LAに戻るTeamとWendoverで別れ、約250mile(400km)先 Rat Fink MuseumのあるMantiを目指す事にしました。このままLAに戻る選択もあったのですがEd "Big Daddy” Rothが居たこの街を訪れたのは約20年前、それ以来ご無沙汰していたので折角ユタ州にいるのだから顔を出しに行こうと思ったのです。折角ユタ州にと思うとまだ何人かの友人達とも会いたかったのですが終わりの無い旅では無いので彼らには失礼して車を飛ばしました。
We parted ways with the team returning to LA at Wendover, and we decided to head toward Manti, about 250 miles (400 km) away, home of the Rat Fink Museum. We could have chosen to go straight back to LA, but it had been about 20 years since I last visited this town, where Ed "Big Daddy" Roth lived. Since we were already in Utah, I thought it would be a good opportunity to pay a visit. I also wanted to catch up with a few other friends in Utah, but since this is not an endless journey, I had to apologize to them and drove on.
Googleで検索したら通常ルートよりも早く現地に到着できるルートがあったので通常ルートでいったら約4時間が3時間30分とかなれば迷わず早いルートを取りますね。しかしその道は幹線道路をショートカットする様な道でこのように何も無い所をただ走るだけ、この道はさて電柱が先で道が出来たのか？はたまた道が先だったのか？と話していると「電柱を立てる為に道が出来たのでは？」う〜ん正しいかも。
When I checked on Google, I found a route that would get me to the destination faster than the usual route. If the usual route takes about four hours, and this shortcut cuts it down to three and a half, I’d take the faster route without hesitation. However, this road was a kind of shortcut off the main highway, just running through empty, deserted areas. While driving, we were wondering, “Did the power poles come first and the road was built afterward, or was the road there first?” “Maybe the road was built just to put up the power poles.” Hmmm… that might actually be correct.
濃いBlueがFreewayと使って行くルートで薄いBlueが我々が通ったルートです。
The dark blue shows the route via the freeway, while the light blue shows the route we took.
こんな道が延々と続くとさすが「何があったらどうしよう」と携帯を試すと電波が無い！ なんて場所もありました。Gas Stationも無ければトイレも無い！
On a road like this that just keeps going endlessly, you really start thinking, "What if something happens?", when I try my phone, at some places, there’s no signal at all! There are no gas stations, and not even a single bathroom!
そんなこんなで何事も無く無事にRat Fink Museumに到着しました。久し振りのMantiの街、懐かしいです。
And with all that, we safely arrived at the Rat Fink Museum without any problems. It’s been a long time since I last visited the town of Manti—it feels so nostalgic.
Museumには生前からEd Rothが使っていた物から今に至るまで多く物が展示してありこの様な型でEd Rothを残すと言うのは大事な事だなと感銘したのでした。MOONEYESもUSA ShopはそのままMuseumするのが次のStepかもしれません。
The museum displays many items that Ed Roth used during his lifetime up to the present day, and seeing how his legacy is preserved in this way left a strong impression on me. I felt that keeping Ed Roth alive through such exhibits is truly important. Perhaps for MOONEYES, turning the USA shop into a museum could be the next step.
Museumをしっかり見せて頂き、久し振りの再会を喜び、2026年6月の1st Weekendの開催されるRat Fink Unionで再会を約束し、我々はMantiの街を抜け宿泊地とるSt. Georgeを目指したのでした。MantiからSanta Fe Springs, CAまで約600mile(1,000km弱) 一気に走るのは厳しいので200mile(320km)先のSt. Georgeを目指したのです。遠くて大変だなと思っていたRat Fink Museum寄って良かったです。
After taking our time at the Museum, enjoying the exhibits and celebrating a long-awaited reunion, we promised to meet again at the Rat Fink Reunion scheduled for the first weekend of June 2026. From there, we left the town of Manti and headed for our stopover in St. George. Driving straight from Manti back to Santa Fe Springs, CA—about 600 miles (just under 1,000 km)—would have been too much for one go, so we aimed for St. George, about 200 miles (320 km) away. Though the distance felt daunting, I’m truly glad we made the detour to visit the Rat Fink Museum.
24th Annual Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s Rat Fink Reunion 2026
404 E 300 N, Manti, Utah
Dates: Jun 4-6, 2026
Formode details click HERE.
Ed “Big Daddy” Roth's Rat Fink Museum
Address: 404 E 300 N St, Manti, UT 84642, USA
TEL: +1 435-851-2449
"Step back in time and immerse yourself in the wild world of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's Rat Fink Museum, located in Manti, Utah! Celebrating the iconic counterculture legend, the museum and store showcase a treasure trove of Rat Fink memorabilia and art. Plan your visit give us a call 435-851-2449 and experience the kustom kulture phenomenon firsthand!"
ユタ州マンタイにあるエド “ビッグダディ” ロスのラットフィンク・ミュージアムで、時をさかのぼりワイルドな世界に浸ろう！カウンターカルチャーの伝説を称えるこのミュージアムとショップには、ラットフィンクのメモラビリアやアートが宝物のように展示されています。ご訪問のご計画は、お気軽に 435-851-2449 までお電話ください。カスタムカルチャーの現象を直に体験してみましょう！
