Meet the 2026 Racers
#102 HMS Sea Cow
Team Needs More Cowbell - ACE - Captain Joel Clark
Art: Highly animated animatronics! A full demonstration of various mediums: glasswork, metalsmithing, foamcore, paint, custom inflatables, and needlework.
Engineering: 3 pilots, all of whom can steer simultaneously. Speedy propeller driven water propulsion. 4 wheel drive from any pilot's seat. Home sandcast aluminum parts. Home made electronics. Easy hose clamp assembly for logistics and storage.
Pageantry: Lori is a semi-peofessional musician who arranged her own music. Live playing of a keyboard and clarinet.
What else? This year our team has ACEd every existing race in the USA.
#103 Astro Bunny & the Space Cadets
Team Goddess Racing - ACE - Captain Tina Kerrigan
Art: Astro Bunny is ready to blast off, with her team of Space Cadets! The vehicle will greet all earthlings with friendly hood-winks and blinks. Astro Bunny’s view from the top is ready for 180 degree exploration. Our new spacey insignia is visible on the vehicle for all to see. The art frame is EMT pipe and aluminum siding, covered in galactic fabric.
Engineering: Numerous upgrades have been engineered from the original “Plan” prototype over the years; improvements suited for various terrain and orbit navigation. Also kinetic moving eyes, functioning vehicle hood, and bunny head lookout swivel. Most recently this winter, we did a complete rebuild of both axles to align the sand gears closer to the frame.
Pageantry: Astro Bunny Space Crew includes pilots Tina Kerrigan and Kristin Dalziel, and engineers Michelle and Jesse Wyatt. Our space cadets are Bonnie O'Neil, Crystal Pepper, Yumi Ozaki, Colleen Atwater Hole, James Bean, and Dustin Owens. We’re shooting for the moon with our pageantry performance this year, and planning on out of this world bribery!
What else? Team Goddess Racing past themes have been Bunny Hopper Helicopter (2025), Trixie the Cereal Contender (2024), Bunny Gears Up! (2023), Goddess Bunny (2022 & 2021), Temple of the Sun (2019), Star Goddess (2018), Lightning Bug (2017), Kinetic Dragonfly (2016), and Busy Bee (2015).
#104 Rocket Ham
Team Hamtastic Glory - ACE - Captains Malia Matsumoto & Lush Newton
Art: Rocket Ham an out of this world a glam-rock spaceship mashup of Elton John & space! Nothing short of stellar, upcycled rocket boosters primed for ignition & a gull wing door reveals ingenious Beidleman engineering beneath a Crocodile Rock(et) of visual delight. The team is dazzling in unapologetically flamboyant jumpsuits & handcrafted top hats.
Engineering: Ken Beidleman built in this recumbent in 1989. The steering system was redesigned for ergonomics and the drivetrain was completely rebuilt last year to suit the pilot Pork Chop's build and maximize power. After an explosive end to one of our pontoons on the Eel River bar we added a belly float and gifted pontoons from a retired Corvallis racer!
Pageantry: Hand-painted galaxies, recycled materials, and flashing effects bring Rocket Ham to life, creating a playful fusion of retro sci-fi, music, artistry, and kinetic creativity. Rocket Ham truly ignites: lights flash, parts animate, and the crowd is pulled into its orbit, making everyone feel like they’re floating in a tin can far above the world!
What else? After a challenging move into a new Kinetic Sculpture Lab, we are ready for lift-off building on Lush Newton’s original 2002 sculpture Rocket Boy, this reimagined piece soars with a fully realized theme carried through every element, proving it’s not just any machine—it’s a rocket, man.
#105 Estate Peddlers
Captain Marcus Shaible - ACE
#106 Asgard Racing is the Würst
Team Asgard Racing - ACE - Captain Nick Harris
Art: The art is paper mache built over a PVC spine with cardboard ribs - it's shockingly light. Every decision on this rig centers on weiners and condiments. The coloration of the art is done with many layers of acrylic paint, sponges, and fingers. The signs and bribes are all done with alcohol pens and super thin sharpies.
Engineering: Oh so shiny and new! And untested! The drivetrain borrows from DaVinci tandems: two pilots, one drive train, independent cadence. But wait, isn't that a fixed axle without a diff?? Each rear wheel has a freewheel built into the hub, acting as a lightweight, low cost differential. These are WILD departures from our previous rig, so.. wish us luck?
