Handcar Regatta

The Long Now Foundation have devised the Mechanicrawl event along the San Francisco waterfront to showcase hidden mechanical astonishments of San Francisco’s yesteryear.

The date is this Saturday, July 12th, 2008, from 3pm to 8pm. The distance from Pier 45 to The Exploratorium is 2.38 miles and includes free bike parking along the route.

The uniquely stupendous attractions include:

• The Exploratorium
  Famed interactive exhibits on science, art and human perception
• The Long Now Museum
  Eight foot high mechanical planetarium, a “walking bearing”, the Equation of Time Cam, a sphere of solid tungsten, a microetched language archive and more
• Musee Mecanique and its Steam-Powered Motorcycle
  See turn of the century automata including San Francisco’s own “Laffing Sal”, mechanically operated musical instruments, a rare steam powered motorcycle, classic video games from the 70’s on and much, much more
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Fresnel Lens
  Working exhibits of block and tackle, capstans to load and unload cargo, a giant Fresnel lens and more boat lore and mechanical ingenuity await you at this waterfront park
• SS Jeremiah O’Brien Steam Engine
  This massive [3 stories tall!] engine room of one of the last few Liberty Ships, many of which were made here in the Bay Area, was used as the engine room set for the Titanic movie!
• USS Pampanito’s Mammoth Mechanical Torpedo Computer
  The USS Pampanito diesel electric submarine has recently completed a renovation of its Torpedo Data Computer, one of the most complex electro-mechanical computers ever put into service
• The Wave Organ
  The Wave Organ is an acoustic sculpture constructed in San Francisco Bay by the Exploratorium
• Burning Man Artwork
  The route will also feature various remarkable mechanical and steam projects as seen at Burning Man