This is the story of how the Trailblazers created and entered the first Kinetic Sculpture race in 1998. The Trailblazers have been in all three of the previous races with new and improved vehicles.

How It All Started: By Mark Zeller

I started teaching the Pioneer Club 5th & 6th grader Trailblazers group in September of 1998 at our Church (First Christian Church of Newbury Park). I  kept thinking to myself that we needed a project to work on together. Then I heard an ad on the radio about the Kinetic Sculpture Race in Ventura, so I called the number given on the radio and was sent some information regarding the race and thought to myself "We could do this."

We had about 15 kids in our group, so we had to figure out a way for all 15 kids plus 3 adults to ride in the race. I started thinking and talking to different people and friends, and came up with the idea of connecting bicycles together, like a tram. Then we found out it had to float.

With the help of Sam Teeters and Rick Moreau, we rounded up bicycles and started to build our sculpture. Then we found it had to go through the sand. Over the next month everyone worked very hard to get the vehicle ready for race day. 

The Trailblazers came up with the idea to be a blue bus. They made buttons and banners. Some of the kids helped put together bicycles. Then we found out we had to go through the mud. We finally got everything ready the night before the race.

Our Blue Bus was about 48 feet long and about 3,000 pounds with 18 pilots. It took two trips on a 20 foot trailer to transport our sculpture to Ventura and a few hours to set up. We had several parents and volunteers helping to set up, and helping throughout the race. 

When the kids arrived on Saturday morning, Day 1, they were very excited. The cannon fired and they were off skipping (no running allowed) to our sculpture. When we got to the sand, it wouldn't budge, so everyone pulled it through the sand. The kids did great. While riding on the streets, our vehicle moved along quite well. 

On Sunday, Day 2, we had the Water Challenge. "How is that going to float?",  "That's never going to float", were some of the comments we heard on the first day. Well, we floated! It was great and the crowd cheered. The kids were very tired after a short while in the water so the Coast Guard pulled us the rest of the way. 

The last challenge was the mud. Conversation between Rick, Mark and Sam was  "How are we going to get thru the mud?", "I don't know", "Let's just pull it", "No dude, we've got to try riding it", "OK, but we'll have the ropes ready", "OK", "Let's go". We hopped on, started peddling and kept it going and going. We sailed right thru the mud. It was awesome. Everyone worked really hard together for a great finish.  What a great experience we all shared. All of the kids, parents, friends and  volunteers said that was the most fun they had ever had. 

So when September 1999 rolled around I asked Rick and Sam if we were going to enter the race again this year, they said "Of course we are!" and "Well ,we better get started".

This year we had 21 kids, 24 bicycles which made us 64 feet long, and the kids decided to be snails. With lots of hard work and lots of help, we got  ready for the 2nd annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. This time it took two 20 foot trailers and two trips to get to Ventura. 

With a few design changes and equipment malfunctions, the Snails didn't float, which was sad because we had a great prop system for every bike. We would have really moved in the water. I guess it's back to the drawing board on that one. But we sailed through the mud again and had a great time. We had some new kids and parents on this trip and they said it was the most fun they ever had! 

Some of the parts we used were bed frame springs, roto-rooter cable and roller blade bearings. Also spray paint and glitter (lots of glitter).  Here we are crossing the the finish line with one of the three segments.

What a wonderful experience these races have been. It really encourages team work and has helped build friendships, faith and of course, an incredible team spirit.

Mark and Cheryl Zeller