THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THE PERFECT EXPOSURE GALLERY’S “AESTHETICS 2025” ANNUAL GROUP EXHIBIT!

Thank you to everyone who attended The Perfect Exposure Gallery’s “Aesthetics 2025” Annual Group Exhibit!. I’m always inspired by the incredible work of my fellow exhibiting photographers. My “University of California, San Diego (UCSD) / Geisel Library” image along with the rest of the amazing photographs in this exhibit will be on display and for sale until Sunday, 1/25/2025.

The iconic UCSD / Geisel Library is the crown jewel of the university. The celebrated architect, William Pereira, also designed the landmark Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, Theme Building at the Los Angeles International Airport, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). With its brutalist/futurist design, he sought to “convey to future generations the idea of the power and permanency of the knowledge contained inside it.” Interpreted in black-and-white, this image tries to express the architect’s powerful vision.

Thank you again to Armando Arorizo, Gia Trovela, Alejandra Lopez, and The Perfect Exposure Gallery for this wonderful opportunity to share my work.

MING LAI PHOTOGRAPH AT THE PERFECT EXPOSURE GALLERY’S “AESTHETICS 2025” ANNUAL GROUP EXHIBIT

THE PERFECT EXPOSURE GALLERY
Alhambra, California

On Display:
Saturday, 11/22/2025 - Sunday, 1/25/2026
Opening Reception:
Saturday, 11/22/2025, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

The Perfect Exposure Gallery
2425 W. Valley Blvd.
Alhambra, CA 91803

For exhibit information and sales inquiries:
http://www.theperfectexposuregallery.com/home/

To order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

ANNOUNCING THE “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY DVD

Many people have asked if we’ll be releasing our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary on physical media. So we created a DVD especially for you. Most streaming companies don’t carry independent documentaries. If they do, they offer them for only a short period of time. This is a way to own the film and put it in your own collection. Designed by Sven Igawa, the DVD features a beautiful case which houses a DVD that looks like a MOON Disc. The DVD offers English and Japanese subtitles/captions to increase accessibility.

We plan to officially release the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary DVD at the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show in Yokohama, Japan on Sunday, 12/7/2025. However, we will have limited copies at our upcoming events.

We’ll be accepting pre-orders of our DVD from now until the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show. We’ll start shipping the DVDs after we return from the show. Be one of the first to receive a copy of “Craft of Speed” on DVD.

Depending on the demand, we may release our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary on Blu-ray in the future.

craftofspeed.com

A Humanist Films, LLC Production
A Ming Lai Film
Shige Suganuma, Chico Kodama, and Dean Moon, Jr.
Sound Supervisor Jeff Hutchins
Re-Recording Mixer Bruce Greenspan, CAS
Design Director Sven Igawa
Music by Sven Faulconer and Anthony Loomis
Director of Photography Ming Lai and Tuan Tran
Produced by Ming Lai and Tuan Tran
Written, Edited, and Directed by Ming Lai

Color and Black & White
Standard Definition Widescreen
2.39:1 Aspect Ratio
English
5.1 Surround Sound
English & Japanese Closed Captioning*
110 Minutes
Not Rated
DVD
NTSC Region ALL

*Please note that the captioning is in 4-bit resolution, based on DVD technology.

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES DVD:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/dvd

MING LAI PHOTOGRAPH ON DISPLAY AT THE PERFECT EXPOSURE GALLERY’S “AESTHETICS 2025” GROUP EXHIBIT

I’m thrilled to be a part of The Perfect Exposure Gallery’s “Aesthetics 2025” Annual Group Exhibit on Saturday, 11/22/2025. They will be displaying my black-and-white photograph of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) / Geisel Library. This image is part of a continuing series of architecture photographs.

One of my heroes, the legendary photographer and master printer Ansel Adams, famously said, “The negative is the equivalent of the composer’s score, and the print is the performance.” I’d like to acknowledge the virtuoso work of Alejandra Lopez, my printer at The Perfect Exposure Studio (TPES). I’d also like to thank Gia Trovela, who beautifully framed my print at TPES. I always appreciate the support of owner Armando Arorizo and his talented team at TPES.

In addition to this “UCSD / Geisel Library” photograph, my latest work is the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book, a companion book to my “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary. The book was designed by my longtime friend and award-winning graphic designer, Sven Igawa of Igawa Design.

