Associated Press - November 8, 2007 1:55 PM ET

FORTUNA, Calif. (AP) - A native Oklahoma artist whose bet with a friend over who could build a better human-powered vehicle led to a race that's now known worldwide has died in California.

Hobart Brown died yesterday of pneumonia. He was 74.

Brown was a co-founder of the Kinetic Sculpture Race which is now a 3-day race over 38 miles featuring odd contraptions that run on human power.

It began in 1969 when Brown turned his son's tricycle into a five-wheeled "Pentacycle" and a friend challenged him to a race in Ferndale.

The first event drew six other racers and now draws interest from as far away as Australia.

Brown was born in Oklahoma in 1933 and moved to Los Angeles as a boy.

His wire art sculptures have been collected by former President Ronald Reagan and talk show host Johnny Carson.

A memorial service is pending.

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