Handcar Regatta

REMINDER!
Those stalwart hucksters of DIY virtues we know and love, FBUC, will be marauding upon a maelstrom of contraptions o’er the San Mateo fairgrounds this weekend, May 22-23 for the annual Maker Faire 2010!

MIND BENDING!
Like the Luther Burbank Rose Parade last weekend (and the Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival Parade before that), three teams and their four GIANT mechanical contrivances, plus a multitude of more nimble kinetic doohickies, will careen leisurely through the 80,000+ throng of the gaping rabble at the faire.

FEATURING!
Bear witness to Krank-Boom-Clank, Whiskeydrunk Cycles, and Todd Barricklow. Collectively they are known as FBUC (Fun Bike Unicorn Club).

AND MORE!
Vendors of fine wares seen at The Handcar Regatta and members of The Glorious Etsy Steamteam shall be on hand to adorn and inspire at the FBUC encampment, including Choklit Chanteuse of Adornments for Tarts, Sarah Dungan of Industrial Fairytale, plus Nullalux of Theriaca Fina (literally, “fine treacle”).

GET THEE TO THE FAIRE!
If you have even the slightest inkling toward hacking and building, or wish to nobly educate and enlighten your children for a better future, you simply must extract yourself from your couch-bound indention and see this amazing Maker Faire!

We Regatteans are ever vigilant for all things kinetic around the globe. Recently, we discovered an accomplished group of delirious devisors out of Philadelphia, PA. They are set to launch their latest unruly contraption known rather ominously as:

The crew have been diligently documenting their construction days and nights, displaying that certain crackpot craftsmanship we love in kinetic sculpture devotees.

Also true to maker form is their DIY approach to events, parties, and general rousing fun in creating their own vital community of like-minded participants. Witness:

• Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby
  A good old-fashioned street derby of human-powered contraptions
•  The Philadelphia Experiment
   An events umbrella organization of sorts fraught with fabulous parties
• And what looks to be a terribly exciting event:
  PEX Summer Festival
  “We will be uniting for three days and nights of amazing music, art, education, dance, participatory shared experience and conscious connection on 200 acres of private land, just one hour south of Philadelphia.”

Partake of the following moving picture electro-luminescent display of the derby:

We wish Team Sand Reckoner many excellent voyages plus the stellar events and parties among fearless doers who spin the wheels of an emerging maker culture! Huzzah!

As our kind readers may have no doubt guessed by now, we at the Handcar Regatta headquarters are overjoyed with today’s impetus toward tinkering and the genius of recycling, DIY (Do-It-Yourself) ethos, and mastery of the Tool.

The notion of “no user-servicable parts inside” is a kind of insult and a call to arms against bland commercial proprietary-ness and to sally forth unhindered to take back our world for better with customization, reuse, fun, and IMPROVEMENT!

These and many other reasons of glorious liberation and ingenuity are why we love the esteemed Instructables so fervently.

Where else can one find step-by-step instructions on such divers matters of import as:

• Front-Wheel-Drive Center-Steer Semi-Recumbent Bicycle
• Build a 4 Color T-Shirt Printing Press
• How to Make a Sweeney Todd Vintage Inspired Dress
• And the lasting simple goodness in life: Mom’s Blueberry Crumb Pie

Brilliant! Keep those fabulous and inspiring projects flowing and make a change for the better in your world!

Part 4 in our continuing series on inspirational Kindred Hackers is seated squarely in the measureless vision of DIY madness of Scotty C. at the Kinetic Sculpture Lab and the Department of Spontaneous Combustion.

The maestro Scotty C. and his incomparable compatriots of pedal-craft have long been at the helm of kinetic greatness, contributing annually to the renowned Kinetic Grand Championship in Arcata, CA, and the infamous Black Rock City, NV.

Our very own Krank-Boom-Clank crew speak glowingly of the openness and camaraderie that is the hallmark of the bike-mod and kinetic sculpture race community at large. Scotty C. is no exception with his generous offerings both in person and in his abundant Aether-web guides and divers offerings of flaming folly.

The Handcar Regatta squad respectfully tip our toppers to such innovative and staggering creative lunacy in alternative transportation absurdity!