Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race

YetAnotherName writes "Both Wired Magazine and Tom Jones have coverage of the East Coast Championship Kinetic Sculpture Race 2003. Contestants plant tongue firmly into cheek, construct, and race bizarre human-powered vehicles across a variety of terrains. Notable vehicles included a 13-foot high pink poodle and a giant eyeball. Special rules this year required contestants to carry a sock-puppet on board. The winner this year? RTFA."

tom jones??

[xao gypsie]

It's not unusual to be human propelled by anyone.....
im sorry....i couldnt help it.

xao

Not THAT Tom Jones...

[sammy.lost-angel.com]

He's preparing for the big show after the aliens come and destroy the planet...

Re:Not THAT Tom Jones...

[The Original Yama]

What's new pussyca^H^Hrat [spril.com]?

Some people just aren't trying

[ObviousGuy]

Tying a wagon to the back of a bike does not a kinetic sculpture make.

Re:Some people just aren't trying

[UniverseIsADoughnut]

" Tying a wagon to the back of a bike does not a kinetic sculpture make."

Further more, putting anything on a bike doesn't make it a kinetic sculpture, it makes it a bike. I think for this to be interesting it should have a rule saying you can't used things like bicycle drives. A wheel is fine but run it with a wind turbine, or make it sail powered. Do something with levers. Anything just don't re-invent the wheel by using something allready invented or at the least really common.

Anything moving is a kine

Re:Some people just aren't trying

[DrMrLordX]

No, but tying a bike to the back of a wagon . . . THAT'S art! Power it with malamutes.

Just when I thought life couldn't get any stranger

[Angry White Guy]

Someone decides to race a poodle.

This should be under the more-money-than-brains category.

Re:Just when I thought life couldn't get any stran

[canning]

I think the poodle people are doing better than this guy [spril.com]

No discussion of Kinetics is complete...

[Gopher]

...without mention of the Boulder Kinetics race [kbco.com], which has been run every year since 1979. While not the original according to this page [geocities.com], it still predates Baltimore's by 19 years.

Re:No discussion of Kinetics is complete...

[imnoteddy]

I've been to "The Greater Port Townsend Bay Kinetic Sculpture Race" [kineticrace.net] a few times - it dates back to 1983.

Part of what makes this one so cool is that the sculptures race on both land and water. This requires some creative engineering.

But the race is mostly an excuse for a two day party.

Re:No discussion of Kinetics is complete...

[Hadlock]

what??? no water in the baltimore or boulder race??? i thought this was a requirement! My fav thus far is a unicyclist wearing one of those fly fishermans's floaty intertube things.

Re:No discussion of Kinetics is complete...

[petecarlson]

I don't know about Boulder, but here in Baltimore the harbor is rather nasty. Cold too.

Re:No discussion of Kinetics is complete...

[Burgundy Advocate]

Part of what makes this one so cool is that the sculptures race on both land and water.

Um... yeah, same thing with Boulder Kinetics.

Are there Kinetic races without the water part? That'd be pretty lame... just an overglorified bike race!

Oh for heavens sake ...

[taniwha]

RTFA .... the original race [kineticsculpturerace.org] started in Arcata in 1969

Re:No discussion of Kinetics is complete...

[petecarlson]

without mention of the Boulder Kinetics race

And why should they? The race was in Baltimore last weekend. Boulder has a race in May. When they report on the race in Boulder should they mention that there was a race in Baltimore a few weeks ago?

Hobart Brown

[MichaelPenne]

started the race, first one in 1969.

There is even a museum, article about it here:

The Kinetic Sculpture race was started by artist Hobart Brown. He has an art gallery showcasing his metal sculptures on Main street Ferndale. The gallery features paintings by friends of his and a museum of the Race. [humboldt.edu]

Sock Puppet

[clear issue]

I was just curious as to what everyone would choose as their "Homemade Sock Creature". (Required at all times). I personally would probably choose one that could beat up on the other puppets, thus claiming a puppet victory.

Re:Sock Puppet

[canning]

I have no idea. What do you think Mr. Hat???