MING LAI PHOTOGRAPH AT THE PERFECT EXPOSURE GALLERY’S “AESTHETICS 2025” ANNUAL GROUP EXHIBIT

THE PERFECT EXPOSURE GALLERY
Alhambra, California

On Display:
Saturday, 11/22/2025 - Sunday, 1/25/2026
Opening Reception:
Saturday, 11/22/2025, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

The Perfect Exposure Gallery
2425 W. Valley Blvd.
Alhambra, CA 91803

To learn more about The Perfect Exposure Gallery:
theperfectexposuregallery.com

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE: THE “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY TO SCREEN AT THE JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM / TATEUCHI DEMOCRACY FORUM.

We’re very honored to screen our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary at the beautiful Japanese American National Museum (JANM) / Tateuchi Democracy Center on Tuesday, 12/2/2025. Located in historic Little Tokyo, JANM is an incredible museum about the Japanese American experience. The museum is a strong leader in our community.

Its elegant Tateuchi Democracy Center has played host to many visionary filmmakers, talented artists, and brilliant thinkers. Over the years, we’ve attended many events there and been profoundly inspired. We’re humbled to be on this same respected stage.

We hope through our cinema event at this special venue, we can help preserve not only hot rod history but also Japanese and Japanese American history as well as promote both cultures.

After the film, there will be an engaging conversation with JANM’s “Cruising J-Town” Curator Oliver Wang, President of MOONEYES USA Chico Kodama, and director Ming Lai. There will also be limited copies of the new “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book by photographer Ming Lai and graphic designer Sven Igawa available for sale.

We deeply appreciate the opportunity to work with JANM, Oliver Wang, Joy Yamaguchi, Sherril Ingalls, and its entire team.

“CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AT JANM / TATEUCHI DEMOCRACY CENTER

JANM / Tateuchi Democracy Center
Little Tokyo, California

Tuesday, 12/2/2025, 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

JANM / Tateuchi Democracy Center
100 North Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Parking is behind the center or in adjacent lots.

To attend the screening:
https://www.janm.org/events/2025-12-02/screening-craft-speed-documentary-about-mooneyes

To order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

“CRAFT OF SPEED” TO EXHIBIT AT THE YOKOHAMA HOT ROD CUSTOM SHOW

The “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary will be exhibiting at the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show in Yokohama, Japan on Sunday, 12/7/2025. It’s one of the largest gatherings of MOONEYES fans in the world. This year is special because MOONEYES is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

For this special occasion, we’re excited to announce that we’ll be releasing the film on DVD and the companion “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book at the show. We’ll also be releasing the film on streaming via Vimeo.

Many people have asked if we’ll be releasing the film on physical media. So we created a “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES DVD especially for you. Most streaming companies don’t carry independent documentaries. If they do, they offer them for only a short period of time. This is a way to own the film and put it in your own collection. Designed by Sven Igawa, the DVD features a beautiful case which houses a DVD disc that looks like a MOON Disc.

We’ll also be releasing the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book. This book documents the world of MOONEYES, from famous MOONEYES headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California to Shige Suganuma, the owner of MOONEYES, conducting a test & tune of his MOONEYES Dragster at the beloved Irwindale Dragstrip in Irwindale, California to Chico Kodama, the President of MOONEYES USA, building and racing his rear engine modified roadster at the epic Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. The book features 156 pages and 127 images, with photographs by the filmmaker/photographer, Ming Lai, and graphic design by Sven Igawa.

In addition, we’ll be releasing the film on streaming exclusively via Vimeo. We’ve chosen this video platform because it offers the highest quality to viewers and fair payment to independent filmmakers. There will be two versions available to increase accessibility—one with “burned in” English captions and another with “burned in” Japanese captions. To stream the film: craftofspeed.com

We’ll be offering special prices at the show for the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES DVD and “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book. After the show, they will be available on our site: craftofspeed.com. They’re the perfect gift for MOONEYES fans.

Thank you to everyone for making “Craft of Speed” possible: Shige Suganuma, Chico Kodama, and the MOONEYES family; our crew; our fiscal sponsor, the International Documentary Association; our grantors, California Humanities CA CARES Relief Grant and Doc Society; our donors; and all our supporters.

YOKOHAMA HOT ROD CUSTOM SHOW / “CRAFT OF SPEED” EXHIBITOR
Yokohama, Japan

Sunday, 12/7/2025
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Pacifico Yokohama
1-1-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku
Yokohama 220-0012, Japan

To learn more:
yokohamahotrodcustomshow.com

ANNOUNCING THE “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AT THE JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM / TATEUCHI DEMOCRACY CENTER

We’re excited to announce that our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary will be screening at the beautiful Japanese American National Museum (JANM) / Tateuchi Democracy Center on Tuesday, 12/2/2025.

