When “The Amazing Race” premieres next month, Lynchburg will have something to root for.
Hill City resident Mel White, co-founder of the Christian gay-rights organization Soulforce, is running the race with his actor/director/screenwriter son, Mike.
“It was the most glorious, fun time of my life,” said Mel White, who is, at 68 years old, this season’s oldest contestant.
White said he’d never seen the show until recently, but had always heard about it from Mike, an avid fan.
The CBS reality series, now in its 14th season, follows teams of two — usually family members, friends and couples — as they race around the world, competing in various challenges along the way.
Father and son already have participated in the race, but like all the contestants are sworn to secrecy.
During each leg of the race, contestants must participate in two key challenges: a detour, in which they must choose between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons, and a road block, a task that only one team member has to complete.
The last team to check into a predetermined “pit stop” each week is eliminated, and the final team standing wins $1 million.
Other contestants this season include the show’s first deaf contestant, running the race with his mother; a Hawaii-bred stuntman and his jockey brother; and a couple from Martinsville.
White said the trip was an amazing bonding experience for him and Mike, whose writing credits include “The Good Girl,” “Nacho Libre,” “Orange County” and “School of Rock,” in which he also costarred with Jack Black.
“We started out close,” White said. “(But) he is so busy in Hollywood, and I’m so busy with my activism, we maybe see each other six or seven times a year.
“He said, ‘You’ve been wanting quality time, Dad. Well, you’ve gotten what you asked for.’”
Look for Mel and Mike’s reality debut at 8 p.m. Feb. 15.
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