Aug 27, 2011: Longmont’s Union reservoir filled with crazy contraptions and wild costumes from various Kinetics teams. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a kinetics race without some unplanned mechanical difficulties! Don’t forget to check out the photo gallery.
NEWS FLASH! Jan 9, 2011
One of the crafts from the 2011 race is now up for sale for the quite reasonable price of FREE! This craft has been in the Kinetics race for several years now, and in 2011 the “Prime Contenders” even managed to finish the race. Anyone interested in giving this craft a good home and wants to race in the 2012 race can contact Omar Lutfey at olutfey (@) gmail (dot) com for more information.
The craft is a bicycle frame with 4 four foot diameter Styrofoam wheels. The rear wheels have paddles in the center and turn via a bicycle chain. Just ride right into the water and keep peddling! The current owners are building a new craft from scratch, but would like to see new teams enter the race this coming year.
What YOU need to know for the next race:
What: Teams race human-powered vehicles over a land and water course in an attempt to impress the judges. Elaborate costumes, whimsical songs, and over-the-top decoration of vehicles are highly recommended.
When:
August 24, 2012 See all the crafts up close and personal along with team skits from 6-9pm at 6th and Main Street in Longmont CO
August 25, 2012 Union Reservoir gates open at 6am, Judging at 8am, Race starts at 10am. Live music from10:30-2:00.
August 26, 2012 Award ceremony 12:30 PM at the Pumphouse (main street and 6th) in Longmont
NOTE: All these dates are tentative, check back closer to the race to make sure things didn’t change!
Where: The race takes place at Union Reservoir Longmont, CO (map) Enter from the CR 26 on the southwest corner of the Reservoir.
Who: YOU! Yes YOU. If you already have a craft from a previous race bring it on down for the race. If you don’t have a strong desire to spend all your free time welding thrift store bicycles to second-hand canoes, come by and see what all the fuss is about. The crazy people want an audience.
Why: Hmm… I’m not sure there is a good answer for this question. My best guess is that for just one day out of the year it is acceptable to do something such as dressing up like a wizard, singing a rap song about Doctor Who, or proving to everyone that the contraption you spent all summer building isn’t going to sink in the middle of the water. For most of us this is more exciting than our day jobs.
Other, possibly useful, pieces of information:
Tickets: $20 per vehicle (close in parking) $10 per vehicle (I don’t mind walking a bit parking) and a measly $2 if you make it to there by foot or bicycle. Pay at the Reservoir.
For anyone familiar with previous races held at the Boulder Reservoir, the event is being transmorphed into a more family-friendly event. (Translate as: NO ALCOHOL) Don’t worry– the die hard race teams are just as crazy sober. Just plan accordingly. Food and beverages can be brought in, just keep the glass bottles at home. On the plus side, there aren’t any of those pesky police checkpoints involving baggage searches, DNA testing, and possible body cavity searches. Bottom line– just behave yourself and we will be invited to use the reservoir next year.
There race is just the main event of the weekend. There is also going to be parade type event on Friday and an award ceremony on Sunday. For a complete schedule check out the website at kineticists.org.
More information about this and musical guests will be posted when the plans are finalized.
Kinetics Teams: Yes folks, we are getting the band back together. So get that kinetics craft out from the back of the garage, start sewing some wild costumes, and tell your husband, wife, and/or favorite lover that your plans for doing anything productive around the house are officially postponed until September. Please register on the kineticists.org website so we can plan accordingly.