Rejected Mutant Vehicles

[burningflyer]

Mutant Vehicles like Freezing Man exhibit that a minimal mutation can be overcome with an extraordinary community contribution. Few vehicles are able to pull it off and copy cats should be forewarned that it takes far more than a few treats and more like tens of thousands to be approved by the DMV. Hottie consensus is that gift givers have no problem raising a crowd in a static location or camp.

http://tribes.tribe.net/bmmv/photos/a2a ... 52e01c19f9

Shriner mini cars, motorized bar stools and cooler trikes represent typical mass produced novelty vehicles that are not Burning Man Mutant Vehicles. With so many participants applying for licensing of truly one of a kind Mutants, who wants to see a vehicle not created from the mind of the applicants or one that just copies someone else’s idea.

http://tribes.tribe.net/bmmv/photos/645 ... a7e74d002c

Successful Mutant Vehicles are likely to make a big statement and they tend to convey an image from a distance and while in motion. Custom road conveyances on the other hand, primarily communicate artistic and engineering craftsmanship in details that are appreciated up close and while the creation is not moving.

http://tribes.tribe.net/bmmv/photos/76f ... e7da3dda81

Both unique custom road vehicles and examples of goddess worship have unlimited opportunities for operation and display in the default world. It takes more than a platform and a stripper pole to qualify as a Mutant Vehicle.

http://tribes.tribe.net/bmmv/photos/dbd ... 3259e4fc16

[burningflyer]

Consider the limited community contribution of Mutant Vehicles that lack a basic strong conceptual direction towards visual or participatory elements and project a dominant base vehicle as foremost a means of travel.

http://tribes.tribe.net/bmmv/photos/9e4 ... feac5a799b

[Badger]

It'll only glow on its own if you go with fissile quantities of plutonium238. I recommend a SNAP-19 configuration with an adequate heat sink. Anything else and you're just asking for one UGLY sunburn.

[Marscrumbs]

I don't think it's a lack of understanding of what the rules are, it's a problem with spirit of the rules vs. letter of the rules. Doc Pyro's vehicle is a truck, and you can tell it's a truck. If he just took the truck out there with ties on it, of course it would get rejected and I doubt anyone would disagree with the ruling. The thing is that it's not the truck that is the art and no one is really looking at the truck anyway, they see the big blast of fire and still ask, "WTF was that?" There are some crappy cars that look like shit but are mutated enough, and there is an awesome vehicle that improves the event that is not completely mutated. The rules here seem to work against what is best for the event, which is why you always want people enforcing rules and not some computer than analyzes an image of a vehicle and compares to "normal" vehicles. To me it's obvious this particular decision violates the spirit of the rules and hurts the event.

Hear! Hear! I agree absolutely. It's what is doing not what it looks like that make this a true BM mutant vehicle more than skin deep.

[Kenny Z]

It'll only glow on its own if you go with fissile quantities of plutonium238. I recommend a SNAP-19 configuration with an adequate heat sink. Anything else and you're just asking for one UGLY sunburn.

Hey thanks for the advice. I'll look into that. I'm studying up with "Nuclear Power For Dummies" and "You, Me & The Atom Make Three" so I should be educated enough by January 2009. One question, however: Will a heat sink from a Pentium 3 650mhz be effective? Thanks!

[Marscrumbs]

It'll only glow on its own if you go with fissile quantities of plutonium238. I recommend a SNAP-19 configuration with an adequate heat sink. Anything else and you're just asking for one UGLY sunburn.

I think you mean plutonium 239. plutonium 238 is way scares and doesn't give you any advantage.

