The Muffler Man Files

With a Little "Helper" From My Friends

2007-06-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

Ah, the Muffler Man from Helper, UT.....I remember him well from my trip there in 2005. My friend, Crystal sent this wonderful picture courtesy of her Mother-In-Law, Millie, who lives in Helper. The locals have affectionately named him, "Big John", like the song. You'll notice Big John has an incredibly well thought out paint scheme. Gloss Black. It might make more sense to you when you learn that Helper is a coal mining and railroad town. With that huge pick in hand, he's become an important figure of civic pride for the town. It looks like Millie had an easier time getting a photo with Big John than I did. Being alone, I had my camera on a tripod in the middle of the street - which almost got run over at least 5 times.

Helper Civic Auditorium 19 South Main Street
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Pardon Me Boys, Is That the Chatanooga Chew Chew...

2005-09-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

My friends Rockey and Jeff took a nice little ride down one of the world's greatest roads for motorcycling, "The Tail of the Dragon" at Deals Gap on the TN/NC border. They went out of their way to indulge me and produced this fine specimen tricked out in camouflage skivvies holding a multi-loader paintball gun. UPDATE. He recently received a complete make-over and is now schlepping as a NASCAR pit crew member in front of the go-cart race track. Rockey and Jeff gotta go back now!
Pictured: Rockey (L) and Jeff (R)
Location: Sir Goony's Golf & Go-Karts 5954 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421 (423) 892-7264
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I've Got You, Babe's...

2005-09-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

The Babe's Muffler Man has eluded me for years. A Muffler Man that's actually holding a real muffler! So my friend Dan took the time to ride down to San Jose to give us an update. Dan sez, "He's in pretty good shape except for a couple of spots on his feet." It's nice havin' good friends to help ya out with yer fetish. Thanks, guys!
Pictured: Bill from ABATE of California Local 32
Photo by: Dan from ABATE of California Local 32.
Location: Babe's Mufflers 808 The Alameda St San Jose, CA 95126
408-294-8092
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The Jolly Green Giant Rides a Harley...

2005-09-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

I'm doin' 80 on the highway thru Blue Earth, Minnesota when I see outta the corner of my eye an unbelievable site. The Jolly Green Giant. Dressed up in Biker garb. So I slam on my brakes and go backwards thru the on-ramp to get this pic.

Making a Planada and Sticking to It...

2005-09-24T13:23:00.000-07:00

First off, this guy isn't in Merced as folks like to believe. He's in Planada...a sleepy little farming village east of Highway 99. His name is Farmer Bud and he's drunk. His head wobbles in the wind, he's chained to a pole to keep from falling and he can't get rid of that nasty flesh eating rash on his upturned hand. Next time you head out to Yosemite, stop by and drop off some ointment.
Location: Ag Museum 4498 E State Highway 140 Merced, CA 95340-9388
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Getting Tired in Billings...

2005-09-24T13:03:00.000-07:00

I caught on to this guy while staying at the world's first KOA in Billings, Montana. While dodging beavers and staving off west nile virus, I was checkin' out the little map of Billings they hand out to kampers. There, on the page, a Muffler Man jumped out of the ad at me, telling me to buy Kelly brand tires from L.P. Anderson. A quick jaunt downtown produced this fine specimen, holding a steel belted radial tire and looking well fed.
Location: LP Anderson Tire CO 3741 Montana Avenue, Billings, MT 59101 (406) 698-7473
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Downtown LA, Auto Alley near the County Coroner's Office...

2005-09-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

"Sergio" has a cataract in his right eye. How do I know his name is Sergio? Because somebody scribbled it on his shirt with a Sharpie marker. This poor dude has seen better days, but he's still standing tall behind the razor wire, doing car upholstery and making keys. However, you can see by the sign that the entire neighborhood is up for sale. I checked on the price and if ya got a cool million you can buy an entire city block and hopefully get this really cool roadside icon thrown in for free!
Location: Orozco Lock & Key 590 N Mission Road at Gallardo Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 227-9354
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High Five from Vista, California...

