Livermore, California: Rodeo Muffler Man

The Rodeo Muffler Man can only be seen in one of two ways: 1) From the eastbound I-580 exit lane at Exit 50. 2) To get a closer look, park your car at the Las Positas Golf Course lot at Exit 50 and walk across the golf course toward the expressway. You have to walk next to a driving range and then across a fairway to get to him.

The Muffler Man was out for display for the annual Livermore Rodeo. However, it was not at the last address posted. It was off 580. Going east, it was off the El Charro exit and then a left onto Freisman Road. He was right at the entrance to the Tri-Valley Golf Center. The El Charro exit is before Airway Boulevard exit and is not at Airway/Portola.

He is dressed in red, wearing a cowboy hat, and is painted to advertise for the rodeo. He didn't have anything in his hands.

Although he has already been documented, I'd like to share a story about the Livermore Cowboy. I taught in Livermore for twenty years and my commute led me right by him every morning. The local high school kids and the rodeo committee had an ongoing struggle: the kids would attach all sorts of organs (the most convincing of which was a muffler, complete with tail pipe, which ran up from his crotch with the tailpipe ending up in his palm up hand). It was pretty funny, especially if you check out the expression on his face, which is very much like that on p. 119 of October's Smithsonian. At least I thought it was funny until I realized I was checking out the crotch of a fiberglass cowboy every morning.

Alas, one night, the kids got carried away and kidnapped the cowboy; he sustained some damage in the process. He was recovered, repaired, repainted and now advertises Livermore's annual rodeo from the INSIDE of the fence. He's only out there alongside Hwy 580 for a couple of weeks a year, but every time I see him I have to chuckle and thank him for brightening up my commute.

He's been set out for at least the last 20 years I've known just during rodeo season. Rumor has it he was man-napped and recovered at a local high school during the 80s. Lots of lewd things have dangled from him during the years. Hey, what can I say, California humor?

The Livermore and Dublin Muffler Man are one and the same. The golfer has been switched to a rodeo advertisement and is not up all year. Last time I was by there, Muffler Man was nowhere to be seen. It is next to Highway 580 in Livermore, not Highway 680, which is about 3 or 4 miles west. Golf course is next to Livermore Airport.