Re: “Know Your 2011 Kinetic Sculptures! (UPDATING!) (NOW WITH SOUND!)”

So do you think a four or five year old child should pilot a kinetic sculpture on our highways during memorial Day Weekend? If not...Then you must hate babies according to this logic. And yes, I personally know one person who lost part of their thumb in a chain drive on one of Hobart's machines, I also know a person who was 16 years old grab a side of his sculpture going down dead man's drop and sliced so far thru his hand, the whole team quit the race and the family attended to him in the hospital. anyway...whatever...have fun...

Re: “Know Your 2011 Kinetic Sculptures! (UPDATING!) (NOW WITH SOUND!)”

Thank you Jasper. I think that whatever rules are implemented for the race are what we should adhere by. That's all. If people want to change the rules for letting younger people race then they should proceed in the right way to change those rules...and not one week before the event. I believe that the age should be 16 with an adult or 18 years or over. I know these aren't just bicycles cause I've even had close calls on my sculpture (a two thousand pound rolling deathtrap with all the riders on) and I've always wondered what would happen if I were a 14 or 15 year old at the helm. I'm not sure they could deal with it. We're driving on roads where there are cars flying by and I just think there needs to be an understanding and a little experience of the laws of the road. I also have worried about kids under the age of 16 being around some of the partying and debauchery that goes along with this event especially at the camp out. Not orgy's and Burning Man. (Such an old man response.) I don't like the big ultra fire thing they do out there now and wish we could go back to small campfires in small campsites where people could cruise around, visit and tell stories of the race. maybe have some music and not just the loud drumming. The way they run the fire now is not something I'm that big on to tell you the truth. Sure I go to burning man, but I don't want this event to turn into Burning man. Ya see. people like Rick spew there negative jealous retorts out onto the planet without even knowing where a person stands on an issue. It's very trite. By the way Rick, I love all the sculptures you've built over the years. Hard work huh? The old campouts from the 70's and 80's were much more crazy than these days. Fights, drunken pissed off brawls and more. And Rick spouts off that I hate kids. wow.... I think I try to try watch out for kids. oh well. I spend thirty years pouring my heart and hard working hours into an event that I care about and Rick spouts off that I'm an egotist. Because I get publicity? That's what comes with the territory when you actually do something in public life that people care about Rick. It's called human interest and yes they report about that kind of stuff. Sorry. He reminds me of the people who loved Pearl Jam and went to all their concerts and bought all of their albums and help make them successful....and then say that the band "Sold out". Loyalty to a petrified opinion never once broke a chain or freed a human soul Rick.

Re: “Know Your 2011 Kinetic Sculptures! (UPDATING!) (NOW WITH SOUND!)”

Thanks to all of you who helped put the race on. Ham Radio operators, safety officials, judges, ace refs, t-shirt printers , vendors, trophy makers (Aly included), tree trimmers making the course passable, KHUM radio, musicians, chefs and New Belgium Brewery for the support. Let's not over look the good stuff because of this heated debate. blah blah blah...later guy's! see you next year.

Re: “Know Your 2011 Kinetic Sculptures! (UPDATING!) (NOW WITH SOUND!)”

Going back decades we use to drink alcohol on the machines too. There was never a rule about drinking during the race back in the good ol days. That rule changed over time. Why? because people were not safe with huge contraptions barreling down the road while being drunk. I like that rule. The rules of the race have changed many times over the years and Aly has been part of these ever changing rules and so have I. Unfortunately he bowed out of the race many years ago and never became proactive in the running of this race in these recent years. There are ways to become part of the rules process by going to these open meetings and voicing an opinion. Most of these rules are thought out and voted on by a democratic process. Not by spreading hateful emails to the media and chastising the people doing the business of keeping this race alive. These rules are changed for good reasons and to make this sound like a personal vendetta and a hatred towards kids is so childish in itself. Rick, do you think they should let kids ride on the Matterhorn at Disneyland even if they don't make the height standards? Is that being hateful toward kids and not letting them join in on the fun that others get to have? come on....This race is not the samoa drag strip and every event has a set of rules. Some are different than others. Sorry bout that.

If I had been asked to show a photo ID... I would have.

Re: “Know Your 2011 Kinetic Sculptures! (UPDATING!) (NOW WITH SOUND!)”

I know in the past, teams have lied about their age to be able to race. But that doesn't make it ok. That is exactly the reason for them checking the ages of pilots.... People lying on the registration forms. How else can the race officials make sure there are no minors on these machines? Just an observation: Someone lies about the age of a pilot and they run the race. They loose a pontoon and the machine sinks pulling them under. If they drown, the parents sue the race and it's all over. Is that really what you want? Not me. I am a good swimmer and don't think I should have to wear a life vest. It's harder to peddle while wearing them. But they won't let me in the water unless I have it fully buckled. Should I comply with this rule and have fun.... or fight it and drive thru the race all weekend with a negative scowl?

Re: “Know Your 2011 Kinetic Sculptures! (UPDATING!) (NOW WITH SOUND!)”

You can't buy alcohol until you're 21, you can't ride on certain rides at Disneyland unless you're a certain height, you can't buy cigarettes until you're 18, you have to wear a bike helmet on a California highway if you're under 16, you can't go into the kinetic lab of horrors at Halloween unless you're 14 years old or over, and you can't pilot a kinetic sculpture until you're 16 with an adult. These rules weren't made by people who hate children and are trying to take away their dreams. These rules are in place because people like children and want them to be safe so they can reach their dreams. Sorry, but I think there should be an age limit and yes there should be rules. This is an adult race which allows kids to watch, participate in many ways, (pit crew, logistics, building, costume making, etc.) be inspired and hopefully start racing when they reach the proper age limit. What's the problem with that? I've seen many of my students do just that. I thought the Tiger was wonderful, (actually my favorite from the school so far) and the girls rode it fine, but it seemed such a negative vibe was created around them. It might of been more fun, less negative and stressful on everyone in the race to have just followed the rules.