Mutant vehicles are licenced by The Jilakin Rock City Department of Mutant Transport “the DMT”. The DMT also licenses vehicles for use by disabled participants. The DMT must balance the desire to have vehicles at the event, with the community standards of keeping Blazing Swan a foot and bike friendly event and maintaining a level of safety. Because of these limiting factors, not all vehicles can be licensed.
For full details on all Mutant Vehicle requirements, please download our Mutant Vehicle Guide below.
What is a Mutant Vehicle?
A Mutant Vehicle is a unique, motorised creation that shows little or no resemblance to their original form, or to any standard street vehicle. Mutant Vehicles are radically, stunningly, (usually) permanently, and safely modified from their base vehicle and are an expression of art and/or a public service that enhances the creativeness of the event whole in an imaginative and safe manner. Sometimes the whole vehicle is made from scratch.
Mutant Vehicles may include such non-standard motorised forms such as furniture, other non-street vehicles such as a boat or train, animals, or just about anything imaginable. For safety reasons, they must not mimic any type of emergency service or law enforcement vehicle.
Vehicles merely stripped to the frame and engine, and vehicles with minimal changes or temporary decorations are not considered Mutant Vehicles.
When designing your Mutant Vehicle, use your Mutant Imagination! Your Mutant Vehicle should provide a sense of awe to the community, something that is unique and also interactive for others to enjoy!
Great Examples of Burning Man mutant vehicles for some inspiration can be found here – The Mutant Vehicles of Burning Man
Note: Your vehicle must not resemble an everyday vehicle of any sorts ie: a car with its roof cut off and simply covered in fur or lights. This will not be accepted as a mutant vehicle and thus will not be approved!
How are Mutant Vehicles different from any art car?
A Mutant Vehicle is, in essence, a specific variety of art car that is more modified, customised or changed (i.e. ‘mutated”) from its original form, if any, than most art cars.
The Mutant Vehicle classification was specifically created for use in Jilakin Rock City (JRC). The classification was created because the term “art car” can have a broad definition and because of the limit on the number of vehicles the DMT can license, the DMT needed a classification that better described the level of ‘mutation’ that was required for a license.
Mutant Vehicles are integral to the culture and community at Blazing Swan. They contribute to the surreal, visual quality that binds Jilakin Rock City together.
Non-negotiable requirements
If you are interested in bringing a Mutant Vehicle to Jilakin Rock City your vehicle must comply with the requirements laid out in Mutant Vehicle Guide available for download on this page.
This includes requirements on:
- Mutant Vehicle licence criteria and classifications
- Design and safety
- Vehicle driving protocols and rules at the Blazing Swan event
You must also comply with any applicable WA legislation set out by the Department of Transport if you are planning to drive your Mutant Vehicle to Blazing Swan. Either contact them to check requirements on vehicle modifications that may affect your ability to drive your Mutant Vehicle legally on WA’s roads or head here for information –
https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/modify-or-construct-a-vehicle.asp
Should you wish to operate your mutant vehicle at Blazing Swan, you then need to carry out the following –
- Register and have your mutant vehicle approved by the DMT.
- Apply for your JRC driving licence
Please note – Having your Mutant Vehicle registered and Licenced with Blazing Swan for use at the event, does not negate any Laws or Legislation you must adhere to in Western Australia.
Also, if you breach any Mutant Vehicle rules on site, your JRC driving licence will be revoked and you will not be permitted to drive at the event.
Vehicles for person with a disability at Blazing Swan
Licences for vehicles used by a person with a disability are issued by the DMT to participants with physical disabilities. Just like Mutant Vehicles, you should pre-register in order to get a license to operate these vehicles.
The following vehicles do not require licensing when used as a vehicle for a person with a disability:
- Electric Wheelchairs
- Mobility Scooters
- Electric Bicycles
- Segways
- Go-ped style stand up powered skateboards (with no seat)
(Note) All vehicles used at night need to be radically illuminated!
The following are NOT allowed for use as a disability access vehicle:
- Vehicles larger than a standard-sized UTE/SUV
- Vehicles with trailers
- RVs/ Motorhomes
- Motorcycles/Mopeds
Please register on the form found below, then come see us at DMT when you arrive on site.
Mutant Vehicle application process
- Fill in the Mutant Vehicle Application form found below
- Pre event DMT checks are essential for all new vehicles and available by request for returning vehicles during the month of March before the event. Organise your pre event check by contacting dmt(at)blazingswan.com.au
- Once DMT give your application approval, apply for Jilakin Rock Drivers licenses for all drivers of your Mutant Vehicle using the Mutant Vehicle Licence Test and Application form found below.
- Obtain final approval on site from Monday – Friday. Daytime and night-time checks are available to be scheduled.
The four main areas your vehicle will be assessed for approval on are –
- Mechanical
- Mutation
- Safety
- Illumination