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JAMES O'MAHONEY

SURF RAT

O’MAHONEY MONDAYS: “SURF RAT”

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WORDS BY JAMES O’MAHONEY
PHOTOS BY SUSANNE MELANIE BERRY

“SURF RAT” a concept that I drew  in the 5th grade (1955) and 57 yrs later made a reality. This 9-foot aluminum surf, twin carbed object d’ art slid in for its debut this weekend at the Santa Barbara Surfing Museum and was a hit. The most asked question was, “Is that a Big Daddy Ed Roth board?” “No,” but back in the mid 1960’s Big Daddy Ed Roth did create tons of images of oversized hot rod engines placed on skateboards, tricycles, etc. anything with wheels with multi-toothed bug-eyed monsters piloting them. His iconic “Rat Fink ” creature was featured hanging ten in a tube at Huntington Pier but motorless,  I couldn’t seem to find a high-powered surfboard in his quiver of fantasies.

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The best scene at the museum debut was a guy explaining to his wife and mother-in-law the title card that hangs above the board stating ‘”SURF RAT” a 1950’s concept object d’ art – anyone with a drop of oil in their blood gets it.’

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