O/T...Who wants to tell me about Ed Roth? [Archive]

horty

10-15-2003, 12:58 AM

I was just a kid ,I was into HO trains and this friend a mine tells me you gotta see my dads rod&custom magazine theres a guy with a beard custamizing the new HO scale revell model cars. so I get the mag and heres a pic of this cool lookin guy going nuts, hes got all these car parts in his mouth and beard and on his head. a pic from that story can be found on the insaid cover of tony thakers book on ROTH. after that sumthing in my head went tilt, I never got into trains again, I just could not get enough of ROTH after that. I saw the mystearion at the hartford conn. rod&custom show. I spent about 2 hrs. just lookin at every detail I could see. I still have the RATFINK(tm) hat I bought at that show, I think I was 16 then, I,m 57 now and I still want to build a ROTH type car RIP ROTH later horty

Donzie

10-15-2003, 12:59 AM

I had the good fortune of meeting him at the Detroit Autorama. My son and I walked up to his table (no one else around) and I asked if I could have my picture taken with him. He said "sure, step in to my office" (2 lawn chairs).
We discussed a couple of his cars he had there (the Druid Princess and a wild go-cart). It was kinda like talkin' to your uncle.
That was the same year he died.

Johnny Ace

10-15-2003, 01:00 AM

Horty...could ya PLEASE post a foto of that hat?

Crease

10-15-2003, 01:05 AM

Really glad to hear your taking the project on. Cant wait to check it out.

Crease
Barons So Tex

cadlights

10-15-2003, 01:12 AM

Big Daddy spent a couple weeks at The Sheriff Jack Harris's
body shop while his last project the Steath was getting painted and he and Gary Mizer overlooked the painting and
Ed Himself did the graphics. Here is a page we did for him
on the Sheriff's web site.
I think you'll like it.
http://nitrosheriff.com/roth.shtml

nor cal nic

10-15-2003, 01:31 AM

there's this artist out of santa cruz ca. DENNIS RENEIRO, i met him through his sisters, that's another story, he's one of the o.g. AIR BRUSH WIERDO SHIRT GUYS, VON FRANCO as a young man even worked with him, anywho, met B.D. through him in my younger days. he always seemed larger than life... then seeing B.D. years later at various shows we always had those early meetings as a touchstone for conversation. all i can say is that he was the most gracious,funny, sometimes grumpy,talented ARTIST in the classic sense of the word that has touched all that ever met HIM in ways maybe we're not so sure of yet.
nic

happy hoppy

10-15-2003, 02:28 AM

thanks lownslow.

long story but Big Daddy was a big infuluence on me.
too many years went by and I kept missing him at shows.
dec. show at mooneyes, 1999, I was not going to miss him again.
I took my swapmeet wagon to the show to have the Big One stripe it. EVERONE wanted him to sign ANYTHING. I asked if he would do the wagon, and he said one of his stripers could do it since he was so busy and his hand was not as steady as it used to be. I said only he could do. Big Daddy seemed to take note, and asked why, I told him I wanted his original work he said he would do it if I donated $50 to his charity. I almost broke my arm grabing my wallet. Big Daddy said he would do a huge rat fink in the wagon, and asked if that was cool. was that cool ? he could stripe my head if he wanted to. we talked the whole time, cars, wifes, cars, monsters, cars.
it can't be said enough, he was a truly nice guy.

happy hoppy

10-15-2003, 02:29 AM

close up,

mikes51

10-15-2003, 02:56 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Bought stuff from him in the '60s?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, and I also sold him this drawing in the 60's.

Here is the story that will be of interest to the other Industrial Designers on the HAMB.

In the late 60's Remington (or maybe Royal, can't remember that far back) had approached Roth and wanted him to design the "special edition Roth typewriter". Yes, typewriter, circa late 60's, before word processors. He told me he was sorry he couldn't do the job. He didn't have knowledge of high volume production techniques and materials that Industrial Designers are familiar with.
Roth suggested I look into Industrial Design as a profession. I ended up taking his advice and it's worked out for me.

KIRK!

10-15-2003, 03:42 AM

Johnny, neither. I'm lauging at jackasses paying $50 for a $5 hat at Nordstroms.

I hung out with Ed at the 50th Bonneville. He also painted an eyeball on a cueball for me in 1995 at Paso. One of my prized posessions.

Skate Fink

10-15-2003, 04:58 AM

...I've told this story before.......I was running a model car show at a Good Guys show at Carlisle, PA in 1991. Someone told me BDR was there as a vendor. I got someone to watch the tables and took off running. Found him set up next to a huge magazine vendor tent. I'm drooling and stuttering and he hears something, grabs a camera and shouts, "WATCH MY TABLE!" and runs off! I stand there in shock for 10-15 minutes and then he comes ambling back and says, "Thanks." He said that he had seen an Amish buggy made into a street rod and thought it was cool. He had static shots of it, but heard it driving by and wanted to get shots of it moving. While I was "guarding the fort,' I noticed a cigar box full of bills and a U-Haul full of t-shirts and Rat Finks.
Before I left, I asked him why in the world he had moved to Manti, UT? I had passed through there a couple of years earlier. He replied that it reminded him of SoCal "in the day...." Cruise well Large Father. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Moriarity

10-15-2003, 06:49 AM

I got to know him pretty well in the mid/late 90's. I had bought a couple of his old show cars and restored them. (rotar and road agent) I remember Ed asking me why I wanted that "old junk" he said the old cars were his "mistake pile". I remember the first time I met him and how surprised I was at how soft spoken he was. He was the inspiration for me to build the futurian.

Johnny Ace

10-15-2003, 10:25 AM

Great stuff,guys....I was hoping Mr. Moriarty would see this thread....
Mikes51.....more on the chopper art story,please....did Newt add to it in any way? Or Robt? Or did he use it as you sent it?
Hoppy....great story,man....I know it's been said before, but Ed was one of the most,practical/cheap but generous/charitable human beings I've ever known...gave away things to one guy,and charged an arm and a leg to the next one in line! Such was the way his impulses worked....
Please keep 'em coming,guys....this is very bittersweet, as they say, but I can never tire of hearing about his encounters with people....

FRITZ

10-15-2003, 11:01 AM

Well my dad took me to the new York city ISCA auto show way back in 1971 ( that would make me 7 years old gang!) . Saw the boot hill exspress, Bat mobile (in fur), phone booth "T". (just to put a sceen on things) and met Ed, dad got me some T-shirts and one of them plastic german helmets, I have been a fan ever since. As I got older I always wanted to be one of those "custom car guys". fast forword 20 years later and Im at a show on long island NY. with my junk and there is Ed!!! Wow, now I got to meet him as an adult. That time and once more in 1993. had a nice chat with him. The kind that pointed me in a new direction, not just in my shop but life in generel. as a result of meeting ed at differant times in my adult life. I see things in a new light, made great friends. if not for this board and Ed "big Daddy" Roth I would not have Met Mark Morioraty (what a swell guy) or many others. so now at the tender age of (gasp) 39 im building my Ed Roth inspired dream the "Roswell Rod" what else can I say. kind of a condensed story but i could talk about Ed, fiberglass & rat fink all day!
Johny Ace love your stuff! Another Book about Big Daddy would go nicely between my ed videos and other books!
"Think Fun Think Big Daddy!"
FRITZ

<img src=http://members.aol.com/fritzfink/roswell>

hammeredabone

10-15-2003, 11:03 AM

A show aired on TV about the California car culture sometime in the middle to late sixties. Lolyd Bridges drove and sat in the manta-ray to introduce the show. They interviewed Ed and he was jumping around and convorting while talking into the camera. His face would get as close as he could to the camera while just going off about how he chopped stuff up and making these outragous creations.
His interview got me buying R&C with my paperroute money and hooked me for Life. Thanks,ED!

porknbeaner

10-15-2003, 11:06 AM

What I remember was a big ol' guy that liked little kids. He airbrushed a T-Shirt for me when I was a little kid.

