World Championship Kinetic Sculpture Race

Festival Location: Ferndale, CA, USA

Festival State: Californian Festivals

Festival Type(s): Bizarre Festivals, Bizarre Sports Events

World Championship Kinetic Sculpture Race

By: © Jan Friedman 2009

The World Championship Kinetic Sculpture Race covers a 38-mile course stretching from Ferndale to Arcata, drawing the winning participants from various other kinetic sculpture races held around the country. A kinetic sculpture is an imaginative, often wacky - but always ludicrous - contraption designed to travel along an obstacle course on land, through mud, and over deep harbor waters. These machines can be simple crafts piloted by a single person, or they can be quite complex, well-engineered vehicles powered by a team of pilots. Used bicycles, gears and machine scraps usually play a big role in their construction, as do a lunatic sense of humor and a wildly inventive brain. The 36-year-old race has, in the past, been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for recognizing unsung genius, promoting non-polluting transport and lifting the spirit of the communities that hold the race. Past entries in this race included a six-man dinosaur, an eight-man iguana, a family of ducks, and a flying saucer. The Ferndale Kinetic Sculpture Museum showcases sculptures from previous races.

There are a number of quirky race rules. The personal security rule requires that each sculpture carry a comforting item of psychological luxury, namely a homemade sock creature made from a not-too-recently washed sock. Another stipulates that each vehicle must be totally human powered, with no pulling, pushing or paddling allowed, although the natural power of water, wind, sun and gravity can be used. The sculptures must also fit on public roads and follow the rules of the open road. Mom's high anxiety clause dictates a quick exit strategy. The honk and pass politeness rule requires yielding the right of way to another sculpture that wants to pass. A one-finger salute is encouraged. Time penalties are incurred for rule infractions, while time bonuses are given for carrying a passenger, called a barnacle, along the entire course. The Mediocre Award is given for finishing exactly in the middle. The Next to Last Award is highly coveted, making the end of the race particularly exciting. Awards are also given for best costume, the most memorable breakdown and the most interesting water entry. The winner of the Speed Award gets to be addressed as 'Most Visionary Professor'.

The above is an excerpt from Jan Friedman's wonderful, Eccentric America. Read more from Eccentric America at Jan's website at www.eccentricamerica.com or take a look at Jan's latest offering, Eccentric California at www.eccentriccalifornia.net.

by Jan Friedman

World Championship Kinetic Sculpture Race Dates and Location

The Kinetic Sculpture Race is held annually in May, usually on the Memorial Day weekend. Contact Ferndale Arts and Cultural Center, (also the Ferndale Kinetic Sculpture Museum) 580 Main Street, Ferndale, CA 95536 [707] 845-1717 or [707 834 0529] for more information or check out their web site at kineticsculpturerace.org.