Kurt believed that art was expressed as manifestations of contemporary society, such as freeways, jet planes and the Hot Rods of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. Roth’s custom Hot Rods and cartoons of bizarre people behind the wheels were emblematic of the role of transportation in American culture, as well as aspects of rebellion. This essay was sent to Kurt by Roth in 1969 with the notation “Want more? Let me know!” It’s likely Kurt was looking for material that he could present or adapt for publication. Roth covers the history of Hot Rods and Choppers and the emerging “biker” trend in 1969, when the film Easy Rider hit the big screen, “Weekends finds choppers or near choppers on all highways. Papers are full of headlines about Outlaw clubs...the movies have only started.”