He used to come by the OL' Man's Shop when he was on his way to somewhere or the other, he was always good for a ride in whatever he was showing.

Last time I saw him was at the World of Wheels in KC (I guess about 4 years ago) he hadn't changed from when I was little just got older. We traded autographs and laughed.

If you really want good scoop on him, get ahold of Moldy Marvin at the Ratfink Webring. He spent lots of time with him, probably knows him better than anyone.

http://www.kultureshoq.com/ratfink/main.html

luck on your book, save me a copy.

if it don't make ya dirty it aint yours http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Johnny Ace

10-15-2003, 11:12 AM

Nor Cal Nic....thanks for your post..Man,I would really like to know more about Reneiro! Franco,if you are reading this post, lay the details on us?
I also need to find out more about L.Rendina of Detroit....anyone able to give me any show sightings or whereabouts of him? His catalogs said: 14408 Plymouth Rd. Detroit,Mich.
He was there early on as well......

Rix2Six

10-15-2003, 11:53 AM

What a great idea for a thread Johnny!

I've got a copy of the book that was mentioned earlier in the thread "Here is your Hobby. Car Customizing." It also has pictures of Ed '55 Chevy with the Ford motor.

I met ed breifly a few times. At a couple of the Mooneyes gigs and at Moldy Marvins Kustom Kulture Extravaganza. Always very polite and considerate of those he came in contact with.

Just after he passed, I was working at the Long Beach Grand Prix. I volunteer as a Flagger so I'm right there in the middle of the action. Anyway, on Saturday, I wore a RF T-Shirt just as my little way of remembering Ed. I was amazed at the response I got from the spectators. So many recognized his work and realized he was no longer with us.

gowjobs

10-15-2003, 11:57 AM

Johnny,
It was the early eighties, and I was a pre-teen model car builder. Thursday night (entry time), I brought in models for the Revell-sponsored contest at the local R.G. Canning Custom Car Show here in Ventura.

Ed's booth was just across from the model show tables, and he was judging the model car contest as well. The Druid Princess and Cap'n Pepe's (sp?) had recently been restored, and were on display.

He stopped what he was doing to check out my work as I put it on the contest table, and then gave my brother and I a tour of both of his show rods. He talked about how what cost thousands to chrome used to only run a couple hundred bucks, and showed me some of the areas that were the biggest headaches during construction.

Both cars from the movie "The Great Race" were on display also, and he seemed to be familiar with these cars as well, as he climbed under Professor Fate's buggy with me to show me how they made it do some of the stuff it did in the movie.

I still have the judging cards with his comments from that contest, and I've been a showrod nut ever since.

GJ

mikes51

10-15-2003, 12:04 PM

Johnny Ace,
I was displaying that drawing plus a couple others at the San Mateo or Oakland car show. A friend of mine had entered his Triumph drag bike and we placed some of my drawings around it to spruce up the display.

Roth was at the show and spotted that particular one and wanted it. He didn't say anything at the time about the little magazine coming out. The original drawing is white prismacolor pencil on black paper, about 11" x 17". It looks like it was used as is, no touch ups, just the "California Choppers" text and "$1.59" text dropped in.

I do recall now, that Roth didn't like the front wheel that much. It was out of round. He asked me if I knew what Ellipse guides were, and that I should get some. He thought it was cool to have most of a vehicle pic distorted but that it was important to have the wheels and tires in correct perspective.

Not much more to add to that meeting, as I recall he had a big booth, the Yellow Fang was on display. At the other end of his booth there were a couple guys airbrushing shirts and stuff on the spot. I don't know who they were.

Btw, I lost my original copy of that California Choppers mag. Roth didn't have any more copys when I contacted him in the late 80's. I finally got a copy thanks to Franco (another helpful artist).

Buick59

10-15-2003, 12:18 PM

Well heres my story. I called Ed one day out of the blue to try to get him to come to Vegas. At that time he wasnt sure. I offred to pick him up and carry his junk ( he only lived less than 2 hours drive away) The first thing he asked me was what kind of car do you drive? I told him I had a 59 Buick. "BAAHHH BUICKS GIVE ME WARTS! i CANT GO RIDING IN NO BUICK" I laughed my ass off.

We got things eventually worked out. He showed up at VLV. I kept in touch with him through phone calls and mostly e-mail. I asked him one winter If I could come down and interview him.....he told me the only way I could do that was if I brought my wife and kid down with me. He really wanted me to bring them. So rather than drive down in the shitty winter weather we decided to wait till spring some time then i would come down for the day with the famdamily.

Ed passed away several months later and I never did get to go down and hang out with him. But I do have a very faded worn our RF shirt that says on the back........."Buicks Give Me Warts" I wore it so much that what he wrote on the back of the shirt is faded bad.

Ive been to his house since then....and believe it or not....there is lots and lots of amazing art on the walls and some very inspirational pieces. One piece in particular has been a real catalyst for me in the decision to pursue my dreams in the art field.

Mike

Johnny Ace

10-15-2003, 12:19 PM

Great story,Mike... Yes, Franco has been very helpful to other artists at times....He even clued me in as to who the "bad guys/crooks" were in the SoCal area when I told him that I would be doing work outside of Roth Studios (a RARE occasion-Pops did not like moonlighting!)...Franco is also one of the few in this field of art who actually worked with and got to know the real Ed....which is actually a whole different scene than just setting up next to him at a show...he let lots of guys spend the day with him at his appearances,some of them then went around calling themselves Roth artists,much to his dismay...
I'm not trying to say that I'm tight with Franco or name drop...I only met him once in person,but he gave me lots of advice over the phone...Just wanna say he has been known to help other artists out,too.....

LiL' NiCk

10-15-2003, 12:20 PM

He was at the World of Wheels car show (Milwaukee) in 2001

I was working at a hot rod booth kiddie-corner from him

I talked to him several times that weekend.

I showed him my work, and told him I was in art colllege....
He told me to walk in there Monday & tell 'em I quit (In retrospect, that my have been better?

As He signed my drawing, he mentionen the some querks in it, & wrote on his autograph"keep practicing, Then he
sketched a wheel in front of me and said "this is how to draw a wheel" - I still have the sketch today.

Basically he told me to drop out of art school and hang/draw at the drag strip
I might regret not taking his advice, But I will never regret meeting him months before his passing.

Johnny Ace

10-15-2003, 12:25 PM

Buick59....hope to see ya at Ed and Ilene's hacienda next spring....We promised that we would be there....We did not have the funds to attend Ed's funeral and therefore I have not paid proper respects in person....It's gonna be hard ,though...

seldom scene

10-15-2003, 01:28 PM

Just a lirrle bit of history for you. Come to your own conclusions. In the late 50's and early 60's part of So Cal surfer culture was the act of "Rat Fucking" some one. It consisted of doing something disgusting to some one you didn't like or were trying to discourage from coming around. A typical Rat Fuck was putting your dick in someones drink while they weren't looking, but every else was! Shitting on someones surf board or in their car was also a Good R F. Thats just a start, let your imagination grow and remember how cruel the 15-25 year old group can be to each other. After someone got Rat Fucked all witnesses shouted R F< R F, you just got R Fed. Noone could sell T shirts by mail order in 1961 with Rat Fuck for a name hence.........

