November 1, 2007
Ventura, CA:
The smoke from southern California wildfires cleared away completely with a day to spare, and the weather was 70-ish with scattered clouds -- and a brief light drizzle to cool us off. Perfect!
Sixteen teams showed up. Better yet, all 16 were highly competent entries -- not one bicycle-with-buckets-lashed-to-it to be seen.
And the Fish was beaten, at last. Bob Thompson and his Patriot Act (formerly Wet Paint) from Southern Oregon was the one who knocked the Fish out of its seemingly permanent home in the Winner's Circle. Apparently, the Fish finally succumbed to its many years of wear and tear, because it suffered mechanical problems and even failed to Ace. (You can bet they'll be back with a vengeance!)
Thus, a number of Out-Of-Town entries beat the Fish, so a drawing was held for the cash "bounty". The money went to brand new KSR entrant Mike Saleski and his six-wheel All Terrain Tiki Bar from San Jose, CA. Mike is one of our two new Kineticists that we have recruited from the Burning Man community.
The other is Tiahaar McKenzie (if I have his surname right?) of Goleta, CA, who competed with the Werehorse Racer. That's werehorse as in werewolf. Tiahaar simply added two small pontoons to the front wheel of the tall trike he used at Burning Man this year -- and surprised everybody by NOT capsizing.
Fabulous first efforts by both "Gravity Mike" and Tiahaar!
Four teams Aced. All you Oregonians will want to know that besides Patriot Act, who obviously Aced in order to be crowned Champion, the Pilots from Corvallis also earned an Ace Ventura. Laura and Dani Lyn of HPS Glory, and Allen of Rex, with a local Venturian in the fourth seat, Aced on Henry Ford Goes Surfing.
It seems the local political wrinkles that put a crimp in last year's race have been ironed out. Long time racer and great showman Jerry English -- who sat out last year's race and put his two contraptions up for sale -- returned with FOUR contraptions and all of his old competitive spirit. When the front fork broke on his personal mount, he grabbed it by the steering head and DRAGGED it the rest of the race, including thru the Mud Pit. Of course, Jerry is only 70, so we expect nothing less of him. Clearly, the Southern California Kinetic Sculpture Race at Ventura faces a bright second decade!
The Treasure HD channel on Dish Network filmed the race for a series called Magnificent Obsessions, so keep an eye out for that.
I wish this photographer had bothered to weed out all the superfluous shots, but I'm sure glad he posted the good ones.
Elliot
Pre-race announcement - October 23, 2007
If you are not already going... cancel everything else this weekend and head for Ventura! Their 10th Anniversary KSR is getting plenty publicity, so there will be Great Glory.
Ventura Harbor, Ventura, Southern California (but north of Los Angeles!), Saturday October 27.
They have a great two minute video, mostly from last year in Ventura, with a couple of snippets from Arcata-To-Ferndale races mixed in. You GOTTA see this:
After the race, and having dinner, we're showing KSR films by Oli Newsome -- the "steering wheel camera" guy and his lovely and talented second camera Lady Leanne. Films from Port Townsend, Arcata, Klamath Falls and Corvallis. And a Burning Man film, if there is any interest.
And somebody NEEDS to beat That Fish! Paul Vibrans came within a whisker of getting it done two years ago. Word is, Bob Thompson is taking up the glove with Patriot Act this year, so you don't want to miss this contest!
As KSRs go, Ventura is easy. The race is run in four segments: Water, sand, pavement and mud -- in that order. The next segment starts when everybody has arrived from the previous segment. Lunch after the sand. All takes place within the fabulous Ventura Harbor District, a famous tourist destination, with lots of restaurants and whatnot-stores.
The pavement race will be an oval, with the possibility of an optional figure eight race for the daredevils among us.
Other confirmed participants from "up north": Laura and Dani Lyn from Corvallis will be on Henry Ford Goes Surfing. Allen Brown of Corvallis will be on Pear County Trike.
Oh... AND THE TREASURE HD CHANNEL ON DISH NETWORK WILL BE FILMING THE RACE FOR AN EPISODE OF MAGNIFICENT OBSESSIONS. So dust your kontraption off and get in on the Glory!
Elliot
Thank you for reading all the way down here... See you on race day!