Pageantry: It's a giant wiener! Buy WHY? Because it's juvenile, silly, and the whole family thinks it's funny to say wiener. It also messes with the neighbors. This is going to be 50 miles of nonstop wiener jokes. For our bribes - Nick literally went to EVERY SINGLE THRIFT STORE in the area, found everything pewter, melted them, and made what you hold today.
What else? Erin and Nick have piloted together for a few years now, and are still married despite it. This is the first year that their oldest son Oliver will be on the pit crew. Their youngest son Elliot is the peon in charge of Duncan the Dog (it's the doggo's first Kinetics) and will be handing out unique bribes to anyone who gives Duncan some attention.
#107 LUCY
The Peppers - ACE - Captain Chris
Art: The Peppers peddled this sculpture from the other side of the pond, powered only by bubbles and a little help from their friends! All styrofoam, eyes, CDs, Straws, even the giant sign were from found material. Even the method of attaching LUCY (used plastic bottles) are recycled.
Engineering: Either pilot can control the vehicle with tie rod connection, front wheels are filled with inflated bike tubes to provide both flotation and steering. Recycled hose used to provide deeper tread on the sand. Recycled and boiled PVC shaped to hold pontoons. Paddles (also recycled) between the spokes of the rear wheels provide water propulsion.
Pageantry: Beetlemania has come to Arcata, we sing, we dance, we roll for for the girl with Kaleidoscope eyes. And she is blowing bubbles not stardust! Come on Sing Along! And see the world through her kaleidoscope eyes!
What else? Home grown, by two parents of teenagers... Nuf Said!
#108 DragStrip Divas
Team Formerly Known As - ACE - Captain Rebecca Taylor
Art: Our kinetic dragster delivers a sleek and sexy hotrod theme. Featuring a shrouded canopy with custom chassis detailing and our larger than life faux glitter engine block, just look at those pipes! Our costuming brings a whole lot of drag to this kinetic course!
Engineering: Unique inline three-pilot. Integrated paddles for seamless water propulsion. Cranking system allows to adjust machine height in the water for entry and exit. Upgraded hydraulic brakes. Quick switch to "Sand Gear" and the simple addition or our wrap-around foam sand tires. For hills, we have "Melvin's Gear"
Pageantry: Our high-octane multinumber choreographed dance and lip sync performance will wow the crowd. Our entire crew embodies the hot-rod drag race theme. Our bribes are perfect for someone wanting to showcase their inner drag king, queen or diva.
#109 Running on Glory
Team Colfax High School Engineering Art - GrACE - Captain Christian Kinsey
Art: This year marks race 15 for the Colfax High School Engineering Art team, and we’re celebrating with a retrospective of the past 14 builds. Our cart features an elevated miniature Kinetic racecourse with scaled versions of each year’s vehicle and iconic course moments, while our teddy bears are dressed as Cliff and Amy.
Engineering: This cart was made by a group of high school students, with the help of adult advisers. The use of Hoosier tires allows us to roll from hard pack to sand to water with ease. We’ve incorporated a differential into the jack shaft to allow both sides of the cart to power each wheel and the propeller, when in the water, while still allowing easy cornering.
Pageantry: In pairs, each of our members will represent one of the years we have attended the Kinetic Grand Championship. This year, our pageantry will be a fashion show featuring all 14 races, announced by this year's representative. Each pair will dress as their year's cart or theme. They will have costumes and decorated helmets.
What else? This year, our bribes will include tiny booklets displaying photos, years, and names of all 15 races we've been to. On top of that, this is our largest team we've ever taken to Kinetics, and we're extremely excited to introduce a lot more new blood to Kinetics
#110 The Rebel Appliance
Team Pineapple - ACE - Captains Dawn Thomas & Robert van de Walle
Art: With the help of The Rebel Appliance, a culinary ’droid from a galaxy not so far away, we bring cookies to the alliance. Notice our X-wing’s beater-blasters and Luke’s Pizza Hut. Our team of pilot chefs rise to any challenge, fortified with foodcubes heated in their personal HOBART FunCOOKERS!