We’re deeply honored to work with JANM. We love their strong leadership in our community and their important work in preserving Japanese American history and culture.

MOONEYES is part of JANM’s groundbreaking “Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community” exhibit at the Peter & Merle Mullin Gallery at the ArtCenter College of Design, which has been extended to Sunday, 12/14/2025. They are also in the companion book of the same name.

After the screening, there will be an engaging conversation with Oliver Wang, the curator of the exhibit, Chico Kodama, the President of MOONEYES USA, and Ming Lai, the director of the film.

We'll also soft launch our companion “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book. The book documents the world of MOONEYES as it celebrates it 75th anniversary in 2025, from the famous MOONEYES headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California to Shige Suganuma, the Owner of MOONEYES, conducting a test & tune of his MOONEYES Dragster at the beloved Irwindale Dragstrip in Irwindale, California to Chico Kodama, the President of MOONEYES USA, building and racing his new rear engine modified roadster at the epic Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.

We’re thrilled to be able to share our film with JANM members and our local community. We think of Little Tokyo where JANM is located as our home. As a community screening, the tickets are low cost. Please consider joining or donating to JANM to continue their vital work.

“CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AT JANM / TATEUCHI DEMOCRACY CENTER

JANM / Tateuchi Democracy Center
Little Tokyo, California

Tuesday, 12/2/2025, 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

JANM / Tateuchi Democracy Center
100 North Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Parking is behind the center or in adjacent lots.

To learn more and buy tickets to the screening:
https://www.janm.org/events/2025-12-02/screening-craft-speed-documentary-about-mooneyes

To learn more about the JANM “Cruising J-Town” Exhibit:
https://www.janm.org/exhibits/cruising-j-town?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22589601497&gbraid=0AAAAABgkTlMLcl2eHMNvrd4hWS96o1Veh&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmYzIBhC6ARIsAHA3IkTV7fbGkCddUXmrbPXFjJdh3227HmMV8uHjarHLFABJx6OGMTc0hwEaAvcSEALw_wcB

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED OUR CINEMAKINA: “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AT HAGERTY GARAGE + SOCIAL, PRESENTED BY MAKINA DRIVERS CLUB!

Thank you to everyone who attended, shared, and supported our CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening at Hagerty Garage + Social, presented by Makina Drivers Club!

Thank you so much to our gracious hosts at Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys, California (@garageandsocial_vannuys)! Thank you to Brian Kadorian, Dan Havis, David Schulman, Arthur, and Hagerty (@hagerty) for your warm hospitality.

Many thanks to Max Guerrero and The Oinkster (@theoinkster), Aaron & Jill Espino and Set the Bar (@setthebarlosangeles), and Ron Dizon and Teofilo Coffee Company (@teofilocoffeecompany) for your gourmet food and beverages.

It was our pleasure to help @sundayseventy raise awareness about mental health.

A shout-out to Achilles Aurelius of Manila Sound (@manilasound.la) for creating the relaxing vibe.

Thank you to all the drag racers from the upcoming MOONEYES Christmas Party & Drag Race for displaying your amazing race cars.

Special thanks to Anthony Ngo of 8th & Santa Fe (@8thandsantafe) for their audio visual support, Scott Tillett for his marketing and A/V support, Gary Israelian for being our constant hero, and Ian & Cindy Delos Santos for their generous assistance.

Our deepest gratitude to our longtime friend, Sven Igawa of Igawa Design (@igawadesign), for creating our beautiful “Craft of Speed” Photography Book and all the design for our multimedia project.

It was our great honor to have Darryl Roth and his lovely wife as our Special Guests to talk about his legendary father, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, artist, pinstriper, car designer, and creator of the counterculture icon, Rat Fink.

As always, “doumo arigatou gozaimashita” (Japanese for “thank you very much”) to Shige Suganuma, Chico Kodama, and the MOONEYES Family for all your love and support.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Nick Tolosa and family of Makina Drivers Club (@makinadriversclub) for making this cinema event possible, which is no small feat. Thank you for your great friendship, inspiring passion, and deep love for the community.

