Kinetic sculpture race facts for kids
Kinetic sculpture races are exciting contests where people race amazing, human-powered machines. These machines are not just vehicles; they are also incredible works of art! They can travel on land and water, making them "amphibious."
The most famous race is the Kinetic Grand Championship in Humboldt County, California. It's often called the "Triathlon of the Art World." Why? Because it mixes art, engineering, and physical strength. This three-day race covers 42 miles (68 km) and includes challenging terrains like sand, mud, paved roads, big hills, and even crossings over a bay and a river!
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Where Do These Races Happen?
Kinetic sculpture races are held in many places across the United States:
- Humboldt County, California hosts the big annual Kinetic Grand Championship every May. It lasts three days.
- Baltimore, Maryland has the East Coast Championship, supported by the American Visionary Art Museum. This race covers 15 miles (24 km) right through the city and its harbor.
- Gainesville, Florida is home to the Menagerie in Motion Kinetic Derby, which started in 2016. It happens every year in late February.
- Lowell, Massachusetts holds the Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race. Racers have fun going through city streets, a huge mud pit, and even navigating the Merrimack River.
- Port Townsend, Washington also hosts a race.
- Corvallis, Oregon has a race as part of the Da Vinci Days festival.
- Ventura, California organizes a race that helps the Turning Point Foundation.
- Klamath Falls, Oregon holds its race on the last full weekend of June.
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a kinetic sculpture derby as part of the Trenton Avenue arts festival in the Kensington neighborhood.
- Coeur d'Alene, ID hosts the Gizmotion Celebration of Creativity.
Some other events follow similar rules, but they are not officially part of the main kinetic sculpture racing tradition. Races used to be held in places like Poland, Geraldton, Western Australia, Clearlake, California, and Prescott Valley, Arizona.
The First Race: How It All Started
The idea for kinetic sculpture racing began in Ferndale, California, in 1969. A local artist named Hobart Brown decided to make his son's tricycle look cooler by adding extra wheels and decorations. He called his creation the "Pentacycle."
Another artist, Jack Mays, saw it and challenged Hobart to a race. Soon, others joined in, and twelve machines competed in the very first race down Ferndale's Main Street. The first winner wasn't Hobart or Jack, but Bob Brown from Eureka, California. His sculpture was a smoke-blowing turtle that laid eggs! The race became famous when photos of Congressman Don Clausen riding the Pentacycle appeared in newspapers across the country.
The race happened again in 1970, and soon the course grew to include off-road areas. As more races started in other cities, the Ferndale event became known as the World Championship. It grew into the biggest event in Humboldt County.
In the 1970s, the race became a three-day, cross-country event, earning its nickname, the "Triathlon of the Art World." Machines had to handle mud, sand, water, gravel, and pavement. Hobart Brown was lovingly called the "Glorious Founder of the Kinetic Race."
Later, a mineral water company and a sports rack manufacturer helped sponsor the race. Their support, especially creating the Kinetic Lab in Arcata, helped the art and engineering of the sculptures reach new levels. One sculpture from the Lab, Yakima KingFish, was 92 feet (28 m) long, making it the longest ever raced!
By the 1990s, the race was well-established. Many younger contestants had grown up with Hobart Brown's famous saying: "Adults having fun so children will want to grow older." As Hobart got older and faced health challenges, he sold the race rights and its famous "For the Glory" slogan to a new non-profit group called the Humboldt Kinetic Association in 2002.
When the main sponsors left, the race faced some challenges. In 2007, a new non-profit group called Kinetic Universe was quickly formed by volunteers to keep the race going. This is when the race's name changed to Kinetic Grand Championship. In 2009, the New Belgium Brewing Company became a sponsor. In 2013, a children's event called the Kinetic Klassic moved to Eureka's waterfront.
Today, the World Championship race covers 42 miles (68 km). It crosses sand dunes, Humboldt Bay, and the Eel River. The race starts in Arcata, goes through Eureka and Loleta, and finishes on the third day in Ferndale. You can even listen to the race live on local radio station KHUM!
The East Coast Championship in Baltimore
In 1999, the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) in Baltimore worked with Hobart Brown to start the first kinetic sculpture race on the East Coast. AVAM has sponsored the race every year since. On May 4, 2019, 22 teams brought 25 sculptures to Baltimore for the 21st East Coast Championship.
Unlike the rural setting of the Humboldt County race, the Baltimore race takes place in the city center and is completed in just one day. The 15 miles (24 km) race starts with a "Le Mans Start" down Federal Hill to AVAM. It then passes famous city landmarks like the Maryland Science Center, Harborplace, the USS Constellation, the National Aquarium, and Fells Point.
Racers then enter the water at Canton, face sand and mud challenges at Patterson Park, and finally race through Butchers Hill and downtown to the finish line back at AVAM. An awards ceremony finishes the fun day!
The Rutabaga Queens and Other Fun Roles
Early in the history of the World Championship race, contestants started a tradition of choosing an annual "Rutabaga Queen." These Queens play an active role in the race. For example, the Queens from 2004, 2005, and 2006 were founding members of the board of directors for Kinetic Universe Inc., the non-profit group that now manages the Kinetic Grand Championship. Former queens also help with race administration.
Other Kinetic Races have their own special roles. For instance, Port Townsend, Washington, chooses a "Rose-Hips Queen." In Australia, instead of a Queen, they select a "Goddess" to oversee the festivities.
Kinetic Sculpture Racing Book
If you want to learn more, check out the book Kinetic Kompendium: 50 Years of Kinetic Sculpture Racing by Dawn Thomas. It's full of colorful pictures, interviews, and stories from people involved in the races. This book explores the history of this unique culture that has inspired other creative events like Burning Man.