Re:Sock Puppet

[Lord_Slepnir]

oh no! clear issue and his Mr. Stick have beaten you up, Mr. Hat.

Re:Sock Puppet

[Sophrosyne]

A hot lesbian sock puppet for me... or if thats already taken I'll settle on the good ole' fashioned diesel dike- with the hockey hair (sock puppet).

Re:Sock Puppet

[rabidcow]

Uh oh, looks like they're pulling ahead...

Mr. Flibble's very cross!

Not the Tom Jones I was thinking........

[Mr. Pibb]

I was expecting a rendition of "It's Not Unusual" or Delilah. pfh!

Re:Not the Tom Jones I was thinking........

[Soko]

No? AAWWWWWWWWwwwwwwwww...

/me skulks away when he realises there's no womens underwear about to be flung at the stage...

Soko

Olympics it ain't

[sssmashy]

The judges don't have to perform any complicated calculations to figure out who the winner is -- the rules suggest that they can simply give the title to whomever hands out the best bribes.

had been wondering what figure skating judges do in the off season...

This year...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm making a giant bike sculpture powered by a dog.

Re:This year...

[GnarlyNome]

PETA gonna get you

Re: kinetic sculpture

[nother_nix_hacker]

I would have entered a Nissan Micra...ofcourse with my tounge firmly in my cheek because I would only ever drive one for a kinetic sculpture competition!

Bumperstickers for the puppet?

[gtaluvit]

Could you put bumper stickers on your vehicle? Like "My sock puppet slept with your honor student?" or "Pets.com on board"

RTFA

[Anonymous Coward]

You know things are bad when you have to be reminded to RTFA in the /. article.

Shucks

[Faust7]

Additionally, spectators "may not throw their bodies in the path of oncoming sculptures,"

Well, there go all my Death Race 2000-inspired contraptions.

Wow....

[johny_qst]

Did anyone else think there should have been a tux present at their silly little race?

Re:Wow....

[cioxx]

Did anyone else think there should have been a tux present at their silly little race?

My exact thoughts. I would pay to see Linus and Bruce Perens pedaling a giant penguin built on a bicycle for two.

You know it's bad when...

[petecarlson]

You know it's bad when you find out about this on Slashdot and it went right past your house...
Me wonders what I did Friday night...

It was actually Saturday.

[Sans_A_Cause]

I live across the street from the park, and stopped by for a bit. Kind of boring, really. Then, I went over to the City Paper Beer Festival at the DeGroen's brewery. It was canceled. Got drunk anyway. Boring, rainy, alcohol-laden day.

I was there..

[ArtEnvironment]

Yeah... uhm.. a group I am involved in... "The Philadelphia Dumpster Divers" participates.. and has, for at least 4 out of the 5 that the baltimore race has been running... this year... we had a vehicle that I'm surprised wired didn't cover.... we had a VIRTUAL VEHICLE. We even won awards for it.

BTW, the sock puppet is NOT a new rule. Infact we have won for best sock puppet I believe 3 of the years.. (don't quote me on that.)

For more information on the Dumpster Divers, and related project(s) you can check http://www.pleasetake.org/ [pleasetake.org]

Infact I'm going down there in May for a party with some of the other kinetic racers and friends.

Re:I was there..

[FlowinMcMackin]

"Infact we have won for best sock puppet I believe 3 of the years.. "

Sorry, couldn't resist.

ah ha!

[Pierre]

I drove by this last weekend and had no idea what these folks were up to. Alas my curiosity is satisfied.

I thought it was a kid thing... turns out it was a big kid thing.

Waaaaay OT

[Toasty16]

wtf is going on with slashdot right now? My last comment was modded to 5 last night, but now I see that it is unmoderated at 2. And the frontpage ask slashdot article about video on demand has comments disabled? WTF?

Oh, and those are weird sculptures.

This has been going on in California since 1969

[Anonymous Coward]

take a look here [kineticsculpturerace.org]

Rule 2.01a [kineticsculpturerace.org] requires you to carry a "comforting item of psychological luxury". Get your own ideas Baltimore!

Offtopic -- What's up with the above VOD article

[endeitzslash]

Why are new comments disabled?