To attend our upcoming screening at the Japanese National Museum on Tuesday, 12/2/2025:
https://www.janm.org/events/2025-12-02/screening-craft-speed-documentary-about-mooneyes

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

MING LAI PHOTOGRAPH A PART OF THE PERFECT EXPOSURE GALLERY’S “AESTHETICS 2025” ANNUAL GROUP EXHIBIT

I’m very honored to participate in The Perfect Exposure Gallery’s “Aesthetics 2025” Annual Group Exhibit, which opens on Saturday, 11/22/2025 and is on display until Sunday, 1/25/2026. They will be exhibiting my black-and-white photograph of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) / Geisel Library. This transcendent piece of architecture is the centerpiece of the respected university. My goal was to convey the power of the brutalist/futurist building, designed by visionary architect William Pereira. His prolific work includes the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, Theme Building at the Los Angeles International Airport, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

My “UCSD / Geisel Library” image is part of an ongoing series of architecture photographs—an intensive study of architecture. In addition to this photograph, my latest work is the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book, a companion book to my “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary. The book was designed by my longtime friend and award-winning graphic designer, Sven Igawa of Igawa Design. Thank you to Armando Arorizo, Gia Trovela, Alejandra Lopez, and The Perfect Exposure Gallery for their support of my work.

MING LAI PHOTOGRAPH AT THE PERFECT EXPOSURE GALLERY’S “AESTHETICS 2025” ANNUAL GROUP EXHIBIT

THE PERFECT EXPOSURE GALLERY
Alhambra, California

On Display:
Saturday, 11/22/2025 - Sunday, 1/25/2026
Opening Reception:
Saturday, 11/22/2025, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

The Perfect Exposure Gallery
2425 W. Valley Blvd.
Alhambra, CA 91803

To learn more about The Perfect Exposure Gallery:
theperfectexposuregallery.com

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

COMMUNITY OVER CARS: AL-MICHAEL FRANCO AND WALTER FRANCO OF NAMSAYIN

We had the honor of partnering with brothers Al-Michael Franco and Walter Franco of Namsayin to screen our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary at Griot’s Garage in Tacoma, Washington. We were introduced to them by Tad Matsuno of MOONEYES Hawaii. Thanks to the brothers and Scott Valen and Guy DeVivo of Griot’s Garage, a respected car care products brand, we were able to share our film with the Pacific Northwest.

During the planning of our cinema event, we had the pleasure of getting to know the brothers. We couldn’t help but be inspired by their unique community-based automotive lifestyle brand. They organize dynamic automotive events, create coveted apparel and merchandise, and engage in innovative automotive design projects. Best of all, they build strong community through them.

After our successful event, we relaxed and talked with Al-Michael about what inspired them to create their popular brand, what the car scene is like in the Pacific Northwest, and how they help serve the community. It’s no wonder why Tad introduced us to them—they’re just like family.

*The answers have been edited with their permission for clarity.

How did you get into cars?
Our dad, Albert Franco. Growing up, we would see him fix and modify cars. Some personal cars and family members cars.

What is the car scene like in the Pacific Northwest?
I would say it’s always evolving. We have a good mixture of old and new (people and cars). There is something for everyone, whether it be a small niche of vehicle to the more iconic cult car following, it’s here.

What inspired you to create Namsayin?
Let’s see, it was about early 2005. I just graduated college, received my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. Soon after, I was offered a job with Boeing. My brother was at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena pursuing his Transportation Design degree. For him, leaving Seattle far away from his family, I know was a tough one. If there was any chance he could end up coming back here to Seattle or if I started something where he can take to California, I started Namsayin in hopes that it would do just that. So here we are.

What does Namsayin mean?
Short slang for “Do you know what I am saying?” It’s like an emphasis word you can use to show more love/interest in.

There are a lot of new and established brands in the automotive space. How is your brand different?
We are community based, and our brand reflects that. We like to try to highlight all the small businesses in our area or the areas we go into. We like to teach and share resources. We like to empower others to do the same in their own communities.

Your tagline is “Community over Cars.” How did you come up with it?
I’ll credit this one to Walt. He came up with this tagline and each time I hear or read it, I’m always like, “Wow, Walt really hit it out of the park with that one.”

How can car culture help build community?
I think with culture in general, being a part of something positive, it will always build community. Having someone who doesn’t know anything about car culture and being able to go into a space where they can feel like they are part of something regardless of how long they have been into cars is a great start. Meaning we are all students in life, and we can always learn something from one another.

How does being brothers factor into your work on Namsayin?
I think we can both rely on each other to get things done. We have a nice balance of ideas/vision.

You have automotive design and engineering backgrounds. How do they assist you in your work on Namsayin?
Just as mentioned before, the combination is a good balance especially in the car world. You have the engineers and the designers. We have our methodologies that work well and speak volumes when implemented.

What types of car projects have you worked on in the past?
Lots of personal projects for myself. From removing and replacing components, to painting and doing body work, to full engine swaps and rebuilds.

What types of car events have you organized in the past?
We have done collaborations with local brands/restaurants in the Seattle and Greater Seattle area and sprinkled with some car culture. We also went outside of the area and even internationally to highlight other communities in like California, New York, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Hawaii, Vancouver BC, Philippines, and Japan.

