locations were outside North America. The season still managed to visit two previously unvisited countries, Panama and Costa Rica. These were also the Race's first visits to Central America. .
The supplied credit card covered not only airfare, but also gasoline. Previously, gasoline had to be purchased with the supplied cash. The rule change was made necessary by the fact that most of the transportation takes place in cars rather than airplanes.
At only ten teams, Season 8 had the smallest number of teams to compete in the race, other seasons having eleven or twelve; at forty total team members this is the most people ever to compete in one season. There was supposed to be an 11th team, the Flanders' family. But, according to Wally Bransen, they were excused from the Race just before it began. No reason was given for this change.
In Leg 6 at Poás Volcano, the clue envelope appeared to contain Fast Forward instructions; however, this was not mentioned or described, perhaps because no team took advantage, or because plans for the task fell through. The Fast Forward in Leg 5 was introduced as the only one in the race when the show was televised. An online source claims that the task was simply not used, and all references were excised.
According to an interview with Wally Bransen on RFFRadio, Hurricane Emily forced producers to cancel a leg in Belize. Teams had an extra day off in Costa Rica after Leg 6.
A camera error occurred in Leg 9 (not shown) causing the Godlewski Family's car battery to fail, moving them into last place at the time. Another error, exactly the same as the one in Leg 9, occurred in Leg 10 (also not shown) affecting the Linz Family, also causing them to move into last place at the time.
The Godlewski sisters were the first team to come last in the midpoint and the end of the superleg (Leg 10) and get eliminated. The Season 8 final episode consisted of a single, double-length leg (Leg 11), with no Pit Stop.
Production staff visited a Moab, Utah diner during the shooting of Leg 9. They inadvertently left behind papers including the full text of that leg's clues.
Route Markers were colored yellow, white, & black, similar to the yellow & white Route Markers of Season 1 (and in contrast to the yellow & red of all other seasons).
In addition to also having easier challenges, the race also placed less emphasis on international travel as numerous legs were contained within the continental United States, and no race locations were outside North America. The season still managed to visit two previously unvisited countries, Panama and Costa Rica. These were also the Race's first visits to Central America. .
The supplied credit card covered not only airfare, but also gasoline. Previously, gasoline had to be purchased with the supplied cash. The rule change was made necessary by the fact that most of the transportation takes place in cars rather than airplanes.
At only ten teams, Season 8 had the smallest number of teams to compete in the race, other seasons having eleven or twelve; at forty total team members this is the most people ever to compete in one season. There was supposed to be an 11th team, the Flanders' family. But, according to Wally Bransen, they were excused from the Race just before it began. No reason was given for this change.
In Leg 6 at Poás Volcano, the clue envelope appeared to contain Fast Forward instructions; however, this was not mentioned or described, perhaps because no team took advantage, or because plans for the task fell through. The Fast Forward in Leg 5 was introduced as the only one in the race when the show was televised. An online source claims that the task was simply not used, and all references were excised.
According to an interview with Wally Bransen on RFFRadio, Hurricane Emily forced producers to cancel a leg in Belize. Teams had an extra day off in Costa Rica after Leg 6.
A camera error occurred in Leg 9 (not shown) causing the Godlewski Family's car battery to fail, moving them into last place at the time. Another error, exactly the same as the one in Leg 9, occurred in Leg 10 (also not shown) affecting the Linz Family, also causing them to move into last place at the time.
The Godlewski sisters were the first team to come last in the midpoint and the end of the superleg (Leg 10) and get eliminated. The Season 8 final episode consisted of a single, double-length leg (Leg 11), with no Pit Stop.
Production staff visited a Moab, Utah diner during the shooting of Leg 9. They inadvertently left behind papers including the full text of that leg's clues.
At only ten teams, Season 8 had the smallest number of teams to compete in the race, other seasons having eleven or twelve; at forty total team members this is the most people ever to compete in one season.
12 of the 40 participants in Season 8 were younger than 21, the minimum age for every other Race, at the time of taping which created many records:
At the age of 8, Austin Black is the youngest person to ever compete in the Race. At the age of 9, Carissa Gaghan is the youngest person to make that far in the race making it to Leg 6 and to be in the final 6 teams At the age of 12, Billy Gaghan is the youngest person to ever complete a roadblock. At the age of 14, Rolly Weaver is the youngest person to ever win a leg and to make it to the Final Three. At the age of 16, Brian Paolo is the youngest person to ever complete a Fast Forward and win more than one leg. At age 19, Tommy Linz is the youngest person to win the $1,000,000 on The Amazing Race.
At the age of 8, Austin Black is the youngest person to ever compete in the Race. At the age of 9, Carissa Gaghan is the youngest person to make that far in the race making it to Leg 6 and to be in the final 6 teams At the age of 12, Billy Gaghan is the youngest person to ever complete a roadblock. At the age of 14, Rolly Weaver is the youngest person to ever win a leg and to make it to the Final Three. At the age of 16, Brian Paolo is the youngest person to ever complete a Fast Forward and win more than one leg. At age 19, Tommy Linz is the youngest person to win the $1,000,000 on The Amazing Race.
Billy and Carissa Gaghan (Season 8) wrote introductions for "My Ox is Broken", a book about the Amazing Race.