Press Releases - Kinetic Universe, Inc.

March 28, 2008, Arcata, CA: Forty years ago, the first Kinetic Sculpture Race attracted ten thousand spectators who watched a field of ten wacky contraptions make their slow, human-powered way down Ferndale's Victorian Main Street. Shortly thereafter, early kinetinauts decided that a few blocks was not enough, and changed the race to the familiar, 3 day 41 mile Triathlon of the Art World that has run every year since. This year, in honor of its humble beginnings, Kinetic Universe is staging both Kinetic Events: the 3-block Main Street Kinetic Klassic on Mothers' Day May 11, 2008 and the Memorial Day Weekend cross country Kinetic Grand Championship which begins in Arcata and ends 3 days later in Ferndale, CA on May 24, 25 and 26, 2008.

A tribute to the passing of the Glorious Founder Hobart Brown in late November of 2007, the Kinetic Klassic is "for the kid in all of us!" The tradition of Kinetic Sculpture Racing started with Jack Mays challenging Hobart Brown to a race down Main Street on Mother's Day in 1969. Ironically, both men didn't win the race that they started; the glorious winner that day was Bob Brown (surprisingly, no relation to Hobart) with his smoke-emitting Turtle that laid eggs as it raced down the street. This year, in order to recreate the spirit of that first challenge, Kinetic Universe is giving the public the same thirty day time span to build their machines for the Klassic, as they did for the original race.

Because of the age limiting factor in the Kinetic Grand Championship, the Kinetic Klassic is a family friendly event that is an opportunity for all ages to participate. The age classes of each race category will be 3-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-16, and Adults. Registration begins at 12:30pm at Fireman's Park, located at 100 South Berding Street in Ferndale, CA. Following registration, the machines will parade together at 1:30 p.m. down to the starting line in front of Hobart Galleries. Each age class, starting with the youngest of 3-6 years old, will compete in heats of two machines racing at a time. An Awards Ceremony at Fireman's Park will give glory to all who participated and the best of the event will be announced.

These hand built kinetic kontraptions can take on any form as long as they meet the guidelines set forth for the event. Quoting from the original 1969 entry blank:

• Sculpture must be powered by people; no engine.
• Feet must not touch the ground.
• Must complete race to qualify.
• Each sculpture must have at least one driver, but no more than five.
• Sculpture may not be dangerous or harmful to others.

"Due to the simplicity of the race format, it only takes some imagination and a little mechanical tinkering to create a machine that can compete in the 3-block race format. We hope to see lots of parents help their children create kinetic art," said Shaye Harty, President of Kinetic Universe.

The event will be on the afternoon of May 11th, Mother's Day, following the 84th Annual Portuguese Holy Ghost Celebration, including a historic parade featuring Holy Ghost Royalty and other important symbols of the festival. Mother's Day is a great opportunity to experience the charm of Ferndale by making a day of attending both events. However, due to the spiritual nature of the Portuguese Celebration, please exercise a high level of respect for their activities.

Special Note Racers and Spectators are asked to re-visit this site www.KineticUniverse.com for alternate routes into Ferndale that will not encroach upon the Holy Ghost Celebration, especially if arriving before the 12:30 p.m. registration time.

March 11, 2008, Arcata, CA: Kinetic Universe, the 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that administers the Kinetic Grand Championship, will be putting on a fundraiser in Arcata Sunday, March 16. Participants are asked to wear green costumes, especially leprechaun outfits, and be prepared for a fun and fabulous evening. The starting point is Humboldt Brewery at 4 p.m., admission is $5 and includes a bar map of the pub crawl route, a piece of Kinetic glory, and a keepsake shot glass.

"This is a great way to contribute to the race while having a fun time celebrating St. Patty's Day with bunch of crazy kinetinauts," said Harmony Groves, board member of Kinetic Universe.

This event also functions as a trial run of the pub crawl format for the even larger Santa Claus Pub Crawl Kinetic Universe will be organizing for December 6. Based on the Santa Claus Pub Crawls that happen all over the world, most notably the event in San Francisco, these fundraisers contribute much needed dollars to various non-profit agencies.

