PORT TOWNSEND — The kat didn’t come back, peace didn’t prevail and unbeaten streaks were crushed all because of that darned Dismal Bog.
The giant mud pit dug out in the fields of the Jefferson County Fairgrounds — known as The Dismal Bog to racers of the Great Port Townsend Bay Kinetic Skulpture Race — ended all but one team’s day on Sunday afternoon as axles ground, chains snapped and kinetic skulptures krashed.
At the final obstacle of the race, team after team entered the muddy, 50-yard pit and watched their dreams of mastering the kinetic kourse kome to a konclusion.
The Mad Katter from Eugene, Ore., sank into the mud from the start and was forced to withdraw.
Damingo Madness, with its large wheels and peace flags, made two efforts in the bog before breaking a chain.
Even a veteran racer had to admit defeat after a half-hour mucking through the mud.
“It was just too much,” said Peter Wagner, a racer from Davis, Calif., who was in his seventh year of kompeting.
His skulpture, The Big Friendly Giraffe, made it halfway through the bog before he was stopped for time.
“If they gave me more time, I think I could have made it,” he said.
“Every other year I’ve gotten through there, but I suppose this is how the bog goes sometimes.
“I suppose I was in good company.”
Of the 10 skulptures that finished Sunday night, only one ended the day with the designation of “Master” of the kourse.
Port Townsend’s own OctoBus Garden — which is more often decorated as The Magic Bus — made a slow but successful krawl through the bog.
The Magic Bus is owned by the local nonprofit arts group, All Terrain Art.
Norm O’Dell, pilot of the bus, said it was worth the effort to come out on top.
“We went to the race in Corvallis, Ore., earlier this year and didn’t get through their bog,” he said.
“It was great to come home and get through it on our own course.”
Janet Emery, the race’s High Priestess For Life and organizer, said she was thrilled with this year’s event.
“We’re very, very happy,” she said.
“We only had one team master the course, but it was an incredible race, an incredible year and we got incredible weather.
“I’m very happy and very pleased with how everything went.”
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Muddy reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
