Mooneyes Over Yokohama

Anybody who has been around the motorsports industry knows the name Moon or at least the Mooneyes logo, which is one of the world’s most recognized logos. The company was founded right after World War II by Dean Moon who ran moonshine as a teenager and bussed tables in Pop Moon’s Café among the oil rigs of Santa Fe Springs, California.

Like all kids back then, Dean was enamored by automobiles and after a stint in the Air Force as a photographer he opened his own shop and began making parts for the hot rod fraternity. His first products included fuel distribution blocks for multi-carb assemblies, aluminum fuel tanks, gas pedals in the shape of feet and Moon discs that found their way onto racecars from Bonneville to the Indy Brickyard.

Back then, Dean was all about the industry.

The discs, made of spun aluminum and held on with Dzus buttons, or screws, are an aerodynamic aid that actually works—I’ve tested them in a wind tunnel—and they are still the wheel cover choice for land speed racers.

Back then, Dean was all about the industry. The very first Shelby Cobra was built in his shop in 1962. He was one of the founders of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and in 1964, became its second president. He was also instrumental in helping establish European drag racing when he sent his Mooneyes dragster to compete in England in 1963.

Dean passed away in 1987 and the company languished until Japanese enthusiasts Shige Suganuma and Chico Kodama purchased it in 1992. Shige and Chico have been exemplary custodians of the Moon brand restoring the original facility in Santa Fe Springs, putting all the original product back into production, developing thousands of new products and hosting some of the best car shows on the calendar.

Now, almost 30 years old, their one-day, yes, one-day Hot Rod & Custom Show in Yokohama’s Pacifico Exhibit Hall is Japan’s largest indoor car show attracting car builders from around the world including Indonesia, Korea, and the U.S.

“There are no lines to divide us or define us, simply a great appreciation for the custom culture of any time and place.”Bobby Green, Old Crow Speed Shop

At the most recent event celebrities included bike builders Roland Sands, Shinya Kimura, Ryan Gossman, Hawke Lawshe, ‘Dynamite’ Joe Kerivan and many others. Car builders included Bobby Green of Old Crow Speed Shop, Victor ‘Reno’ Sevilla, Coby Gewertz, and Jack Fields and Edgar Hernandez of Starlite Rod & Kustom.

As you would expect, besides a huge array of cars and motorcycles there’s a wide range of entertainment from live bands such as the El Caminos, The Minnesota Voodoomen and Jackie and the Cedrics. New this time was a Pinup Girl contest that proved very popular along with the annual pinstripe extravaganza where artists were asked to decorate frying pans. It’s a little different from a skateboard and therefore all the more challenging.

There are parties galore from welcoming parties to the farewell “Thank You” bar-b-que. And I’ve never met anybody who went who didn’t have a great time. Indeed, Bobby Green said, “The Mooneyes Hot Rod & Custom Show is so much more than its name implies. There are no lines to divide us or define us, simply a great appreciation for the custom culture of any time and place.”

Besides the big, one-day bash in Yokohama, Mooneyes also host a lot of other shows both in Japan and the U.S. For more information on the Japanese shows visit: https://www.mooneyes.co.jp

For information about the U.S. Shows such as their Xmas party at Irwindale Speedway visit: www.mooneyesusa.com

“Big Daddy” Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

I first saw “Big Daddy” Don Garlits race in England at Blackbushe Airport, west of London, in 1964.  By then, Gar’, as he is often called, was already famous having begun racing in 1950. In 1959, he traveled west from his home in Tampa, Florida, to race at the 1959 Bakersfield Fuel and Gas Championships. He was not popular and whenever they moved his infamous “Swamp Rat” dragster it had to be pushed through a field of empty beer cans.

“It got so bad,” said Garlits, “that one of us had to walk in front of the car as we pushed it through the pits, to kick a path through the empties.” Unfortunately, for him, Garlits did not win but he learned a lot and came back in ’65 with three cars, two of which raced in the final that Don won against teammate Marvin Swartz.

Garlits continued to win race after race, but it was in 1970 while running at Lions Drag Strip that he would unwittingly cause a racing revolution.

One of us had to walk in front of the car as we pushed it through the pits, to kick a path through the empties.

While driving Swamp Rat 13, his home-built, two-speed transmission exploded and severed his foot in half. Shaken, Garlits came back the following year with a new rear-engine dragster that changed the look of drag racing forever.

In 1976, Garlits made another trip to the U.K. and while there came to the realization that the U.S. needed it’s own drag racing museum. Consequently, Don and his late wife Pat founded the “Big Daddy” Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing and in 1984 opened the original 25,000 square foot facility in Ocala, Florida, just off Interstate 75.

