Meet the Kinetic SkulPTure Race 2011 Rose Hips Kween on video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVPB3iN7VJI
PORT TOWNSEND — Like its predecessors, the 29th annual Kinetic SkulPTure Race featured the expected quotient of odd costumes and bizarre vehicles.
So the real surprise was the presence of Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Gregoire was vacationing in Port Townsend and was not part of the scheduled festivities.
But she mingled with the crowd and was seen chatting with Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval, among others.
The governor’s under-the-radar visit assured that she was not subject to intense politicking, but some lobbying did occur.
“I told her what the state needed was more of these parades,” said event organizer Janet Emery.
Emery said she did not have any concrete figures about crowd size or money raised, but said the crowd was slightly smaller than 2010.
“We had a great time and it was great the governor showed up,” Emery said.
And then there were the highly koveted awards:
■ Cleare Shields of Chimacum was krowned Rose Hips Kween at the Kostume Ball Saturday night.
■ The parade’s biggest honor, the Mediocrity Award, was bestowed on the Veg-o-matic team from Port Townsend for finishing in the middle of the race.
■ Driving Miss Bozette, which featured last year’s Kween — who is sometimes known as Amber Bartle —earned the Rump Roast Award.
Emery said a full list of awards will be posted at www.ptkineticrace.org as soon as she gets around to it.
The Kinetic SkulPTure race is a nonprofit event which usually raises enough money to sustain itself, but last year it turned a profit, resulting in a $1,000 gift to the Port Townsend Food Bank.
Emery said she is already hatching “big plans” for next year’s parade, which will represent the event’s 30th anniversary in Port Townsend.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
