History

In 1969, Hobart started the Kinetic Sculpture Race, almost by accident, when he modified his son’s tricycle to a five-wheeled, decorated “Pentacycle” and another local artist and gallery owner, Jack Mays, challenged him to a race down Main Street on Mother’s Day. Race day came, and so did ten other challengers. Neither Hobart nor Jack won the race, that honor goes to Bob Brown (no relation) piloting his Kinetic Turtle.

In their kinetic contraptions they started a 40-year Humboldt tradition that has spread to Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Baltimore, Maryland and all the way to Perth, Australia. But it all began here among the majestic redwood groves of Humboldt County.