Really, it’s about the machines: elaborate contraptions capable of traveling over land and water at mind-bending golf-cart-like speeds. Most of the points are in the categories Bailey mentioned, which include Sculpture (the look of the machine); Engineering (in which Rube Goldberg-type overkill is highly encouraged); Style (the costuming of the teams); and, of course, Bribing — yes, that’s an actual category. (According to Bailey, most bribes involve food or trinkets related to the team’s theme, suggesting that actual money might pull a lot of weight.) But the gist, he says, is that it’s “human-powered art.”
Watch it go today starting at 8 a.m. at Union Reservoir in Longmont, with opening ceremonies kicking off at 9:30. The race starts at 10:30 and lasts until noon; from there, stick around for kids’ activities, crafts and live music until 2 p.m., all for the low price of $8 per carload or $2 per person on foot, bike, sculpture or otherwise. For tickets or more information, visit http://kineticists.org.
Sat., Aug. 27, 9:30 a.m., 2011
