by Luis F. Molina
The Kinetic Sculpture Grand Championship is a Humboldt County tradition that is unique to our
little community nestled in between the forest and the ocean.
According to the Kinetic Sculpture Grand Championship
website the event is a is a three-day, 42-mile bicycle race along California's Lost
Coast from "Arcata to Ferndale. Racers compete
for glory in all variety of people-powered kinetic kontraptions, pedaling along
roads, the beach...even through Humboldt Bay."
The race features works of art that can be used as
transportation vessels as long as they are powered by people pedaling. Humboldt
Bay Coffee Company sponsored the vessel "The Funkin' Pizza Ship," and
Humboldt Bay Coffee co-owner Mark Harlan was part of the crew. "The Funkin'
Pizza Ship" (pictured below), well, the name calls it like it is and it is
just that. It is a pirate ship that looks like it was built by Peter Pan's
imagination. The ship sits on two bicycle frames and four times; the ship has a
squid stuck on its side and, a spare tire hanging from the bow or the front
part or the bow for you with sea legs. The ship broke down a couple of times on
its 42-mile journey across the bay, over the dunes and finally into Ferndale.
"One of the best and most enjoyable parts of the
weekend was that the ship would break down and we would all yell 'ahh this
Funkin' Pizza Ship broke down!'" said Mark. "It was a great weekend
and I want to do it again."
Mark followed "The Funkin' Pizza Ship" from the
beginning of the race in Arcata to Ferndale
on a two-story tall purple bicycle. He had to use the top of his pick-up truck
to mount it. Mark stopped by Humboldt Bay Coffee Company on the second day of
the race. Jaime Bazan, Humboldt Bay Coffee production, took advantage of the
opportunity. He jumped on top of Mark's truck and rode the two-story purple
bike.
"I was scared the first time I rode it, the second time
I was better on it. My daughter was scared for me," Jaime said.
Mark went on to Ferndale
after the brief pit stop. "It really hurt when I fell off of it, but
thankfully it was on to grass," Mark said. "I stopped a couple of
times and put my foot on top of a cars just so I could get a rest."
Mark was not done for working when the race came to a stop
at the end of the day. Mark sold Humboldt Bay Coffee Company coffee to the
public and donated free coffee to race participants.
The last day of the race there is a great big party and
every one has a blast. The next morning every one wakes up on the beach.
Humboldt Bay Coffee was there to make waking up a little
easier for people. "People are walking around groggy wearing costumes like
aliens or squids," said Mark who handed out more than 300 cups of coffee
to Kinetic Grand Championship participants.
Humboldt Bay Coffee Company would like to thank Blaze
O'Glory who made it possible for us to participate and contribute to a great Humboldt County tradition.
