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The Kinetic Sculpture Race has been an annual event in Ferndale, California since 1969 . It began when local sculptor Hobart Brown "improved" the appearance of his son's tricycle, and was challenged to a race down Main Street by Jack Mays. Soon, another twelve machines entered to inaugurate the first race. Neither Hobart nor Jack won; instead, the first winner of the Kinetic Sculpture Race was Bob Brown of Eureka, California whose sculpture was a smoke-emitting Turtle that laid eggs. The race became an annual feature of Ferndale, California 's annual Art Week; later became a cross-country event and one year had two races; hence the 39th running in 2007. In addition, other ongoing '''kinetic sculpture race'''s happen around the world and are associated with the California race. In 2007, races were held in or will be held in - Port Townsend, Washington - Corvallis, Oregon - as part of their DaVinci Days Festival - Baltimore, Maryland - sponsored by the American Visionary Art Museum - Ventura, California - benefits the Turning Point Foundation - Clearlake, California - Klamath Falls, Oregon - Prescott Valley, Arizona -Gerraldton, Western Australia Other kinetic challenges, derbies and so on which do not follow the rules and traditions of Kinetic Sculpture Racing are influenced by this sport - but are not an official part of it. In this context, Kinetic Sculpture s are cross-country, human-powered vehicles made to go on sand, water, pavement and other surfaces encountered on the annual 3-day World Championship of the sport held on Memorial Day weekend (last weekend in May) in Humboldt County, California. HISTORY During the 1970s , the race adopted its present three day, cross-country format and became the "Triathlon of the Art World." Machines were built to take on mud, sand, water, gravel and pavement as well as some of the steepest hills in North America . Stan Bennett's Book "Crazy Contraptions" covers the history of the first five years of the race. Many of today's most notable racers started in the early 1980s . Muralist Duane Flatmo, metal sculptor Ken Beidelman, and artist June Moxon raised the bar for Kinetic art. The latter two took a human powered pair of vehicles across the United States, from Humboldt County to the Gulf Of Mexico coast and beyond. The three have worked as a team on Junkyard Wars and other artistic endeavors spawned by the race. At the 80s ended, the new sponsor was a water company, and the race began to adopt a more family-friendly approach. Another local company which made luggage racks and car storage boxes became interested in the race and recruited racer/designer Ken Beidelman to build a vehicle for their company team. The financial support of the two corporations, as well as one sponsor's creation of the Arcata Kinetic Lab, took the race to a new level of art and engineering. Ken's 83-foot-long sculpture called "Nightmare of the Iguana" was the longest ever raced. As the 1990s ended, the race entered middle age. Many of its contestants were born after it started. They have grown up under its wacky philosophy, "Adults having fun so children desire to grow older," as coined by Hobart Brown (b. 1933 ). Hobart was given the title "Glorious Founder of the Kinetic Race" by acclamation at least by 1988 when the phrase appears in a spectator's brochure. As age and his crippling Arthritis limited his activities, Hobart sold the race rights, the kinetic chicken logo and the trademark "For the Glory" to a new not-for-profit agency, called the Humboldt Kinetic Association in 2002. In January 2007, they ceased management and a new group, called Kinetic Universe, Inc. composed of three Rutabaga Queens - none of whom was alive when the first race was run - took over management of the largest single event in Humboldt County, California. The Kinetic Sculpture Race is broadcast live on active local radio station KHUM 104.3 and 104.7-FM in Humboldt County (also on line at http://khum.com). There is also a kinetic blog at that site with articles, rumors, and photos. Early in the history of the Race, the contestants began to select an annual Rutabaga Queen. This tradition continues to the present, with active Queens Pigtunia (83/84), Queen Denise 2001, Queen Mo, 2002, Queen Jane Doe 2003, Queen Monica Topping 2004, Queen Shaye Harty 2005, Queen Harmony Groves, 2006 and Queen Emma the Emchantress, 2007. The 2004, 2005 and 2006 Queens are the board of directors of the new non-profit entity, Kinetic Universe Inc., which now administers the Kinetic Grand Champtionship, 3-day Arcata to Ferndale Kinetic Sculpture Race. Other Kinetic Races select different botanical Queens, including the Rose-Hip Queen and the Willow Kween of Port Townsend, Washington. In Australia, having already a real queen, the race selects a Goddess to rule over the festivities instead. COMPETITION The official race course covers 42 miles, crossing both Humboldt Bay and the Eel River as well as a series of dramatic sand dunes called "Dead Man's Drop" and the beloved exit of the Eel River, Morgan's Slough. Changing economic realities have caused the luggage rack company to move and the water company to stop their support. With no major sponsor and several years of Humboldt County budget cutbacks due to California state budget difficulties, even this most generous of local communities has had difficulty contributing more to the race than its operating funds. In 2007, a single private donor provided 99% of the operating funds for the race. In early 2007, the management entity for the years 2001 to 2006 formally abjured responsibility for the 2007 race. In record time, a non-profit was formed and the 2007 race, the 39th running was a glorious success on May 26, 27, and 28, 2007 in Humboldt County, California. The 40th Annual is planned (of Course) for Memorial Day 2007 with the traditional noon start on Arcata Plaza on Saturday, and approximately 10 a.m. water crossings the next two days. The race will be covered on KHUM on air, and at http://khum.com which maintains a fabulous race blog. In fine Humboldt County tradition, art, engineering and physical endeavor come together in the goal of founder, Hobart Brown who said, "(We're) adults having fun, so children desire to grow older!" EXTERNAL LINKS
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