Racers
Race Dates & Theme
July 18-19, 2026 | Theme: Kaleidoscope Colors
Early Registration / Trading Card Deadline: June 29th
Team Registration Forms
These forms are required for all participants. New for 2026: Rumble Seat minimum age change to 8 years old. Hotel partnership discount. GKC Centraal Saturday's location is now at PRAx on OSU campus.
Trading Card Deadline: June 29th. Here's what we need (it's on the registration, but in case you need it again:
Race Map
Changes for 2026
Saturday directions will take racers from Avery Park to a parking lot across from PRAx.
Hotel Special
Holiday Inn Express
we have partnered with the Holiday Inn Express, near where teams exit the river on Sunday..
New Addition!!
The Graand Kinetic Challenge is pleased to announce that thanks to the Benton County Cultural Coalition grant, we are able to offer our own “GKC Art Grant Program” to help local teams create their art and out-of-town teams receive gas money to bring their art to the race.
- Local Teams: within Benton County
- Out-of-Town Teams: Anywhere outside of Benton County
- Total Funds Available: $1,500
Once awarded, checks to teams will be available at the race for pickup. This money cannot be taken off of registration fees.
Deadline for applications: June 29
Awards
Graand Champion Prize
Prize: $400
To earn the title of Graand Champion, the top team must LEO* and achieve the highest combined score across the four major categories: Artistry, Engineering, Speed (Time), and Pageantry.
Sponsored by PRAx (Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts); Trophy art by Rob Lorensen and Ram-Z Fab
Top Overall Time
Prize: $150
This award goes to the team with the top Time score. Teams must LEO* to qualify.
Sponsored by High Quality, Trophy by Trevor Griesmeyer
Pageantry
Prize: $150
This award goes to the team with the top Pageantry score.
Sponsored by The Corvallis Odd Fellows Lodge, Trophy art by Karen Hartman “Kween Kondor”
Fan's Favorite
Prize: $50
This award goes to the team selected by a “Spectators’ Vote.” Spectators will decide on their favorite Sculptures by means of a cunning and thoroughly democratic voting method (hint, look for a volunteer in a green shirt with a clipboard - they may be the ones with the score sheets, or spectator survey! Do them all!)
Sponsored by Conundrum House/ReMarkable Arts
Poo Bah's Choice
Prize: $100 as a fistfull of dollah coins
You’ll just have to ask the Grand Pooh Bah. It’s a secret…
Sponsored by John Sechrest
Cuddly Teddy Bear Award
Prize: $42.17
Awarded to the team with the most beloved, well-integrated mascot. Judges consider fit with the sculpture’s theme, costume, safety gear, and the bear’s name, history, condition, personality, purpose, and team relationship. No cuddly stuffy? No prize.
Sponsored by The Toy Factory, Trophy art by Stacey Newman Weldon & The Toy Factory
50-Mile Radius - Local
Prize: $200
This award goes to the team from within a 50 Mile Radius of Corvallis, with the top total score in Engineering, Artistry, Pageantry, and Time, plus tie-breaking based on time. If the winner has already won the Graand Champion Prize, then this prize will be awarded to the next best local team. Local is defined to mean that the majority of team members who designed, constructed, and rode the machine live within a 50-mile radius of downtown Corvallis, OR.
Sponsored by the Griffo Brothers, Trophy art by Barb
Engineering
Prize: $150
This award goes to the team with the top Engineering score. Teams must LEO* to qualify.
Sponsored by The Corvallis Odd Fellows Lodge, Trophy art by Karen Hartman “Kween Kondor”
Best Song
Prize: $50
Awarded to the team with the best song at the Saturday pageantry. Judges may ask teams at any time to perform their song. Listen for the words “da Vinci,” “kinetic,” and “Corvallis”?
Sponsored by The Music Collective
Wizard's Choice
Prize: $100
This award goes to a team chosen by the whim of the Graand Wizard, founder of the Corvallis Kinetic Race, honored by the double-a in Graand!
Sponsored by Raan Young, Graand Wizard, Trophy art by Tina Kerrigan
Dan Monk Award
Prize: $125
Awarded to the team with the fastest time on the water on Sunday.
Sponsored by The Lutefisk Organization in memory of Dan Monk
Best Use of Theme
Prize: $50
This award celebrates the team that most creatively brings the year's theme to life through costumes, sculpture design, performance, and pageantry. If spectators instantly get the theme, you're probably in the running.
Trophy by Stacey Newman Weldon
They Came From Out of Town
Prize: $200
This award goes to the team from outside a 50 Mile Radius of Corvallis, with the top total score in Engineering, Artistry, Pageantry, and Time, plus tie-breaking based on time. If the winner has already won the Graand Champion prize, then this prize will be awarded to the next best team. Out Of Town is defined to mean that the majority of team members who designed, constructed, and rode the machine must live outside of a 50-mile radius of downtown Corvallis, OR.
Sponsored by Squirrels
Artistry
Prize: $150
This award goes to the team with the top Artistry score.
Sponsored by The Arts Center, Trophy art by Vaness Smith of The Art Center
Judge's Favorite
Prize: $50
Every judge gets one vote each for their four top personal favorite teams, based on whatever criteria each judge chooses to use. The team with the most votes wins.
Trophy art by Tina Kerrigan
Goddess Jeno
Prize: $100
Only the Goddess knows how Teams will meet Her Requirements.
Hammy Award
Prize: The Best Ever Ham & Some Bacon
This delectable award goes to the team with the clearest 'signal' to the hams.
Sponsored by Anthony & BCARES
Leo* Awards
LEO (Last Engineered Object, as it was once appointed, or it could be in honor of Leonardo da Vinci, the hero of the da Vinci Days Festival and the master maker of engineering and art contraptions) medallions are awarded to teams who successfully complete the race following all the rules.
Racers Gallery
TBD
American Rider
American Rider