"I saw a Santa pub crawl in San Francisco and everyone was having so much fun, we thought we would bring the idea to Humboldt County. How else can you dress up in a costume, go out drinking en masse with a bunch of fun people, AND make money for a good cause at the same time? It's a win-win for everybody!" said Shaye Harty, president of Kinetic Universe.

Advance passes for the Pub Crawl will be available during Arts Arcata, Friday March 14 at the Kinetic Universe Wine Bar in Natural Selection on the Plaza. Attendees to the Arts Arcata event also have the opportunity to purchase wine to raise money for the organization as well. All proceeds raised from both the Arts Arcata Wine Bar and the St. Patty's Pub Crawl go towards administrative costs for the 40th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship.

For further information, please contact Shaye Harty at 707-499-0643 or email at rutabagaqueen@gmail.com

Roy-Oil Rumbles for Valentines

February 5, 2008, Arcata, CA: Proof that they will do anything to support the Kinetic Grand Championship over which they preside, those colorful Rutabaga Queens are wrestling in oil to raise funds for the Race.

The Queens face off in the Roy-Oil Rutabaga Rumble February 15 at the Arcata Playhouse, 501 Ninth Street, Arcata.

"It's gonna be a Heckuva a show," says reigning Rutabaga Queen Emma the EmChantress. "A smackdown for the ages. Some of us still can't quite believe we're doing this, but it is going to be a blast." Emma will be fighting 2001's Queen Denise, also known as the Imperial Empress.

It was 2005's Queen Shaye, also known as the Kween of Kontroversy, who came up with the idea. "This event will be like nothing Humboldt has seen, pure hilarity and creativity. If you've had enough of the love on Valentines Day, come to our Friday night Fight and laugh at our sheer absurdity." Shaye's opponent is 2006's Queen Foxy Biloxi. Also slated for the evening are 2004's Queen Monica and 2002's Queen Mo of local radio's KHUM and KSLG.

And in the grand tradition of pro wrestling, spectators should expect surprises and remember that according to the rules of Kinetics, cheating is a right and a privilege.

Doors open at 8:30. General admission is $25, and a $40 Ringside VIP ticket comes with extremely regal wine and chocolates, of course. Tickets will be available at the works and from the Queens.

Call 707-499-0643 for more information.

March 3, 2008, Arcata, CA: Shaye Harty and Harmony Groves, both on the Board of the non-profit Kinetic Universe, which administers the Kinetic Grand Championship, have decided to donate out of pocket to re-open the legendary Kinetic Museum in Ferndale. While Harty and Groves are working on a sponsorship campaign for the Museum to stay open and get renovated, they have partnered up to get the Museum going before this year's 40th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship.

The general public, as well as members of the press, are welcome to tour the museum with both Harty and Groves on Saturday, March 8 at 4 p.m. The building manager will be present to accept the first check from them to initiate the formal agreement between Kinetic Universe and the building's management.

"The Museum is an amazing place that houses many sculptures and will also be the offices for Kinetic Universe. We hope to host tourists, passerbys and students and give guided tours of the Museum's historic treasures. Just imagine, nearly 40 years of Kinetic history in Humboldt County. The Museum is an historic resource, located just around the corner from Hobart Galleries," said Harmony Groves.

"We would like to show the community how important we feel the museum is to Humboldt County by paying for our first month's rent ourselves. We are hoping that some large donors from the community will come forward and help us continue making this amazing museum better, as well as become more recognizable outside of the county as a tourist destination for all things kinetic," said Shaye Harty.

Harty and Groves hope to raise the funds to keep the Museum going year round. They are seeking approximately $5,000 to renovate and expand the museum.

Also, Harty and Groves will give details about the 1st Annual Kinetic Klassic, which celebrates the first race in 1969 down Main Street in Ferndale, to be held on Mother's Day, May 11, 2008. A new event building the momentum to the Memorial Day Weekend Kinetic Grand Championship, kids of all ages are encouraged to participate in this short parade and 3-block race by building their own kinetic contraptions. Contact Shaye Harty at 707-499-0643 or Harmony Groves 707-889-3024 for more details.

