Tribe of the Crescent Star
Camp News
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4.12.07 - Archiving Soon We've had a bit of recovery time, so it's time to put this site into archive mode, including photos and stories of our adventures in Black Rock. Check back!
8.3.06 - Khussamobile #1.The frame is on the first Khussamobile, and it's been test-driven. See the video! [.mpg, 7MB, 0:31] (Sound is loud, sorry.)
7.30.06 - Dome Test #2. Second set up of the large dome included a test run of the hot air balloon cover. It fits perfectly. Click to see what we're going to look like.
7.26.06 - Official Location. We have been placed at 6:30 and Anxious - just left of Center Camp, on the first road in from the Esplanade.
7.24.06 - Khussamobiles are on! They have been approved for on-playa inspection!
7.11.06 - Theme Camp Listing. We are now listed among the theme camps of Black Rock City.
7.10.06 - Musical notes. If you want to perform at our hafla, bring your music on a portable MP3 player - we'll hook you up! And a doumbek has been acquired for tribal fun.
7.2.06 - Score! We picked up the hot air balloon yesterday, and the go-kart today. The table/stage structure is finished.
6.30.06 - We've applied ourselves. Theme Camp and Mutant Vehicle Applications are in. We feel real!
5.30.06 - Video short! We finished up a 2-minute video of a group of us fabricating and assembling one of our residential domes. Click here and enjoy! (28MB)
5.14.06 - Communal dome finished! This Sunday we set up our 5-V main dome in a local park - much the delight of a crowd of onlookers who were out enjoying the amazing weather!
THE KHUSSAMOBILE(S)
Since our camels are in the shop, what better way to get around than the old fashioned way - "on foot," in Khussamobiles: vehicles made in the shape of a pair of traditional khussa sandals.
With them, we will search the byways for fallen pilgrims in need of rest and comfort, and invite them to our Thursday night celebration. Our lighted shoes will lead the way back to the home of the Crescent Star Tribe, where we will share the news of our neighboring nations and celebrate with story, song, and dance.
The curly-toed khussas will be created from a metal frames surrounding the bodies and motors of go-karts. We've made previous structures in this manner, so we have the process down. It will be reinforced with sheeting or extra framework in the places where people enter and exit the vehicle, and be illuminated from the inside for our nighttime journeys.
Whiteboard schematics:
(Click to see full size.)
Conceptual images of the shoes and the base vehicle:
Examples of the curly toes:
Typical go-kart, similar to ours.
The roll cage will be removed and a second seat put in behind the driver, over the motor.
Mods have already been made to the kart including centrifugal clutch and body lengthening to fit a second seat. A second battery will be placed to power the lighting, and will be recharged from the generator back at camp.
A new muffler will be attached to reduce engine noise.
Below, you can see the body of the kart has been lengthened to provide space for a second seat behind the driver.
Exterior Design:
The shape of the shoes will be created from 1/2" steel rod, much like the frame of this costume head that we built in 2004.
We are using golden yellow spandex to cover the frame, with interior lights powered by a battery.