2005-09-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

This big lug is only 3 minutes away from Highway 78, using Sycamore Ave., but people rarely take the time to visit. What's odd to me is the raised arm which International Fiberglas used predominately in the "Indian Type" Muffler Men. His paint job is weathered but his structural integrity is stellar. His lef hand contains a strap which obviously held some sort of prop in the past. Regardless, this guy's guarding Ed's Muffler Shop and is an easy pic to get.
Location; Ed's Giant Muffler 2244 S. Santa Fe Ave. Highway 78 to Sycamore Ave north. Right at Santa Fe Ave. Ed's Giant Muffler is approximately 1/2 mile down on the lefthand side. Phone: 760-724-3300)
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Indian Variety Muffler Man from Minnesconsin...

2005-09-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

The Wild Child took a special trip to Minnesconsin to get this pic of an Indian variety Muffler Man. He's holding a big stick with a leather ball on the end of it. She says it smells a little funny beneath his loin cloth there.
Location: Thunder Bird Hotel & Convention Center.
Photo by: Mom
Location: Ramada Thunder Bird Hotel & Convention Center 2300 East American Boulevard Bloomington, Minnesota 55425-1228 Phone: (952) 854-3411
Website: http://www.thunderbirdhotel.com/
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The Damnedest Thing You'll Ever See...

2005-09-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

Privately owned, this is one fiberglas statue that most folks just won't believe. Oddly, BOTH hands have been modified to point downward. Strange too, is the giant chicken on the left side of the house, Lady Liberty peering from the back yard and the AIRPLANE that has crashed into the garage! A definite MUST SEE!
Location: Mentone, CA @ Garnet Road and Mill Creek Road
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World Famous Joor Muffler Man from Escondido...

2005-09-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Joor Muffler Man from Escondido is WORLD FAMOUS! He's stood at the corner of East Valley Parkway and Juniper for over 30 years. Every December, the Joor Muffler Man is swaddled in 50 yards of red corduroy fabric and turned into a Muffler "Santa." Anybody got a pic of him in his holiday duds? Lemme know.
Location: Joor Muffler 302 E Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 746-1877
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Muffler Man Mystery in Idaho...

2005-09-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

Who can tell us anything about this Muffler Man? Reportedly from Idaho circa 1997. Hints? Suggestions? I recently spent two hours driving around Nampa in search of an "in-accurate" Muffler Man report at the Hurricane Car Wash. It's GONE. Is this him? Although, this one looks suspiciously like the one in Wendell. Hints? Suggestions?

St. George Muffler Man on the Milk Carton...

2005-09-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

The world famous St. George Muffler Man has gone MISSING! Various reports indicate that he's now sitting on a trailer in somebody's back yard.

Here I am with him in 1999. (top)

And then from 2000. (bottom)

Van Nuys Muffler Man Gets a Tune Up...

2005-09-13T13:35:00.000-07:00

The Muffler Man in Van Nuys, California is named after the owner of Tune Up Masters, Kevin. He used to hold a tire, sporting a macho beard, but the new owners gave him a shower and a shave and now he sorta looks like Kevin. Hmm. Twins.
Location: Tune Up Masters 15237 Sherman Way Van Nuys, CA (California) 91405-2023Phone: (818) 786-9773
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Helper Muffler Man; Black as Coal

2005-09-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

I went way outta my way to score this guy. I busted my ass driving as fast as I could, dodging cows, mule deer, snakes and coyotes down twisty little two lane roads to get to the Civic Auditorium in Helper, Utah. The good folks from this region keep the rest of us energized by mining a lot of coal, and the townfolk take great civic pride in their giant coal miner named "Big John." Painted shiny black from head to toe and heaving a great pick-axe, he's definitely one of the more "unique" of the breed. Try to visit later in the day for better sun positioning in your photo, since he faces westward.
Picture: splatt sits astride the "Fisher-Price Deathmobile."
Location: Helper Civic Auditorium and Public Library 19 South Main Street, Helper, UT 84526 (435) 472-8463
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Spacing Out with the Gemini Giant...

