Handcar Regatta

Far above and beyond most any tinkerers on the this mighty globe are the Mentor hackers, François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice, behind the astonishing mechanical works known as Les Machines de l’Ile.

In their own eloquent words:

The Machines de l’Ile is an extraordinary artistic project like you’ve never seen before. …it is a blend of the invented worlds of Jules Verne, the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci, and the industrial history of Nantes, on this exceptional site of the former shipyards.

Not to be missed is this dedicated group’s intention to revive street theater and grandiose spectacle out into the public sphere for people to interact with and enjoy. Furthering this notion of public display is the open nature of their atelier (workshop) and building process. Their gorgeous designs and prototype pieces are available for public viewing and tours within the large former shipyard space where they build.

The fascination of their technical and aesthetic wizardry is revealed by mounting disbelief and awe when viewing each and every photograph that can be found. Each image is more fantastic than the last!

Perhaps the crowning achievement so far is The Great Elephant:

This gigantic animal, 12-metre high by 8-metre wide, lives in the largest warehouse. When the majestic animal goes out for its walk, it is like architecture in motion departing a steel cathedral. The 49 passengers on board embark on an amazing journey on the Ile de Nantes. Each time the pachyderm goes out, it is a unique spectacle for everyone to enjoy.

These outstanding tinkerers are not resting upon their laurels yet! New and amazing projects are constantly in motion.

Examples are The Future Machines including:

• The Marine Worlds Carrousel
  Rising nearly 25 m high and measures 20 m in diameter. It features 27 moving underwater creatures on three levels: the ocean floor, the depths, and sea and boats.
• The Heron Tree
  This steel tree 45 m in diameter and 28 m high will be topped by two herons. Visitors will be able to take a circular flight on the bird’s wings and walk from branch to branch in the amazing hanging gardens.

Indeed, the world is a better place for the genius and beauty of Les Machines de l’Ile.

As the wonders of the industrial age never cease, The Great Hand Regatta is about to set stage for the inestimable artifact that is:

NEVERWAS HAUL

This September 28th, 2008, “The Haul” shall find yet another home of plenitude and promise in sunny Santa Rosa, CA, at The Great Handcar Regatta!

To date, Neverwas Haul and her delightful crew of crack engineers and brazen lasses, this fairer sex often seen shamelessly taking to hand a wrench or two themselves, have been the toast of fabled towns such as the illustrious Black Rock City, NV, Oakland and San Jose, CA, and, of course, New Amsterdam, London, and mighty Shangri-La beyond the frozen seas, among others townships too numerous to recount here.

“What will they think of next!?” shall be the wide-eyed shouts of giddy disbelief from honored guests at The Great Handcar Regatta!

Three Cheers and Huzzah!

There is yet much more to learn, good reader!

• Read the Neverwas Haul Times for these and other largely historical facts:
  

  Neverwas Haul , a self-propelled 3-story Victorian House, made from 75% recycled equipment and materials, returns with new interiors, operating system, and collections from its travels around the world (i.e., oddities of the Jules Verne era including a Camera Obscura, described below). The Haul measures 24 feet long by 24 feet high and 12 feet wide and is built on the base of a 5 th wheel travel trailer.

• A brief interview with Major Catastrophe (a.k.a. Shannon O’Hare) is recounted at the Aether Emporium Wiki.
• Current news and information found at the Neverwas Haul Tribe.
• Extensive electro-luminescent renderings of said Haul are available via Flickr.
• ITEM! Be the first to nab your very own Neverwas Haul handmade googles!
  

  UPDATE! One fetching reader, Choklit Chanteuse, informs us of Neverwas Etsy Shop. Word has it that said goggles will be AWARDED as PRIZES to adoring Regatta attendees!

• Watch amazing moving pictures of Kristies Flyer, their winsome little steam-carriage
  

• And this movie of Neverwas Haul (ITEM! lower your loud speaker volume first!).