08/20/2026
HELP SAVE—or RESPONSIBLY REMOVE—A HISTORIC SAN FRANCISCO MUNI AND BURNING MAN BUS
This is not an ordinary abandoned bus.
It is San Francisco Muni bus No. 6090—a 60-foot articulated M.A.N. bus built in 1984. It was part of Muni’s first generation of articulated buses and primarily operated on the 38 Geary and 38L Geary Limited routes.
A 2018 SFGate article identifies Clarence “Sparr” Risher and Victoria Dobbs as the people who converted bus 6090 into traveling living accommodations and took it to Burning Man with a group.
The published article does not establish who subsequently owned the bus or who ultimately left it at its present location. We are publicly asking Mr. Risher, Ms. Dobbs, other members of the group, and anyone familiar with the bus’s ownership history to contact us and help determine how this historic vehicle ended up abandoned in Northern Nevada.
Today, bus 6090 is deteriorating at Smith & Tobey Towing on private property within a Native American reservation community.
The property is owned by Carmen, the owner of Smith & Tobey Towing. According to Carmen, the people storing the bus initially arranged and paid to leave it there temporarily. They later said they could no longer move it and transferred the title to him.
Carmen has now been left with a 60-foot, nonoperational articulated bus and the enormous responsibility and expense of removing it. We would like to help him resolve a problem he did not create.
Burning Man’s Leaving No Trace principle states:
“Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather.”
We are asking the Burner community, San Francisco transit historians, preservation organizations, people previously associated with bus 6090, and members of the public to help make this right.
THERE ARE TWO POSSIBLE OUTCOMES:
1. SAVE AND PRESERVE BUS 6090
Before dismantling it, we want to give SFMTA, Muni historians, museums, preservation organizations, former owners, and serious private collectors an opportunity to inspect and possibly recover the bus.
Any organization or individual interested in preserving it must present a realistic plan for funding, removing, transporting, and storing the vehicle.
The deadline for serious preservation proposals is September 15, 2026.
2. HELP REMOVE IT RESPONSIBLY
If no qualified organization can retrieve the bus by the deadline, its connected front and rear sections will need to be carefully dismantled using heavy equipment, transported to an approved disposal or recycling facility, and the property cleaned.
After calculating the equipment, labor, transportation, tire disposal, environmental preparation, recycling, and cleanup expenses, the estimated project cost is approximately $20,000.
The following local businesses have committed to helping:
• Lake Tahoe Towing will provide towing, transportation, labor, and project assistance.
• Lake Tahoe Equipment Rental will provide equipment for the dismantling and cleanup operation.
• Lake Tahoe Tire Company will remove the commercial bus tires from the dismantled sections and arrange for their proper transportation and disposal. Commercial tire disposal is a substantial additional expense, particularly because the property is located far from the potential Reno-area recycling and disposal facility.
These companies are prepared to contribute labor, equipment, and services beyond whatever the community raises. However, a project of this size cannot be completed without additional support.
$20,000 COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING GOAL
Contributions will help cover:
• Environmental preparation and removal of fluids and batteries
• Heavy equipment, operators, labor, and fuel
• Separation and dismantling of the articulated sections
• Towing and transportation to the Reno-area facility
• Removal, transportation, and disposal of the commercial bus tires
• Recycling and disposal charges
• Final cleanup of Carmen’s property
If the bus is preserved, contributions may instead be applied toward its safe recovery and transportation. Project updates and photographs will be provided so contributors can see how their support was used.
PLEASE HELP CARMEN AND SMITH & TOBEY TOWING
This is an opportunity to practice Communal Effort and Leaving No Trace—not only during one week on the playa, but throughout the Native and Northern Nevada communities affected by Burning Man activity year-round.
Please contribute, share this post, tag Muni historians, and send it to anyone who recognizes bus 6090 or has the resources to save it.
We also ask Clarence “Sparr” Risher, Victoria Dobbs, other members of the group that brought bus 6090 to Burning Man, and anyone with information about its subsequent ownership to contact us. We want to document the complete history accurately and find the best possible solution.
ZELLE CONTRIBUTIONS:
Manuel Jimenez
530-523-3352
Please verify that “Manuel Jimenez” appears as the recipient before sending.
PRESERVATION, EQUIPMENT, OR REMOVAL CONTACT:
Manuel Jimenez III
Lake Tahoe Towing
530-523-3352
[email protected]
PRESERVATION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
Please do not enter Smith & Tobey Towing or attempt to inspect the bus without prior authorization.
Contributions are being collected for this specific community cleanup project and should not be considered tax-deductible charitable donations unless otherwise confirmed.