2005-09-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

Our friend, Rockey visited Illinois a little while back and was gracious enough to indulge my sick twisted fetish with this fantabulous shot of one of the greatest legends of Muffler Man lore, the Gemini Giant. Inspired by the race for space, this fella schleps out burgers at the Launching Pad Drive In Restaurant on world famous Route 66 in Wilmington.

The Gemini Giant was purchased for $3500 in 1965. This 28 foot tall/500 pound figure shipped out from the International Fiberglass Company in Venice, CA on two flat bed trailers. Fifth grader Cathy Thomas won the city-wide contest to name the icon.

Location: Launching Pad Drive In 810 E. Baltimore Wilmington, IL. 60481 (815)-476-6535
Website: http://www.launchingpadrt66.com/
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Forestville Gumption...

2005-09-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

He's hard to find!! I passed this guy and turned around two times before I finally zeroed in on him, standing there in the fog. The RV Park he manages near the Russian River is surrounded by lush greenery and lies below the main road, which makes the Forestville Muffler Man extremely hard to find. Usually, these guys are the largest thing on the horizon, so looking DOWN for a Muffler Man wasn't set in my pea brain parameters.

He's a little beat up and could use a make-over, but he's doin' good. The surrounding wine country was filled with spectacular scenery and I'm glad I took the time to explore the surrounding area. You'll be glad too, it's a beautiful there. Just don't drop the soap, rainbow flags are flying everywhere.

Location: River Bend Campground 11820 River Road Forestville, CA 95436 (707) 887-7662
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2005-09-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

EZ On, EZ Off, "Stop" Over in Wendell, Idaho...

2005-09-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

Probably the easiest Muffler Man to access and photograph is the giant cowboy standing outside Intermountain Motor Homes and RV Camp. Two highway offramps and a frontage road make it easy. The STOP sign he's holding is rather un-inspired, but hey, at least they tried.

Location: Intermountain Motor Homes and RV Park 1894 W. Frontage Road Wendell, Idaho. (208) 536-2301. Situated along I-84 between exits 155 and 157 which are less then 1 mile apart. EZ access from the east or west.
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Toolin' Around Jackson's Gold Country...

2005-08-31T23:50:00.000-07:00

He's such a shorty! The "Construction Guy" Muffler Man standing in the parking lot at Sierra Equipment Rentals in Jackson, California has got to be the smallest I've ever seen. If I jump I could pop him in the nose. He has an incredible view of 49er Country, but his metrosexual eyes indicated to me that he'd probably much rather be standing over in San Francisco. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Location: Sierra Equipment Rentals Jackson, CA.

Rapid City Muffler Man; Most Hygienic...

2005-08-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

Probably the most well maintained and most hygienic Muffler Man in the world resides in South Dakota outside the Stamper Black Hills Gold Factory, just 2 miles South of Rapid City on Highway 16 on the way to Mount Rushmore. A full on "Cowboy Theme" replete with a Harley Davidson belt buckle and a Harley logo on his "shirt" he's cleaner than clean as he guards the jewelry factory with a huge pick-axe.
Picture submitted by Rockey (L) and Jeff (R).
Location: Stamper Black Hills Gold 7201 S. Highway 16 Rapid City, SD 57702 605-342-0751

The Malibu Muffler Man's Vendetta Platter...

2005-08-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

"Poncho", The Muffler Man at La Salsa Restaurant in Malibu boasts a storied past. He once held a giant hamburger in his hands, but when the chosen cuisine switched to Mexican Food, the bottom bun was converted into a ready made platter for a hefty burrito and an ice cold cervesa.