Johnny Ace

10-15-2003, 02:43 PM

I hear ya Seldom Scene....That's what I heard from Robt as well....stands to reason that Ed and Newt came up with "C.S."..Chicken Shift,a companion to RF who never quite caught on....hilarious artwork,though!

Plowboy

10-15-2003, 02:53 PM

I passed him on the street when he stopped in Champaign, IL for gas a few years ago. I waved. End of story. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

visor

10-15-2003, 02:54 PM

The first time I met Ed was when I lived in the S.F.V.(so.cal) in 1963. I was 14.
Ed and Ray Brock handed out the trophies to the
winners of the "Revell Open" model car contest that year.
I was lucky enough to win my division with my
little T bucket model that used most of the parts
from the Tweedy Pie kit. Hey Ed I still got that
trophy man!
When the Biker seen hit the Valley by storm,
(right after the release of Easy Rider) Ed was
selling a series posters of the Hells Angels and
Satin Slaves. These were drawn by Dave Mann.
Man when me and by buddy Bob saw those drawings,
we jumpd in Bob's 58 impala and headed for Ed's
shop. The old brain has faded but I believe it
was in Downey. We walked in this little hole
in the wall shop and Ed came in thru a door from
the back and said "What do you finks want?" Thats no
shit!!
I said we wanted to buy a set of those biker
posters. Ed said sorry guys I sold out of them.
Man we were bumbed out. Well we started for the door
and Ed said " Hey come back here I got something for ya".
Ed reached under the counter and pull up a mailing tube
and handed it to us. It was already addressed to be
sent out to someone else, but we scored the posters!
Thanks Ed for being a big part of my hot rod past,
and present.
----------------------------------------------------------
"OPOSSUM BENDERS"
Central Missouri Chapter

Johnny Ace

10-15-2003, 03:20 PM

Visor...ya still got the model that won the trophy?

Sailor

10-15-2003, 03:22 PM

Inspiration in buckets and spades.

(Also want to ditto what Mike said about Franco)

Assdragger

10-15-2003, 03:34 PM

Visor say`s he still has the model.
Peddro,I lost that book when I moved back to Missouri from Oregon. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gifIf I remember right, it wasnt real thick because it was aimed at kids, I think it had a yellow front and back cover...wish I still had it, I`ve thought about that book quite a bit in the last few years!
Rix2Six, just saw your post, I think that was the book,scan it in for us if you can.

Tuck

10-15-2003, 04:09 PM

I met roth at one of the shows in '96 where moriarity had displayed the rotar. I got there late and the spectators were gone, he was hanging around his booth... Got to talk to him for almost a hour...

He told me not to go to college.

I didnt listen to him.

--- BUT, It did inspire me to start to build a car and college rounded off my art, i dont think that would've happened on my own. I'm in love with his crazy cars. Thanks to Mark I was able to take a ride in one of them, the globehopper.

Friday's Gurl

10-15-2003, 04:25 PM

I'll tell you a story (as much as my tired brain will allow) that a friend told me about Big Daddy.

I dunno where they were but it was cold - Ed was working on a car (under the hood). Ken (my friend) was watching him and noticed some snot starting to drip down Ed's nose. You know how it gets when it's cold outside right? It starts running, it drips, you can't feel it.

Ken said to him, "ed, yer nose is really pouring and you gotta do something before it gets worse"... (I guess it was getting pretty gross looking) and, instead of blowing his nose or wiping his nose, Ed takes a shop rag in sticks it in his mouth - just high enough to be right under his nose to catch the snot. I guess he kept that rag there for a long time, serving its purpose.

I about DIED when I heard that story. That solution to the problem is so much ED... too too funny.

Ken tells it better - you had to be there.

Becca http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Johnny Ace

10-15-2003, 04:31 PM

Tuck....I'm just glad you did stick with art! Your stuff is super-clean....Sano,I believe they called it!
VT....good to know everyone is enjoying the thread...I thought twice about it,mainly because I didn't want Ed's name toyed with or dismissed because some folks don't like kustom kulture hype or VD clothing or that sort of garbage....I try to keep my experiences and stories to a minimum here,cause I either get accused of not being who I say I am, or because it turns into a pissin' contest over who was Ed's "favorite"....not on this board,per se, but on other boards,groups,etc....when you do something almost your entire adult life,it's kinda hard not to talk about it...I wanted to go help him with the Nova project,but......
So,anybody have any Roth airbrushed shirts from the Slauson days?
I remember seeing one here a few months back....

**DONOTDELETE**

10-15-2003, 04:48 PM

Hey J.A.!,

Great to hear another book on Big Daddy Roth is in the works!

No question, BDR's a huge influence on me. Said howdy to him at shows in Louisville, KY and Chantilly, VA then a couple of years later my artwork caught his eye and we hooked up via email. He wanted me to work up some trial art for him. Sadly, he left us before it could be completed. It's all here at:

http://www.jdetrich.homestead.com/files/bdr.htm

There's some pointers on what you'll need to start off doing artwork, supplies, use of house paint to fix mistakes, etc. Golden advice.

John Robertson lives down the road from me and he has some stories about buying the Wagen Meister from Ed. He told me
Ed kept lowering the price on him and John wasn't even asking for a break! Here's a link to picts of John R. restoring the Wagen Meister:

http://www.motorsports.cc/htmlFILES/EdRoth.html

FYI, Ed requested that the Wagen Meister be painted blue ... build specs are here:

http://www.mightyquick.com

Also, John R. told me an interesting story of how he and Ed tried to get the Beatnik Bandit II into the Smithsonian.
The two of them met with some Smithsonian suits to see if they could get something going and all the while Ed's eatin' a soft pretzel! He made sure to brush off all the salt though.

Man, I wish Ed was still here with us! His spirit is going strong though!

Keep me posted on the book! Gotta have it!

John Detrich

FRITZ

10-15-2003, 04:55 PM

Man I am like so glue'd to this post!!!!!!
I aint getting much done?!?!?!?
FRITZ

oldandkrusty

10-15-2003, 04:58 PM

Well, here is my BDR story. As probably everyone knows, Ed hosted the Rat Fink Reunion every year at some location in the greater LA area and at some painter/pin striper's shop. The reunion generally took place in mid-december and Ed acted as host to all the slightly' or really' off center folks that thought Ed and his art/philosophy were right on! The particular year I decided to go the reunion was held on my birthday and we were in Vegas anyway, so EARLY on that Saturday morning we rolled our rental wheels out of Vegas headed for some damn place in the LA area that we had never been before. I had talked to Ed previously when I had decided that the trip would be the perfect present and had tried to get travel directions. Bad idea! However, once we did get to the general area that the festivities were being held at, we just kept asking people for help and we wound up at the shop. What I didn't know was that the party didn't get going until early evening and I had promised my wife that we would be on our way back to Vegas by then, no sweat. So, I got to talk to Ed for a while and helped him set up the grilles for the burgers and dogs. I also gave him a couple pairs of Ray Ban sunglasses as I worked for Bausch & Lomb at the time. Ed was thrilled with the glasses and asked what he could do for me in return. I really didn't want anything as just meeting and talking to him was a memory that will never be forgotten. He insisted that he give me something, so I asked him to send me a copy of the video he was making to record the event. He said "no problem". We hung around for as long as we could and watched Ed and several other stripers have at a '39 Chev sedan that had been driven in from Texas for the event. The Chev was mostly the brown known to be surface rust. No matter, everthing got striped. It was great. Well, it came time to go, we thanked Ed, shook his hand and got ready to leave. Ed said he would be sure to send the video. Sure enough, several weeks later a packege arrived at our door from the head Fink hiss-own-self. The video! I popped it in the machine and sat down with a beer to enjoy the goings-on. Whoa Nelly, the video was so bad it nearly made me sea sick. Ed was a great artist and an even greater person but, he sure wasn't a videographer. I saw more footage of the ceilings and floors than I did of the people and things that were happening. Ed never let go of the record button! I tried several times to watch the video but just couldn't do it. Finally one day, I was going to record the drag races and just out of pure stupidity I used Ed's tape. Major dumkof award for sure. Anyway, that is my story. I hope I haven't bored you all to much. Ed was the best, the VERY BEST!

