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ABOUT Kinetic Sculpture Race Grand Championship

"Adults having fun so children will want to grow up." - Hobart Brown

The Kinetic Sculpture Race Grand Championship is a three-day, 42-mile race on human-powered sculptures where their pilots ride from Arcata to Ferndale through sandy beaches, the perilous 40-foot Dead Man’s Drop, and the waters of Humboldt Bay and the Eel River.

Hobart Brown and the Pentacycle

The first race was in 1969, created by Hobart Brown (1934-2007), almost by accident when he modified his son's tricycle to a five-wheeled, decorated "Pentacycle" and another local artist and gallery owner, Jack Mays, challenged him to a race down Ferndale's Main Street on Mother's Day. Race-day came, so did ten other challengers. Neither Hobart nor Jack won the race, that honor goes to Bob Brown (no relation) piloting his Kinetic Turtle. Hobart was acclaimed "the Glorious Founder" of the race and is still honored today.

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The race today is no longer just down the street. In Humboldt County it is now the longest human powered sculpture race in the world. The kinetic race is also done in various forms in many other cities and states, though Humboldt County is home to the 3 day Grand Championship. 

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