[burningflyer]

During the last three years Doc Pyro has been continually asked by DMV Hotties to continue the mutation of his vehicle. He has been warned that he would not be invited back and now that he has been refused registration for his decorated vehicle in 2008 he wants to make it personal.

http://tribes.tribe.net/bmmv/photos/926 ... 746d87209b

Black Rock Ranger Intercept

The Ranger Intercept team was established in 2004 for patrolling the inner playa with vehicles and bicycles to address issues with unapproved / unlicensed vehicles, golf carts, ATVs, scooters, motorcycles, go carts, and automobiles driving through the city and on the open playa, reckless driving and speeding by both licensed and unlicensed vehicles and vehicle-related injuries

Intercept has two specific tasks. Primarily, Intercept addresses vehicle safety concerns within Black Rock City. Their other key mission is to convey how seriously burning Man takes vehicle safety to the various Law Enforcement Agencies who would otherwise take matters into their own hands. The most important point in understanding about Intercept is that if the Rangers don’t handle it someone else will. The Intercept program is framed in a manner to present itself as a safety plan to Law Enforcement Agencies in a format they can understand. Rangers must have a lot of leeway and discretion to address issues, without being constrained by protocol. Intercept works closely with Khaki, Dirt Rangers, other Ranger departments, and DMV to help keep our community safe.

Intercept removes or escorts vehicles from the playa and the city, either to long-term parking near the Gate or back to their camps. They have at their disposal a fully operational tow truck for moving vehicles to long-term parking. The Intercept team uses rotating amber lights on the vehicles to keep track of each other and to establish a visible presence as a deterrent to speeders or reckless drivers when a visible presence is required. In addition to staff vehicles, the Intercept squad has bike-mobile Rangers. Bikes are used for tracking a vehicle discreetly without increasing a driver's tendency to speed due to the perception that they are being pursued and are an essential tools for tracking vehicles within the city streets. Intercept maintains a deep-playa Outpost Zero and is linked to the Department of Mutant Vehicles (DMV). Rangers can share logged instances of repeat vehicle offenders with DMV, or request information on numbered mutant vehicle license stickers. If participants are unaware of DMV rules and regulations, Rangers educate them and/or send them back to the DMV or back to camp if the DMV is closed. If vehicles / participants repeatedly violate DMV rules, the vehicle may be sent to Long-Term Parking outside the Gate.

http://tribes.tribe.net/bmmv/photos/057 ... 0b87a4f88f

[Toolmaker]

And how do we heat this water?

Used coffee grinds...

see KineticSteamWorks

which makes me wonder.. Did KSW get a permit for the steam tractor? It is obviously not mutated and one can clearly tell its a tractor.

If the powers that be bother reading this thread pls consider an "art car zone" for next year. We could have it near the trash fence and allow folks to keep non-mutants there during the event to be shown and appreciated. I'm sure amongst the art car community there could be participants in the mix to keep things organized and safe while still keeping the BLM happy.

I like the art car zone idea...but as for the steam tractor being unmodified, so what! Leave the steam tractor alone...it takes a real artistic touch and many other talents to keep such a machine alive. Leave 'em be.

Personally I think non-mutated vehicles should be allowed. I was trying to point out how grey the grey area gets. Rather than pick and choose which non-mutants get a license it would be better to allow all art in some capacity so folks don't think they're art is being discriminated against in some way. I undertsand the ORGs side of things but it totally sucks that more and more sexy art is being cast aside in favor of even more party barges.

[zabsinth]

Personally I think non-mutated vehicles should be allowed. I was trying to point out how grey the grey area gets. Rather than pick and choose which non-mutants get a license it would be better to allow all art in some capacity so folks don't think they're art is being discriminated against in some way. I undertsand the ORGs side of things but it totally sucks that more and more sexy art is being cast aside in favor of even more party barges.

Somewhere amidst all the copypasta bureaucratese, burningflyer was mentioning how the number of "properly" mutated vehicles is currently growing by leaps and bounds, and is bumping up against the ability of DMV and the Rangers to keep motorized activity on the playa to a dull enough roar to prevent permit changes and heavy handed LE. I have no idea whether or not this is really the case, but it rings true to me...