Engineering: Team Pineapple runs the fastest vehicle on the course. Our unique blend of rickshaw style steering, AWD propulsion and braking, and hyper-efficient transitions puts us in a class above other racers. Our flat-packing modular art is highly engineered as well, being both stowable for transport and adaptable to race conditions.
Pageantry: The Dark SIde has Cookies!? With The Rebel Appliance, the Light Side will have cookies too! We rise to bring balance to the Galaxy. Our playful theme invites people into our deeper message: resist becoming nothing more than a resource from which those in power extract value.
What else? As we made our way through Arlynda Corners last year, we weren’t sure if we would finish. Our rusting frame was sagging, spokes were breaking, and derailleurs were held together with zipties. New metal, extensive drivetrain upgrades, and better hydrodynamics are incorporated into this year’s vehicle.
#111 Chitty Chitty Bling Bling
Team For Shifts and Giggles - ACE - Captain Rowan Mangnuson
Art: We ride in style on our Edwardian race car, sporting retractable wings for takeoff and an aerodynamic spoiler on the front. Better bring your sunglasses because we are blinding with bling. Could we fit any more on it? We might sink...
Engineering: New this year, experimental custom double spoked fat tire wheels and reinforced rear axle. For the water, all four peddlers power combine to spin up a huge vectored thrust propeller for unrivaled power and maneuverability. Our drivetrain features triple cassettes and trailblazing front wheel drive steering utilizing Cardan joints.
Pageantry: World Renowned Musicians will play their own renditions of a medley of songs from Chittys home county with a personal dance entourage and unique flair powered purely by bling.
What else? Last year we won Racers Choice and Third Place for speed.
#112 Sparky the Magnificent
Captain Chris Daugherty - ACE
Art: This is one big dumb happy dog at a dog party.
Engineering: That the machine has held up after so many years is a testament to it’s engineering. Also, the ingenious temporary support methods of the terminal rust.
Pageantry: That maybe you can teach an old dog a new trick
What else? The machine was built by the Estabrook family. It has been in the kinetic sculpture race for decades. Has won first in speed twice. Two flipper awards, two never gave up awards and numerous ACE awards.
#114 Hot Dawg and the Glory Hunters
Asgard Presents: Patric and the Other Jacklegs - ACE - Captain Patric Esh
Art: Developed and created by Jill and Mir with help from the rest of the team, its inspired by the New York style hotdog cart. We serve justice and a hot dog with a smile.
Engineering: Patric and Tim have put many hours fixing, improving and upgrading the sculpture. From a state away Nick and Jason provide additional support when we are scratching our heads for too long. It's not a polish dog but it's definitely not the wurst. We also replaced my brother for a Rutabaga Queen to pilot. Worth it!
Pageantry: Our love of community, justice, and Kinetics. We will not allow the worst of the wurst to corrupt our commuity and commit another mis-de-weiner. They won't get away from the foot long arm of the law.
What else? Thank you to Lindsey, Kristy, and my parents for helping out. Thank you Nick for continuing to be a wonderful friend and a huge help. If you wanna learn more, go to our Google Doc and leave a comment.
#115 Cowbus
Captain Lloyd Cha - ACE
Art: The calves need to get to school! Neither the sand nor the water will stop their bus from getting to Ferndale! Our sculpture mimics a classic school bus design and includes genuine school bus decals and a (hopefully) working swing out stop sign. Hopefully will have working emergency lights by the time the ART judging happens!
Engineering: Stainless steel frame, independent rear axles connected with motorcycle chain and freewheel to a single jack shaft. Each pilot pedals a bicycle drivetrain connected to the jack shaft using two more freewheels. Artwork attached via hose clamps. Pontoons attached using brackets cast from recycled aluminum cans. Mechanical workings by Joel Clark.
Pageantry: We are cows and will moo and mooove around.
What else? This is our 3rd year racing. We are previous winners of the Mediocre Award. We are aiming to complete our first race under the ACE rules.
#116 Glory as the Magic School Bus
Captain Rob Lorenson - ACE
#117 Kinetic Gyro Copter
Captain Chris Shmatovich - ACE
Art: Rotors that turn for no purpose whatsoever except entertainment.