flatlandman

10-15-2003, 05:19 PM

I met him (sorta) at Mooneyes Xmas in '97. It was so busy, I just got to shake his hand and say "Hi". But I remeber him as a HUGE guy! Bigger than life with a smile to go with it. His baseball mitt swallowed my hand.
Sadly, the next time I could afford to go to SoCal again was this past summer to Moldy Marvins BBQ in July, but there was alot of RF stuff there but it wasn't the same without the big man in the big hat...
So, seeing all the REAL Finks are reading this, I'm gonna do my support of HAMB and give you Finks a chance at something cool...
here it is:
RAT FINK IN 3-D!!! The glasses are still in there, never taken out.
Remember this is a HAMB auction/Rat Fink

flatlandman

10-15-2003, 05:21 PM

and the back with the man himself!

ESnacky6

10-15-2003, 06:00 PM

Johnny Ace...check yer PM's Homie...

Later, ESnacky6...

Rocky

10-15-2003, 06:40 PM

In the mid 80's my brother and I attended the annual car show in Omaha. I believe it was an ISCA show and Ed was there, selling shirts and key chains etc etc... My brother asks him what kinda project he has in the works and Ed says "I got a super secret project back home in the shop in Manti but nobody knows what it is."
He says, "I got Dirty Doug sitting up on the hill with an AK-47, keeping watch until I get back."
And then Big Daddy launches off into a disertation about automatic weapons. Musta stood there in front of him for 10 minutes listening to him talk in detail about which ones were best and "muzzle velocity" this, and "thousand feet per second" that, until we hadda excuse ourselves.
We didn't know if Ed was really into guns or just having a little fun with us and I still don't know....

speedo

10-15-2003, 06:41 PM

Back in 91, I drove 5 or 6 hours to a big model show in Kentucky to meet Ed. Got there and realized it was a HUGE SPACE (i.e. Star Wars, Trek) type show. They stuck Ed in a small back room, right by the door. Luckily I found him, got to hang out with him for a few hours, the whole while he was doodling on some paper, small sketches, and he kept asking if I liked pizza, which I thought was strange, but ask anyone who knows me and I'd eat pizza for any and every meal. Anyhow, we'd go to another subject, and again it would come back to pizza.....anyhow fast forward to they were anouncing that the show was closing, so getting ready to leave, I am walking toward the door, get outside and forgot a picture that I had Ed sign. I run back in and tell Ed I forgot it and he says good, here's something for ya...he turns around a 11 x 17 poster he was drawing on, and well...here's what it was....The ABSOLUTE most nicest guy that I ever met, wish I coulda seen him again..

speedo

10-15-2003, 06:45 PM

And here's a little corner of our "Hot Rod Bedroom" dedicated to The Man hisself....

choprods

10-15-2003, 07:22 PM

I remember he worked with the model makers and inspiredd me to build models first then KARS-also back in late seventies I wrote to Ed and bought one of his pin striping how to books-lots more about wipin your brush on your pants and pschyin out hard customers etc than tecqunique!- still got it!- also he was on the old AMrock station at Kansas City-WHB- once doing a call in interview with the DJ and I called and asked him about how he did the molds for his body- and was real nice -told me/NO MOULD- how he did plaster over wire to get it to his Idea of the shape and then Fiberglassed over the results of that first take....Real Nice guy.....he was a GOD........in my mind!A buddy of mine said when he was at a show sellin shirts he would just lay down on the ground in the shirt booth and sleep rather than get a room!!

hatch

10-15-2003, 07:40 PM

I couldn't believe it when I saw Ed standing in his booth early sat morning at Autorama in Detroit...WOW...ED ROTH....in the flesh!!!! No one was around yet and I got to talking with him about the usual car stuff....My son asked Ed if he "Was the guy who invented Ratfink" and Ed said yes. My son asked for his autograph in his spiral notebook, so as we were talking, Ed was doodling...RF of course, and the caption was "Don't swet the small stuff"....after the show, we sent him a thank you note and a few weeks later....I'm checkin my mail and there's a letter from ED...wholy shit...beyond belief!!!...more sketching and a phone number for some parts I wanted to locate and an invitation to meet up at St Ignace that summer.

Ed was the coolest and most creative hotrodder EVER, ...and a gentleman to boot.

I didn't really know him....but I miss him.

safariknut

10-15-2003, 08:58 PM

The first time I met Ed was at the World of Wheels show in Boston in 91 or 92.He had a booth set up selling shirts and Gary Mizer was working with him at the time.
We talked for a bit and then it came out that someone had stolen his brushes that day.I had my paint kit in the car and offered him whatever he needed.
I brought it in and he proceeded to pick out the rattiest brush I had in the box and said,"This'll do fine"
When I got ready to leave he said he'd like to give me something for the brush;would I like a shirt? I picked out a RF(is there ANY other?) and across the bottom of it he wrote,"Ray,thanks for da brush" and signed it.
The shirt has been washed and worn many times but the words are still VERY clear on the bottom.It has many paint stains on it and some have said I should probably frame it and put it with the other Roth memorabilia I have.But I think Ed would have wanted it to be used rather than enshrined so I still wear it on special occasions(like painting).And that's MY Ed Roth story.
Ray aka safariknut

Moldy

10-15-2003, 10:08 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'll tell you a story (as much as my tired brain will allow) that a friend told me about Big Daddy.

I dunno where they were but it was cold - Ed was working on a car (under the hood). Ken (my friend) was watching him and noticed some snot starting to drip down Ed's nose. You know how it gets when it's cold outside right? It starts running, it drips, you can't feel it.

Ken said to him, "ed, yer nose is really pouring and you gotta do something before it gets worse"... (I guess it was getting pretty gross looking) and, instead of blowing his nose or wiping his nose, Ed takes a shop rag in sticks it in his mouth - just high enough to be right under his nose to catch the snot. I guess he kept that rag there for a long time, serving its purpose.

I about DIED when I heard that story. That solution to the problem is so much ED... too too funny.

Ken tells it better - you had to be there.

Becca http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey Johnny great thread! 5 Star and a big Thumbs Up !

I found a foto of Ed and Ken.
Ed and Kenny we're paintin' Toilet Seats up at Hot August Nights when this happened. I guess Ed's noise wouldn't stop
dripin' so he stuck a rag in his mouth to stop the water works.

Good luck with the book sounds like a great idea.