Anyway, if you think that non-mutated vehicles should be allowed to cruise around, I have a couple of questions:

1. Should there be a limit to the number of vehicles allowed unfettered access to the playa? How big of a limit?

2. If so, what criteria should be used to determine which ones are acceptable?

3. If not, how should the community cope with the safety and annoyance issues that would come with what would likely be an exponentially greater number of vehicles?

[burningflyer]

There is no written "number limit" defined by either the BLM or BRC on how many Mutant Vehicles are allowed. Although there is not a solid number, the DMV knows roughly how many Mutant Vehicles the Hottie volunteers and city can handle each year, based on a myriad of factors. The DMV shoots for this number of MVs and sets the criteria for what they pass and don't pass based on those factors. It should also be noted that they try to have this number be as high as the community feels comfortable with. The DMV strives to license as many qualified Mutant Vehicles as they can, but first they must consider safety and related issues.

There was over 800 Mutant Vehicles invited to the Black Rock City last year and one of the issues of the growing number of applicants is the limited capacity of the city to deal with them driving. The total number of invited MV’s has gone up every year by about 100 over the previous year, and that doesn't include disabled, staff or outside vendors and agencies, all of which have also increased yearly as well.

Of those 800 plus Mutant Vehicles invited to the playa about a fourth never come to the DMV to have their MV reviewed. They either failed to build it or were unable to attend. Of the 600 or so MV’s that do arrive at the DMV, around 10% are not approved for license. In most every instance those who are not approved, failed to execute the mutations promised in their application. So based on that formula, last year the DMV licensed 540 mutants.

Last year about 300 registered art pieces were placed on the open playa.

Perhaps the tipping point is when the number of powered motive creations dwarfs the quantity of static displays?

As cities evolve, so does transportation. Unlike most cities, Black Rock City’s survival depends on participants rejecting the prevailing car culture of the default world and embracing alternative transportation. Public safety concerns are reason enough for Burning Man to be a pedestrian/bicycle city, but also the immediacy of walking amongst the citizens of the city is experienced when we free ourselves from powered vehicles. When the event first moved out to the playa in 1990, there were no rules about vehicles. By 1996,with still only 8,000 participants, the dust problems and hazards of casual and recreational driving had become extreme. In 1997, casual driving was designed out of Black Rock City transportation due to the danger to those walking, biking and even sleeping in tents. 1997 was critical in the evolution of the event because it was then that bike and pedestrian culture truly emerged.

http://tribes.tribe.net/bmmv/photos/26f ... 1f8fb66a01

[Bob]

Dream on, anonymous aparatchik. If the org cared about any of the above, they would have replaced their bourgeois golf cart fleet with solar fartmobiles ten years ago, they wouldn't be camping in rented RVs powered by diesel generators no one else has access to, and people like you wouldn't be eating three meals a day at the company commissary at the expense of ticket buyers.

In 1997, driving was banned because Hualapai a mudhole, except that Black Rock Rangers made sure there were loopholes for friends of theirs to parade around at will. Same thing every year since then -- if you know the right people.

[Das Bus]

Ditto on what Bob said.

Funny how the DMV allows some of its members to license vehicles owned by their friends as 'handicapped', when said DMV member has neither a drivers license or handicapped permit.

But hey, it's cool to drive around wherever you want in non-descript white van and laugh at everyone else. You ROCK DMV!!!!!!

[gyre]

Ditto on what Bob said.

Funny how the DMV allows some of its members to license vehicles owned by their friends as 'handicapped', when said DMV member has neither a drivers license or handicapped permit.

But hey, it's cool to drive around wherever you want in non-descript white van and laugh at everyone else. You ROCK DMV!!!!!!

Are you saying there are dmv members without a driver's license themselves?

[Das Bus]

Are you saying there are dmv members without a driver's license themselves?[/quote]

Um, yeah, unless he cleared up those traffic warrants, but I don't see how, unless someone believed his sob stories and 'gifted' him the funds.

[Toolmaker]

Personally I think non-mutated vehicles should be allowed. I was trying to point out how grey the grey area gets. Rather than pick and choose which non-mutants get a license it would be better to allow all art in some capacity so folks don't think they're art is being discriminated against in some way. I undertsand the ORGs side of things but it totally sucks that more and more sexy art is being cast aside in favor of even more party barges.

