Glorious Spectators
Photo by Terrence McNally
Find ALL the GLORY Details in the KGC Spectators Guide
Schedule
Day 1 - May 25th, 2024:
The race starts at the Arcata Plaza @ noon(ish)
Sculptures end day 1 at Halvorsen Park in Eureka.
Kinetic Fest presented by The Ink People for the Arts
A finish line party at Halvorsen Park from 2 PM - 7 PM with food, drinks, music, vendors, and circus arts.
Day 2 - May 26th, 2024:
Sculptures enter the water at the Wharfinger Boat Ramp in Eureka between 10:07am and 12:07pm and exit under the Samoa Bridge.
Day 3 - May 27th, 2024:
The finish line in Ferndale opens at 1pm this year (it used to open at noon)
Goddess Jen-O proclaims!
Amusement is the gift we give and get, so all KGC participants, volunteers, spectators, and innocent bystanders must try their best to have FUN at all times.
Kinetic Sculptures are all-terrain human-powered art vehicles, engineered to race over road, water, mud and sand. They are impressive works of sculpture and engineering loaded with “kinetic thrills” like animated faces, fire cannons, and unusual drive mechanisms. Kinetic Racing teams consist of pilots, pit crews and peons. Pilots power their sculpture and steer, the pit crews assists the pilots in transforming the vehicle for the various challenges and fixing mechanical issues, and peons, well, they do whatever is needed for the team to get Glory.
DAY ONE
-Road: 7.6 miles
-Sand: 2.2 miles
-Road: 3 miles
12.8 miles
DAY TWO
- Water: 1.3 miles
- Road: 20.6 miles
21.9 MILES
DAY THREE
- Road: 7.4 miles
- Gravel/Water 1.3 miles
- Field: 0.8 miles
- Road: 5.8 miles
15.3 miles
RACE TOTAL: 50.0
Thanks to the Planet X crew!
50 YEARS OF KINETIC MADNESS!
A local tradition since 1969, the Kinetic Race is no parade! In the Kinetic Grand Championship bodies of art and artist's bodies are put to the test. There's 50 miles to go, over land, sand, water, and mud. These intrepid Kinetinauts are a unique breed of human. With a heart full of joy and a bucket full of tools, they face innumerable obstacles for just one reason ... For the GLORY!
Founded by metal sculptor Hobart Brown in 1969, this North Coast tradition has grown from a two block dash down Main Street Ferndale to a 3 day marathon spanning over 40 miles of Humboldt County California’s towns, beaches, trails, and Rivers every Memorial Day Weekend.
June Moxon and her Shoe
Day 1 of the KGC starts on the Arcata Plaza, at the noon siren. The racers take off to the Manila dunes, where they race through miles of sand to the imposing and inevitable "Deadman's Drop". Then on to Eureka's Halvorsen Park for the Finish Line party where spectators can see the sculptures up close after their harrowing day.
Team Melvin crossing the Eel River
Day 2 starts in Eureka at the waterfront on the Humboldt Bay, where brave Kinetic Pilots race their crafts through the water (hopefully floating). Then back on land where they’ll trudge up and over Table Bluff, a grueling 1 mile up, and a white knuckle 7% grade down.
Day 3 Memorial Day Teams start from the private racers’ campout at Crab Park where they will head over land to cross the Eel River under Fernbridge. The last leg of the KGC takes teams through the cow pastures of the Eel River Valley, and on to the Finish line on Ferndale's quaint and historic Main Street, where they will celebrate for a while before heading to the Final Awards Dinner.