We have done two styles of gatherings which are still current to this day: Community Connections where we highlight a small business, and our South Side Car Cruise where we gather at a start point and then cruise to a small business or area.

How is apparel design an expression of your brand?
Apparel design is best conveyed by our designer, Walter Franco. He has the eye to convey a message with little to few words. That’s the genius to his designs/artwork.

You recently hosted a “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary screening at Griot’s Garage. How was it working with this iconic brand?
First and foremost, it is the highest honor to have worked with and to be trusted in using the MOONEYES iconic logo in collaboration to commemorate the event. When everyone has the same energy, the interaction becomes organic. Taking a page from Shige-san and Chico-san—friends first. Now we are family.

What do you envision for the future of Namsayin?
Overall: To continue automotive culture so it can be passed down to the next generation and being able to be good role models for other communities to embody.

To learn more about Namsayin:
namsayin.com / @namsayin

To attend the CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening, presented by Makina Drivers Club, on Saturday, 11/8/2025 at Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys, California:
https://craftofspeed.eventive.org

BEHIND-THE-SHOT: CHICO KODAMA & THE MOONEYES TEAM AT THE BONNEVILLE START LINE

We took this suspenseful photo during the filming of the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary. Chico Kodama, the President of MOONEYES USA, and his MOONEYES Team are waiting at the start line of the World Finals at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats. His Crew Chief, Tim McManus, who helped him build his new rear engine modified roadster #1533, is talking with him. Dean Moon, Jr., the son of legendary hot rodder Dean Moon, is assisting. In the background are two rocket-shaped streamliners. The yellow one is Team Vesco #444 EV, one of the world’s fastest electric streamliners. It felt like you were looking at the past, present, and future at the same time. This is one of the many incredible images in the new “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book.

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

To attend the CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening, presented by Makina Drivers Club, on Saturday, 11/8/2025 at Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys, California:
https://craftofspeed.eventive.org

FROM INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING TO INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING—THE “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK

We’re proud to say that we’re independent filmmakers. We independently produced the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary. That is, we didn’t have any financial support from the film studios or TV networks in making the film. Nor did we receive any documentary grants. So we had a very small budget and limited resources to accomplish this extremely ambitious film project.

Because we believe in the importance of the project, we self-funded most of it, despite not having deep pockets. That is not to say that we didn’t have any help. While the idea of a solo filmmaker fighting against the system to make a film is romantic, independent filmmakers are highly dependent on others to create one. We’re deeply grateful to our documentary subjects, crew, fiscal sponsor, donors, and supporters.

Because we envisioned “Craft of Speed” as an expansive multimedia project, we’re also independently publishing a photography book in addition to having produced the feature documentary. We’re not working with a big publisher. Instead, we’re publishing it under our own new imprint—Humanist Films X Igawa Design. Which means that we’re working with a tiny budget and very little resources, again.

The trade-off for being independent is creative control. Like retaining final cut of our film, we have total creative control of our photography book. Our goal is to create an exceptional photography book to document MOONEYES’ important history that aspires to the level of art. We also strive to offer MOONEYES fans not just a beautiful documentary photography book but more so a rich experience that invites revisiting.

Independent filmmaking and publishing are extremely challenging. It’s not for the faint of heart or light of wallet. But it’s worth it to tell the stories that inspire you—like the incredible story of MOONEYES. Powerful stories like this are often the ones that the film studios and TV networks won’t produce or simply can't.

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

To attend the CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening, presented by Makina Drivers Club, on Saturday, 11/8/2025, at Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys, California:
https://craftofspeed.eventive.org/welcome

DARRYL ROTH, THE SON OF LEGENDARY ED ROTH, WILL BE OUR SPECIAL GUEST AT THE CINEMAKINA: “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING, PRESENTED BY MAKINA DRIVERS CLUB

We’re deeply honored to have Darryl Roth, the son of legendary artist, pinstriper, and car designer, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, who famously created Rat Fink, as our special guest at the CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening, presented by Makina Drivers Club, on Saturday, 11/8/2025, at Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys, California.

Ed Roth has a long history with MOONEYES. Dean MOON and Ed Roth were good friends. Dean would, in turn, introduce Ed to Shige Suganuma, who would take over MOON Equipment Company after Dean died. Shige and Ed were friends until Ed passed.