Engineering: Continual small (sometimes large..) changes and improvements. Water prop is now working well, and we have "flying carpets" to use if needed for sand climbs.
Pageantry: Uh, we'll see when it occurs!
What else? We are a mash up of the Gyro Copter from Mad Max, and a gyro sandwich. Special thanks to Alex of the Gyro Shop in Arcata for going along with this crazy notion at the last minute.
#118 Bikin' Fool
Captain Lindsey Waddell - ACE
#119 Four Norsemen of the Apocalypse
Team Tempus Fugitives - ACE - Captain James Smith
Art: Our viking battering ram is adorned with a palm thatched roof, plenty of fur, and skeletal remains of the fallen. Our war drums call on all to repent their evil ways, or prepare for their imminent destruction.
Engineering: This center articulating four wheel drive beast has proven itself worthy of multiple Grand Championships. It has a sufficient range of gears to demolish the course, without being excessively prone to failure. Extremely capable and reasonably fast, it is ready for the impending apocalypse.
Pageantry: The final reckoning is upon us. The end is near. Do not ignore the beating of the war drums for their song is your final warning. The Gods will shine brightly on us, for we will rid the Earth of it’s neglectful stewards.
What else? KGC Grand Champions 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016. Thank you to our Glorious Sponsors Alchemy Construction/Boldt Distillery and Redwood Curtain Brewing Company!
#120 Coho Cowboys
Team Coho Cowboys - ACE - Captains Anna C. & Larry N.
Art: Is in the eye of the beholder! Judge this Salmon by understanding it has traveled over 2000 miles around the pacific just to be here! The human interference and environmental challenges it has overcome are second to none.
Engineering: Converting a trike to a quad and from a single to a triple rider configuration can be difficult. Also connecting steel with aluminum always takes out of the box thinking. Then add two different types of PVC, a horn made out of a recycled water bottle, different sized tires and posi-traction to secure this never been tested masterpiece.
Pageantry: Young adults getting involved with their community while helping save endangered or threatened species! What can be more noble than that! Also, look for the one racer who got it all wrong with the cowboys/cowgirls theme!
What else? This sculpture won best pit crew last year as rider safety is always our second most important goal after having fun. Previous years this team has won biggest splash, the golden flipper, the won’t give up award, and best small team!
#121 Hobart's DuAngels
Queen Team - ACE - Captain Queen Shaye Harty
Art: Hobart’s DuAngels is a transforming tribute to Duane Flatmo, featuring his iconic gap-toothed smile front and center. Across three race days, our sculpture and crew evolve from radiant white-and-gold angels into full burning mayhem in an immersive visual story of transformation, tribute, and glorious absurdity.
Engineering: Built on a time-tested ACE-worthy double pilot trike, Hobart’s DuAngels combines proven multi-terrain performance with integrated paddle-wheel water propulsion. Our transforming art is engineered onto a reliable race-ready machine, blending functional engineering, mobility, and kinetic spectacle.
Pageantry: After allegedly luring Duane Flatmo to Burning Man and away from racing, Queen Shaye has abandoned her evil ways and seeks redemption with an impossible mission: out-good the goodest queen, Queen Foxi Biloxi, during her 20th Queeniversary through dramatic transformation, crowd participation, and tribute bribes.
What else? Kinetics creates strange vehicles, glorious chaos, and apparently children. Queen Foxi is bringing her kids to experience the race for the first time; the living result of a Kinetic love story. Hobart’s DuAngels celebrates the beautiful madness, legacy, and community spirit that make this race & the Kinetic Family like nothing else. FOR THE GLORY!
#122 OH Mickey (You're So Fine)
Captain Darren Droge
#123 License to Grill
Team Picante - Captain Jillian Poree
Art: Simple design with new art each year. This year we have a homemade grill made of foam and chicken wire. We hope to inspire some summer grilling.
Engineering: The design is simple and strategic. It accomplishes all aspects for the needs of this race in a compact format.
Pageantry: Our theme is fun and will surely be a cooky twist on everyone's favorite summertime activity.
What else? Thank you Coast Central for sponsoring Team Picante for the 2nd year in a row!
