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f o u n d a r t c a r s w e r e b e i n g c r e a t e d f o r at l e a s t t h e l a s t 1 5 y e a r s in t h e U.S., w i t h s e v e r a l f e s t i v a l s a l r e a d y in e x i s t e n c e . But ieei AA Ijtf t h e r e w e r e n o a r t c a r f e s t i v a l s in C a n a d a t h a t s h e c o u l d f i n d , a n d c e r t a i n l y n o n e in North Vancouver. It's a n artcar, a b u r g e o n i n g h o b b y t h a t is t r a n s f o r m i n g e v e r y o n e ' s f a v o u r i t e m o d e of t r a n s p o r t a t i o n into the ultimate s t a t e m e n t of personal f r e e d o m . Kaiser set o u t t o rectify that. After attending a couple of festivals w i t h the M e r m a i d M o b i l e , she k n e w she h a d t o start a similar event in North Vancouver. W i t h t w o festivals b e h i n d her, t h e t h i r d a n n u a l F u n n y A r t C a r W e ' v e a l l seen t h e m . The u n i q u e p a i n t j o b , Boss H o g g ' s h u g e cruiser d e c o r a t e d with Festival p r o m i s e s t o be a real " h a p p e n i n g " as enthusiasts a n d creators are c o m i n g from all over North A m e r i c a . Texas longhorns in t h e Dukes of H a z a r d , t h e strange creations o n A r t h u r Black's TV show. But from t h e o l d days of t h e hippie v a n a n d the s o u t h e r n b a c k w o o d s , artcars have c o m e a long w a y in t h e last f e w years. "The first t w o were great, but this is going to be much bigger and better," says Kaiser. "There are a f e w local cars, some from the Island, some from the States, and some are being cre- M i c h e l l e Kaiser of Gypsy M e r m a i d M o b i l e M a s s a g e g o t into artcars a f e w years a g o when s h e c u s t o m i z e d her first mobile ated as w e speak. People w h o attended the first festival came back the second year with their o w n artcars, a n d some w h o came last year are putting the finishing touches o n their o w n creations now for the festival." m a s s a g e vehicle, which became a conversation piece o n t h e streets of North Vancouver. After she c r e a t e d a s e c o n d car, K a i s e r g o t o n t h e W o r l d W i d e W e b t o s e e if m a n y others h a d s i m i l a r t a l e n t s . M u c h t o her surprise, s h e "This spreads a lot of happiness, and e l i m i n a t e s road rage," she adds. " P e o p l e see 6 September | Octo