Looking for a monumentally great time? There’s potential at the Kinetic Sculpture Race this Saturday, May 4.
The 24th Kinetic Sculpture Race, presented by the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM), will take place rain or shine. As of publication, there are 24 registered teams, with participants ranging in age from teenagers to octogenarians.
The race’s vehicles, created by each team by scratch, will match the theme of the race: “Monuments and Masterpieces.” The vehicles’ designs and theme songs will echo this theme as they travel through 15 miles of downtown Baltimore streets.
The kinetic sculptures will also navigate mud and sand pits at Patterson Park, and the Inner Harbor.
Sculptures must be human-powered, though assistance of “the natural power of water, wind, sun, and gravity and friendly extraterrestrials” is allowed. A “Homemade Sock Creature” (HSC) must also be present on the sculpture for the entire race. Each sculpture may have up to one human Barnacle. Harassment of officials is not allowed, though the code of conduct makes plain that “If things are not going your way, take it personally—they are picking on you.” A full list of rules is available on AVAM’s website.
Prizes awarded include ACE, Best Pit Crew, People’s Choice, Sock Creature of the Universe, and Spirit of the Glorious Founder. Finally, since the virtues of mediocrity are never sung loudly enough, the highest honor of the race is the Grand Mediocre Champion, awarded to the team that finishes exactly in the middle of the pack.
AVAM recommends keeping an eye out for the following contenders:
- Mountain Club of Maryland will debut their first vehicle, “Happy Trails.”
- Conestoga Creamers claims they will have ice cream churning capacity with their wheels and will deliver frosty treats.
- The Battle of Ball’s Deep promises a huge Dung Beetle’s Dungball—complete with “odors.”
- Five Baltimore-area school teams will compete, including those from The Jemicy School, St. Paul’s School for Boys and The Park School of Baltimore.
- A team from Duke University will compete for the first time, represented by students from their mechanical engineering department.
The approximate race schedule is as follows:
- 8 a.m. : Safety Check & Brake Test
- 9:30 a.m.: Opening Ceremonies at AVAM
- 10 a.m.: LeMans Start of Race on Covington Street
- 11:15-1 p.m.: Water Entry at Canton Waterfront
- 1:15-3:30 p.m.: Sand & Mud Obstacles in Patterson Park
- 4 p.m.: Finish Line at AVAM
- 6-7 p.m.: Awards Ceremony at AVAM
American Visionary Arts Museum is located at 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD.
