Back in 2010, I released "Go With Moon", the 1950-2010 time period of the Mooneyes story. I was tempted to leave a trace of the trajectories of Dean Moon, who originated this Car Culture landmark, and Shige Suganuma who took such a great care of its legacy after Moon's passing.
With Shige's blessing, I went to Japan at Mooneyes's HQ to sort out hundreds of documents: Moon's photographs, written mails, promo designs and magazine cutouts from the old days. Then I selected images from the Japanese early days as a Moon products dealership up to the moment Shige bought the company, 40 years ago actually. Being editor in chief of the main Custom Culture quarterly in France back then, I was bound to travel and take pictures of what was going on in this creative field... worldwide.
Japan was one of my mandatory stopovers. I had enough to document what was currently going on there, every year, thanks to the magnificent Yokohama Hot Rod and Custom Show I was steadily attending.
Well, back to the story : besides the fact that Moon invented hot rodding as we know it (well he actively contributed to create speed parts and make 1/4 mile race an official motorsport), he was as son of WWII. Shige, as a matter of fact, was one also, but from the other side of the Pacific ocean!
Witnessing those two guys reaching such a point of agreement - and friendship - was, to me, a wonderful symbol. Moreover, Shige not ony took the greatest care of his legacy but made it a worldwide landmark of Car and Motorcycle culture !
It was quite a challenge to stuff such a rich history within 196 pages, but I think I honestly succeded. The book was rapidly sold out and, well, life went on.
From time to time, people are asking me if there's any copy left - unfortunately not - and this year the good guys setting up the best old school show in Switzerland (the mighty Hangar Rocking Festival) told me they were inviting Mooneyes representatives this summer! I called Shige, as it happens to be quite a celebration (think of it this way: Moon's 60th anniversary linked to Mooneyes' 40th one!) and asked him what he thought about releasing an updated version of my 2010 book.
He simply said that's a great idea! I called a couple of friends being featured in it, who all said I should do so! So I went back to my own archives, reworked the entire layout (the original book was a square coffee table book, and this one had to be different in size and slightly modified in contents), included new cars and bikes, along with some more historical pics I had firstly left aside, and here and there updated the whole body of work. It's now 208 pages, and I consider it a piece of its own, not an opportunistic re-release.
I'm happy to be able to offer it for sale, and very proud that it could be signed by Emi Suganuma, Shige's daughter. I'm delighted this whole thing happens at the Hangar Rocking, in the Custom Parts and Wear booth, both of the owners I've known for years and consider highly. This book, once again, was a delight to dive in (graphic designers will understand me), going back in my own history was something I wasn't familiar with, is such a way, and what else can I say ?
GO WITH MOON! (obviously 😉 )