Somewhere amidst all the copypasta bureaucratese, burningflyer was mentioning how the number of "properly" mutated vehicles is currently growing by leaps and bounds, and is bumping up against the ability of DMV and the Rangers to keep motorized activity on the playa to a dull enough roar to prevent permit changes and heavy handed LE. I have no idea whether or not this is really the case, but it rings true to me...

Anyway, if you think that non-mutated vehicles should be allowed to cruise around, I have a couple of questions:

1. Should there be a limit to the number of vehicles allowed unfettered access to the playa? How big of a limit?

2. If so, what criteria should be used to determine which ones are acceptable?

3. If not, how should the community cope with the safety and annoyance issues that would come with what would likely be an exponentially greater number of vehicles?

I wouldn't go as far as allowing cruising in the city. More like an area to have things displayed. I guess it would fall under the Artery or a new department rather than DMV if they stay parked somewhere. I don't think you should have any criteria for art cars parked in the "art car zone". I feel distance away from the city would keep anyone from bringing something without heart and soul just to be parked somewhere away from camp. Similar to mutant vehicle rules could be used so factory whips won't be able to be there. It would also free up room on the city streets. If someone wants to call a go-kart with prisms and el-wire art it can be parked there. I think a Mon or Tues arrival requirement would be wise if done.. to minimize the dust some folks have a problem with.

Just a few ideas that will never see the light of day. As Bob said.. things are as they are for some and the rest have to toe the line.

[Das Bus]

"Just a few ideas that will never see the light of day. As Bob said.. things are as they are for some and the rest have to toe the line."

Yep! And that's why, this year I will drive my van across the city if I feel like it-just like everyone else. Fuck the DMV.

[Dr. Pyro]

Now that Lora has made her peace, I don't think there's anything else to be said. You go girl.

P.S. Becca's shirt turned out great!

[gyre]

Ditto on what Bob said.

Funny how the DMV allows some of its members to license vehicles owned by their friends as 'handicapped', when said DMV member has neither a drivers license or handicapped permit.

But hey, it's cool to drive around wherever you want in non-descript white van and laugh at everyone else. You ROCK DMV!!!!!!

If you're aware of someone violating the rules on disability permits, tell us about it.
Have you reported it?

[Dustdevil]

Ditto on what Bob said.

Funny how the DMV allows some of its members to license vehicles owned by their friends as 'handicapped', when said DMV member has neither a drivers license or handicapped permit.

But hey, it's cool to drive around wherever you want in non-descript white van and laugh at everyone else. You ROCK DMV!!!!!!

Cites?

[Bob]

That's just Sumner Redstone, scouting for young talent...

[ilmarinen]

It does seem like the rules are applied unevenly. For instance, big articulated buses on the playa are, clearly, buses. They are not mutated beyond recognition. No doubt the argument will be made they provide enough community service to make up for that. Think that was the point about Tieland--that it provided other value beyond being unrecognizable as its base vehicle.

Carthedral is often held-up as a example of a "good" MV--however, the base hearse is clearly recognizable under the attached artwork. Just as the ford truck for Tieland is clearly recognizable under the attached fire art.

As I've said elsewhere, having so many non-mutated vehicles running around (DPW, etc., etc....) dilutes the authority of the rules.

Burning man is already a massive exercise in conspicuous consumption--however, an art car is expensive. A big art car is more expensive. So, it appears that those who can afford a big art car (carrying lots of folks, party barges as it where) get laxer standards than those who can afford to create and bring smaller vehicles? Participation based on economic class?
-B.

[brcprincess]

We are doing an art car next year and want to get an idea of what it takes to get approved. We have a good idea of what passes based on what we have seen on the Playa, but we want to know what pitfalls to avoid as well.

It sounds like the art car approval process can be a bit random (and subjective, based on who is reviewing your vehicle).

