Important question regarding art-cars

mystery-g-spot · Post by **mystery-g-spot** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 7:54 pm

Does anybody know what the deal is with registering art-cars this year?? Last year, they unfortunately decided to make it impossible for people to register they're art-cars at the event. And if you're an experienced burner i'm sure you noticed that, compared to other years, the playa was naked last year... because of that stupid rule. There was a serious lack of art-cars, and it made me sad. I was just starting my art-car last year when i checked online and realized i was too late because the registration date was like a month before the event. I really think this is an important issue, night-time at BRC last year just wasn't as colorful, moving, and alive as it should have been.

I know there are some people who think there should be no art-cars. I guess they like the idea of using ur feet to get around on ,what, about 2 square miles of dusty desert? it's crazy. All i know is they should register art-cars like they used to do it. anyone agree?

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 8:16 pm

There were a lot fewer hackneyed paste-ups running around with drunken yahoos at the helm, if that's what you mean.

mystery-g-spot · Post by **mystery-g-spot** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 8:28 pm

there wasn't even half the amount of art-cars in general is what i mean. I still saw a bunch of "hackneyed paste-ups" anyway. Especially when it comes to the large-scale mobile art, last year there wasn't jack shit, besides a few busses that pretty much looked like....busses.

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 8:33 pm

The registration process is clear and straight-forward. I like mutant vehicles, but if you want to bring one just because you're too fucking lazy to cycle, then there's no need for you to risk the lives of the citizens of black rock city by bringing your little creation. "Radically, safely, and permanently altered" is the mantra. Learn it, grasshopper, and you will prosper.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:25 pm

Does anybody know what the deal is with registering art-cars this year??

Well, for starters, the registration process will start earlier this year so that folks will have more time to work on their idea and submit it for approval. Expect a detailed description in the Jackrabbit Speaks to be coming fairly soon. Some changes will be coming about but for the most part the pre-registration rules/requirements will remain in place.

Mister Jellyfish Mister · Post by **Mister Jellyfish Mister** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:43 pm

It was my first burn last year and so I followed the Department of Mutant Vehicle requirements to the letter. It was only after I got my license from them that I realized the importance of their rules. Things like a first aid kit and fire extinguisher on board make sense, even if you never use them.

It's not just yahoos... watch out for "Mr. Know-It-All" who has been to so many burns that he does not need to bother with building things right or doing the necessary study before hand. "You, sir, are a know-it-all... er, but you would know that."

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:56 pm

Anybody who thinks that the rules don't apply to him is a yahoo, as far as I'm concerned.

mystery-g-spot · Post by **mystery-g-spot** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 1:59 am

Well, for starters, the registration process will start earlier this year so that folks will have more time to work on their idea and submit it for approval.

Well thanx, it's cool that at least everyone will know this year. It's just so obvious that they fucked up last year by suprising everybody...everyone who wasn't planning on having they're project ready at that time. I mean, with the BRC population getting so huge, you would think there would be more of everything else as well. I don't know where you get off saying i'll be "risking the lives of the citizens of black rock city". First off i'm a very good driver, i only smoke weed, and i don't care what u say, it doesn't make you drive badly, besides that, i would always follow the DMV rules. My car's going to be lit up so bright, the chances of an accident seem pretty small. second, I'm not lazy, i've had 1 art-car ride before, besides that, it was all cycling or walking the past 4 years. for example i walk from my camp to the temple burn and back every year, and my camp is usually near the centercamp. So i'm not "too fucking lazy". I've had many chances every year to throw together a piece of shit art-car. But i would never do that because i'm holding out so i can make it something actually impressive and original. When i bring my art-car, I'll still have my nights where i'll walk or cycle. It's not about transporting my ass, so don't assume that! jerk-off. honestly, i think 03 was the one year with way too many half-ass crap cars... But people could actually get rejected at the event you know. Who are the people letting the crappy cars get registered anyway? Yea sure it's the retard who drives shit-faced in his foil-covered civic or whatever...but they still had to be authorized by someone.
fuck it, i know there's no chance they'll go back to the old ways. I at least just wanted to see if SOMEBODY agrees with me at all...nice to see that everyone's anal and just care about the rules nowadays. Maybe one year, they'll assign a cop for every registered art car, to be safe.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:38 am

I am a Mutant Vehicle Builder, and I agree 100% with the changes to the rules last year. While rules tend to get in our way, they are there for a reason. Without them, there would be NO Mutant Vehicles at all. So if BM did what you are proposing, there would be even fewer (none) Mutant Vehicles to light up the night Playa.

Yes, there were fewer vehicles last year. But there were also FAR fewer HASLE cars (Half-Assed Schlocky Low Effort). And I felt "safe" walking the Playa at night for the first time in years. I know others feel the same way.

