puts the "Dick" in Oakridge...

Driving through the small town of Oakridge, Oregon on a 3 hour road trip the other day and I spy a model A truck gassing up, full fendered, unchopped, suede, SBC, kinda rare in these parts to see a rod rippin around. Pulled in next to the guy, he's standing at the pump, "Hey nice A, 31?", no answer, again "Hey bud, how's it goin, I had a 31 5 window coupe a while back" nothing, so I think crap this guy is deaf, finally he turns and looks at me, I say "nice truck", he replies stonefaced "I wish I could say the same about yours" and turns around. My daily is a lifted Toyota T100 ext cab on 35" mudders, lumber rack, I love it. I reply to his ass comment, "well guess you don't like imports, have a nice day." He was an old codger and I'm guessing caught some shrapnel in Okinowa or something but geez, are there really people out there who hate imports so much as to be a dick to a fellow enthusiast just cuz he also drives a Yoter. Long winded and OT but I thought it was pertinent enuf to share. Later.

 

I guess I'm a DICK! Wait, I know I am. I hate when people feel the need to talk about my car or theirs, unless they're women. In that case, I'm probably not really listening.

 

He was obviously needing a "Geritol fix" I get that way sometimes. I'll appologize for the old fart. Sorry. What a dick!

 

That is beat...I try to be somewhat nice to people. Well, perhaps thats a lie. I hate when people would come up to me with my Merc and be like "I used to have a 80 Volvo back in college" or some shit....like.....wha???

 

Don't let one Richard Cranium speak for everyone.Some people just don't have no manners.

 

Oakridge is a cool little town. I go through ther a coulpe times a year to visit my uncle in Klamath Falls. I dig the twisty drive from Pleasent Hill to Cresent Lake.
As for the old timer, probably was out for a drive from Eugene. HaHaHa!

Josh

 

.....and because he's driving an A PU he's asking for a conversation with a stranger?

 

Anytime I went out for a ride in my daily driver Model A coupe ( or woodie) I got a lot of attention. Some of it not wanted. Insults from Geezers (hey!..I'm a Geezer now too!) because mine wasn't 100% stock. Questions as to whether the Woodie body was "original", and then guffaws because it wqsn't....I just had to keep it out in the weather a few years and revarnish it a few times before folks commented on how "rare and original and valuable" it was..and that I shouldn't be driving it, because I was "ruining it's value". Fact is, I had $700 in the bodywork, all done with simple handtools..

The fact that the mill under the hood was a '71 2.0l Pinto mill went over their heads. Or the fact that I won a trophy plaque at the largest single day car show in Michigan, on Father's Day in 2000 at Charleton Park in Hastings, MI, In the Antique and Restored Class...My youngest son Dan, then 7, got a real kick out of that one. "We've got a Pinto Ford motor under the hood, Daddy!--Why did we get a Antique Award?"

I just smile a lot, and drive them down the road, and the rest of the Geezers wonder why they can't keep up with me. The fact is, today, it's easier to get parts for a stocker A-Bone mill than it is for a 2.0 l Pinto banger.

 

No, but isn't it just as easy to say "thanks" as it is to go out of your way to be an asshole?

 

I always make time to talk to anyone that shows interest in my car. I have met some interesting folks as well as been turned on to the location of some rare stuff. I had a little old lady in the gas station last week wander around my car with here cane when she got around to where I was standing she asked how old my "dune buggy" was. I told it was 75. She cracked a huge smile and replied with an "Im 84 and a half" gave it a little pat and walked back to her Caddy. It made my day.

 

Interest in the car I built by stangers makes me feel cool. I always entertain the masses.

 

Ditto that!

 

Buddy was a total asshole.
Your lucky he DIDN'T strike up a conversation.

Obviously he was too "cool" to actually talk to anyone...pure attitude.
Crap like that gives us all a bad name!

The guys I've met like that were like it because they didn't have a clue about the vehicle and didn't want to be found out as dumbasses...

Wanna bet if he built or if he bought it?