I remember seeing some amazing art cars this year which were parked on the outskirts of the Playa with signs saying "this artcar was refused a permit". I thought those artcars looked fantastic and couldn't figure out why they wouldn't be approved, they were actually more creative than some of the art cars which were approved.

If anyone on here had an art car which was refused a permit, can you please post a photo and explain the reasons that the DMV gave you. That would be a big help.

Thanks!

[thisisthatwhichis]

I think it's if you take the "CAR" part out of it, you have a better chance, from what I've seen and read....... And they Hate the word ArtCar..... try Mutant Vehicle.... it'll work better...

You are right it is subjective......... Good luck, and try not to make it look like anything you might see traveling down the road........ just my nickel.......

[gyre]

What do you have in mind?

[Toolmaker]

Make sure it doesn't look like the original vehicle, must be made to be mechanically sound and safe for participants. The more safety features the more likely you won't have problems.. same goes for night lighting. Flame effects get ya extra brownie points as well as high capacity for public transportation.

[pinemom]

Make sure to light up pedestrian steps to get on your vehicle.
Was a snag we found ON PLaya....luckily we had extra el wire!

[Sham]

I have quite a bit of exerience with art cars and you should try to make the car very dramatic and striking. The WOW factor will help insure that you will get a permit---but be sure that you follow all the guidlines on mutant vehicles. This year, I wrapped my mutant vehicle in cascading christmas lights for a very cool night effect. Back lighting and shadow lighting is also very cool.
Before you start to build your vehicle, make sure you have a clear idea of what you are making. I have seen too many over the years that are just mish-mushes of things attached to them. Try to make the coolest mutant vehicle on the playa and you will be a success!

[Kenny Z]

I remember seeing some amazing art cars this year which were parked on the outskirts of the Playa with signs saying "this artcar was refused a permit". I thought those artcars looked fantastic and couldn't figure out why they wouldn't be approved, they were actually more creative than some of the art cars which were approved.



Thanks!

There are a lot of factors that could have attributed to the neat looking vehicle not being approved. Toolmaker noted one major item: It can't look anywhere near the original vehicle. If you see a Ford truck underneath the guise or it looks like it can be transformed back to a truck when the event is over, no go. Another issue is SAFETY. If you have a spectacular vehicle that gets ooohhs and ahhhhs but occasionally chops limbs off passengers, forget about it.

Make sure you know what you are getting into with a mutant vehicle. They are a lot of work to bring to BRC. It takes a lot of time to get your day and night permits. You may spent much of your time at BM fixing things and searching camps for spare parts. You need a sober driver (they do give out DUI's)! You will also have to deal with some unruly and intoxicated people from time to time.

[Kenny Z]

Oh, and I want to add that I believe "effort" goes a long way into them considering a yes or no. My mutant vehicle is cool considering it was created by just two people but pales in comparison to some of these converted buses and such. Our car started from scratch out of bed frames, modified a steering column from a go-kart, and built up from there. Our vehicle, while clearly showing we are only amateurs also showed that we put time and effort into the project. So I guess what I am saying is, even if you can't see a vehicle underneath your project, if it looked like it could be put together in a day, I'll bet they would frown on that.

[Captain Goddammit]

Personally I like "Tieland".
But unfortunately, one glance at it and I can tell you exactly what is - a 1970 Ford F250.
I hope the good Doc is able to remove the truck body and build something sufficiently nuts to qualify as a "mutant vehicle".
I definitely see why it got rejected, it clearly doesn't fit The Rules, even though if it were my call I'd license it anyway because what it lacks in "mutation" it more than makes up for in pyrotechnics, and I believe that it has been and would still be an asset to the playascape.
It would be a tough call for the DMV because if they let Tieland fly they'll have a hundred other non-mutated vehicle owners wanting a license too. If I were the man in charge I'd just tell 'em to come back when they make that much fire!

But I'm not the guy in charge... and the guy that is decided to stick to the rules, and I guess I can understand that.