Moldy

purple

10-16-2003, 12:30 AM

<font color="purple"> In '00 I was gonna caravan down with Ken to the Mooneyes Christmas gig. I met Ed at 2 different shows in the past, but only talked a little cuz he was busy. I was gonna hang with them all day at Mooneyes, but my truck had broke down and I had just spent all my money on a new truck. I decided to wait till next time. There was no next time. At least I have the trike body I got from Ken. I finally have enough of the parts collected, I will start one it next year. </font>

Von Franco

10-16-2003, 02:14 AM

Wow Johnny! This is a great post and I think you are on the right track. As far as your book goes... So many of the people doing books on Ed only ask the artists or the so called name-sayers. What you're doing is what Ed would have done... Asking the average person what their thoughts on something was. This post is great for a lot of reasons. For the most part it shows how many people were touched by him. Not in a "God" sense but in a coolness sense.

Here's my story:

While traveling to Pheonix with Ed. WIth Ed in the brand new yellow Honda with me in the crappy old red Honda, heading to the Tuscon Autorama, we pull into Tuscon to a local grocery store. Ed told me we were going to pick up some supplies. He went in and grabbed the largest loaf of french bread, a package of salami, and some bologna, two large tomatoes a big jar of mayo. As we were getting this he tells me that we forgot the most important part of it, "Magic Sauce", in other words Tabasco. After we pay our bill, he heads to the parking lot and spreads everything out on the hood of the yellow Honda. Ripping open the bread with his hands, he pours the mayo on, piles on the packages of meat, and then loads the entire thing up with the "Magic" tabasco sauce. Making this mess back into a sandwich he tears the thing up into sections. So I ask, "Is this for dinner or breakfast? For both of us?" ANd he answered, "No, man this is our whole breakfast lunch and dinner for the whole weekend of the carshow." So I told him that it would spoil by then. But he assured me that "No, the "Magic" sauce would keep it from spoiling." And sure enough the sandwhich did last us all weekend, and nothing spoiled.

And this was just food for thought.....

Endsville
Von Franco

Johnny Ace

10-16-2003, 02:27 AM

Thanks Franco! Great story,by the way.
While I'm certainly no writer, I find myself in a strange position of being asked not only to come up with a book on our art,but also similar themes that we feel would interest the same audience....These book ideas are crossing over and overlapping each other,so it will be interesting to see what kind of projects get printed...

BARNETT

10-16-2003, 02:44 AM

Very cool stories. Glad to see you're gonna do a book Johnny...I don't think most of us can get enough of BDR!

Skate Fink

10-16-2003, 04:59 AM

bttt

Friday's Gurl

10-16-2003, 08:11 AM

See? Told you my memory was failing... so sad - the first sign of aging...

At least I got the characters and the punch line correct. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif heh.

Becca

[ QUOTE ]

I found a foto of Ed and Ken.
Ed and Kenny we're paintin' Toilet Seats up at Hot August Nights when this happened. I guess Ed's noise wouldn't stop
dripin' so he stuck a rag in his mouth to stop the water works.

Good luck with the book sounds like a great idea.

Moldy

[/ QUOTE ]

Johnny Ace

10-16-2003, 11:40 AM

Man....there's so much I would like to post here about Ed and share,but I don't know where to start....I think it's better to enjoy what you guys are coming up with...
Another word about Franco's post: VF got to enjoy actually working with Ed on the road,where it can get pretty funny at times...Ed could get grumpy,and downright cantankerous at times and one minute he was joking and the next he was giving ya that look that says "Don't try to upstage me,hear?" He also couldn't smell...so combine that with his food habits and I think it's something ya won't ever forget!

Toyghoul

10-16-2003, 01:50 PM

Great stories! Can't wait for the Book Johnny! I first met Ed back in 97 at The Reunion at Mooneyes. Showed him a Rat Fink pez Dispenser I had made, He said "Where'd Ya get that thing?" I Said "I Made it." He grunted and grabbed the Frightning Lightning Mysterion I was holding in the other hand, signed it and walked away. Last time I saw Ed was Mooneyes 2000, Before the cops shut it down. I had been messin around with some clear resin and made a Rat Fink head that looked like it was made of Ice. Showed it to Roth, he smiled and put it in his pocket. Does this mean he liked it? Couple weeks before we lost him I emailed him a picture of a Fink Toilet Seat I had painted, he replied "Very Good," and told me to always put his name and tm on anything Fink related I did. It was nice to get some approval from someone I had always admired. I've been a big Fan of all things Monster since a kid and loved the bulging eyes flies and slobber, spent most of my time in school scribblin monsters. I was lookin forward to seein Ed later that year at Moldy's Fink gathering. Didn't happen , I was there, he wasn't and it wasn't the same without him. Johnny please add some of your stories! We're waiting.......

G V Gordon

10-16-2003, 02:33 PM

Johnny,
I never met the man, my loss I am sure, but did I know him? Hell yes I did. Just like every kid who bought car mags in the 60's or 70's or 80's. Been a fan since Tweedy Pie, still think it is one of the best Ts ever built. I use to draw monster shirts at 4-H camp for the other kids with permanent markers. Did I mention I am 54 years old. Which brings me to my little story. I ran into an old aquaintence of mine about three years ago. After the ussual chit chat of catching up about the last twenty years the guy says. "Hey, you remember that shirt you drew for me at 4-H camp, Well I still got it! Don't fit anymore though." lol
One of my heros for sure.
George

scarliner

10-16-2003, 03:07 PM

Johnny IM,in a big hurry or I be late for work, so I dont have time to read all the replies to this post,but Im sure there will be many.I wanted to put in my 2 cents because of the affect this man had on everyone.This is what happened to to me.It was about 12 years ago and me and my son ,who must have been about ten at the time,were at a show somewhere and we were wandering around,a dad trying to keep his sons attention, and the son was not the least bit interested in what was happening at this scene.I looked over at a large group of people and wondered what was the big hoopla.After getting a bit closer, my heart started to beat at a fast rate--it was ED ROTH! Read about this guy and his creations all my life never dreamed I might one day see him.My son said whos that guy?I only new one way to explain it to him, in words he would understand.I said I guess you would say hes, the Michael Jordon of the car world.My sons eyes got about twice thier normal size and he said can we meet him? Of course sudden panic hit me, and I told him he was probably far to busy and important to talk to us.And just about that time Ed said ,hey let that little guy through,and lets see what hes got to say.I couldnt believe it, he sat my son down in a chair next to him and treated him like royality.First he asked him what he was interested in and what his plans were for his life.Then he took some of his comic books and art he was selling and said,this is what I do.And preceded to autograph his work and gave them to my son.Ill never forget that look my son had that day.Guess what my son frammed the art work and to this day still has it all,also he has attended college and has turned into a decent artist,its his favorite thing to do! And finally after I had given up all hope of him being interested in cars,hes starting to become a gearhead.All I can say about Ed, is that he was a much bigger person than even he will ever know,he was like the salt of the earth to us,kind,down to earth and common as hell.Traits that usually dont go with people who have the talents of a man like him.He is a man who deserves a big place in hot rod history,hopefully he will get it,I know with us ,he already did 12 years ago.Gotta go or I will be fired.Thanks again Ed-- we miss ya!

Skate Fink

10-16-2003, 07:46 PM

.......did I mention my newest tattoo of the Johnny Ace artwork of my concept of Ed's favorite son "Finky??"
http://www.weirdtrip.com/shots/sk8rat.JPG

Johnny Ace

10-16-2003, 08:39 PM

Ha ha ! thanks SK8...I'm gonna borrow that image from ya to use for one of the Christmas posters...I'm short on time as usual....

Friday's Gurl

10-16-2003, 08:53 PM

Yeah, Chad, I think he liked it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

BIG HUG to you and your gurl......... hope she's doing ok and you too..