 

you are driving an antique car and you expect people not to notice that? arent you asking for attention when you decide to drive one? who cares if they are stupid and ask retarded questions come here and tell us the stupid thing they said and we will all laugh at them. we are all turning into self absorbed freaks who rather watch tv then talk to someone I think anything that encourages us to actually speak to strangers is a good thing.

 

Whats that term... oh yeah... "Cocky"

I always say hello, or thanks, to anyone looking at or complimenting one of my rides, I even have a freindly "Oh well, it gets me from point A to point B" for those who express displeasure with them.

I was raised to be polite though.

 

Some of us "Old Farts" are Dicks, being old doesn't make you an Asshole, I've been one most of my life.
I person has to be good at something or your life is a waste.

 

thank you....i love it when someone shows an interest in my cars and always try to answer their questions. maybe they wont tailgate or try to cut you off next time you meet them on the road

 

Yeah all I was looking for was a "Hey thanks" maybe a little BS'n, he's just lucky I'm a relatively nice guy and drove off with a funny story, a lot of people I know woulda given him an attitude adjustment.

 

I ride a Triumph motorcycle, and when I'm out on it it seems like everyone in the world either 1) used to own one, 2) used to know someone who owned one, 3) knows someone who owns a Harley, etc etc etc. Sometimes I don't feel like BS'ing, I can generally tell pretty quick if the person is clueless, but there's just no point in being rude. I've met as many people that became friends that way, as I have assholes.

The whole issue of driving import cars/trucks is a lot more black and white to old timers, and personally I am sympathetic. But I don't judge people by that.

 

i was at napa today the counter guy tol me they never mada my car a 51 plymouth hardtop. that it was a business coupe. i saiid no i have one of those also it's a hartop he still told i was wrong.

 

Amen! Like I used to tell my ex-wife, It's easy to be nice but it takes alot of effort to be a bitch!

 

"I wish I could say the same about yours"


would have got back " you could if you were as big of a liar as i am, have a nice day, prick!"

 

well he did have a nice truck, but I coulda blown a hole in his radiator with my 44 and changed that, but then there's the gettin cornholed in jail thing.

 

So is like that Triumph an Import?, What about what the Britts did to us during WWII, sending all those war brides over here. Not to mention those Oil Leaking BSA's or those impossible to start Matchless Square Barrels.

Jeesh, a man can't even go to town for a tank og gas--- GAS GAS, It's that imported gas thats driving up the prices and fouling up our good home grown air, let me tell you------

 

Ah crap-ya beat me to it

 

Whether it's '64 GTO, a '53 Chevy, a '63 Corvair Spyder, or any one of the other cars I've driven over the years, I've usually been driving something that spurred people to comment on it. Yes, you get the ones that feel compelled to tell you about the Audi 4000 that they "never should have sold", or the guy that told me he used to have a GTO just like mine, "except it was a wagon" (must have been DeLorean's personal gofer vehicle). You also get people that actually know what they're talking about and are pleasant to talk to. You also get the ones like the older guy--who, ironically, was driving an old TOYOTA PICKUP--that told me he bought the first '64 goat that the local Pontiac dealership sold, and backed it up with a picture, not to mention pictures of a '62 409, '66 427 Impala, and several other cars he bought new in the heyday of street performance. Driving a special interest car of any sort and bristling when someone makes a comment is like the large breasted woman that walks down the street in a tight t shirt with no bra, and feigns disgust when someone looks at her.

 

Oh, I almost forgot--on the subject of judging people by the vehicle they happen to be driving at the moment you run into them, if a guy in a '90 Cavalier with no grille, thanks to a deer, comments on your rod sometime, don't automatically write him off--it's me!

 

I think it's been said on here before, but you never know if the guy striking up the conversation with you is going tell you about the old Ford coupe that's been sitting in his garage, and now that he's moving into the senior citizen highrise he needs to sell it fast and cheap!
I always try to be friendly, because thats how I was raised too.
I wonder if the guy with the A pickup gives people the finger if they give him the thumbs up when he's driving it down the road?!

 

..haha.

Thats what you should have said as a parting shot:

"My grandpa has one just like yours setting in his barn. Grandma wants it hauled off.....just thought you might be interested...Guess NOT!!!! bye bye."