Re:Offtopic -- What's up with the above VOD articl

[oneishy]

sounds like a time for a "what do you hate most about slashdot?" poll

• disabled comments
• technical problems
• banners
• tripes
• cowboy neals grave

go bumpo go

[rahulb]

I had the pleasure of being on the pit crew for team Bumpo - the big Indian elephant. Let me tell you, the Gandhi on top was a huge hit with the folks on the street! The participants all have great attitudes - I recommend everyone to check it out next year (or your own local Kinetic Sculpture Race). Some teams spend months building these things. Of course, others only spend days... relying only on the fact that wheels turn and styrafoam floats. But hey, whatever works!

Pardon me?

[revmoo]

"The winner this year? RTFA."

You're new here aren't you :)

Humboldt KSR

[Taboo]

If you wanna a real trip, check out the Kinetic Sculpture Race in Humboldt California. Some of the wierdest stuff I've ever seen. It dates back to '69 I think.

Learn about the original 35-year-old race

[fleener]

Baltimore's race is a copy based on the Great Arcata to Ferndale (California) World Championship Kinetic Sculpture Race [kineticsculpturerace.org], celebrating its 35th year in 2003.

What's the difference? The original race is a grueling 3-day trek over road, sand, mud and water. It's as much about endurance as it is art, for the glory of course.

The Nationals!

[StefanJ]

I went to the National kinetic sculpture race in Eureka, CA a couple of times.

Actually, the first time was an accident. I was driving up 101 for fun, heard the coverage on the radio, and made sure to drive through town. I saw a giant warthog driving across a bridge. Quite neat! But the hotels were all booked and I didn't know where to go to spectate.

I went for "real" a couple of years back. Booked a hotel, got the schedule and map. The race started in Arcata (famed for its on-line police blotter), up the highway a bit. The racers assembled around the town square for inspection and brake trials. I took a lot of pictures. The floats^H^H^H^H^H^H Kinetic Sculptures ranged from barely modified bicycles to WILD, elaborate machines with teams in matching uniforms. Best were a giant dinosaur skeleton (with cavemen drivers armed with clubs) and a pink rabid poodle with a beer stine.

The Burned Out Hippy ethic of the race first became evident here. Very entertaining and charming, if you're into vague non-competitive niceness.

After leaving town, the racers headed for the beach, for a five-mile or so drag over the dunes overlooking the Pacific. I was going to follow on foot, but my ill-footing gumshoes tore up my toes. I ended up taking a lift to the next exciting spot, a hill that the races had to crawl up. There was a CLIFF on the other side. Most of the machines made it, but rarely gracefully. After another few miles through sand and brush the racers crossed a bridge into town for the night.

I decided another full day of this wasn't in the cards, but I stayed long enough in the morning to watch the racers go into water mode at the foot of a bridge. Very neat. Some racers were water-ready as is. Others had to deploy pontoons. Some were paddled, others had pedal-operated paddle wheels or even propellors.

The least well designed craft had to be rescued by the harbor patrol. (According to the Burned Out Hippy Ethic, the foundering craft were "pushing the coast guard cutters with stiff ropes.") The best really tore along. The best, as I recall, was "Rolling Blackout," which was made from black PVC barrels and had rotary paddles.

Anyway, I'd recommend this event, especially for families, but make sure you have other activities lined up.

Stefan

Arcata to Ferndale (California) race is coming up!

[KenSeymour]

On memorial day weekend.

http://www.kineticsculpturerace.org/

Re:The Nationals!

[crazy_ape]

Some friends of mine enter this race every year.
They have a big septic tank that is painted yellow, has portholes cut out on the side, a screw (propeller), and is called the Yellow Submarine.

They usually win a prize for the most creative cheating or something like that.
They bribe judges or sneak off course for a quick short-cut or other sorts of things.

Also, don't forget, this is the same town that just made it a crime to cooperate with the federal government's Patriot Act.

And don't forget the Corvallis da Vinci Days race!

[Pvt_Waldo]

The annual da Vinci Days Festival [davinci-days.org] here in Corvallis, OR holds a Kinetic Sculpture Race [davinci-days.org].