#124 Cycle-Delic Rock Fish
Captain Joe Polos
Art: Cycle-Delic Rock Fish will grace the glorious kinetic madness in 2026. Cycle-Delic was modified from Deep Sea Disco (KGC 2025) with visual embellishments and moving parts. The sculpture frame is made of PVC and PEX pipe, covered with custom fitted, hand sewn fabric. Team will be dressed in the psychodelia fashion-much of the materials are upcycled.
Engineering: 4-wheeled, two-pilot vehicle, notable for its use of recycled medical and bike parts integrated into a chromoly frame. Vehicle underwent major frame replacement surgery due to excessive rust perpetuated by the evil man-eating clams. Eng. Art: Fins, tail, mouth and tongue using pulleys/levers and the trippy eyes are chain driven by a small motor.
Pageantry: Team members will be sporting mostly upcycled psychedelic fashion and to set the mood psychedelic rock tunes will be shared to spread peace, harmony, and groovy vibes. Some pageantry judges and members of the Saturday kinetic revelers will be invited to “fish” for prizes from the Cycle-Delic Rock Fish waters.
What else? Returning from the Grateful Squid, Bear-y Garcia will be hangin’ out with his sea friend, Tripper. A diverse collection of bribes- many recycled or repurposed- this year including $ origami fish pins, painted rocks, buttons, stickers, trippy glasses, cardboard fish and gear necklaces. Sponsors: Open Door, Brett Shuler Fine Catering, Jitterbean
#125 The Oregon Fail
Team Pedal Snappers Youth Kinetics - Captain Rowan Nelson-Wood
Art: Our sculpture was made with a multitude of mediums including: cardboard, boat foam, canvas, PVC, and tulle. Most materials are recycled from the packaging of our tools and other items. We handmade costumes for each 6 of our pilots, as well as bonnets for all of our Pit and Peons.
Engineering: Our sculpture is a six person machine with center articulating steering and split axles. The articulator was custom made by one of our previous team members. Our wheels were made out of go cart hubs, culvert, and hand made spokes.
Pageantry: Our pageantry is a parody of The Rattlin' Bog, which was written by our team member. Our bribes include several handmade pieces, and our pins, buttons, and shirts are all made off of original art by our team members.
What else? We are the only fully youth built, led, and funded team in the entire KGC. Our goal is to give opportunities to youth in STEAM, and connect them with this amazing tradition of Humboldt County. We are not affiliated with any school, and have members from 5 different ones.
#126 Megoosa
The Kinetic A-Team - Captain Strange (Aaron Graff)
Art: We used mostly salvaged materials on the way to the trash; different kinds of foam, fabric, cardboard, tape, glue, paint, pvc pipe … and used bamboo for framework, wings flap for glory … don’t stare into Megoosa’s eyes or you’ll turn to stone!
Engineering: Again we used mostly salvaged metal from bikes and the scrap yard, approximately 85% of the machine is salvaged parts, paid little to nothing, 4-person, half upright half recumbant pedaling, 4x4, all terrain gloriousness we built in the old and new Kinetic Laboratory! Now a 6-person 6x8 wheel drive!
Pageantry: The Kinetic A-Team presents; the Megoosa Trance Dance. Don’t stare into our eyes or you’ll turn to stone!
What else? Our team launched our new 4-person machine last year and broke down quick, winning the Golden Dinosaur. This year we will be more glorious than the last. Thank you all for everything you do. For the glory!
#127 Bob Moss and the Happy Little Bees
Team PLAN BEE - Captain Buffy Tanner
Art: The Plan Bee craft: art studio, museum, nature preserve, and tribute to the highest art form - painting. Bob Moss, our master painter, is star of the art show and every strand of Bob’s fro is hand-crocheted. The mossy hollowed, hallowed logs provides a comfortable studio for our comfort companion.
Engineering: Plan Bee’s Very Klever and artistically integrated flotation can be deployed and raised with one hand! On water, 2 independent propellers provide yaw correction from typical wind speed and direction. The caloric portions of our pilots are designed to stay within weight tolerance and adjustable balancing mitigates risk of excessive roll.
Pageantry: Don’t let PLAN BEE’S Bob Moss and the Happy Little Bees’ stately and calm deportment fool you. They are ready to let loose and channel their inner disco-vogue-hip-hop selves at a moment’s notice before presenting the judges with a bribe they will NEVER forget!