Shige hired Hiro Ishii, a talented sign painter in Japan, and introduced him to pinstriping. To learn more about this artform, Hiro traveled from Japan to the U.S. to find Ed. Because Hiro couldn’t speak any English and made the long journey to Utah, where Ed was living, Ed called Hiro a “wildman,” which became his nickname. “Wildman” would become one of the first pinstripers in Japan and a very respected artist throughout the world.

We’ll be in conversation with Darryl about this renowned father, who made a huge impact on art and culture. Along with fellow artists, like Robert Williams, who is the godfather of the low brow art movement and related pop surrealist movement, they revolutionized the art world and pop culture. Join us for this unforgettable event.

To attend the CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening, presented by Makina Drivers Club, on Saturday, 11/8/2025, at Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys, California:
https://craftofspeed.eventive.org/welcome

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO VISITED OUR “CRAFT OF SPEED” BOOTH AT THE JAPANESE CLASSIC CAR SHOW!

We had an incredible time at the Japanese Classic Car Show (JCCS), which has become one of our favorite car shows! Congratulations to Terry & Koji Yamaguchi and the entire JCCS team on your 20th anniversary! We deeply appreciate all your support of our documentary.

Thank you to Oliver Wang, Sherrill Ingalls, and the entire Japanese American National Museum team for exhibiting with us. Check out their landmark “Cruising J-Town” exhibit at the ArtCenter College of Design / Peter & Merle Mullin Gallery as well as “Cruising J-Town” Side Trip, an extension of the exhibit, at the adjacent ArtCenter 950 Building, which is on view until Sunday, 12/14/2025.

We loved catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. Thank you for everyone’s interest in our film, new photography book, and upcoming screening.

To attend the CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening on Saturday, 11/8/2025 at Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys, California, presented by Makina Drivers Club:
craftofspeed.eventive.org

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

THE POWER OF STORYTELLING—THE “CRAFT OF SPEED” PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK

During the making of the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary, we took many documentary photographs. We always envisioned “Craft of Speed” to be not just a feature documentary but also an expansive multimedia project that included documentary photography. Now, with this large collection of images, we’re creating a photography book. We felt that this book could help document MOONEYES’ important history in a complementary, yet different way compared to the feature documentary—with the power of still photography and the storytelling of a photography book.

We tried to push each documentary photograph and the resulting photography book to the level of art. The goal wasn’t to just make it beautiful but more so powerful in telling the epic story of MOONEYES. Each photograph is similar to poetry with multiple layers of meaning. And the photographs, highly curated and carefully sequenced in the book, collectively tell an even more impactful story, representing that of MOONEYES.

Through the specific sequencing of the photographs, the viewer is able to visit the historic MOONEYES Santa Fe Springs headquarters. They’re also able to explore the storied MOONEYES Machine Shop and admire its vintage metalworking machines. In addition, they can experience the natural wonders of the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats and immerse themselves in land speed racing. Moreover, they can remember the last days of the beloved Irwindale Dragstrip, which was recently closed, and feel the thrill of nostalgia drag racing.

Through social media, people glance at and swipe away countless images every day. However, a photography book is an invitation to slow down, appreciate the images, reflect on their presentation, understand their meaning, and enjoy how they together tell a bigger story. Even better, the book, by design, allows for repeated viewings—creating a new and deeper experience each time. It’s the power of a good story, told artfully.

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

To attend the CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening at Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys, California on Saturday, 11/8/2025, presented by Makina Drivers Club:
craftofspeed.eventive.org

CELEBRATE THE JAPANESE CLASSIC CAR SHOW’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH “CRAFT OF SPEED” & JANM!

The “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary will be exhibiting with the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) at the 20th Anniversary Japanese Classic Car Show (JCCS) this Saturday, 10/11/2025, 9 AM - 3 PM, next to the MOONEYES booth.

Marina Glen Park
386 E. Shoreline Dr.
Long Beach, CA 90802

japaneseclassiccarshow.com

Learn more about our film, photography book, and upcoming screenings.

Buy tickets to our CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening at Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys on Saturday, 11/8/2025, presented by Makina Drivers Club:
craftofspeed.eventive.org

Pre-order our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

ANNOUNCING THE CINEMAKINA: “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AT HAGERTY GARAGE + SOCIAL, PRESENTED BY MAKINA DRIVERS CLUB

Announcing the CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening at Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys on Saturday, 11/8/2025, presented by Makina Drivers Club.

In this 2-hour documentary, filmed over 4 years, Shige Suganuma and Chico Kodama, two Japanese/Japanese American hot rodders, helped save MOON Equipment Company, an iconic American speed parts company, rebrand it as MOONEYES, preserve legendary found Dean MOON’s legacy, and popularize hot rod culture in Asia.