Racers have to cross a vast gulf of 1 foot deep mud, go miles on the hard pavement, climb sand hills, and go down the Willamette River for the length of town. And keep their sense of humor at all times!

Long Live Hobart Brown!

In accordance to prophecy

[Anonymous Coward]

One of my favorite scenes of the 2002 Arcata-Ferndale race occured at the end of day 2 near the on-beach campsite Crab Park. Crab Park comes after 1.5 miles in the salt water bay, 20+ miles of road, and a long 40 mph descent down Loletta hill. The last 4-5 miles is a narrow country lane bounded on both sides by green fields and grazing dairy cows.

Rhino, a big 10 foot long, 8 foot high, 4 wheel drive, 4 pilot, articulated frame scultpure was coming in very late because it was version 1 vehicle with some de

DaVinci Days

[vanyel]

Corvallis, OR has a KSR as part of their DaVinci Days [davinci-days.org] celebration every year, though it's relatively recent, only about 15 years or so. I'd post links to pics, but right now they're on my home system on the back end of a 128K upload DSL line ;-) The mud bog is particularly fun. One year, the Maltese Fulcrum, basically a human V-8 4WD that can go anywhere, albeit not very fast, ended up pulling out another racer who got stuck. If you get a chance, you should go --- they're a lot of fun. (oh, and the prize for which bribery is allowed is only one of the less valuable prizes ;-) )

Re:DaVinci Days

[vanyel]

I don't know if anyone's still around to see this post, but if anyone's interested, I put some video and stills from the 96 [igrbp.com] and 97 [igrbp.com] DaVinci Days in Corvallis up on a site that can handle slashdotting. There's also some video of a trebuchet slinging various items --- the arm of the trebuchet was the same one used to sling the piano in one of the Northern Exposure episodes. Given the state of online video back then, they're far from high-def, but some people may enjoy them...

The Original Humboldt County KSR

[888 Geek Help]

These things blow the pants off any case mod artists. Arcata's started in '69 and is ass loads of fun. The race lasts 3 days and you have to travel over road, ocean (well a shallow bay), sand dunes, and even past the worlds most ill conceived nuclear power plant*. All sculptures must be human powered, self contained, and the operator cannot touch the ground. Throw in a couple more rules like mandatory teddy bear and cookies (must bribe the judges or your automatically disqualified [RTF rule book]) all in an

original KSR

[Graymalkn]

Others have mentioned Arcata, Eureka, and Ferndale as all being home to the original KSR. It should be noted for those not familiar with California geography that these are all the same race. As mentioned above, it started in Ferndale in 1969 but eventually the starting line moved north, so that now the three-day race starts in Arcata, crosses Eureka Bay, and eventually ends (after climbing the Slippery Slimy Slope) in the Victorian/hillbilly town of Ferndale.

It really is an amazing sight to see (especially the Sculptures trying to get up the Slope in the rain!) and I highly recommend that anyone who can manage to be six hours from the nearest major airport over Memorial Day weekend make an effort to attend.

For a good laugh, the rules [kineticsculpturerace.org] are available online.

First time I saw it was this year.

[Tronster]

I have lived in Baltimore for many years, and this was the first year I attended. A cousin of mine is "Dr. Mud" and was part of the team who makes the mud pit each year.

The race rocked, because:

• It had huge sculptures
• The sculptures all moved (some better than others)
• The degree of silliness was quite high

On the last point, they had a "blessing of the feet" for the drivers of the sculptures...which involved a person dressed a like Obi-Wan pretending to talk through his mind while a pre-recorded CD play

boulder

[assnoodles]

What about Boulder's kinetics: http://www.kbco.com/kinetics/

Fixing his son's tricycle

[mikosullivan]

On that momentous day, Hobart Brown [blah blah blah] decided to try to fix his son's broken tricycle. [blah blah blah] When he finished, the tricycle was more than six feet tall, and Brown had to add three extra wheels to the bright red, wobbly piece of art to stop it from falling over.

His son, OTOH, is still in therapy.

-Miko