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GOOOOOAL: Whirled Cup scores kinetic victory
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman From left Hugh Currin, David Belau, Evan Pickett and Ray Holliday propel The Big Easy around a course in Lake Ewauna. All four are students at OIT and opted to skip out on graduation ceremonies to participate in the second annual Klamath Kinetic Sculpture race. |
June 18, 2006
By LAURA McVICKER
H&N Staff Writer
They drove up hills. They got stuck in mud. They floated - or at least tried.
Eleven contestants - ranging from a giant soccer ball to a draggin' wagon - turned out for the Kinetic Sculpture Race Saturday at Veterans Park. The race went from Klamath Avenue and South 11th Street down Main Street, up KAGO Hill and down to Moore Park.
At Moore Park, kinetic vehicles got stuck in the mud and sand pits. An attempt was made to float the vehicles at Lake Ewauna.
Nick Wenner, a senior at Klamath Union High School, constructed a ship with wheels, dubbed the “Draggin Wagon,” which he rode in the race with the help of several KU classmates and his dad, Karl. The group dressed up as vikings, complete with horn hats and braids.
Though Wenner says he doesn't have experience with construction, he started building his kinetic vehicle six months ago - with a little help from friends.
“We've put in so many late hours in the last few months,” Wenner said.
His inspiration for the vehicle came after he picked the name - a humorous pun. He piloted the vehicle, and his friends and dad captained.
What's he going to do with the Draggin Wagon after the race?
“Drive it to school?” he quipped.
Past and current students David Belau and Evan Pickett of Oregon Institute of Technology re-entered a kinetic vehicle called “The Big Easy” that was constructed by their class at the OIT.
The Big Easy raced last year, and was raring to go despite slight modifications to the transmission and brakes, Belau said. The vehicle has giant red wheels, which they maneuver by pedaling.
The Big Easy also raced at another kinetic race in Humboldt County, Calif., Belau said.
“We finished without breaking anything, which was our goal,” he said with a laugh.
Racers also came from the Rogue Valley. Tom and Riki Bedford of Medford raced “The Oregon Groan,” an ATV-wheelbarrow vehicle, adorned with flowers and bees.
The vehicle is named after their reaction to KAGO Hill, the couple said. They also participated in last year's race.
“When you go up KAGO Hill, you groan a lot,” Tom Bedford said.
Their inspiration for Oregon Groan came after seeing an advertisement right before the race.
“We thought, ‘What are we going to build in two weeks?' ” Riki Bedford said. The couple looked outside their window and spotted their wheelbarrow. An idea was hatched, and is now the vehicle is “fastest human-powered ATV.”
Race Results
Grand Champion: Whirled Cup
Roadrunner (fastest speed): Bounce for Glory
Gizmo Movie (best engineering): Pear County Chopper
Van Go Go (best art): Draggin Wagon
Owl (first local entry): Draggin Wagon
Stuck Duck (middle of the pack): Pear County Chopper AND Oregon Groan, but Pear County Chopper took the award in a clap-off
Second to Last: Karl Benze Goes Surfing
Pelican Brief (first to break down): Duck Tape Dudes
KLAD Award (best display of KLAD name): KLAD A Stoga
Safety Award (most unsafe): Duck Tape Dudes
Pel Award (entry that gets through the race and all of its obstacles without outside assistance - including pushing the vehicle - to win the race): 1. Whirled Cup; 2. Big Easy; 3. Bounce for Glory
By LAURA McVICKER
H&N Staff Writer
They drove up hills. They got stuck in mud. They floated - or at least tried.
Eleven contestants - ranging from a giant soccer ball to a draggin' wagon - turned out for the Kinetic Sculpture Race Saturday at Veterans Park. The race went from Klamath Avenue and South 11th Street down Main Street, up KAGO Hill and down to Moore Park.
At Moore Park, kinetic vehicles got stuck in the mud and sand pits. An attempt was made to float the vehicles at Lake Ewauna.
Nick Wenner, a senior at Klamath Union High School, constructed a ship with wheels, dubbed the “Draggin Wagon,” which he rode in the race with the help of several KU classmates and his dad, Karl. The group dressed up as vikings, complete with horn hats and braids.
Though Wenner says he doesn't have experience with construction, he started building his kinetic vehicle six months ago - with a little help from friends.
“We've put in so many late hours in the last few months,” Wenner said.
His inspiration for the vehicle came after he picked the name - a humorous pun. He piloted the vehicle, and his friends and dad captained.
What's he going to do with the Draggin Wagon after the race?
“Drive it to school?” he quipped.
Past and current students David Belau and Evan Pickett of Oregon Institute of Technology re-entered a kinetic vehicle called “The Big Easy” that was constructed by their class at the OIT.
The Big Easy raced last year, and was raring to go despite slight modifications to the transmission and brakes, Belau said. The vehicle has giant red wheels, which they maneuver by pedaling.
The Big Easy also raced at another kinetic race in Humboldt County, Calif., Belau said.
“We finished without breaking anything, which was our goal,” he said with a laugh.
Racers also came from the Rogue Valley. Tom and Riki Bedford of Medford raced “The Oregon Groan,” an ATV-wheelbarrow vehicle, adorned with flowers and bees.
The vehicle is named after their reaction to KAGO Hill, the couple said. They also participated in last year's race.
“When you go up KAGO Hill, you groan a lot,” Tom Bedford said.
Their inspiration for Oregon Groan came after seeing an advertisement right before the race.
“We thought, ‘What are we going to build in two weeks?' ” Riki Bedford said. The couple looked outside their window and spotted their wheelbarrow. An idea was hatched, and is now the vehicle is “fastest human-powered ATV.”
Race Results
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| OIT graduates 558 |
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