Folks Of Interest Ed "Big Daddy" Roth

My regret too. And never met Sandy Koufax either, just as disappointing.

 

My running buddy and I met Ed Roth back in 1961 or 1962 one night at Cottons Drive In in Tulsa, OK.
We we driving by and saw his car and trailer in the parking lot. Don't remember what creation he had inside the trailer. We parked and went into the dining area and there he was, sitting right by the cash register eating a burger and fries. We talked with him for a little while. If I remember correctly, he said he was going to Detroit for a show. Last year in February I met his son "Little Daddy" at the Starbird show in Tulsa. He had some interesting stories about his youth with his "Big Daddy" dad.

 

An add from Custom Cars 1959.

 

The Baron was an old time pinstriper named Bud Crozier retired from the Studebaker factory. He teamed up with Roth when Roth was starting out in his own shop. The Crazy Painters were Roth, Bud "The Baron" Crozier, and Crozier's grandson Tom Kelly. They worked together for a few years then Crozier died. That is all I can recall at the moment.

 

Tom Kelly and his son Mitch still carry on the Crazy Painters name in Bellflower, Cal....

 

I first saw Big Daddy in '62 at LA's Great Western Exihbit Center, 3rd Winternationals Car Show where he was doing T shirts. He had pre-made shirts (Robert Williams?) and was just air brushing on florescent colors. I slid up next to him and asked "is that an air brush ?" he looked at me and replied "smart kid"

30 years later, in 1993, Bonnie and I had the pleasure of spending a few hours sitting and chatting with "Big Daddy" at Bob Moscoffian's New England Nationals. After we talked a while, I brought up the 1962 story and his "smart kid" comment. He leaned over to Bonnie and said "I don't think he's got any smarter"

 

^^Tweetie Pie’s always been my favorite! Kinda Doodle-buggish ^^

 

Roth display at the Corvette Museum. Not my pictures, A friend sent them to me. On display until April going to try to make it over to see it before in ends.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Show program from Detroit Autorama Big Daddy signed for me.

 

Roth was a first class jerk. I have posted this in the past and will continue to relate this as long as I'm able to, and there are witness's to this happening. Absolutely no hero worship coming from me.............ever.
I'll make it short.
Puyallup Goodguy's summer 1991, infield grass at stadium. Just finished OT, '66, factory dual quad Riviera, (which had just taken 2nd place in modified at the week long, national Buick nation wide show in Bellevue where the cars were judged like concourse entrys). Roth with his display and tent set up just across from me. I thought how great to have a "Ratfink" tee shirt of a my ride to ware at runs and the like. I walked over to his tent,along with my brother, got his attention, asked him if he would do one and got this response, (and I'm not BSing anyone),............ " I don't do no "F,n" Buicks," in a booming loud voice. This in front of a crowd gathered around "his majesty".
Totally embarrassing, made me feel an inch lower that my shoe soles.
Make your own judgments, I certainly have mine and harbor them to this day.

 

Larry, that was 30 years ago - let it go.

 

My tribute to Ed and his little buddy, artwork was done by Neko Lynn.

Sent from my moto g(7) using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

When Ed worked at Knott's Berry Farm, I had called him to see if he could make a body for a trike I was starting. He said we maybe could do a collaboration. My business was in La Mirada so he said he would come by at lunch. He walked in the back door of the shop and saw the custom Harley Frame and Sportster engine and said that he doesn't work on Harleys. He was cordial but firm. At the Cars of Stars and Planes of Fame in Buena Park, I helped him bleed the brakes on his VW trike, he was cordial then also.

 

Looks like @Moriarity garage/kitchen.

 

I spent an evening with Ed Roth at his 1st Rat Fink Reunion,held at Hollywood Cars of the Stars,which was co-incidentally my 30th birthday. I went with my buddy Steve ("Steve's Paintin' Place" Don Kirby's old shop) Johnson. Roth knew Steve from back when Steve worked for Darryl Starbird in Wichita,KS. They were telling stories about throwing scrap fenders at the hobo's riding in box cars. Von Dutch was walking around with a long barrel .45 revolver strapped in a holster. I asked him "Dutch,whatz with the piece?" He told me "The paranoids are out to get me."

 

That could of been a bad day, bad news, sore tooth, whatever. I know i have in the past had a day or two like that. I am pretty sure that if he seen your post he would tell you he was sorry. Holding in anger for any amount of time isn't healthy for you. Try to let it go for your sake- not his.

 

What about absolute legend

 

Great

 

I had 2 experiences with Ed roth. The first was at the mooneyes show back in 99, I think. He looked over my car and told me that he really liked it. I was young and he was my hero. He offered to pin stripe it the following year for me. I was "over the moon". Fast forward 1 year and I asked him if the offer still stood?he told me to get lost, and said that he only said that he would help me, because we were in front of a crowd. I was shattered! Never meet you idols! Included is a pic of the car after the late Alex Olivera, san diego pinstripe master ,did it for me.

 

As far as telling someone to not hold a grudge, I have a saying that I use. "You only get one chance to kick me in the nuts".

 

I have heard mixed stories about Roth over decades. Some great, some good, some very bad. I never met him. I guess it depends on what day and time you got with him, and what mood he was in, I don't know.

 

I had a great experience with him! I was at a rod run. I don't remember where, Maybe Memphis. He came over and looked the roadster over very carefully. I showed him the fiberglass front spring and the odd features. He really liked the car. He was into fiberglass. We sat on the grass and talked for a long time. He said he wanted to paint it. I was thrilled. He said he had never painted a 32 roadster and I should send him some pictures. He had a miniature card that looked like something from a fortune cookie. I of course I lost it.