“Craft of Speed” was nominated for “Best Feature Documentary” at the International Motor Film Awards 2025.

We’re very excited to work with our friends at Makina Drivers Club again. We had the pleasure of partnering with them to produce our sold-out CineMakina: “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening at the dynamic 8th & Santa Fe earlier this year.

Now, they will be helping us to bring our documentary back to L.A. after successful screenings in Oahu, Hawaii and Tacoma, Washington.

We try to make each of our cinema events unique so that even if you’ve watched our film before, you’ll have a special and memorable experience.

We’re deeply honored to work with Hagerty Garage + Social in Van Nuys. Hagerty is expansive in its business, from car insurance to car sales and storage to car events and media production. Their mission is to not only protect cars and drivers but also car culture.

At their beautiful Van Nuys location, they have a giant car storage facility, where they take care of millions of dollars worth of collectible cars, as well as a luxurious clubhouse and spacious parking area, where they hold special events.

The elegant clubhouse is decorated with historic photos from Rod Emory, who helped design the inviting space. Rod is the owner of respected Emory Motorsports, which is known for their concours-level outlaw Porsche 356s.

In the clubhouse, there’s an exquisite car-themed library that we’ll be converting in a stylish pop-up bookstore to soft launch our new “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book, a companion documentary photography book to the film.

Outside the clubhouse, we’ll have a curated car showcase, featuring MOONEYES President USA Chico Kodama’s record-setting rear engine modified roadster (1533).

After the film, there will be a lively discussion with Darryl Roth, the son of legendary Ed Roth, whom we honor in our film. Ed Roth was a renowned artist, pinstriper, and car designer, who famously created the counter-culture character, Rat Fink.

Like all Makina Drivers Club events, there will be great music and gourmet food and beverages, provided by The Oinkster, Set the Bar, and Teofilo Coffee Company. Founded by fine dining chef Andre Guerrero in 2006, The Oinkster is a Los Angeles institution that helped establish the “slow fast-food” movement in the city. Set the Bar is a luxury mobile bar that elevates the bar experience. And Teofilo Coffee Company showcases unique speciality coffees of the Philippines and gives back to the country.

Thank you so much to Brian Kadorian, David Schulman, and Hagerty for this huge honor of working with you. Our deepest gratitude to Darryl Roth and the Ed Roth Family. Many thanks to Max, Frederick, and the Guerrero Family of The Oinkster, Aaron & Jill Espino of Set the Bar, and Ron Dizon of Teofilo Coffee Company for your warm hospitality. Thank you to Anthony Ngo of 8th & Santa Fe and Scott Tillett for your audio visual support. A heartfelt thank you to Nick & Reyna Tolosa of Makina Drivers Club for your great friendship. As always, thank you to Shige Suganuma, Chico Kodama, and the entire MOONEYES family for all your support.

CINEMAKINA: “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AT HAGERTY GARAGE + SOCIAL IN VAN NUYS, PRESENTED BY MAKINA DRIVERS CLUB

HAGERTY GARAGE + SOCIAL
Van Nuys, California

Saturday, 11/8/2025
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. “Craft of Speed” Photography Book Soft Launch / Curated Car Showcase / Music / Food
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Discussion with Darryl Roth, Son of Ed Roth, and Director Ming Lai
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Film Screening
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. “Craft of Speed” Photography Book Soft Launch / Curated Car Showcase / Music / Food

Hagerty Garage + Social
7933 Haskell Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91406

*Limited seating. Please buy tickets in advance.

To learn more about “Craft of Speed”:
craftofspeed.com / @humanistfilms

To buy tickets to CineMakina:
craftofspeed.eventive.org

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

To learn more about Makina Drivers Club:
makinadriversclub.com / @makinadriversclub

To learn more about Hagerty Garage + Social:
https://www.garageandsocial.com/location/van-nuys/

“CRAFT OF SPEED” TO EXHIBIT WITH JANM AT THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY JAPANESE CLASSIC CAR SHOW

The “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary will be exhibiting with the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) at the 20th Anniversary Japanese Classic Car Show (JCCS) on Saturday, 10/11/2025, next to the MOONEYES booth. Like JCCS, MOONEYES is celebrating a momentous occasion this year—its 75th anniversary.

“Craft of Speed” will be promoting its upcoming cinema events. In addition, it will be taking pre-orders of its new “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book, a companion documentary photography book to the film.

JCCS is a very popular and long-running car show that celebrates Japanese classic cars and its rich culture. This year, it celebrates its 20th anniversary. Because of its important contributions to car culture, it’s part of the Japanese American National Museum’s landmark “Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community” exhibit at the ArtCenter College of Design / Peter & Merle Mullin Gallery, which has been extended to 12/13/2025.