Over the years, Don has added to the facility that now tops 50,000 square feet and even that is nowhere near enough as the place is jammed to the walls with not only Don’s cars and memorabilia but around 200 other cars and related artifacts. Note some are housed in an adjacent building called the Museum of Classic Cars.

To be honest, it’s a bit much to take in on one visit; you really need several visits to see everything. Obviously, it’s great to see so many of Garlits’ Swamp Rat dragsters but some of my personal favorites include Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s “Yellow Fang” dragster that was driven by George Schreiber; Red Greth’s “Speed Sport Special”, Jocko Johnson’s “Jocko’s Porting Service” streamliner, Dean Moon’s Moonbeam Devin sports car and the Mooneyes dragster, and the Mooneyham & Sharp 554 Fuel Coupe.

Finally, and sadly pushed into a corner was Jim Lytle’s “Big Al” an Allison V-12-powered ’34 Tudor sedan chopped to the point that it had slits for windows and the driver’s head poked out through a hole in the roof.  Those were the days when drag racing was wild and unpredictable and racers experimented with the unconventional.

“Big Daddy” Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day from 9 am until 5 pm. Parking is free and admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors (60+) military, veterans, college students and teenagers (15-18) and, $10 for children (5-12).

As for Don, whose personal best was 318.54 mph in 4.76 seconds in 2002, you might bump into him working on one of his projects that includes an electric dragster that might just change the sport again—he’s done it before.

Mooneyes Open House

The Mooneyes Open House was an intimate gathering for those who love nostalgia. Everywhere you looked around the Santa Fe Springs, California shop, you saw incredible cars, motorcycles, and the tools used to manufacture their unique products since Dean Moon opened the location in 1962. You could see the history, feel it, and hear it, thanks to “The Hot Rod Trio” who were jamming rockabilly tunes during the show.

The many traditional hot rods, customs, and 2 wheeled works of art fit right in with the vintage speed parts, and memorabilia that occupy every open space available. It’s amazing to see a working shop that doesn’t use computer-controlled machinery or automated processes. The Mooneyes shop still utilizes manual machine tools and skilled operators like they have for over 60 years.

Founder Dean Moon was right in the thick of the Southern California Hot Rod scene. He and his Brother Buzz built hot rods and worked on customer’s cars from a small garage behind his father’s café. Too young to enlist during World War II, he still spent time in the South Pacific as a Merchant Marine towards the end of the war. Years later he got his chance to serve in the Air Force during the Korean War where he learned photography. He used his photography skills in the many articles he contributed to automotive magazines. His articles helped to spread the word about his products. Dean was also instrumental in helping to form SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association, and served as the second president in 1964. Dean developed several products that addressed fuel delivery, throttle linkage, and ignition systems to make cars go fast. After acquiring Potvin Cams in 1962, the company had many high-performance parts available for racing engines like intake manifolds, valve covers, gear drives, and supercharger accessories.

One Moon product that was just plain cool, was the barefoot gas pedal. Anyone who grew up in the 60’s or 70’s is familiar with the cartoonish gas pedal design that looks like a bare foot. You can find them in hot rods, VW’s, Mini Trucks, even boats. Extremely popular to this day are the spun aluminum wheel covers, and gas tanks that the company produces. They look fantastic but are also strong, and lightweight. The spun aluminum wheel covers were so iconic, that any spun aluminum wheel cover was known as a “Moon Disc.” The smaller covers were called “Baby Moons.” The distinctive Moon logo could be found on everything from speed parts and dress up items to clothing of every type. You could even get Mooneyes fabric by the yard, and make your own clothes. The unique Moon logo was designed for Dean by a Disney commercial artist and became a worldwide sensation. 

The company’s offerings were successful and extremely popular for decades. After Dean’s passing in 1987, the company was in somewhat of a limbo without its leader; that’s when Moon dealer and family friend, Shige Suganuma entered the scene. He purchased the company and changed the name to Mooneyes USA. Suganuma continued to run his locations in Japan and put Chico Kodama in charge of USA operations. Kodama was a great fit. A racer and mechanic, he is a land speed racer with the Eliminators SCTA Club. Together, Suganuma and Kodama have continued to grow the Mooneyes brand; capturing a whole new generation of fans.

The Mooneyes open house demonstrated their mass appeal with fans of the brand from several generations. It looks like the distinctive Moon logo will continue to be an icon in the automotive world for decades to come. The intimate setting at the shop did not allow for many cars, but those on display were stunning. For those who want more, the annual Mooneyes X-Mas Party Show & Drag on Dec. 8th at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California is a much larger venue and will have tons more cars on display.