October 2 to 4 · Port Townsend, WA
The Race
Land. Mud. Water. One machine. No motors. All glory. Two days of human-powered sculptures racing through town, into the bay, over sand, and across the mud flats.
Photo: Keith Ross
Human Ingenuity, Absurdist Creativity, Genuine Athletic Grit.
Teams of racers pilot completely human-powered sculptural machines through town, around Point Hudson, into the bay, over a sand pit, across the mud flats, and back. No motors, no engines. Just people, art, and determination.
One long weekend in Port Townsend, Washington, drawing hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators from across the region. It is free to attend and totally unforgettable.
Race Weekend Schedule
All times are Kinetic Standard Time, which is to say approximate. Things run when they run.
Friday, October 2
Meet and Greet + Racer Check-In
7 pm onMeet and Greet at The Old Whiskey Mill on Water Street. Come dressed kinetically. Racers check in here, and it is also a party.
Saturday, October 3
Parade, Brake Test, Water Crossing, Ball
11 amMakers Market and Kinetic Maker Faire open at Pope Marine Park and the Cotton Building. Opening ceremonies in front of the American Legion: emcees, board, sponsors, the Judges, the art kontest, and the Racers’ Meeting. Racers, come in costume.
11:45 amParade lines up: the Herald, the board, the Judges, the sculptures, the art entries, and the bands.
Noon-ishParade of Sculptures. Up Monroe, left on Washington, left on Taylor at the fountain, left on Water, and back to the Legion. The Judges and the Kween ride in the Kween and Court Cadillac.
1 pm-ishParade Awards on the Pope Marine Park Plaza Stage while the sculptures head uphill to prep.
1:20 pm-ishBrake test, safety check, and judging. Sculptures come down Monroe Street to the Legion one at a time. Great spot to see the machines up close.
2:20 pm-ishThe race is on. Sculptures leave from Water Street, round Point Hudson, transition to float mode, and enter the bay.
2:30 pm-ishWater entry in front of the Northwest Maritime Center. Glorious Spektators cast their votes. Then a break until the Ball.
8 pmRosehips Ball at the American Legion Hall. Live music from Lotion and Abracadabra Trip. The Kween Contest starts around 9:30 pm and a new Kween is crowned around 10:30 pm. Last call around midnight. This is our main fundraiser, so come thirsty.
Sunday, October 4
Land Kourse, Sand, Mud, Awards
10 amGather at the Pope Marine Park Stage. The new Kween takes the throne. Sponsors thanked, board and Judges introduced, the Judges perform our song, race teams perform their pageantry, then the Racers’ Meeting and the offishul sobriety test.
Not exactly noonThe cheap shot fires and the race starts. Sculptures run the Land Kourse, the Sand Pit, and the Mud Flats. The Kween and her Court of Judges are announced at the sand and again at the mud.
5:30 pm-ishAwards Ceremony and Dinner. Champions of creativity, engineering, pageantry, and perseverance are krowned. Done by 8-ish.
The Kourse
Saturday stays downtown: the parade loop around Water Street, then the Water Kourse into the bay in front of the Northwest Maritime Center (the inset at the bottom of the map).
Sunday is the Land Kourse: 9.04 miles out and back from Water Street, through town, past the sand pit and the mud, and home to the finish.
The red line is the route out and the purple line is the route back. Numbered triangles are turns, and numbered circles are the stops and starts.
Where to Watch
Everything is free to watch and most of it is downtown within a few blocks of the American Legion at Monroe and Water Street.
1Parade: anywhere along Monroe, Washington, Taylor, or Water Street on Saturday around noon.
2Brake test: the bottom of Monroe Street at the Legion, Saturday early afternoon.
3Water entry: the beach in front of the Northwest Maritime Center, Saturday mid-afternoon. Bring your Glorious Spektator vote.
4Sand and mud: Sunday afternoon, out on the Land Kourse. Follow the Judges.
5Awards: Sunday near 5:30 pm.
What Makes a Winner?
The Judges award points across four glorious categories:
Creativity
How wild and original is your machine?
Engineering
Does it actually work?
Pageantry
Does your team commit to the spectacle?
Perseverance
Did you finish the Kourse?
The fine print lives in the Offishul Rules.
Stay in the Loop
Racers register online by October 2 and check in at the Friday Meet and Greet. Want updates before then? Join our email list.
Not Racing? Other Ways In
Volunteer on the course, join a team that needs crew, or sponsor a machine. There is a place for you in the mud.