Becca

[ QUOTE ]
. I had been messin around with some clear resin and made a Rat Fink head that looked like it was made of Ice. Showed it to Roth, he smiled and put it in his pocket. Does this mean he liked it? .......

[/ QUOTE ]

draggin'GTO

10-16-2003, 10:07 PM

I never had the pleasure of meeting Ed Roth, but my good friends dad 'Mad Mike' who is a pin striper used to hang with him 'back in the day'. Here is a very cool pic taken in the mid-'60s of my friend Guy with Big Daddy holding him. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

geocities.com/racedagto/roth_.jpg

(You'll have to paste this in your browser to see it.)

Rest in peace Ed.

----- Bart -----

Assdragger

10-16-2003, 10:11 PM

That is a very cool pic, Big Daddy had the LOOK didnt he! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Johnny Ace

10-16-2003, 10:31 PM

Man...that shot is CLASSIC! I'm thinkin' I want to make this "recollections" project into a full-scale call to any and everyone who Ed meant something to....It should be separate from the project on the history of Monster Art and the true origin of the RF image....something to put next to Franco's book!
But HAMB material should be the main focus,and I do not intend to profit from this....I just wanna see it exist in book form...

Skate Fink

10-16-2003, 11:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Ha ha ! thanks SK8...I'm gonna borrow that image from ya to use for one of the Christmas posters...I'm short on time as usual....

[/ QUOTE ]

YOU brought him to "life" Ace Man! By the way, "Unkl Ian" and some of the coolest guys around laid some stripes on "Finky's" longboard at Sulpy's Panel Jam a couple weekends ago. It is AWESOME! I will try to get a few shots of it posted soon. Things have been pretty hectic around here too......XOXOXO http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Johnny Ace

10-17-2003, 01:32 PM

Hey Man..."Parts is Parts"tm..!
I know there are more stories out there.....Please share 'em?
Nads....Mr. Gasser?......McPhail?....RF?

Assdragger

10-17-2003, 01:43 PM

Had to post DragginGTO`s pic up for everyone to see.

RileyRacing

10-17-2003, 04:36 PM

Sorry to say my only Roth story is a shitty one. We were at the autorama (same one as Donzie earlier on this post), my dad and I. Walked by him, and he was in that t shirt and his top hat. Were gonna wait to get autographs, but the line was kinda long and I had a real bad hangover, so I said "f### it, we'll catch him next year, hes ALWAYS here." Unfortunately, I was wrong.

That sucks.

Jason

Toyghoul

10-17-2003, 04:43 PM

Keep the stories comin please. Here's a great find I picked up at a Swap meet a few months back. I remember seein this image on a sweatshirt Von Franco did, in one of the videos? Can't remember but I saw it somewhere. http://www.geocities.com/toyghoul/rothmag.JPG

bdrake

10-17-2003, 05:59 PM

Might as well jump in. I meet Roth in 1988 if my memory is correct. I was finishing up my college career when a friend told me he was hosting a Rat Fink Reunion at his shop so be sure to stop by and meet Big Daddy Roth. I had only been laying lines and lettering a few months and was much better on the drawing table than I was pulling long lines and tight turns but thought what the heck, go and meet the man.

I show up to hang out for a while and talk to Ed a bit, watch him do some lettering on a few things just having a good time. Everybody was laying paint down on drums that would be auctioned off latter that day. I walk up to see what Ed was putting on the can, don't remember what it was but when he was done he turns to me, hands me his brush and some paint and says something along the lines of don't just stand there watching me, put something of yours up there.

So I'm thinking what do I do now, Big Daddy Roth just handed me his brush and said get to work. OK, I'll do some scroll work I had been working on so what do I do, screw up the first line. Quick, what do I do now, I didn't want to wipe it off so I remembered something I was told a long time ago. Take advantage of your mistakes. So I look at it a minute decide I can turn this screwed up line into a comic of a man holding out the brush or waving hi, can't remember exactly. Roth had slipped off while I finished and gave me a memory I will always remember. I meet him a couple more time but I never bothered him when he had a brush in his hand, I thought he might put me on the spot again.

Nads

10-17-2003, 06:47 PM

Here's a picture of me and Ed and my little girl Sophia taken in '97 or '98, can't remember.
It was at the Later Gator show put on by KKOA.
He worked his ass off but gave me a few seconds for this shot. I can't say I knew him, but I loved him nevertheless.
He was like no other, he can never be repaced.
I still have my Rat Fink Club membership certificate.

Nads

10-17-2003, 06:52 PM

Just out of interest dig this bootleg Rat Fink decal by Impko. A friend gave me this years ago saying, "You like that monster shit."

Johnny Ace

10-17-2003, 07:01 PM

Great posts,Nads....priceless foto! That is one memory your daughter will treasure ....My daughter met Ed at Merky Melvin's 1st party, and she will always have that.

modernbeat

10-17-2003, 07:16 PM

Like lots of you guys, I only met Ed at car shows. At a show in the mid '90s he drew an 11x17 RF poster for me. I lost it when I got divorced..

But I didn't lose the one I really liked. The year after he drew the poster I caught up with him again after he had set up his booth before the show started he was walking around looking at everyone else setup. While I was helping a pal set up his display I saw Ed and took a break. I mentioned that I cherished the poster that I got from him but that I collected artists' self portraits. He said come by the booth after the day was over. I dropped by and he had already packed up. He said he wanted to do something for me and whipped a portrait out on a napkin right in front of me. Looks like an 8 year old drew it, but that sharpie art on a napkin is one of my favorite pieces.

Nads

10-17-2003, 07:42 PM

The other time I met Ed was the year before he died at VLV when I drove my '54 Chevy out there. The greatest road trip of my life.
I met some great Aussie dudes and I mentioned that I dug English Fords in the ID line. The cool cats GAVE me an issue of Australian Custom Rodder from '68 with an Ed Roth ad in it. I took it over to Ed's booth and he signed the ad for me.
I'm not one for hero worship or anything like that, but Ed was a genuine hero in my book. he loved children, he was spiritual, he was the man. His product gave several generations of rat Finks much pleasure.
Little did I know that in a few short months he would be gone. I can still feel the loss today as I type this.

I thought he'd live forever.

hatch

10-17-2003, 08:52 PM

The "autograph" Ed did for my son...

hatch

10-17-2003, 08:53 PM

And the letter he wrote after we sent him a thank you...

cadlights

10-17-2003, 10:18 PM

The first time I met Big Daddy was back in the eighties
at Peach days in Brigham City Utah. My best friend Leon
Howerton ( who is no longer with us ) grabbed me by the arm and drug me down to where Ed was. I had a tee shirt on that said lost in the fifties. Ed looked at the shirt and then
did this. He said I musta been born ten years to early.
I talked to him several times after that but that first
time will be with me forever.
Thanks Ed, Rest in peace.

cadlights

10-17-2003, 10:35 PM

Just my opinion, Who needs to write a book about Ed.
Just copy this thread. It tells everything I ever knew or heard about "Big Daddy Ed Roth"
What better tribute than the words of those who you spend time with in life.
Here is a tee he signed for me, Gary Mizer drew it but Ed signed it and we talked about his life in Manti.
I have memories a lot of folks don't.