I feel for your frustration at not being able to bring a vehicle last year (you are not alone). At least you have an "outside" reason to blame - mine broke down in Nixon en-route (2 years running now)....I have only myself to blame.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:46 am

mystery-g-spot wrote:First off i'm a very good driver, i only smoke weed, and i don't care what u say, it doesn't make you drive badly, besides that, i would always follow the DMV rules.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

One of the DMV "rules" is that you must obey all Nevada Driving Laws (with a few exceptions like not needing insurance or liscence plates) And in Nevada, it is illegal to smoke pot (wether you are driving or not). Be advised that there are many folks looking for just such a driver who thinks driving while stoned is "harmless". If you get caught, expect at the very least to have your vehicle impounded for the rest of the event...

So in addition to the explicitly written BM vehicle rules (5mph speed limit, etc) you also must know and follow the Nevada DMV laws.

Tiara · Post by **Tiara** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:13 am

It's just so obvious that they fucked up last year by suprising everybody...everyone who wasn't planning on having they're project ready at that time.

"Fucked up" is pretty harsh to describe the efforts of a group of people (BRC DMV) who worked their asses off and did they best they could.

Not having rules for art cars is not an option, per the stipulations of the event permit. Burning Man faced a choice between no art cars whatsoever, or regulating art cars. Though it would have been far less hassle to just say "no cars", they have devoted resources to the DMV mutant vehicle licensing program each year.

I was living with someone last year who had an art car in 2003. The 2004 policies were no surprise. They were made known months in advance of the event.

It seems like individuals wishing to bring an art car to the playa should be responsible to make sure they stay updated about that year's policies, as well as responsible for meeting all the deadlines, which are announced in advance.

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:17 am

What, you don't think the Hotties should go knock on every door around february, ask if the residents want to take a mutant vehicle, and give them all the paperwork they need to apply for registration?

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:24 pm

I really think this is an important issue, night-time at BRC last year just wasn't as colorful, moving, and alive as it should have been.

If it is such an important issue to you may we assume you'll be putting words to action and volunteering on playa with the DMV?

Otherwise it turns into just so much whinging.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 9:44 am

Ranger Genius wrote:What, you don't think the Hotties should go knock on every door around february, ask if the residents want to take a mutant vehicle, and give them all the paperwork they need to apply for registration?

Of course they should. Furthermore they should have unfettered access to John Ashcroft's HOmeland Security Database so that they can be sure to inform potential burners of the rules. AND they should have monthly info sessions in every town of population above 10,000, just to make sure that the information is available to anyone who may remotely need it.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 9:49 am

mystery-g-spot wrote: I mean, with the BRC population getting so huge, you would think there would be more of everything else as well.

My guess is that as the population increases arithmatically, the complications increase geometrically. And they have to make predictions of population size on incomplete data every year.

mystery-g-spot wrote: the chances of an accident seem pretty small.

My experience is that art cars have a serious potential of being a menace. NOt to tar all with the menace brush, but that they are involved with a significant number of acidents. This is personal experience, not statistical study, but those things scare me.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:10 am

Well thanx, it's cool that at least everyone will know this year. It's just so obvious that they fucked up last year by suprising everybody...everyone who wasn't planning on having they're project ready at that time.

I'm not sure this a totally fair thing to say. Sure, there were problems and a fair amount of dissatisfied people but on the whole word was put out pretty earlyin the year that substantive changes were going to take place regarding DMV and the mutant vehicle registration process as well as the certain requirements for approval. This changes were put in on the BM web page and several issues of Jackrabbit Speaks.

mystery-g-spot · Post by **mystery-g-spot** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 9:44 pm

And in Nevada, it is illegal to smoke pot (wether you are driving or not).

REALLY?? NO WAY!!!??

Yea I know the laws, i break them all the time, thanx.

In the united states, pot, coke, acid, shrooms, mdma, and much more are illegal. (wether you are at Burning Man or not, lmao) Sorry but i just find that to be really funny, sometimes I forget we're actually talking about burning man! Last year, me and my cousin smoked a bowl directly under the man one night. Some guy (who reminds me alot of some of you guys) freaked out and starts franticly telling us that if we don't want to go to jail, then we should leave RIGHT NOW! Well, we didn't leave, we had already smoked what we wanted, and nothing happened. and besides that, there were no cops around at that time ANYWAY. unfortunately there are uptight, worried people everywhere...

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:16 am

theCryptofishist wrote:
Ranger Genius wrote:What, you don't think the Hotties should go knock on every door around february, ask if the residents want to take a mutant vehicle, and give them all the paperwork they need to apply for registration?
Of course they should. Furthermore they should have unfettered access to John Ashcroft's HOmeland Security Database so that they can be sure to inform potential burners of the rules. AND they should have monthly info sessions in every town of population above 10,000, just to make sure that the information is available to anyone who may remotely need it.

No need to worry, soon we will receive automatic upgrades from the government to our internal RFID chips....