It gets funnier from there. According to the former owner of International Fiberglas®, he asked his salesman to really push the installation of this figure since an ex-girlfriend lived in the apartment next door, and she would be forced to see this sour remembrance every day until she moved away.

Location: La Salsa Restaurant. 22800 West Pacific Coast Highway. Malibu, CA.

Willits Muffler Man; Hard to Find...

2005-08-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Willits Muffler Man is a Cowboy, and as such, he's been assigned guard duty at the Willits Rodeo grounds. Climb the fence and you just might find a steaming "W" branded to your backside.

He's a little hard to spot, but he's there. He's on Commercial Street, East of Highway 101, across from the Mendocino County Historical Museum. Look behind the chain link fence of the little wild west town and you'll see him standing in front of the rodeo bleachers. If the gate is open, be sure to ask the rancher for permission to enter the grounds, out of courtesy.

Location: Willits Rodeo Grounds on Commercial Street East of Hwy 101.

My First Time with A Uniroyal Gal...

2005-08-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

Patterned, or so they say, after Jackie Kennedy, I've been desperately tracking down my first "Uniroyal Gal" for some time. I've done two frustratingly unsuccessful trips to San Diego trying to quell the rumor of a Uniroyal Gal down by Highway 8. My current research indicates the fiberglass temptress from SD now resides within a bar in Mountain View, way up near San Francisco.

So, on my way to Yellowstone this year, I went for the "sure thing". I hopped off US Highway 15 and down Business 15, also called State Hwy 91, to Martha's Cafe in Blackfoot, Idaho. There she was! My FIRST EVER Uniroyal Gal!! Done up pretty with make up straight out of the 70's, white fingernail polish and holding a huge plate of french fries, I spent about half an hour looking up her skirt. Much to the chagrin of the many patrons inside the restaurant. Her watch is mysteriously set at 10 til 7. Dunno if that's startin' time or quittin' time, but hey, she's an Idaho blonde, and she looks like she's having fun no matter what time it is.

Location: Martha's Cafe in Blackfoot, Idaho

Greeley, CO; Muffler Man Shot with Arrow

2005-08-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

There are many tales of Muffler Men, and even Uniroyal Gals being shot with arrows.

This is the first time I've ever witnessed the madness. What would possess a person to shoot an arrow at a defenseless fiberglass statue? What's the increase in testosterone production from hitting a stationary target? I've contacted the folks at Websters and they've agreed to leave a space open next to the definition of "dumb-ass" when they finally get a mugshot of the offending moron. The Greeley MM has multiple bullet holes in his legs and upper torso, accentuated by a strange bubbling forth of tiny rocks, which they must have poured into his hollow to keep him standing.

Also, there's a little confusion as to the actual location of this Muffler Man. I entered Greeley from the North, from Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was a GREAT ride, listening to XM Radio, a relatively new technology at the time of this blog.

The Greeley MM is said to be located on the corner of 5th at Hwy 85. Well, you want the BIG Hwy 85 that skirts the outer eastern edge of town, NOT "Business 85" which takes you into sleepy neighborhoods.

Location: Westview Auto Outlet 500 1st Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631 (970) 352-0420

Muffler Man; Idaho Springs, CO. DEBUNKED!

2005-08-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

I spent the last couple weeks chasing down various leads on Muffler Men throughout the western United States. Riding my motorcycle sometimes 6oo miles at a clip to gather info for youse guys. Yeah...I'm obsessed.

Roadside America's Muffler Man Tracking Map lists an "uncomfirmed" Muffler Man in Idaho Springs, Colorado. I spent a good deal of time talking to locals and driving around town, showing them pictures of REAL Muffler Men.

I've come to conclude that there is NO Muffler Man in Idaho Springs.

Instead, what I found was a run down statue of a miner, found in a front yard about a mile up Highway 130 on the road to Mount Evans.

Muffler Man in Idaho Springs....DEBUNKED.