New Organization formed for Kinetics in Humboldt County

Kinetic Torch passes to Younger Generation

April 2, 2007, Arcata, CA: The three most recent Kinetic Rutabaga Queens and their Loyal Entourage are forming a new not-for-profit organization to administer the 39th annual Kinetic Grand Championship, an event featuring artistic human powered vehicles which begins on the Arcata Plaza Saturday May 26, 2007 and continues through Manila and Samoa, Eureka, and finally ends three days and forty two miles later, on Memorial Day, Monday May 28, 2007 in Ferndale California.

The new organization will be called Kinetic Universe, Inc., with the motto "Adults having fun so children desire to grow older," and a logo for the Kinetic Grandchampionship called "The Kinetic-US," being drawn by exceptional kinetinaut, noted artist and local celebrity, Duane Flatmo. About 35 machines have already pledged to enter, making 2007 potentially the largest kinetic event of all time.

For the past 20 years, the Kinetic Sculpture Race has been administered by various not-for-profits, the latest being the Humboldt Kinetic Association which administered the event for five years. Even that group went through Kinetic changes, with none of the founding members being on the board when it was dissolved after a lawsuit was settled with Glorious Founder Hobart Brown, of Ferndale, California in December 2006.

The dissolution of Humboldt Kinetic Association created a void into which has stepped the present and reigning queen, her Majesty Harmony Groves, the Great and Good Foxi Biloxi 2006, the immediate past queen Shaye Harty, the 2005 Flame Buoyant Femme Fatale and Kween of Kontroversy, and the 2004 Wonderful Kinetic Queen Whose Voice is Heard throughout the Ether, Monica Topping.

Their Majesties assembled a Queen Team of volunteers and are preparing to administer Humboldt County's annual Kinetic Grand Championship on Memorial Day Weekend as well as the annual Rutabaga Ball and other events throughout the year.

The new board of Kinetic Universe, Inc. is comprised of: Shaye Harty, President; Harmony Groves, Secretary; and Monica Topping, Treasurer of Kinetic Universe. The initial team of volunteers includes people from all walks of life in both the county and the world beyond. The Great Goddess Jen-O will return from the vast frozen north to administer registration and times. Spiderman, Rampmeister, Cliff and Amy of local radio station KHUM, and all the familiar faces will be there. Sierra Ramblers will arrive, Red Hats will kazoo. The Marching Lumberjacks will once again serenade the beginning and party at the finishline. All the not-for-profits in Humboldt will be invited to set up along route, help out and add to the ambiance. As before, this year at least 10,000 people will again cheer the marvelous effort and stupendous artistic endeavors of the participants. April 5, 2007

June 19, 2007, Arcata, CA: The non-profit organization that pulled together this year's 39th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship in Humboldt County is off to San Francisco this weekend. Kinetic Universe is honored to be participating in the Pride Parade on Sunday, June 24, 2007, with a costumed crew of people pedaling a human-powered float, which will be decorated for the event's theme, "Pride, Not Prejudice."

With more than 200 parade entries, 300 exhibitors, and 19 stages and venues, the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade is the largest in the United States, and the second largest parade in California after the Rose Parade.

In addition to the thousands of spectators lining the streets of San Francisco, the parade is broadcast live on Comcast Cable Channel 99, and streamed online at kron4.com, starting at 10:30 a.m.

Representing Humboldt Pride, a sister organization to the Pride Parade, the 2007 Drag King will be on the group's float, leading the kinetic contingent. He will be escorting the reigning Rutabaga Queen 2007, Emma the Emchantress, who said, "We are delighted to bring our Humboldt County brand of fun and glory to this amazing event. It is a great opportunity to share our kinetic vision with so many wonderful people at one time and place."

Bringing the production down to San Francisco has posed some problems for the group; the vehicle that usually takes the kinetic art machine to events has undertaken an engine rebuild and will not be available until after this weekend. This means that Kinetic Universe needs transportation to and from the Pride Festival. President of Kinetic Universe, Shaye Harty, hopes the ever-generous local community will come forward to help cover the high cost of transportation or volunteer a driver, truck and trailer to get the kinetic vehicle to San Francisco by Sunday morning.

"In the spirit of kinetics, we see the beauty in last minute effort. We aren't going to let a gas engine get us down. If we had more time to get there, we'd pedal all the way!" said Harty.

