I think the theme felt a bit too rushed, not to mention that I got pretty busy in November.
The theme was certainly open, but it was a bit too open. There wasn't really any restriction other than keeping the car out of its native environment. Most environments already have fairly similar block sets, so it didn't really restrict much on that end. It didn't feel like there were any rules or themes to keep in mind while building the map, and I think that's why it wasn't a compelling theme.
In my mind, a good theme forces builders to constantly consider something extra when building. Whether through restrictions (like
placing all blocks at ground level) or shifting focus (like
asking for a funny/silly map), a good theme will force the mappers to get creative with the tools at their disposal.
I'll be looking forward to the next MTC, though, whether it's in December or not!
EDIT: Looks like this next one should be interesting:
https://tm.mania-exchange.com/threads/3279/mtc-december-2016-four-verticals?page=1