What else? Get ready to see the best bribes ever! And our comfort companion is a perfectly miniaturized version of our main character.
#128 Trooth Decay
The Apple Pedalers - Captains Billy Pinnix and Jen Weiss
Art: n/a
Engineering: n/a
Pageantry: n/a
What else? THIS IS THE BIGGEST, FASTEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL KINETIC SCULPTURE EVER! OUR ENGINEERS, THE BEST IN THE WORLD WHO EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT, HAVE ENGINEERED SOLID 25 CARROT GOLD WATER EQUIPMENT WHILE REDUCING THE WEIGHT OF THE SCULPTURE BY OVER 900%!!!! ALL OTHER TEAMS NEED NOT TRY TO COMPETE AS WE WILL WIN ALL OF THE CASH PRIZES, NO ONE WILL BELEIVE IT!!! WHY DO WE RACE? FOR THE MONEY!!! THANK YOU FOR NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!
#129 Wheely Wonka
Team Half-Fast - Captain Dave Carter
Art: Everything good in this world, started with a dream. This Wonka Mobile features upcycled foam and metals to create a car with curvy lines and a sneaky door that invites you to sit upon the throne. Riders beware,without a golden ticket you could go through the HSAW AKNOW!
Engineering: Disc brakes, lower gears and a fourth wheel were all added this year! Perfect balance front-to-back means wheelies on demand and the tightest turning race ever. Custom coachbuilding includes three suicide doors and a throne (golden tickets anyone?). Remote control fire AND bubbles? Two speed read-end? Complete subframe rebuild? Yeppers!
Pageantry: Team Half-Fast Presents: Wheely Wonka! (a sing along) Oompa Loompa Doompady doo - We present Wheely Wonka to you! With chocolate, lollies and gummies too - our bribes are sure to please your sweet tooth. We have surprises around every corner… but nothing dangerous.
What else? Owner/Builders Dave Carter and Beth Wylie are fortunate to have their son Aidan Carter as a key mechanic, fabricator and art contributor. Birthed from the Kinetic Clubhouse at Mendenhall Studios in Eureka, we are proud to be a monthly presence for Kinetics at Arts Alive.
#130 The Shoe Shine & the Heel n Soles
Captain Dale Welch
#131 cac-TIE: Dressed to the Spines
Cooper Family Team - Captains Gene & Naomi Cooper
Art: Saguaro you? We're decked out, standing tall, sparkly & fashionable. We brought along a few of our sharpest friends, and intend to get to the point with our style and dry wit. If you're in the right place on the cactus-walk, you'll get a fancy twirl.
Engineering: Two-pilot rig rebuilt by the Cooper family, with 90% used materials. The vehicle is wider, with improved removeable pontoons. Oars have new easier-to-paddle rowing features. The saguaro is lightweight, enhanced with 360-degree free-spin rotation and easy adjustable tilt, solving the thorny problem of overhanging trees on the racecourse.
Pageantry: We will take a stab at pageantry this year with some well-placed bribes and candy, plus some pointed stares and posing. Not to mention some 360 degree twirling. All members of the team will be dressed to impress.
What else? Our family stuck together to build everything. Bribes include custom stickers, handmade art & 3-D printed keepsakes. VOTE FOR cac-TIE for Racer Fave! (We may bribe you for a vote!) In 2024, we were honored to win the Goddess Jen-O award for Snowball in Hell.
#132 Rolling Thunder
Kinetic Dream Team - Captain Terry Dahlin
Art: We're a storm! Costumes are black reverse tie-dye (toilet bowl cleaner) to create "lightening," (we painstakingly reused zip-ties)! Our clouds are recycled pillow stuffing, cardboard lightening bolts, and materials from 2025/2024 races. Thunder is recycled poster tubes/pvc with springs (some from old notebooks!), and tape. For the Glory and ART!
Engineering: Our pontoons (Bidleman originals) had fewer leaks to repair this year than ever! I welded new supports for art. We kept our art and machine as lightweight as possible allowing us to roll through the sand/water/wind easily. Almost all materials recycled/reused (chicken wire, PVC, pillow stuffing, cardboard), even zip-ties!