We’re honored to co-exhibit with JANM at the JCCS. The museum is an inspiring leader in the community, preserving vital Japanese American history. Car culture is an integral part of Japanese American and Asian American culture. Oliver Wang, the curator of the “Cruising J-Town” exhibit, and the museum had the vision to launch this groundbreaking exhibit—the first of its kind.

Congratulations to Terry & Koji Yamaguchi & family and the entire JCCS team on your 20th Anniversary! Thank you for your warm friendship and generous support of our documentary. Thank you as well to Oliver Wang and JANM for your great assistance with our film.

20TH ANNIVERSARY JAPANESE CLASSIC CAR SHOW / “CRAFT OF SPEED” CO-EXHIBITOR WITH JANM, NEXT TO MOONEYES
Long Beach, California

Saturday, 10/11/2025
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Marina Green Park
386 E. Shoreline Dr.
Long Beach, CA 90802

Parking is across the street and surrounding lots.

To learn more about “Craft of Speed”:
craftofspeed.com

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

To buy tickets to JCCS:
https://japaneseclassiccarshow.com/visitor-info/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22565009266&gbraid=0AAAAADx_1kubwvBJq0HDGpno7OOpi_oAK&gclid=CjwKCAjwlaTGBhANEiwAoRgXBY5hsqkofDSpRDj-NKm5BtdFiyTcAGLbv2eIMIkad4S3dasq0bN3WhoCnrcQAvD_BwE

To learn more about JANM’s “Cruising J-Town” Exhibit:
https://www.janm.org/exhibits/cruising-j-town

MORE ALOHA FROM MOONEYES HAWAII 2025 OHANA WEEKEND / SPOCOM!

Check out a selection of photos from MOONEYES Hawaii 2025 Ohana Weekend / SPOCOM in Oahu, Hawaii, presented by NAPA Hawaii.

See our official thank you:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/newsarchive/mahalo-from-craft-of-speed

Pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED OUR “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING WITH NAMSAYIN AT GRIOT’S GARAGE

Thank you to everyone who attended our “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary screening with Namsayin at Griot’s Garage in Tacoma, Washington on Saturday, 8/30/2025!

We love the Pacific Northwest with its natural beauty, diverse people, and rich culture. It’s a huge honor to be able to share our film with you.

Our heartfelt thanks to brothers Al-Michael Franco and Walter Franco and their families of Namsayin for partnering with us to present this cinema event. It’s been such a joy working with and getting know them. We can’t help but inspired by their strong commitment to the community, expressed through their company’s powerful tagline, “Community over Cars.”

Our deepest appreciation to Scott Valen, Guy DeVivo, and the entire team at Griot’s Garage, who help people take care of their cars and car culture. Thank you for being a wonderful host for our special event, from turning your beautiful museum into a unique theater to converting your expansive parking lot into a curated car show.

Special thanks to Dhanel Arellano @dhanel.photo and Cheryl Franco @pnwside for the first and second photos, respectively.

Unfortunately, we were’t able to attend this great event because we had become ill. To protect the health of others, we decided to stay home and recover. We were very disappointed not to be able to participate in the event and thank everyone involved. However, we feel very grateful to our entire team for making it possible and all the attendees for the wonderful turnout. Thank you for “always lookin’ out” for us.

We were very moved by the enthusiasm and warmth of all of the attendees. We made this film for you—MOONEYES fans and automotive enthusiasts.

As always, thank you to MOONEYES owner Shige Suganuma and MOONEYES President USA Chico Kodama for traveling all the way to Tacoma to support our cinema event. They had just traveled to Oahu, Hawaii for our screening as part of MOONEYES Hawaii 2025 Ohana Weekend and are in the middle of land speed racing season.

Stay tuned for more special events.

To support Namsayin’s community-driven work:
@namsayin

To support Griot’s Garage’s care of cars and car culture:
@griotsgarage

To pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook

ALOHA FROM THE MOONEYES HAWAII 2025 OHANA WEEKEND / “CRAFT OF SPEED” MOONEYES DOCUMENTARY SCREENING!

Check out a selection of photos from our MOONEYES Hawaii 2025 Ohana Weekend / “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Documentary Screening at the Bob Bosley Museum in Oahu, Hawaii, presented by NAPA Hawaii.

See our official thank you:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/newsarchive/mahalo-from-craft-of-speed

Pre-order the “Craft of Speed” MOONEYES Photography Book:
https://www.craftofspeed.com/store/photographybook