After enjoying a career that included launching the unusual artistic race on Mother's Day 1969, Brown died at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, Calif., after a prolonged battle with rheumatoid arthritis, the Los Angeles Times said Saturday.

His son, Justin, said that while Brown was not always able to board a pedal-powered piece of art and compete in the annual race, he always loved to watch others participate.

"He lived for it," Justin said of his late father. "It was very much a part of his DNA, and he was active in it until he couldn't physically do it."

The race was expanded and ultimately spawned similar events across the United States.

The Times said that in addition to Justin, Brown is survived by two other sons, Mark and Michael; a daughter, Emily; a brother, Coy; a half-brother, Phillip Ostler; and nine grandchildren.