Kinetic sculptures are moving works of art, pedaled by human power over a rigorous, all-terrain course by teams of fun-loving racers.
These engineering marvels move in all kinds of ingenious ways,
sculpted into all sorts of fantastic shapes—sea anemone, school bus,
flying pink elephant, slice of cheese, yellow submarine—everything imaginable! And the racers and their pit crews are part of the art,
decked out in costume and trying to out-compete each other in the entertaining
show they put on for the spectators!
The Racecourse
This is no ordinary race. KC teams are out to prove that their
sculpture is the Best—best in art, best in engineering,
best in speed, best in pageantry, best all around! Their biggest
test is the race itself and what a course it is! Racers must
ride over 10 miles of city streets, over a man-made sand
dune, across
3000 feet of sun-dried, clay pasture, through 200 feet of deep,
thick, sticky mud, and down 2 miles of the Willamette River. All of this under pedal power with no help from their
friends (or spectators)!
The Competition
The KC mixes hard work and fun. In the competitions for speed,
design, artistry, and pageantry, there are great prizes donated
by local artists and businesses. Special recognition in all
sorts of other categories honors the spirit and dedication of racers
with trophies and prizes. For teams that complete the race under
their own power, there is the coveted Leo medallion.
The Spectators
An enthusiastic audience fuels the spirit of the KC. Spectators
are heartily encouraged to join in the festivity and fun.
Costumes are welcome. Many of the racers have put in weeks (or
months!) of intensive effort, laboring into the wee hours of the
morning—all for the privilege to show off their sculptures and
play to the crowd as they attempt to beat the heat, sand, and
mud or just stay afloat. Rousing cheers always spur teams onward
as they zip, crawl, float, plod, or struggle down the course.
They love appreciation!
Other Races
Interested in the kinetic sculpture race circuit? Schedule these into your kinetic calendar.