Every time I start believing that Portland is the weirdest city in the US, something like this happens. Last Saturday 11 Mad Max fans were arrested on a San Antonio highway while recreating a scene from the Road Warrior. Supposedly, those involved were carrying weapons, both real and fake, while dressed in full-costume.

25 fans in total were involved and they were all heading for a film festival. It was cancelled sometime later. According to rumor, a shirtless man in a hockey mask turned away those waiting in line at the box office. One fan quoted him as saying, "just walk away. Just walk away."

Yeah, I made that last bit up and, yeah, it was lame. Sorry.

I did some checking on the internet and managed to find "Roadwar USA," a site run by the organizer for a smiliar shindig held in San Francisco last year. The attendees also took to the road, that time apparently without incident. Here's a link to pics from the run. Also from the site:

"Roadwar 101 was based on the concept of bringing fans out for a highway drive in the spirit of the Roadwarrior car chase. Costumed people and costumed cars. A semi-truck was rented for a 45-minute run down California's highway 101. An FM transmitter beamed a soundtrack to all of the vehicles. After the drive, there was a car show at a shopping center.

I knew that Roadwar 101 was a risk. Nothing like that was ever attempted. In order to save costs, I kept it small. We had a small turnout: 4 vehicles, and 8 fans for the drive. Despite that, the fans who showed loved it, and now I'm planning another one for 2005."

For Roadwar 151, the follow-up event in San Antonio, the organizer set up this site and even managed to coax one of the actors from the film to show up. The run was set up for 2 PM and was to be followed by a showing of all three movies at the Alamo Drafthouse, a local theater. Then fate, er, the SAPD, intervened.

This only goes to show that getting dressed up like a post-apocalyptic sociopath, hoping in a rented tanker and taking to America's highways isn't the best idea in the world. According to this, there's incredibly tentative plans for a future run somewhere in Washington. If the event ever comes together I'm not about to miss it. After all, my ancient Toyota Van already looks like it's been through a nuclear war.