Johnny Ace

10-18-2003, 10:03 AM

Keith, thanks for the posts...as far as "why write a book" with these memories,it is one of the things I feel the need to do....You are right, the things written here are typical of the Man,and I want them preserved.....
.... my goal is keep the positive things handy for those who may not have known him....and to continue to share with everyone the gift he gave me.
Thanks again to all you guys,
Johnny Ace

cadlights

10-18-2003, 01:18 PM

You are right. Us folks here are fortunate to have this message board, there's a lot of folks out there that aren't.
I think you writing a book about Ed is awsome.
Thanks for this oportunity you have givin us to tell our
stories.

cadlights

10-18-2003, 11:24 PM

C'mon, we can't be done yet! BTTT

gege

10-20-2003, 03:19 AM

about 1967,im 17 and i drive my just finished 32 highboy to eds shop in maywood to have ed stripe it and he says first thing i want you to do is go down to the liquor store as he points to it and says get me a 6 pack and tell the quy behind the counter its for ed, i said im not old enough and he says no problem he will give it to you, well that was my first experience in getting thrown out of a liquor store. he stripped it for free that day. when ed was experimenting with kevlar on the la zoom i helped him and i get stuck to it holding the inner shell and outside body together and he yelled for a neighbor to come and cut us loose,when i helped ed move to manti his non stop action for days and my partacking in his eating habits caused me to christen his new property with my insides. enough? there are things also no one needs to know.

Kustm52

10-20-2003, 05:49 AM

Been meaning to add my story all weekend...well two stories. First met Ed back around '95, or whatever year the first Cruising Branson Lights show was held. My wife had driven her car, and was having trouble with it...I was out in the parking lot of the hotel about 10 pm. jumping it off with my '52. Ed and one of his sons were just getting back to the hotel from a celebrity dinner (or something) that was part of the show. They came over to see if I needed any help....he thought it was funny as hell that my "chase" vehicle had broken down and I was using the '52 to jump it. Ended up sitting out in the parking lot that night with Ed and some guy from St Louis listening to Ed's stories...man he sure could tell some. Fast forward a few years...I had started collecting signatures on the glovebox door of my '52....and was wanting to get him to sign it. He was touring with the World of Wheels, so I arranged to help some friends set up at the show in Birmingham, hoping to get a chance to see him. Brought the glovebox door, and even stopped and bought a new pack of Sharpies...just in case. Well, he was busy setting up when I got there....then I got busy. Didn't see him around the rest of the day...got ready to leave and saw him pull back in. Grabbed the glovebox and headed off to his booth. He was chowing down on fried chicken....said he'd be glad to sign it but he didn't have a pen. Somehow the one I had in my pocket for the occasion had disappeared...I told him hang on I'd be right back. Out to the parking lot, got my other new Sharpie and hurried back. Ed was still eating the chicken...took the glovebox door and started drawing while still eating chicken with the other hand. I commented looked like I was getting more than just a signature, he said "Well, since I'm gonna keep the pen I thought I give you something more...I can keep the pen can't I?" Of course you can keep it! I think of all the signatures I have on the glovebox that one is the one that means the most...and I got a Rat Fink on there as well!

Brian

candyman

10-20-2003, 08:29 AM

J.A. I sent ya an e mail....

Johnny Ace

10-20-2003, 10:21 AM

Candyman....got your story! You really captured the way Ed treated people in situations like that...It would be great to see that drum,by the way!
If Ed felt that a person did not respect his copyrights.folks, he went after them like a bull who saw red...But he did have a soft spot for guys who included his tm....Thanks again,Candyman....Please continue to pester Mike for recollctions...Gotta hear 'em!
George...I'm glad ya posted...I KNOW that you have tons of stuff you could relate....off-color and such...I,myself would like to hear everything you have to say, but not in a public forum....There are stories I can never tell,either...and some are hilarious,depending on where you were standing at the time....For some reason I thought you lived in Hawaii?! I would like to hear more from you regarding Ed.....
Brian...did He leave the chicken fingerprints on the glovebox along with the autograph? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Please tell me He gave it back to ya nice an' GREEZY!

gege

10-20-2003, 11:35 PM

J.A., i kinda live in kona hawaii if you count owning a house and one of my kids goes to school there but the rest of us cant get rid of stuff fast enough or have figured out how to make the final " get the hell out " actually happen. too much stuff and one more here in school, i keep telling myself soon! gege. Roth! well to get the real feal and real story i would say you would need to talk with all of the real roth blood family then it would make sense, not one but all then it would come together as who the man was,not his outward persona but what the majority of his life was as a whole then we have what we might think might be a completed picture, but us as mortal beings still may have a wrong picture as only ed knows the true person. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

sideburns

10-21-2003, 12:50 AM

hey johnny my grandpa who got me into this whole kustom kultured mess worked with ed and later hooked me up with him . i owe ed alot and PROUDLY support his life on my sleeve you might say......tatoo sleeve that is.... he was the kindest sweetest most loving man i ever met.....praise to him and his servants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

candyman

10-21-2003, 08:01 AM

J.A. I would be glad to send ya a picture of my conga. I need to take a picture and get it scanned in and such. My ole lady is going into labor so it might be a bit before I get around to it. hehehehe... I am pretty excited as you can imagine!

Skate Fink

10-21-2003, 09:26 AM

[ QUOTE ]
My ole lady is going into labor so it might be a bit before I get around to it. hehehehe... I am pretty excited as you can imagine!

[/ QUOTE ]

Prayers & good wishes with al three of you! Keep us posted.....

Johnny Ace

10-21-2003, 11:03 AM

Candyman..ditto what Sk8 sez!
George....I have spoken to Daryl Roth several times about growing up with Ed....very candid and friendly conversations about Ed...that whole Rumpsville board thread is hilarious ,now....
I've seen him MAD several times..REALLY MAD! and believe me, it was something you don't forget.....

Lowlife

10-21-2003, 11:42 AM

Apologies if this is a well known pic,thought I'd share it.A youthful BDR from Best Hot Rods(1960).

Johnny Ace

10-21-2003, 12:21 PM

Lowlife...that is a great pic!
Imagine being on the other end of that German piledriver arm!
And he still had the crusher-grip as a senior citizen....

Johnny Ace

10-22-2003, 12:50 PM

I know there's more to hear...c'mon out !

FRITZ

10-23-2003, 12:41 AM

I hadda put this back up front,
any more stories?
FRITZ

BigJim394

10-23-2003, 01:23 AM

I have a long interview with Robert Williams from the 80's with a lot about Roth in it. It was in kind of an obscure Music magazine. I'm thinking about transcribing and posting the whole interview sometime, as Williams talks a good bit about growing up in the 50's and Hot Rod culture.

Sometime in the mid-late 80's I knew someone who had something to do with setting up a dealer exhibition at some Boston car show and he got me in during the 2 hour pre-show setup period, so I could help him, and so I could also get to see the show before the crowds.
Roth had a booth and was setting up for the show. Roth's early VW Trikes inspired me to build a VW trike with a WilMac frame in the early 70's. It was kind of a "rat rod" trike with no body: Harley Glide Front end with drum brake and big Harley full fender, Old Harley Dresser Seat, Flat Black painted oak package deck in front of the 1600cc 1970 Dual Solex carbed, extractor exhaust system, power pulley equipped, Bosch 009 dist, with Goodyear G60's on 7" Chevy rally rims with beauty rings and the top hat hub covers.
The first VW trikes Ed made (He invented them) were built REALLY low to the ground. Too low, he eventually decided as other drivers could not see him, so he eventually raised the frame up quite a bit. I had read a late 60's Chopper magazine article about when he gave prospective buyers of his soon to be in production trikes a demo ride (this was the low frame original model) he would come back down the regular 2 lane street near his shop at the end of the ride at about 30 miles and hour, and would hang a U-Turn in the street right in front of his shop without slowing down. The article said he scared away more potential buyers with that move than he got to commit to buy a Trike when he went into production.

