# buildwith · Kinetic Grand Championship: sources

Row #18 of `experiences_v1.csv` (research pass 3 Oct 2026, IST). Dates and deadlines come from `cal.py` (date check 4 Oct 2026, IST), which is the source of truth for dates, with the 4 Oct 2026 source-rule audit applied. The page deliberately shows **no prices** and no contact emails; see the official site.

| Fact used | Source |
|---|---|
| Name, place (Arcata to Ferndale, Humboldt County, California, USA), continent | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/racers (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| Usual timing: Memorial Day weekend (late May) | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/racers (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| What you build / use: BUILD a human-powered amphibious art sculpture that crosses sand, mud and water over 50 miles | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/racers (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| How a traveller takes part: Enter as a racer team, or volunteer/spectate | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/racers (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| Participation level: Build-compete | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/racers (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| Entry requirements / deadline: Fully human-powered; pilots 16+. 2027 registration dates not published | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/racers (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| Verification note (research pass): 2027 dates/fees UNVERIFIED. Source audit 4 Oct 2026: newspaper link removed. | experiences_v1.csv |
| Date: 29–31 May 2027: Kinetic Grand Championship 2027. Arcata to Ferndale, Humboldt County, CA. Build/use: Human-powered amphibious art sculpture, 50 miles. How to join: Enter a racer team (2027 registration not open yet) or volunteer. | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/ |
| Take-part route "Race a human-powered amphibious sculpture" (Team entry): Enter a racer team with a fully human-powered art sculpture that crosses sand, mud and water over 50 miles. Pilots must be 16+. 2027 registration isn't open yet. | Re-worded from the CSV row and the dated items above |
| Take-part route "Volunteer or spectate" (Watch & buy local): Volunteer or watch along the route. | Re-worded from the CSV row and the dated items above |
| Check note: 2027 registration is not open yet. | CSV verification notes / dated items above |

## Skills you'll need (section 03)

| Fact used | Source |
|---|---|
| Skills (this experience): Designing a human-powered amphibious sculpture that crosses roads, sand, mud and open water; Flotation, traction and drivetrain design (pedal power on land and water); Following the 'Offishul Rules', including ACE status, self-sufficiency and safe conduct | Skills research, checked 2026-10-04 (IST) |
| Difficulty (our estimate): Skilled team; prep time (our estimate): 3–6 months of design, build and water testing. Difficulty and prep time are Curiosta editorial estimates for a first-timer, not organiser figures. | Curiosta editorial estimate |
| Refresher, practice and safety steps: All forward movement must be human-powered over the whole course; for ACE status no batteries or stored energy may drive forward movement, and tyre or pontoon inflation must use human-powered pumps. / Everything needed for normal operation (flotation, water propulsion, pumps, sand or mud traction aids, tools) must be carried on the sculpture all the way. / Design for three terrains: wide tyres or traction aids for sand and mud, gearing for hills, and flotation plus paddle wheels or propellers for water. / Safety rules prohibit projectiles, anchors, explosives and fireworks; fuel, compressed gas and lithium batteries must follow best practice (the rules point to Burning Man's flame-effects guidance). / Read the engineering and art judging criteria early; the race rewards art and engineering as well as speed. / Team roles: captain, pilots, pit crew; everyone signs the waiver and code of conduct. / Read 'How to Build a Kinetic' and sketch your drivetrain and flotation. / Test flotation of your pontoon design in a pool or lake with the full pilot load. / Build stamina with long cycling rides, including sand or mud if possible. / Flotation must carry the full pilot load; test before race day. / No projectiles, anchors, fireworks or explosives; handle fuels and lithium batteries to best practice. / All team members sign the waiver and code of conduct. | Our summary of the resources below |
| Resource (Official; publisher: Kinetic Universe / Kinetic Grand Championship): Rules, Schedule, Awards 2026 ('Offishul Rules'): The full 2026 race rules: ACE, human power, self-sufficiency and safety. | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/s/Rules-Schedule-Awards-2026.pdf |
| Resource (Official; publisher: Kinetic Grand Championship): Racers page: Registration, waivers and links to the rules and judging criteria. | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/racers |
| Resource (Official; publisher: Kinetic Grand Championship): KGC Engineering judging criteria: What the engineering judges look for (2023 version, the latest linked). | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/s/KGC23-ENG-Criteria.pdf |
| Resource (Community-accepted; publisher: Elliot Naess (experienced kinetic racer); hosted by Kinetic Grand Championship): How to Build a Kinetic Sculpture – Elliot Naess: A veteran racer's design and build notes covering planning, flotation and drivetrains. Why accepted: Written by a long-time racer and linked from and hosted on the official KGC Racers page as builder guidance. | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/s/HowtoBuildaKinetic_ElliotNaess.pdf |
| Resource (Official; publisher: Kinetic Grand Championship (official channel)): Kinetic GC – YouTube: Linked from the official site; footage of water and sand crossings. | https://www.youtube.com/c/KineticGC |
| Also consulted for the skills section | https://kineticgrandchampionship.com/s/KGC23-ART-Criteria.pdf |
| Note: 2027 registration and dates aren't open yet. | Skills research (gap recorded) |

See also: skills guide `skills/human-powered-craft/`
See also: skills guide `skills/festival-build-safety-lnt/`

## Source audit (4 Oct 2026, IST)

Official sources first; non-official sources only if the event community widely accepts them, with evidence. Links removed or replaced on this page (old links are shown as plain text, not linked):

- Old: `madriverunion.com/articles/57th-kinetic-grand-championship-returns-memorial-day-weekend-2026/` → Removed. Why: Newspaper. Removed; the 'early-bird before mid-April (per press)' claim and the spring-registration calendar item are removed.

## Check notes shown on the page

- 2027 registration is not open yet.

## Our grouping

- Levels shown: Team entry, Watch & buy local (our grouping of the CSV participation level "Build-compete").
- Usual months used by the month filter: May.