Pageantry: Your Kinetic Weather Report gets interrupted by a psychedelic disturbance, a storm of epic proportions, or a tiny little nimbus cloud shooting an epic 13-point lightening bold the Grateful Dead would be proud of! Bribes include menacing stickers, shirts with our basketball kinetic chicken, Boxes of Rain, Grateful Dead puns.
What else? Can you find our sculptures basketball hoop? To the children who endlessly played basketball with us back in 2024, our first year as Kinetic Dream Team, we will always have a hoop for you! Sponsored by Jack-a-Roses Productions and our band Jerry Rigged. Thank you Kinetic Universe for everything!
#133 SLUG Life
Captain Jacob Talbert
#134 Ravens in the Machine
Team Subneutral - Captain Chad Johnson
Art: Drawing on the gothic lore of ravens and the explosive protest of Rage Against the Machine, our art extols anarcho-syndicalism. We are a collective of rebellious birds who refuse to obey the dictates of the capitalists.
Engineering: Our race proven vehicle was reconfigured this year, with an oversized front wheel and all new flotation and aquatic propulsion. The tandem tricycle is situated with a recumbent stoker in the front and a traditionally seated captain in the back, an aerodynamic orientation.
Pageantry: Our pageantry celebrates protest, rebellion, and the terrifying power of a flock of oversized ravens with machines.
What else? I received this vehicle late last year, and our team had to split into two. Since we had already developed our theme we decided to race as two teams of the same flock. We're a family friendly team with five fledgling racers.
#135 Ravens Against The Machine
Team Subneutral - Captain Todd Kraemer
Art: In the form of a flying raven we are determined to keep the craft "race-lite" using Wing Inflatables foam waste. A glorious purple and black, we wear our colors with pride. Cronk Cronk. Kaw kaaaw!
Engineering: We are an articulating fat tire tandem craft with go cart disk brakes and Wing Inflatable pontoons. Team Subneutral built the craft. Todd Kraemer keeps it rolling.
Pageantry: The peons get in a corvus murder and cry, "Cronk Cronk I won't do what you tell me." The children truly love anarchy.
What else? Best Pit Crew, Ace Professor Todd is having fun. A scientist and mountain biker trying to be an artist.
#136 Home Base
The (Sequoia Humane Society) Rescues! - Captain Stuart Gorman
Art: Sequoia Humane Society’s Home Base knocks it out of the park. From roof top to wheels, it’s decked out in baseball-themed architectural elements and animal rescue details. The color scheme of red, black, and white is styled after SHS’s own branding. Home Base’s front door is, in fact, our logo! Don’t miss the baseball bat balusters!
Engineering: It’s the first thing I ever mig welded! What a blast! It’s like using a hot glue gun that finally grew up and got a real job. The 3D printed clip-on paddles push a lot more water than they have any business doing (more than expected anyway). Almost all of the structure is salvage or second hand, including foam, steel tubing, cardboard, and bikes.
Pageantry: Homer and Houser are two baseball-loving cats, ready to make the home run down to Furndale, where Hairy the dog is waiting for his forever home! We’re hoping to gain many fans for our baseball team, The Sequoia Humane Society Rescues! When you wave your Home Run Hanky, or tweet your dog whistle, Home Base rolls a little closer to the finish line.
What else? Thanks to The Bike Kitchen, Poletskis', Arcata Scrap and Salvage, and Wing Inflatables for letting us adopt some of their stray materials.
#137 Helen Wheels
Captain Scott Campbell
Art: Nothing to show, nothing to hide. The name Helen Wheels came to me in a dream. I imagined a blazing sculpture of flames and smoke. In fact there is nothing blazing about our sculpture. Our costumes will have flames, but that is the only thing.
Engineering: 66 gears per segment, 4 wheel drive, articulated steering. Our sculpture was built in 2022 as part of another sculpture we called "Screaming Yellow Zonkers". The rear section of SYZ was then removed and a near identical section was constructed for the front portion of our new sculpture. It has all wheel drive and hydraulic disc brakes. There are 66 gears connected to a small differential on each section of the sculpture.
Pageantry: Probably skip it.
What else? We used parts from a pedicab, riding lawn mower, v-belt pulleys, patio chairs, and some bicycle parts in the fabrication of the sculpture. Keeping it simple and lightweight the unloaded weight is about 325 pounds. Not the lightest, but certainly not the heaviest. Our steering is an articulated system of cables and pulleys, which pull on one corner or the other to make the sculpture turn. There is no connection between our sculpture and the rock n roll band of the same name.
