Mutant Vehicles (aka Art Cars)

What is a Mutant Vehicle?

A Mutant Vehicle is a unique artistic creation that exhibits motorized locomotion. It may be built from scratch or be a mutated form of a stock vehicle with little to no resemblance to its original design. Mutant vehicles are radically, stunningly, and safely engineered to overwhelm the senses and inspire imagination. 

Some examples of successful mutant vehicles include: four wheel drive furniture, fire breathing dragons, wheeled boats, trackless trains, mechanical animals, or just about anything originating from human thought and effort. Mutant vehicles are transportation dreams actualized. The DMV makes sure that only truly mutated vehicles are roaming the streets of Mysteria.

All non-official event vehicles driven within the borders of Mysteria during the event must be officially approved and licensed by the Transformus DMV.

Mutant Vehicle Criteria

In order to be eligible for a Mutant Vehicle license your vehicle must satisfy ALL of the following criteria:

Minimum Mutation Level

• If a stock vehicle has been mutated, it must not be easy to recognize the original form. Personal golf carts must adhere to this criteria, even if they are rentals. 
• Vehicles merely stripped to the frame and engine or adorned with temporary decorations are not considered mutant vehicles and will be asked to leave the site.

Vehicle Safety

To ensure the safety of all Mysterians, mutant vehicles must:

• Be able to maintain a steady speed of 5mph or slower
• Have brakes in good working order, able to stop vehicle while at top speed
• Not have any sharp protruding objects that might cause injury
• Have any exhaust pipes shielded from riders and predestrians
• Have a safe access area and procedures for loading and unloading of passengers (if applicable), including sturdy side and stair railings
• Not mimic any type of emergency service or law enforcement vehicle

Additionally, we recommend that mutant vehicles be outfitted with a first aid kit and fire extinguisher.

Lighting

Vehicles seeking to drive at night must meet basic lighting requirements:

• Front, rear, and sides must be lit. The vehicle must have projected light in order to see in the way in front of the vehicle in dark places and for night driving
• All vehicle extremities (anything projecting from the body of the vehicle) must be lit 
• Anywhere someone would walk, step, or climb on the vehicle must be lit (especially stairs and ladders)
• Vehicle headlights must have color-coded gels applied by Mission Control to avoid blinding other participants

Flame Effects (if applicable)

See the Flame Effects Guidelines here. 

https://transformus-burn.com/mysteria/art-fire/fire-art-guidelines/

Note that your vehicle must be registered, approved and licensed by the Department of Mutant Vehicles before a member of the Fire Response Team (FRT) will inspect your vehicle to ensure you’ve followed all the requirements for safely constructing and operating the Flame Effects. Failure to pass this inspection means you will not be allowed to operate the Flame Effect on your vehicle. 

Mutant Vehicle Application, Inspection(s) and Licensing

Step 1: Application

NOTE: Vehicle applications MUST be submitted by July 1st, 2020. Mutant Vehicles that are not pre-registered will not be allowed onto the property.

Submit the standard vehicle application via the link below. 

In addition to the general application requirements, Mutant Vehicle applications require the following: 

• Images of the vehicle — front, rear, and side views
• Where the art car will “live” when not roaming (theme camp and/or neighborhood)
• Legal name(s) and state-issued driver license information for all drivers who will be operating the vehicle (Note that persons not listed on the application are NOT allowed to operate the vehicle on site!) 

DMV personnel will review your submission promptly and give you feedback about your design, which should give you plenty of time to make any necessary mutation changes before the event.

When your mutant vehicle has been approved, the next step will happen in Mysteria!

Step 2: On-Site Inspection

Before your mutant vehicle is allowed to drive anywhere on the property, it MUST pass DMV inspection!

Once your mutant vehicle is prepped and ready to show its stuff, contact the DMV to have your vehicle inspected. Ask Mission Control at Center Camp (or anyone else with a radio) to contact the DMV Inspection team.

If your mutant vehicle has flame effects:

• Once your vehicle has passed the DMV inspection, the Fire Response Team (FRT) must inspect your flame effects to ensure you’ve followed all the requirements for safely constructing and operating the Flame Effects. 
• Failure to pass this inspection will result in you not being allowed to operate the Flame Effect on your vehicle.

Step 3: Licensing

If your mutant vehicle passes all required inspections, you will receive a DMV license plate that indicates to Rangers and security personnel that your vehicle has been inspected and approved to operate in Mysteria. 

Make sure that there is a place on the rear of the vehicle to mount the plate that will clearly visible to Rangers and security. This plate must be displayed at all times while operating the vehicle.

Mutant Vehicle Operation: Rules and Regulations

Mutant Vehicle drivers must:

• Be fully licensed and insured, as well as listed as an approved driver on the Mutant Vehicle Application
• Abide by all applicable federal and state laws, including all open container laws (no open containers within reach of the driver)
• Drive at a speed of 5 mph or less (less if kicking up dust, mud, water, or in hazardous situations such as tight crowds)
• Drive only on designated roads — no shortcuts through or between camps 
• Give the right of way to pedestrians, bicycles, and emergency service vehicles
• Follow the reasonable and applicable vehicle laws for road safety
• Stop immediately upon being hailed by any DMV staff member, Transformus Ranger, Security Personnel, or Law Enforcement Officer
• Never drive under the influence of any intoxicant
• Create a clear field of vision for the operator, including rear and side mirrors
• Have ground guides (walkers) if the vehicle is large, has a limited field of vision, or is dangerous to pedestrians
• Have a safe access area and procedures for loading and unloading passengers
• Clearly display the Mutant Vehicle license in a location specified by the DMV
• Abide by any additional guidelines set forth by Transformus DMV

Violation of any of the above rules will result in loss of driving privileges at Transformus. Severe or repeat violations will result in ejection from the event and possible citation from law enforcement agencies. 

Transformus 2022

Mutant Vehicle Application

Before submitting the application, make sure you’ve read through all of the vehicle policies above! If you have any questions related to the policies, please email [email protected] before submitting your application.

Additionally, you’ll need this information readily accessible for completing the application:

• The legal owner’s driver license state and number

• Legal name(s) and state-issued driver license information for all drivers who will be operating the vehicle (Note that persons not listed on the application are NOT allowed to operate the vehicle on site!) 
• The vehicle’s make, model, and year
• The vehicle’s license plate state and number
• Dimensions of the vehicle, to include length, width, and height
• Images of the vehicle — front, rear, and side views
  

Click here to submit the application!