Kinetic Universe is a 501 c(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible. To make a much-needed monetary contribution, loan a tow-vehicle for the weekend, or to donate other items, please contact Shaye Harty at 707-499-0643, or e-mail rutabagaqueen@gmail.com. Visit http://www.kineticuniverse.com for information about the organization.

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Kinetic Royalty Crowns 2007 Rutabaga Queen

Annual Ball at Bayside Grange

May 2, 2007, Arcata, CA: The 2007 Rutabaga Ball, the annual crowning of the Kinetic Grand Championship Rutabaga Queen, will be held at the Bayside Grange, Friday May 18, 2007. Tickets are $5.00; doors open at 7:30 p.m. to the general public. The Rutabaga Ball festivities include raffles, live and silent auctions, dancing to Nighthawk, and the annual selection and crowning of the rutabaga queen, emceed by Cliff and Amy Berkowitz of local radio station, KHUM.

The reigning Rutabaga Queen, Harmony Groves, and past queens will coach and judge the 2007 Queen, whomever she, he or it may be. Contestants are required to demonstrate knowledge and enthusiasm about the race, their Queenly duties and the vegetable known as a rutabaga during their selection pageant. Other parts of the pageant include the talent contest, the bay crossing and other tasks as set by the celebrity panel of judges.

Libations and refreshments will be available during the evening and various prizes, awards, tokens and bribes distributed to attendees.

Queen Monica Topping, 2004
Photo by Ellin Beltz
More Photographs...

The Rutabaga Queens and Board of Kinetic Universe, Inc. encourage all past, present and future Kinetic racers, crews and volunteers to come out to the volunteer potluck before the ball at 6:00 p.m. on Friday May 18, 2007 at the Bayside Grange. Besides news and task distribution, a fun program is planned and organizers all will stay to crown our new queen at the Ball.

Volunteers are urged to listen to Queen Monica's Saturday interview broadcast, 11:00 a.m. every Saturday morning on KSLG-FM, streamed live over the Internet as well as aircast within the county for kinetic news as well as download Rutabaga Queen Application forms, Kinetic Grand Championship Application forms and more information on the websites: Rutabaga Queen and http://kineticgrandchampionship.com



An Overview of the Course and Event


The Great and Wonderfully Marvelous 39th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship will begin at noon May 26, 2007 with the whistle on Arcata Plaza. Kinetinauts lap the plaza three times and spinout of town on bottoms roads to Manila, where they cross the dunes and go down the strand to Dead Man's Drop a steep and challenging sand hill where out of control vegetation threatens to eat machines and the man eating mosquitoes happily feast on the remainder. Survivors cross the bridge to Eureka where a huge welcoming committee cheers them on at the end of day one. Day two features the Bay Crossing where vehicles and kinetinauts test their mettle against wave, tide and man eating clams, followed by a romp to Table Bluff Hill and a well earned night's rest at a campground along the Eel River. Day three, they cross the Eel River, amuse the cows on Ferndale bottoms roads and enter Main Street Ferndale covered in mud, well earned sense of accomplishment and a giant smile. The awards Ceremony is held after a supper at a Ferndale venue.

Thousands of people flock to Ferndale for the annual finish line which is the intersection of Main and Brown Streets. A festive atmosphere covers all of Humboldt for all three days and hundreds of thousands of dollars are generated for all segments of the local economy.

The original Kinetic Sculpture Race brought 10,000 spectators to Ferndale to watch five machines compete down Main Street on Mother's Day, 1969. Since those humble beginnings with a handful of racers on a single block, the race expanded to a cross-country event with its present 42-mile cross-country course and other races were formed all along the west coast, and around the world.

Recent press coverage has included articles in magazines as far afield as Tasmania, Australia as well as national press coverage of the Baltimore East Coast Kinetic Grand Championship, a grueling 8 hour, 15-mile through Chesapeake Bay and Baltimore parks and streets, which will be held Saturday May 5, 2007. This year, Rutabaga Queen Shaye Harty (2005) will attend the Baltimore race and judge their Sock-Puppet Award.

Queen Shaye recently reassured the Kinetic Kingdom, that in 2007, "Everything will be exactly the same as before, except for those things that will be different."

Founded in April, 2007, Kinetic Universe, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to education and promotion of artistic human powered vehicle technology here and around the world.