By guest blogger Jeffrey Schwartz
Howard Davis wasn't thinking about Burning Man when he tore apart a 1975 Volkswagen Beetle and fashioned a road-worthy ride that looks like a push-button phone from the '80s.
In fact, Burning Man didn't even exist when he built his bright red PhoneCar in 1985 as an adjunct to his passion for collecting telephones. Davis, who owns a business-focused telecommunications services company, has attended the desert festival for five years and only this year decided to bring the PhoneCar, in part to celebrate his 50th birthday.
"Turning 50 was tough," Davis said. "I guess taking the car to the playa is my way of letting go and saying, 'Hey world, I'm still as creative and vibrant as ever.'"
Although Davis says he plans to return to Burning Man "for at least another 20 years," he doesn't expect the car, which he bought for $125, will make it back. "I figure it'll be toast after the alkali dust gets through with it," he said.
Davis and his co-driver, Hunter Mann, have been touring the car in cities throughout the United States. It is registered in Massachusetts and is highway legal, though Davis admits it's a bit tough to drive the car without causing a stir, so he sticks mainly to city streets.
Photo by Jeffrey Schwartz/Wired.com
See also:
- Burners Gear Up for Playa Adventure
- Best of Burning Man: Flames, Art Cars and Discos
- Playa Posh: Luxury Living at Burning Man
- Best of Burning Man: Fire Dancers, Steampunk Tree House and More
- Five-Alarm Artists Turn On the Burn for Fire Arts Festival
- *Homouroboros: *Spinning Monkey Business at Burning Man
