Rumpsville
Encyclopedia
Rumpsville slang n. also Rumpville (rŭmp'vĭl') The name of a fictional place described as Hot Rod
Heaven. A term originally used in the CARtoons Magazine
comic strip “Saga of Rumpville” by Pete Millar
aka Arin Cee. The term Rumpsville was later re-defined in the Sports Illustrated Magazine cover article “The Car Cult From Rumpsville” when Le Roi Smith refers to Rumpsville as hot rod heaven.
, Hot Rodders decide to buy and move to Catalina Island to get away from the general public who saw drag racing and car enthusiasts as trouble. The Hot Rodders re-name Catalina Island "Rumpsville" and abandon the mainland. While all the Rodders are offshore the automobiles and roadways fall into disrepair. Later the government pleads with the Hot Rodders to return. After seeing how things had become so bad without their support the Rodders moved back and everyone knew the Hot Rodders were an essential part of society.
and is quoted "It's where hot rodders could go and all the people would know about mechanical things. Hot rod heaven, that's Rumpsville. When you hop up an engine, it makes a noise like 'rump, rump!' That's where it comes from, man, like from Wildsville."
: The Art of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Last Gasp Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0867195452 by Douglas Nason, Greg Escalante, and Doug Harvey. The forward written by C.R. Stecyk III and Ren Messer is entitled "Road to Rumpsville".
, George Barris
, Kenny Howard
, Norm Grabowski
, and Tom Kelly. The web site pays homage to Pete Millar
the originator of the term by giving him the honor of being proclaimed the Mayor of Rumpsville.
Hot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
Heaven. A term originally used in the CARtoons Magazine
CARtoons Magazine
CARtoons magazine was an American publication that focused on automotive humor and hot rod artwork. Originated by Carl Kohler and drag-racing artist Pete Millar, it was published by Petersen Publication Company as a quarterly starting in 1959. Editors over the years included Dick Day, Jack...
comic strip “Saga of Rumpville” by Pete Millar
Pete Millar
Peter Millar was an American illustrator, cartoonist, and drag racer best known for his work with CARtoons and DRAGtoons magazines. Millar often used the pen names Arin Cee and Millarkey....
aka Arin Cee. The term Rumpsville was later re-defined in the Sports Illustrated Magazine cover article “The Car Cult From Rumpsville” when Le Roi Smith refers to Rumpsville as hot rod heaven.
Comic
The first edition of CARtoons was published by Petersen Publishing Company and is entitled "The Saga of Rumpville". Written and illustrated by Pete MillarPete Millar
Peter Millar was an American illustrator, cartoonist, and drag racer best known for his work with CARtoons and DRAGtoons magazines. Millar often used the pen names Arin Cee and Millarkey....
, Hot Rodders decide to buy and move to Catalina Island to get away from the general public who saw drag racing and car enthusiasts as trouble. The Hot Rodders re-name Catalina Island "Rumpsville" and abandon the mainland. While all the Rodders are offshore the automobiles and roadways fall into disrepair. Later the government pleads with the Hot Rodders to return. After seeing how things had become so bad without their support the Rodders moved back and everyone knew the Hot Rodders were an essential part of society.
Magazine
In the April 24, 1961 Sport Illustrated’s cover story “The Cult From Rumpsville” the term Rumpsville is used by Le Roi Smith, editor of Hot Rod MagazineHot Rod Magazine
Hot Rod is an American monthly magazine devoted to hot rodding, —modifying automobiles for performance and appearance.-History:Hot Rod is the oldest magazine devoted to hot rodding having been published since 1948. Robert E. Petersen founded the magazine and his Petersen Publishing Company...
and is quoted "It's where hot rodders could go and all the people would know about mechanical things. Hot rod heaven, that's Rumpsville. When you hop up an engine, it makes a noise like 'rump, rump!' That's where it comes from, man, like from Wildsville."
Other publications
A reference to Rumpsville can be found in the book Rat FinkRat Fink
Rat Fink is one of the several hot-rod characters created by one of the originators of Kustom Kulture, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. Roth conceived Rat Fink as an anti-hero answer to Mickey Mouse...
: The Art of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Last Gasp Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0867195452 by Douglas Nason, Greg Escalante, and Doug Harvey. The forward written by C.R. Stecyk III and Ren Messer is entitled "Road to Rumpsville".
Webzine
Rumpsville the web site, first launched in 1995 is considered the first hot rod related web site. The web site is a collection of interviews and short articles about Art Himsl, Ed RothEd Roth
"Big Daddy" Ed Roth was an artist, cartoonist, custom car painter, and pinstriper who created the hot-rod icon Rat Fink and other extreme characters. As a custom car builder, Roth was a key figure in Southern California's Kustom Kulture and hot-rod movement of the late 50's and 1960's...
, George Barris
George Barris (auto customizer)
George Barris is a designer of custom cars.-Early history:George and his brother Sam were born in Chicago in the 1920s. After the deaths of their parents, they moved to Roseville, California as children to live with relatives. Both were good students, interested in drama, music, and design...
, Kenny Howard
Kenny Howard
Kenneth Robert Howard , also known as Dutch, Von Dutch, or J. L. Bachs , was a motorcycle mechanic, artist, pinstriper, metal fabricator, knifemaker and gunsmith...
, Norm Grabowski
Norm Grabowski
Norm Grabowski is an American hot rod builder and actor. The heavy set crew cut wearing Grabowski appeared in minor roles in many films produced by Albert Zugsmith and Walt Disney....
, and Tom Kelly. The web site pays homage to Pete Millar
Pete Millar
Peter Millar was an American illustrator, cartoonist, and drag racer best known for his work with CARtoons and DRAGtoons magazines. Millar often used the pen names Arin Cee and Millarkey....
the originator of the term by giving him the honor of being proclaimed the Mayor of Rumpsville.