Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race
2025 Race Report: Image Man

IMAGE Man portrayed a Baltimore superhero flying over the City to celebrate power and resilience of individuals with disabilities, and who plays sports.

On the left is the Bromo Seltzer tower. On the right is the Inner Harbor World Trade Center—on both the sculpture and full-size in real life.

The IMAGE Center is Independent Marylanders Achieving Growth Through Empowerment. The sculpture is from a new team collaborating with UMBC, getting their start like many teams with knowledge transfer from an experienced racer.

A pilot shouted they had no brakes as they crossed the starting line, so they stopped a few yards later along Key Highway. After quick repairs were soon under way again.

Water pours out of Camden Yards after the sculpture stabilized on its pontoons.

The pilots stood and used paddles to propel the sculpture, with capes aflutter. The blue drums were sturdily attached in an orange frame.

They needed both pushing and pulling to exit the water, which is allowed for sculptures not going for ACE.

A bit of pushing also got them through the sand.

Almost everyone needed pushing through the mud.

Breaking the tape across the finish line.

For their superhero flying over Baltimore they won the coveted Art Award, a remarkable achievement for a first-time team!