Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race
Race Report: 2021 Honey, I Shrunk the Kinetic Sculpture Race

Howley Davidson’s Dream

On this masterpiece of mechanized miniature mobile articulation, the wolf raised and lowered its head, and sheep wings all flapped as the sheep themselves bobbed up and down, to the tune Born To Be Wild.

Sheldon’s Big Adventure

While Worst Honorable Mention in the full-size race is given for half-baked engineering, the judges awarded it this year to Sheldon for persistent disruptions to the race itself: scattering cat litter in the water and (shown here) mowing down nearly the entire complement of spectators at the mud crossing.

Wrecking Bear

For completely flipping over in the first-ever Kinetic waterfall, it was also nominated for Golden Flipper. Sculptures went under this waterfall, not over.

Buhbuh the Fish

Traction in the sand was less critical in 2021 thanks to the tow lines.

APES Visionary Art Mayhem

Its sturdy construction with outboard pontoons and all-terrain wheels led APES to an Engineering award nomination.

Little Wheels Keep on Turning

Successful float testing was evident. With foam pontoons on all sides, it was also nominated for an Engineering award.

The Rainbow Duck Loves You

Dolls & Bots Reclaim the Earth

Some disorder was experienced at the water crossing.

Mr. Boh’s Dune Buggy

Gnarled tires and coiled spring shock absorbers worked well in the mud.

I’m a Hipboh, Hon Hipboh

After doing very well in the water, Hipboh had some troubles crossing the sand.

Then spectacularly at the front.

Excelly the Crab

Excelly’s claws rotated as it followed the course. The judges nominated Excelly for the Art award.

Chessie

The central milk jug flotation and high center of gravity led to calamity on the water. While this got Chessie nominated for Golden Flipper, the cowboy lost a limb.

Gertrude the Flamingo

Her wheels left tracks in the sand. Gertrude is made from recycled items.

Royal CATamaran

The cat’s crown rotated through the race.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

The first sculpture to feature sixteen consecutive vowels, Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa represents the boundless enthusiasm (and perhaps confusion) of the Brood X 19-year cicadas that emerged during the pandemic.

It seemed to get trapped under the waterfall, perhaps something of a Coandă effect.

S. S. Dummy Thiqq Monkey

This dramatic faceplant outclassed the competition to win Golden Flipper for “most interesting water entry”.

Swag Duck

Swag Duck was nominated for the Art award.

Bluejay Bob

Bob flipped sideways in the mud.

The Ark

Radiolarian Special

At the mud, Radiolarian crashed into the guardrails, but no spectators were harmed.

The Last Bee on Earth

The large wheels rolled easily through the mud.

Sunny Days Ahead

The city was on only one side.

Mr. Trash Wheel

Its wheels had trouble in the sand.

Not the Red Vehicle

Despite the color shift, this is the same vehicle as the shot above; the lighting was very different at the start and mud.

This is the first Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race since at least 2005 that did not see an ACE awarded to the Jemicy School—but this is also the first race in which no ACE awards were available, likely due to social distancing rules precluding ACE judges along the racecourse. It would have likely won an ACE had they been available.

Ship Happens

Ship Happens was nominated for the Art Award.

It’s dedicated to all the workers helping us through the pandemic. A tiny crocodile followed on a string.

Queen of Denile

Tall wagon wheels provided enough ground clearance in the mud.

Higgins the Horned Wigged Wheeled Earwig

Gnarled tires did very well in the sand.

Don’t Be a Litterbug

Its low ground clearance smoothed sand for subsequent sculptures.

Banana Boat Mama

Lightweight design kept her from sinking into the mud.

Geometera

It didn't sink at the water, but wasn’t particularly stable either.

Rover the Rover

Even the wheels were covered in tape.

Mr. Prickles

Mr. Prickles’ challenges throughout the race, including looking like “an open-faced sandwich,” and resulted in a Golden Flipper nomination.

Honey I Strunk Fifi!

Fifi floated quite well.

Fancy Feast

Fancy Feast was piloted by a white mouse atop flowers and sparkly balls.

It completely tipped over in the mud.

Larry!

Larry tipped over in the water.

Titali

Titali flipped in both the sand and mud, while exhibiting elegant fluttering action.

Hot Lips Ladew

Dragged through the sand, it left a flat track.

New Ground

It had trouble staying upright in the obstacles.

Ssssssssnakey

It had no wheels to get stuck in the mud.

The Anemone Drifter

Its simple design produced an easy float.

A miniature Sister Euphonia O'Blivion Blessed de Feet of miniature racers.

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