The 10th Annual Obtainium Cup Contraptor’s Rally took place Sunday, July 28 at the Mare Island Art Studios in Vallejo, California, drawing art cars and other “sculptural vehicles” that navigated a madcap obstacle course. It was a welcome return for the event, which was last held in 2022.
The rally was produced by Obtainium Works, the Vallejo-based art car studio. Entrants were judged on how well they handled a series of challenges, including zombies, battle robots, flying monkeys, and Alice in Wonderland characters.
This year, the organizers added two new challenges: Belly dancing and Beaver Fever. In the latter, a group of “beavers” placed dams in front of the art cars to slow their progress. The beavers were members of Team Pineapple, whose vehicles have been winners at past rallies.
The Grand Prize went to the “Needs More Cowbell” team for their entry HumBULLdt Pie Factory, a vehicle resembling a steampunk mechanical bull. All winning entries receive a trophy, but the grand prize winner is also inscribed on the Obtainium Cup, which has a permanent home at the Obtainium Works studio.
HumBULLdt Pie Factory was also the Grand Champion of this year’s Kinetic Grand Championship, held during Memorial Day Weekend in Humboldt County. In that event, billed as the “Triathlon of the Art World,” vehicles race through 50 miles of roads, beaches, trails, and rivers over three grueling days. The Obtainium Cup rally was inspired by the Humboldt County event, albeit on a smaller scale.
In addition to the rally, the event featured live entertainment and a vendor area. Guests also had an opportunity to tour the indoor portion of the art studio. Many guests showed up in costume.
Obtainium Works is best known for the Neverwas Haul, a three-story self-propelled Victorian house. The Haul currently resides at the Mare Island studios, where it served as a stage for announcer Trevor Allen.
Check out the highlights in the gallery below.
