The Kinetic Lab ::: Why not?

Brian "Funguy" Slayton ~ Contact Funguy
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2010 build & blog -----> www.kineticfunguy.com <-----

~ See last year (2009) "Octomom" ~

Captain - Brian "Funguy" Slayton
Brian's involvement in the Kinetic Sculpture Race began in 1997 as a “Peon” along with longtime friend Rob "Chef" Klug for Team “Crash Gordon and the Crash Test Dummies” Captained by Gordon Soderberg. The team was awarded Most Spirited Pit Crew because of their extreme enthusiasm. The following year, again as a peon, he raced with “The Queen of Denial” sculpture and that team also won the Most Spirited Pit Crew award. In 1998, Brian returned to the Arcata Kinetic Sculpture Lab running into Ken Beidleman, long time race veteran, who was in the midst of building a two man quadracycle. Ken allowed Brian to help, doing grunt work such as grinding, cutting, and cleaning, while Ken built the new machine. As the race approached, Ken offered the use of one of the lab tricycles he had built for Yakima years before. Noting that the machine had never been serviced or cleaned since the previous race, Brian knew plenty of work was on the horizon. 60 days later he raced as the “Funguy”, a rotted redwood log, covered in a brightly colored assortment of mushrooms. For some reason, the name stuck and he has been known as the Funguy ever since. Brian joined June Moxon’s team the following year, eventually working his way up to right hand man and lead costume designer. Over the years he fulfilled many roles with June's team, from peon to pit to logistic to pilot. Brian co-created the purple Kinetic Chicken Suit and designed the costumes for June's Kinetic Cowboys, Dog Pound, Bumble Bees and the Kinetic Roosters. In 2009 Brian considered taking a year off but was sucked back in by veteran racer Duane Flatmo, who offered to let Brian use his old 6-Man Tricycle, and while a significant amount of TLC would be needed in order to make her race-ready, Brian couldn't resist the challenge. Duane also suggested the concept “Octomom” using parts of an old underwater themed sculpture Duane had previously made as the octopus was still attached to the old machine. That year Octomom made the front page of the local paper and also gained national attention by being featured on blogger Parez Hilton's web site causing his photos to go "viral in the blogosphere". The team won the Spirit of Hobart Brown award (the guy that started the race), Racers Choice and the “Teddy Bear of Perseverance”. In 2010, with a little help from his friends (and a little luck), Funguy will be joining the kinetic sculptor's builders club with his brand new 4-man quadracycle. The new sculpture you ask? “The Revenge of the Funguys, IN 3-D!!!”.

Pilot - Joe "Slow Joe Rising" Lance
This is Joe's 3rd year involved with the race and will be his first year piloting. He will also be working with Funguy building the new four man quadracycle.

Pilot - Rob "Chef" Klug
Known by fellow racers as the Chef, Rob has raced on and off over the last 15 years. He first raced as co-peon with Brian "Funguy' Slayton in 1996 & 1997, with the teams winning the Most Spirited Pit Crew both years. Rob joined Funguy on Junes Moxon's Team a few years later and was part of the Dog Pound, Kinetic Cowboys, Kinetic Roosters and the Bumble Bees as peons on Junes Team. He has become a master bribe maker and is exited to be a Pilot for the first time in his kinetic career. Rob Studied at Humboldt State University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management with a minor in Biology, traveled to Africa with the Peace Corps, tried his hand at construction and in the not to distant past, graduated from the San Francisco Culinary Academy and is now a cutting edge Chef in the San Francisco Bay Area, hence the moniker, "Chef".

Pilot - Aaron "Dank Holliday/Lab Slacker" Carter
A kinetic veteran with the self proclaimed title lab slacker, Aaron has raced for many years with his good friend, Brian "Funguy" Slayton. Aaron joined June Moxon's Team in 2000 and was a "Horse Before the Cart" and a member of the Kinetic Cowboys, Dog Pound, Bumble Bees, and the Kinetic Roosters. Aaron is a serial entrepreneur and when not wasting his time and the time of others at the Arcata Kinetic Sculpture Lab, Aaron spends his time running Carter Creative Business Development where he develops business plans and marketing strategies for local business.

Logistics/Funguy Wrangler - Deena Slayton, AKA "Funguy's Wife
Deena is one of the MOST IMPORTANT members of Team Funguy as she is the "woman behind the man". As the wife of Brian "Funguy" Slayton, Deena keeps Brian in line and also passes out "Funguy Repellent", otherwise known as earplugs, to fellow racers as needed to combat his booming voice. She has been a kinetic widow for many years, losing her husband to the call of the kinetic lab where Brian works on his sculptures for months at a time. Deena will be graduating the Nursing Program in May of this year which will be great for the team as their new sculpture is untested and her nursing skills could be useful (hopefully not).

Logistics Boss-John Davis, Esquire
This is John's 2nd year participating in the Kinetic Sculpture Race. Last year he was a co-pilot on team Octomom with team captain Brian "Funguy" Slayton, who also happens to be his Brother-In-Law. He is returning this year to fill the important position of Logistics for Team Funguy. John is a proud husband to his wonderful wife Diane and father of two amazing children, Nicholas and Amber. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, John is also the VP of Product & Business Development for Federal Savings and Loan in San Francisco and is a current patent holder (hence the "Esquire" (added by Funguy cause he thinks it sounds cool)).

Pit Crew-Heather "Heda" Courtney-Rocha
This is Heather’s first year back on the kinetic circuit after a long break. She first caught kinetic fever in 1998 when Funguy introduced her to the ever-fabulous racing veteran June Moxon. Heather immediately got involved and became the seamstress for June’s team. She was part of June’s famous entourage and chorus line in 1998 (Scratch the Dog), 1999 (Flying Pink Elephant), and 2000 (Sparkle the Horse). Now she is back for Revenge with Team Funguy! This is her first year as Pit Crew and she is looking forward to the challenge. When she’s not designing costumes, sewing mushroom hats, and seeking kinetic glory, she lives in Napa with her two kids and three chickens. She pays the bills by working for the top real estate agent in Napa County, which she really likes and is currently attending Sonoma State University to obtain her high school and elementary school teaching credentials, so she can pay the bills by doing something she really loves.

Pit Crew - Jenny
Also returning from a long-time absence, Jenny joins Heather on the Pit Crew this year. She was a spirited member of June Moxon’s entourage from 1998 to 2000, as a member of the infamous chorus line. This year, she will renew her kinetic spirit and join Heather and the rest of the Funguys on their journey towards kinetic glory. Originally from southern California, Jenny now lives near Miranda with her family. She is a home school teacher for her daughters during the week, and enjoys learning about natural health and herbalism. She is also fond of hiking and gathering wild mushrooms in the forest around her home, which makes her the perfect addition to the team.