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Kinetic Pelican flies in Arcata-Ferndale race
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| The Kinetic Pelican, a mobile sculpture constructed by engineering students at OIT, heads toward the finish line in last weekend's kinetic sculpture race in Arcata, Calif. |
Published Thursday June 2, 2005
By LEE JUILLERAT
Eight sets of legs pedaled the Kinetic Pelican 38 miles across sand, water, gravel roads and highways during the Memorial Day weekend's 2005 World Championship Kinetic Sculpture Race in Arcata, Calif.
Designed and built by mechanical engineering seniors at Oregon Institute of Technology, the human-powered Pelican made its maiden voyage during the three-day stage race, and will be among the entries in the first-ever Klamath Kinetic Sculpture Race, set for June 18.
"We're pretty happy," said Hugh Currin, the OIT professor who oversaw development and construction of the Kinetic Pelican and was among the eight people who took turns pedaling. "We pretty well met our basic goal, to 'ace' the race."
"Acing" a race means covering the entire distance without having to be pushed or pulled. Currin said the Pelican did have to be pushed up two steep portions of the course.
"It was able to complete the course with only two mechanical hiccups, we had to push it up only two hills," he said.
Currin said team members decided to not pursue the "Ace" award, given to machines and pilots who ride the entire course in the allotted time, because the group wanted to change riders.
"The Pelican met the deadlines, literally by a few minutes each day. This is a very good showing for a first-year machine, particularly considering none of the design-build team had previously been involved in the race," Currin said. "Many people were interested and amazed by the 6-foot wheels and articulation hinge."
Steering, he said, was a problem. In Arcata, where the race started, the Pelican was unloaded the night before the race so the pilots could become familiar with steering and braking. No test rides had been done.
During the testing the steering failed, but the "hands-on" students borrowed two half-inch bolts from the trailer that carried the Pelican and modified them to repair the steering idler pulleys.
The modification worked for the first day's competition, although Currin said the steering was still quite "loose." Entering Eureka to end the first day's run, the Pelican hit a curb at high speed - "at least high speed for the Pelican" - and suffered a dent in the wheel rim. Currin said adjustments were made Sunday morning that improved the steering, "but unfortunately created considerable drag in the drive train. The Pelican wasn't as fast the second two days."
Overall, he estimates the Pelican averaged about 3 mph, "which made for some pretty long days."
Spokes also were a concern. Currin said a "distinctive twang would indicate a parting spoke." One rear wheel lost eight of its 100 spokes by the finish.
The finish line in Ferndale, a Victorian theme town south of Eureka, was reached 3:30 p.m. Memorial Day.
Currin said minor repairs and upgrades will be made in preparation for the Klamath Kinetic Sculpture Race.
"The OIT team is confident the Pelican will be improved and ready for this new local challenge," Currin said. "I don't think we need anything major."
The Pelican's local sponsors include J.W. Kerns, Heaton's Steel & Supply, Fastenal and OIT.
For information on the Klamath Kinetic Sculpture Race, which will be seven miles long with a start-finish at Veterans Park, call Hugh or Denise Currin at 884-3023 or visit the Web site at www.klamathkinetic.org.
By LEE JUILLERAT
Eight sets of legs pedaled the Kinetic Pelican 38 miles across sand, water, gravel roads and highways during the Memorial Day weekend's 2005 World Championship Kinetic Sculpture Race in Arcata, Calif.
Designed and built by mechanical engineering seniors at Oregon Institute of Technology, the human-powered Pelican made its maiden voyage during the three-day stage race, and will be among the entries in the first-ever Klamath Kinetic Sculpture Race, set for June 18.
"We're pretty happy," said Hugh Currin, the OIT professor who oversaw development and construction of the Kinetic Pelican and was among the eight people who took turns pedaling. "We pretty well met our basic goal, to 'ace' the race."
"Acing" a race means covering the entire distance without having to be pushed or pulled. Currin said the Pelican did have to be pushed up two steep portions of the course.
"It was able to complete the course with only two mechanical hiccups, we had to push it up only two hills," he said.
Currin said team members decided to not pursue the "Ace" award, given to machines and pilots who ride the entire course in the allotted time, because the group wanted to change riders.
"The Pelican met the deadlines, literally by a few minutes each day. This is a very good showing for a first-year machine, particularly considering none of the design-build team had previously been involved in the race," Currin said. "Many people were interested and amazed by the 6-foot wheels and articulation hinge."
Steering, he said, was a problem. In Arcata, where the race started, the Pelican was unloaded the night before the race so the pilots could become familiar with steering and braking. No test rides had been done.
During the testing the steering failed, but the "hands-on" students borrowed two half-inch bolts from the trailer that carried the Pelican and modified them to repair the steering idler pulleys.
The modification worked for the first day's competition, although Currin said the steering was still quite "loose." Entering Eureka to end the first day's run, the Pelican hit a curb at high speed - "at least high speed for the Pelican" - and suffered a dent in the wheel rim. Currin said adjustments were made Sunday morning that improved the steering, "but unfortunately created considerable drag in the drive train. The Pelican wasn't as fast the second two days."
Overall, he estimates the Pelican averaged about 3 mph, "which made for some pretty long days."
Spokes also were a concern. Currin said a "distinctive twang would indicate a parting spoke." One rear wheel lost eight of its 100 spokes by the finish.
The finish line in Ferndale, a Victorian theme town south of Eureka, was reached 3:30 p.m. Memorial Day.
Currin said minor repairs and upgrades will be made in preparation for the Klamath Kinetic Sculpture Race.
"The OIT team is confident the Pelican will be improved and ready for this new local challenge," Currin said. "I don't think we need anything major."
The Pelican's local sponsors include J.W. Kerns, Heaton's Steel & Supply, Fastenal and OIT.
For information on the Klamath Kinetic Sculpture Race, which will be seven miles long with a start-finish at Veterans Park, call Hugh or Denise Currin at 884-3023 or visit the Web site at www.klamathkinetic.org.
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Ralph Sayre wrote on Jan 31, 2009 6:13 AM:
" I've just read an article (2005) titled "Discarded Soul at Peace."
I'm trying to complete a bio for an ancestor, VIRGIL ELROY SNOW, who was born in Roane County, West Virginia 2 December 1884. Last info I have was that at age 48, he was killed in Klamath Falls by a hit and run.
There is no indication that he fathered children. We were hopeful that there may have been a male child to carry on the SNOW name.
If anyone knows, please email me.
Thanks,
Ralph Sayre in WV "
I'm trying to complete a bio for an ancestor, VIRGIL ELROY SNOW, who was born in Roane County, West Virginia 2 December 1884. Last info I have was that at age 48, he was killed in Klamath Falls by a hit and run.
There is no indication that he fathered children. We were hopeful that there may have been a male child to carry on the SNOW name.
If anyone knows, please email me.
Thanks,
Ralph Sayre in WV "
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Ilene S wrote on May 21, 2009 9:36 AM: