PORT TOWNSEND — In the 27th year of the Great Port Townsend Bay Kinetic Skulpture Race, krazies have learned one thing for certain: kreate karma.
“I’ve decided that there is going to be good weather on Sunday no matter what,” for the race, said the race’s High Priestess for Life Janet Emery, as she realized that a chill was descending upon Port Townsend Bay.
“And if there isn’t, well, we will keep going anyways.”
Emery, whose role includes the organization of the event, said that, no matter what happens, Port Townsend residents can again expect the kinetic style, flair and all-around strangeness to once again grace the city this weekend.
“We’re going to have around 15 skulptures in the race this year,” Emery said.
“We have favorites like the local Magic Bus and newcomers such as the Mad Catter, a giant purple cat from Eugene, Ore.
“We also have a few people who have participated in the race before but never made their own enter their very first designs. It’s an exciting race that is going to take place.”
Each skulpture is a human-powered and structurally questionable all-terrain vehicle that is often more fantastically designed than is reasonably functional.
Still, the course puts participants through a gambit of cold, slow-going and dirty trials including a paddle in the Port Townsend Bay, a deep sand route through Fort Worden State Park and a giant mud pit at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
Inaugural skulpture
Two racers who have participated in the past and who will enter their inaugural skulpture in Sunday’s race are Aragaorn Dean and Jonathan Henson.
The duo will be entering a contraption made from scrap metal, old lawn chairs, bicycle parts, septic tank risers and a 1984 Toyota Corolla.
“This is the first time we’ve created a craft,” Dean said.
“It’s a whole different part of this. It’s exciting to be getting close to taking it out on the course.”
Henson said their Thursday morning float test in the water was a good omen for the duo’s skulpture.
“We took it out in the water today and got to see what is wrong with it,” he said.
“It actually floated and went well, so that is a really good thing.
“Still, I think at this point. we will be happy if we just finish.”
Organizers expect skulptures to slowly trickle into town as participants and bystanders take in the festivities leading up to Sunday’s big race.
Tonight, Saturday
Tonight, at 6 p.m., food and drink will be served at the early K-Bird Hospitality Tea Party at Water Street Brewing, 639 Water St.
At 10:30 Saturday, racers, skulptures and Wanna-be Parade participants will assemble at the U.S. Bank parking lot, 1239 Water St., for the parade, which will begin at noon and travel down Water Street to Monroe Street.
At 1 p.m., Saturday, break and float tests for the skulptures will take place to ensure they are sea-, sand-, street- and mud-worthy.
The Rosehip Kween will be crowned at the Koronation Kostume Unbirthday Tea Party beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe St.
The ball is open to those 21 years and older. Admission will be $15 at the door.
Emery said anyone who wants to be a contestant for Rosehips Kween needs to show up in kostume, with a joke, a recipe and a talent.
Sunday’s race
The main event begins Sunday with skulptures being presented to the public outside City Hall, 250 Madison St., at 10:30 a.m.
The race will start at “low noon”, or 12 p.m., on Monroe St. as participants dash into the first checkpoint at the Salmon Club parking lot for the icy dip into the Port Townsend Bay.
From there, racers will make their way to Fort Worden State Park where they will be tasked with navigating the “kwick” sand.
Following that, the course heads to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St., where the dismal bog mud pit threatens to end the career of a poorly crafted skulpture.
After that, racers must pay homage to the Kosmic Rooster at Cedar Street and San Juan Avenue.
Racers will be afforded a quick rest at Kinetic Koffee on Kearney Street before the final stretch to the finish line at City Hall, 540 Water St.
The race is about four miles long, with spectators being allowed free access to every checkpoint.
Emery said there will be no shuttle bus this year, so people should plan to carpool or bicycle to each location.
The awards ceremony will be at 5:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, where the coveted “mediocrity award” will be given to the racer who finishes in the exact middle of the pack.
Following the awards ceremony, the American Legion Hall will erupt into a survivor’s post-party at 6 p.m.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