#138 Yeastie Boys - Brass Monkey
Team Waggle Kinetics - Captain Jay Ryan
Art: Yeastie Boys grabbed rolling pins to bake this brass monkey. Using upcycled materials, we hand kneaded the body’s joints, feet and sculpted the head using PVC and chickenwire, paper mâchéd with gluten, and upholstery. How’d we get that brass sheen? Nutritional yeast! Check out our bagel CD’s - they’re hand painted!
Engineering: Kelly Archer and some yeastie boys of past (over)built this hunk. Why use 1” tubing when it can be 2”? This baby is INDESTRUCTABLE. Check out the cool ghost rings for extra chain tensioning. What’s that bedonkadonk in the back? A frame to hold our floatation tech - the barrelfullamonkeys!
Pageantry: No! Sleep! ‘til Ferndale! We got a rap and dance featuring debauchery to cheer our glorious founder’s spirit. Interactive Bribes? Yep. Yeast? Up the wazoo (ummm). Niche references to Paris Olympics? Mate, on lock. Judges, we fight for your right! Have a bagel, sip a yeastie bev, join the party.
What else? You might be impressed now, but don't get too excited. Last year we won the Mediocre award. Will we go for it again? Only you will know. Thanks to Los Bagels for their gracious sponsorship. Kelly, Liam, Miles, Becca, Karla, Sarah, Jenny and Jasmine are all superstar builders and creative minds!
#139 The 'Ccino Machino
Captain Brendan Lehmen
#140 E.T. Phone Humboldt
Team K3D - Captain Joan Carpenter
Art: We have recreated the set from the movie E.T. Includes driftwood style E.T. character, E.T. Phone, Golden Retriever Harvey, and the Moon.
Engineering: Builder Scott Campbell. Propeller similar to a trolling motor. Chrome moly tubing for frame and side by side recumbent seats. We improved steering and handling. Art includes a replica of E.T. Phone from movie. We have improved gear ratio for hill climbing. Travels on sand with no extra traction device.
Pageantry: We have newbie CalPoly students joining us for their first race! The Legend of E.T. in Humboldt and Del Norte will be presented.
What else? We are trying to complete all course elements and will be swapping pilots using barely trained CalPoly students. Anything could happen!
#141 KPS Tools of Liberté
The Kinetic Paranormal Society - Captain Isaac Bluefoot
#142 Bosozoku (AKA Reckless Driving Crew)
Captain Jonathan Merrill - ACE
#143 Pretty Sketchy and the Kewl Doodz
Team Royal Pain Inc - ACE - Captain Sir Queen Robot
Art: Our art was designed by 7 year old team member Max of the "Growing Pains!" Our machine is a celebration of intuitive and untrained art, that way we created before we were influenced by others or were told we were doing it "wrong", With a fist full of crayons and art in our heART we will doodle on everything in our way, and YOU can help!
Engineering: After winning "you clever rasCARL" with the machine in its first race, for its second race Robot went and changed every moving part, be it Ackermann, Archimedes, Newton, or Hooke, Robot has not stopped talking about "Eponymous engineering ideas" and "simple machines" since July. YOU think his social media is A LOT? try living with him!
Pageantry: The Royal Pain pageantry troupe is lead by 12 year old Stella and her mom Angie. We're going to leave our mark on the plaza and anywhere else along the way that needs some more color. With a nod and a wink to history and the stationery "heads" that came before us.
What else? Since our former rutaBABY, the Royal Pain himself, is now a teen and Robot remembers what it was like to be a kinetic kid at the KGC, we have started a new youth division for future racers and rascals, the "Growing Pains" are practicing, leaning, glory hogging and getting ready for their turn in the big leagues, with ages ranging from 4 -13.
#144 Bone Shaker
Captain Duane Flatmo
#145 Bounced Forty 9th Glory
Captain Peter Wagner - ACE
#146 Five Year Plan
Captain Lee Lazon
#147 Baby Got Back to the Future
Captains Michael & Angel
#420 Hippypotamus
Captain Ken Beidleman