Donald Teuma-Castelletti
QUYON Oct. 20, 2018
Saturday saw competitors zip around Quyon and area, as a community’s favourite annual challenge returned and everyone wracked their brains in their trivial pursuit.
Roughly 50 teams took part in the Quyon Lionettes’ Car Rally, many dressed to impress not only themselves, but their vehicle, too, in accordance with the theme of In Hot Trivial Pursuit.
As always, the winning team from the previous year are the lucky group to organize the next theme, and all of the riddles, route and details that accompany the day’s event.

However, with the experience this year’s organizing crew had, they decided to shake things up a bit. Combining elements of The Amazing Race with the general knowledge questions of Trivial Pursuit, Anne, Leslie, Monique, Penny and Virginia Lavigne had participants not only collecting answers, but searching for clues, too.
Right from the get-go, they had groups confused by changing up the traditional format of the day. Usually, there’d be a series of questions, like a lightning round, for quick points. This year, teams were handed their package of questions, judged on their costumes, and sent on their way.
Driving around, questions would range in scope from geography through to media, culture, and everything between. Every once in a while, the team would be instructed by their booklet to stop at a certain point and collect a physical clue at a location, à la The Amazing Race.
The Lavignes explained that this Saturday was their third year organizing the event, and they’ve learned much from their previous experiences, plus any criticism that came with it.
Virginia said that not only is it difficult to choose a new theme, especially the third time around, but that it’s a lot of work to organize all the components that go along with it. For example, not being from the area, they’re not as familiar with the back roads and have to spend more time studying them and ensuring their clues will line up appropriately.
As well, she continued, it often takes a long time to grade the answer sheets at the end of the day, when they have many tired teams waiting on results. To remedy this, the Lavignes had a solution – split the questions booklet in half.
After collecting the four clues in the first booklet, Leslie explained, the teams would return, expecting to be finished. Not so, it turns out, as they would simply have the answer to open a locked box, and receive the rest of the questions.
“We make it hard, but we make it fun, too,” said Leslie.
Preparation for this year’s rally began for the Lavignes in July, as it takes so long to prepare everything just right, even with everyone responsible for a specific component.
After participating in the rally all this time, they’ve decided they’ll have to quit while they’re ahead. Especially since their competitive spirit would see them organizing many more times if they continue to compete.
“It’s so much fun being out there,” said Virgina, adding that they don’t get the same excitement in shaping it.
“We’re too competitive, we don’t want to just participate, we want to win,” said Monique.
After all points had been tallied, plus costumes and cars judged, the winners emerged.
Team Game Night proved this year’s champs, consisting of Gabrielle Breton-Rocan, Ashley Carson-Taylor, Shellbie Greer, Chelsea Carson-MacGregor, Amanda Pagé-Carson, and Kelly O’Connell.
The best costumes went to team Genus for their life-sized Trivial Pursuit pieces, and team Hot Trivia Fuzz won best decorated vehicle, for outfitting their car with various police and gameboard designs.
Money raised by the Quyon Lionettes through this initiative benefits the community in a variety of their charitable efforts. As well, the group donated their half of the 50/50 money to Campbell’s Bay’s St. Joseph’s Manor.
The event received a ton of community support from individuals like Marcel Pedneault and Denis Dubeau helping with the kitchen work for the meal, to Gavan’s for hosting the central hub and evening party. As well, many prizes were donated, such as the first place prize of Sens tickets, from local businesses.