Kinetic Survivors Splash, Pedal, and Parade Their Way Toward Glory on the Final Day
Machines lined up for the start of the final day of the 2026 Kinetic Grand Championship await their pilots early Monday morning, [Photo by Mark McKenna]
For three days every Memorial Day weekend, Humboldt County hands over its roads, beaches, waterways, and common sense to the Kinetic Grand Championship — a race where engineering, theater, endurance, and complete absurdity collide.
The Goddess Jen-O speaks during the racers meeting at Crab Park Monday morning. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Monday’s final leg began at Crab Park north of the Eel River, heads east to Loleta, travels along State Route 211, before racers enter the water near Fernbridge, and climb out, and make their final push toward the finish line on Main Street in Ferndale.
Bob Moss crosses a happy little field headed for the finish line and glory. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
By the final morning, many of the sculptures already looked gloriously battle-worn. Costumes were crumpled, decorations sagged from three straight days of punishment, and some riders appeared fueled almost entirely by adrenaline and stubbornness.
Oh Mickey (You’re so Fine) was one of the first racers to peddle out of Cannibal Island Road. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Rebel Appliance rounds the corner at Cannibal Island Road and Eel River Drive. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
SLUG Life was faster than expected as they bombed the hill under the trestle in Loleta. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Asgard Racing is the Würst hot dogs the hill out of Loleta. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
HMS Sea Cow had one of the fastest river exits of the day. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
After an epic Kessel Run and Eel River crossing, Rebel of the Appliance push and pull their sculpture up the step bank of the water exit. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Members of the Trooth Decay team weave and wave to spectators as the cross the Eel River. Many people were talking about how good their river crossing was, in fact, some people were saying it might have been, in fact was the best river crossing ever. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
One bright yellow sculpture emerged dripping from the crossing while spectators gathered along the banks to cheer on the soggy competitors.
Cowbus coming in for an utterly difficult river exit. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Aardvark gives encouragement via a megaphone as Cowbus attempts to exit the river. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Asgard racing had a tough time getting out of the river but they definitely weren’t the Würst. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Malia Matsumoto celebrates in front of the iconic Ferndale bridge after getting Rocket Ham on to dry land. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
The Four Norsemen of the Apocalypse needed all four Norsemen to bring an end to their river crossing. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Rebel Appliance emerges from the Eel River after a record breaking Kessel Run of less than 11 parsecs.
Eventually, the kinetic sculptures rolled south toward town, where crowds lined the streets to welcome the survivors of Humboldt County’s annual celebration of organized chaos.
Ramp Master gives Aardvark a glorious double thumbs up. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
The Kinetic Madness Band maximized some cowbell at the finish line. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
An aircraft-themed sculpture drew cheers as it rolled toward the final stretch.
After dodging Imperial forces, Rebel Appliance drops out of light speed for spectators to watch them cross the finish line in Ferndale.[Photo by Mark McKenna]
Chitty Chitty Bling Bling takes a victory lap at the finish line. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
A member of the Rebel Appliance rushes a galactic spatula over the finish line. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Drag Strip Divas snatched glory as they dusted the finish line. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Sir Queen Robotica, takes a unique victory lap. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Newly crowned Rutabaga Queen Goosetoph Waddlesworth III, blows a party blower in honor of Amber Rayz of Glory”s birthday. Rays of Glory is the official crown maker for Rutabaga Queens. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
The Royal Kinetic Madness Band was on hand to entertain at the finish line. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Oh Mickey, you’re so fine as you cross the finish line. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Larger sculptures towered above the street as teams pedaled beneath elaborate moving decorations that somehow remained intact despite the weekend’s punishment.
A burst of bubble carries the HMS Sea Cow over the finish line. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Costumed riders and spectators gathered near finish route.[Photo by Mark McKenna]
Wheely Wonka blasts a bit a fire as they take a victory lap.[Photo by Mark McKenna]
Running on Glory takes a glorious victory lap. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Yeastie Boys teammates use a rolling pin to flatten other teammates at the finish line. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Rolling Thunder bursts over the finish line. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Hippypotamus crosses the finish in Ferndale. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
Magoosa, winged and wild. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
SLUG Life left a slimy trail at the finish line. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
By Monday afternoon, the racers — muddy, exhausted, inventive, and unmistakably Humboldt — crossed the finish line after another year proving that in Humboldt County, even endurance sports can double as performance art.
Congratulations to Team Pineapple! Their sculpture, “Rebel Appliance” , is the 2026 Grand Champion! Some more shots of their winning spirit!
Rebel Appliance applies the force to peddles as they power through the Bay. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
The Rebel Appliance beats down the empire as they take a lap on the plaza. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
![Rebel Appliance applied themselves on their water entry. [Photo by Mark McKenna]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Vignette-McKenna-900x473.jpg)
Rebel Appliance applied themselves on their water entry. [Photo by Mark McKenna]
- Splashes, Spectacle, and Strange Machines: Sunday’s Kinetic Race Crosses Humboldt Bay
- Kinetic Kickoff Rolls With Giant Puns, Moving Sculptures, and a Heart as Big as Humboldt
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Ya, Mark, Lucy was more photogenic last year 😜
I wish I could’ve been there, but it looks like a great time was had by all. Thank you for all the great pictures.
For the Glory!!!!
Great Globs of Glory! Good to get a gander at the group!
Note to caption writer: the racers pedal. Peddling is something altogether different (though not unrelated to bribery …)
Peddling has long been, and remains, a central personality trait that serves to make a great many Americans completely detestable.
Ah, yes, the Kinetic Sculpture Race. The coolest thing. It’s hard for me to believe that it’s been nearly ten years since I witnessed it, when I just happened to be in Eureka, visiting. That was in 2017. And every time I read about it, around this time of year, it makes me nostalgic, makes me wish I was there in Eureka for it. I still have moving footage of it on my phone.
I remember last year, after spending three days disconnected from the world, with a group of people in Petrolia, driving ‘back to civilization’, all mellowed out, via Ferndale late Memorial Day and unexpectedly coming upon the Ferndale madness! I went from one extreme to another! Both mind bending, and fantastic!
lol. how do you think we folks who live here experience cities? extreme culture shock doesn’t begin to describe the phenomenon. which is the real world? lol, again.
Yes. Good point. From my POV it’s healthy to have our systems ‘shocked’ a bit so that we have some introspection as to what we want and what’s important.