Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MANTI — He drools, he’s hideous and he’s waiting to welcome you this weekend.
He is Rat Fink, the anti-Mickey Mouse creation of Ed Roth. Roth was a well-known hot-rodder, pinstriper and artist who passed away in 2001. His wife Ilene carries on his legacy, hosting an annual Rat Fink Reunion in Manti, Utah.
Ray Campbell helps organize the event. He’s been talking to “Finksters” planning to come from as far away as New Mexico, Michigan and Florida. “The thing with Rat Fink is, you never know what’s going to show up,” Campbell said.
Campbell says it’s amazing how Ed Roth affected different people: pinstripers, airbrush artists and hot-rodders from all over the United States. The reunion features some of all three. The public can bring in items to be pinstriped, or buy pinstriped and airbrushed art at the event.
Ilene Roth opens the Rat Fink museum to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the reunion weekend. The display has been growing every year, and features Roth's cars, bikes and old models and toys from the 1960s-1970s. The store is also open, selling T-shirts — Roth pioneered art on shirts in the ‘50s — and other fink-adorned souvenirs.
You can check out the Rat Fink website for a full list of events, which include a cruise, a 5K and a barbecue. Campbell said the biggest day is Saturday, when the car show hits City Park in Manti at 200 North 300 West: “You see stuff you don’t see at other shows.” Campbell said you can expect to see rat rods, unique motorcycles and about anything that’s “off the wall.”
The museum is located at 404 East 300 North in Manti. Admission to the museum and show is free. Save your money for food and pinstripers.
Hotel rooms in Manti are sold out, so plan on staying a town or two away if you choose to stay overnight.
Contributing: Sam Penrod
Brian Champagne has reported on cars for more than nine years. He holds a Masters Degree in Communications from the University of the Pacific, and teaches at Utah State University.