I had found that with the right size tire/rim/and inflation, that I could almost duplicate that move on my Trike but it involved briefly locking the front brake while turning to help initiate a partial slide. I could also take a 90 degree turn onto a side street from about 30-35MPH without slowing down by just sliding the rear with the clutch out and then popping the clutch when it was pointed where I wanted to go, which set it on the straight course again. Some Harley only guys who I let ride the Trike hated the way it handled and thought the way I rode it was suicidal, but I never had any problems or accidents.

I ended up talking with Ed for 5 to 10 minutes about the handling characteristics of VW Trikes. He did confirm that the really low ones he first built, handled great but really were nearly invisible to drivers (especially guys in Vans). It sounded like he had as much or more fun than I had riding VW trikes. He really was a nice guy, but I forgot to get him to sign anything (the guy who had his hats and shirts had not shown up at that time). I have since learned that if you want to get someones autograph, but have nothing to have them sign, have them sign a bill (dollar, 5 dollar bill, 10 dollar bill, etc). Most people will sign them and as the paper is really good quality it will last a long time (and it will always have some value too).

Moldy

10-23-2003, 10:31 AM

Hey BigJim, great post I got a copy of that article and it's real heavy! Robert tells some really great stories on the dayz of old,
the real deal on Ed one on how Ed went up against a well known biker club and a bunch of other really kewl stuff.

The Magazine is called Gearhead a very obscure music mag. only published when they have enuf articles to fill a mag..
The issue that your are referring to is # 10. It was published in the fall of 1999 and Mike LaVella had re-published it in 2000.

He may still have some copies left well worth looking into.
Here is a link to his website.
http://www.gearheadmagazine.com

Johnny might be something to look into, pretty intense stuff maybe too radical for the general content of what yer doing but
Mike might be willing to allow you to re-publish the article or excerpts in you new book.

Mike has also been working on Gearhead # 12 for a couple of years now. The entire mag is supposed to be dedicated to our
large father should be a good one whenever it gets done.

VW trikes and Ed's genius. Ed was one of the only designers to have an actual patent filed for a trike. (The American Beetle)
The basis for his patent was the concept of having the center of gravity extremely low to the ground for the trikes handling
ability and the fact that they were almost impossible to flip. They were extremely fuel efficient and very fast.

Ed's sons Dennis and Reno still build trikes today. Just recently a friend of mine completely restored one that was a mess. It
came out real nice.

Here's a link to a slide show of the build.
http://www.aeclassic.com/RothTrikeRevisited/a0001_JPG.html

Moldy

Johnny Ace

10-23-2003, 10:51 AM

Not interested in Gearhead or LaVella.....bad blood-nuff said.
I try to stay away from "tributes" done by people who didn't really know him,or work for him.
They fill up magazines and books with bullshit about how big their collections are, etc...they base the bulk of their material on stuff they smoke out of Robt Williams arse,and they gloat over it like they represent Ed's legacy in some self-delusional way...then they get all these wanna-bes and never-weres to do "artwork" in tribute to Ed...people that Ed sometimes greatly disliked, or even disapproved of greatly....people who made careers out of ripping off Roth Studios catalog output from over the years...it's an insult to his name and hard work...

Johnny Ace

10-23-2003, 11:17 AM

BigJim....great post and thanks for the thoughts on VW Trikes....but,I've accidently spent cash with important phone #s or autographs on it!Can ya post a photo of your 70's Trike?
Moldy... thanks for the suggestions....can Germ and I work the Barris booth at next year's Musty Melvin party? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
we are WAITING for ya at RF/375...... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Moldy

10-23-2003, 11:43 AM

Finely have had some time to read this thread it's great and want to read more. A Big thumbs up Johnny thanx for posting it.

Anyway no reason wo work Barris booth at next year's party. Yer more than welcome to have a booth of yer own.
The more the merrier I sincerely mean that.
Always wanted to meet Germ, love his insight think it would be fun!

Would like to get Chad back down here too.

I'll hook up on the RF/375 group in a few C U Soon. Mildew

BigJim394

10-23-2003, 01:18 PM

Moldy: Actually the interview I have with Robert Williams was in the Boston based music, kind of huge fanzine, magazine called Forced Exosure. I'm starting to transcribe it into a text file so I can post it on the HAMB. It's from the mid 80's. I'm not sure if Gearhead reprinted the interview or if the Gearhead interview is completely different. There's a lot abhout his years working with/for Ed Roth in the article.

Johhny Ace: I lost the pictures of my Trike in a move, though I think one of my friends has a pic of it somewhere. I ending selling it to a "Biker Poet", who was really kind of a "livin' the biker lifestyle to the extreme" character, who had been in an MC accident and had a bum leg, and could not support an MC when stopped. He used to show up at some local music clubs and do his "biker poetry" inbetween acts.

The day I met Ed, I didn't realize he was going to be at the show. I wish I did because I had about 3, New In the bag, with the paper tag still on them, original 1960's era RAT FINK plastic rings. Wish he could have signed one of those tags.

Johnny Ace

10-23-2003, 02:06 PM

BigJim...
I had that issue of FE when it came out...that thing read for hours! Very in depth, very informative...Robt ALWAYS enjoys telling stories that he knew would irk Ed...there's one about tacos,HCL, and Ed's hearst from around '70...but I won't tell it!
I have a few ....the time one of Ed's German shepherds clamped on to his arm while he tried to break up a fight between his guard dogs....and the Blue Fox......the infamous rooftop/biker incident.....Ed Fuller's Slauson "cut-off" during rush-hour....much more....the time Ed pulled a pistol in New Orleans....our wedding dinner....so many stories....

Toyghoul

10-23-2003, 02:13 PM

Keep em coming.....

Moldy

10-23-2003, 04:22 PM

oh yes! Forced Exposure mag. I just recently checked out the issue that you are referring to one about a month ago. Wish I
had a copy of that one. Excellent reading only gawt about 1/2 through the article when I had to put it down. Man you gawt yer
work cut out for you on that one as I remember the interview with Robert is like over 20 pages long almost a book within it's
self. Kewl thing yer doin' I'll finely get a chance to finish reading it. Thanx ... Moldy

MightyQuick

10-24-2003, 10:01 AM

Johnny,
Here's a story about Ed at the Washington, D.C. World of Wheels in 1996. Please enjoy my website: www.mightyquick.com (http://www.mightyquick.com) which features the Wagen Meister, a Radio Flyer wagon by Ed.
John

As I finished cleaning the car, I stood back to admire my work. Car guys always do that, you know. I hiked up my jeans and stared at the thing, thinking it might be nice to get a shower right about now. Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone standing just off my shoulder. “Man”, he said. “You spent the grocery money on that thing”. He thought about that for a second and then he said “No, you spent the grocery money, the refrigerator money, the stove money, and the kitchen sink money”. With that he was gone, off to finish setting up his booth. Ed Roth had t-shirts to sell, you know.

During the show we talked back and forth about selling me a vehicle. At one point he set a price and I said “okay.” I ain’t gonna negotiate with Ed Roth. A used car salesman maybe but not Ed Roth. We talked for a while and he dropped the price five hundred bucks! I said “okay” again. He made some notes on my note pad and wrote down an even lower figure. I said “Hey. Whatever you want, I’ll take it”. Then he said “Now, if money is a problem”... “Money’s no problem” I said. ...“then send me a hundred a month whenever you can” he finished. I think if I’d of stayed there all evening, he would have paid me to take the thing. I guess I’m not as smart as I look.