Da Vinci Days Graand Kinetic Challenge

Da Vinci Days Graand Kinetic Challenge Corvallis' 2-day FUN kinetic sculpture vehicle event runs over land, sand, mud and river. Linktr.ee/graandkineticchallenge

👍👍 2 thumbs up for the Corvallis Fall Festival being one of the most fun places to volunteer (right after the Graand Kin...
08/28/2026

👍👍 2 thumbs up for the Corvallis Fall Festival being one of the most fun places to volunteer (right after the Graand Kinetic Challenge, of course 😉). See you there!

Corvallis, we have a new kinetic team! And the Silly Sepals wasted absolutely no time embracing the spirit of the Graand...
08/25/2026

Corvallis, we have a new kinetic team! And the Silly Sepals wasted absolutely no time embracing the spirit of the Graand Kinetic Challenge.

They built their machine in three weeks. THREE. WEEKS. Then, because apparently that wasn’t enough excitement, it broke down the night before the race.

A lesser team might have called it a weekend.

The Silly Sepals? They showed up for Saturday pageantry with their teddy bear, then brought out their floating barrels on Sunday and ran through the Mud Bog, floated the river, crossed the finish line, and hung out for the whole weekend.

That’s some serious kinetic commitment for a machine that decided it was done before the race even started. 😂

Their persistence, can-do attitude, silliness, and sheer determination earned them both the Goddess Jeno Award and the Hammy Award.

We’re pretty sure this is what true kinetic spirit looks like. Welcome to the GKC family, Silly Sepals. We’re glad you’re here.


📸 .kime Stacey, .Brindley

When your sculpture looks suspiciously like your trophy, you know the kinetic universe is smiling on you. The Flying Sp...
08/23/2026

When your sculpture looks suspiciously like your trophy, you know the kinetic universe is smiling on you. The Flying Spaghetti Monster, piloted by Shmatty & Veg, took the "Top Overall Time" award at the 2026 Graand Kinetic Challenge with a blistering 1 hour, 49 minute finish.

They also earned They Came From Out of Town and LEO'd the whole course, proving that after roughly 20 years of kinetic racing, they still know how to get the job done.

The trophy, created by Trevor of High Quality from a bicycle body part, has a frame-and-sail shape that looks an awful lot like their sculpture. We call that kinetic kismet.

There aren't many action photos because, frankly, they flew faster than most of our photographers. 😂

When one of them picked up the trophy, he summed it up perfectly: “Not bad for a couple of old guys!”

We respectfully disagree. Pretty darn impressive for anyone!


🏆GKC 2026 BEST USE OF THEME: The Glory as Phunky Chicken Bus!When your race theme is Kaleidoscope Colors, you could make...
08/21/2026

🏆GKC 2026 BEST USE OF THEME: The Glory as Phunky Chicken Bus!

When your race theme is Kaleidoscope Colors, you could make something colorful.

Or you could turn a titan-sized kinetic vehicle into a Phunky Chicken Bus, cover it in a riot of colorful patterns featuring kinetic chickens, put chickens on the roof, and then drive that glorious thing through land, sand, mud AND water.

That’s exactly what The Glory, entered this year as The Glory as Phunky Chicken Bus, did. And the judges noticed. The colorful chicken-patterned design was a playful nod to the kinetic chicken, while the kaleidoscope of colors brought this year's theme to life in spectacular fashion.

Congratulations Captain-of-Everything-not-Art Robb, Gen, Laura, Louise-Annette, Katie, Captain-of-Everything-Art Sarah, and the whole pit crew, entourage, and art crew at

Photos by Creative Captures By Danielle, Tina Kerrigan and Stacey.

🏆🧸 BEST CUDDLY 2026 goes to to Team Formerly Known As presents Drag Strip Divas!💋🏁This was no ordinary teddy bear compet...
08/21/2026

🏆🧸 BEST CUDDLY 2026 goes to to Team Formerly Known As presents Drag Strip Divas!💋🏁

This was no ordinary teddy bear competition. Teddy Bear Judge Laurie had a very serious job: determine which team had the "most beloved, best-integrated mascot."

The judging standards were rigorous. We’re talking:

NAME? Check.
HISTORY? Check.
CONDITION? Check.
SAFETY GEAR? Check.
PERSONALITY? Check.
PURPOSE? Check.
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEAM? Check.

Their teddy bear may be tucked into the far back seat, but clearly this little passenger is an important member of the team.

The prize, sponsored by included $42.17 in cash and an appropriately ridiculous trophy: a cuddly dragon riding a tiny kinetic machine and holding a kaleidoscope. Because this was the 'Kaleidoscope Colors' year, after all.

And the $42.17?
42 is the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.
17 is a sufficiently high prime number to be ridiculous.

Congratulations to@teamformerlyknownas and their cuddly co-pilot!

Remember for next year: No cuddly stuffy? No prize!🧸

Photos by Stacey Newman Weldon, Tina Kerrigan, and Creative Captures By Danielle

08/17/2026

Joel A. Clark Lowell is lucky to have you & Lori! 🦞 Have a great time on sept 19🏁🏴‍☠️

Well, this is pretty darn cool.💚 The Graand Kinetic Challenge and Race Director Stacey Newman Weldon are featured in the...
08/14/2026

Well, this is pretty darn cool.💚 The Graand Kinetic Challenge and Race Director Stacey Newman Weldon are featured in the current issue of The Ledger, the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce's e-zine!

Thank you to the Chamber for telling the story of this wonderfully weird race and the people who pour their time, creativity, sweat, and probably a questionable amount of duct tape into making it happen. We’re so grateful for the recognition and for the opportunity to share a little more about what makes the GKC so special to our community.

Haven’t read it yet? Hurry! August won’t last forever, and soon the September issue will take its place.

Check it out at corvallischamber.com

Thanks, Corvallis Chamber! For the Fun of It!

Corvallis Chamber of Commerce photos by Creative Captures By Danielle and Tina Kerrigan

In case you haven't seen this yet! send us an email & let us know your interest. TY
08/14/2026

In case you haven't seen this yet! send us an email & let us know your interest. TY

Address

Corvallis, OR

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Da Vinci Days Graand Kinetic Challenge posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Da Vinci Days Graand Kinetic Challenge:

Shortcuts

Share

Category