I have watched over the last 6-7 years as the HAMB has evolved from a small gathering of friends to a huge conglomerate of international friends. In this time I have seen people in financial trouble, deaths in the family, legal troubles etc. It never ceases to amaze me at the generousity of the hamb. There is the highest concentration of guys/gals that would give you the shirt off their back to help a guy out. Viva La Hamb.
We fight like school girls over whether to chop a truck and posting stupid shit. Sounds just like my real family. When it comes down to it... helping a fellow get a car together, relays, prayers, inspections of prospective hot rod buys, parts given away, hamb thrashes, helping a fellow broke down along the road and free cookies pretty much sums it up. I delivered a large tool during a relay just last week to a Hamber. He insisted on buying us lunch or providing gas money. I simply told him it was my payment just being able to meet another Hamber and shake his hand. I asked him to repay me by providing help to the next hamber in need. Yes, I think this stuff more than hotrods keeps me coming back to this website every day. Pj
Well said Rick....Paying it forward is were it's at. The people , not the cars have been my priority for a long time now, and I love hot rods.
Couldn't agree more, its the VAST majority of people that keep me coming back, I can be 300 miles from home & meet a HAMB'er & its like we have been friends for life. When I found out my Dad was ill 2 years ago & I asked for prayers, the thread ran 8 or 9 pages, when he sadly passed away 5 weeks later, same thing, I got PM's by the dozen from people all over the world who I had never even seen post on here with messages af sympathy...those are the things that keep me coming back...it really is just like a family. I have met & made friends here in the USA who it seems that I have known all my life, despite only being here for a little under 4 years amazes me.... Like the man said..... Viva La HAMB
In my travels coast to coast and many places in between, I have met many Hambers. So far I'm batting 1000, haven't met one person that I didn't like. When meeting face to face for the first time, it's like being re-untited with an old friend. Thanks Ryan, for providing such a great place to meet people of like minds.
Holy moly Tony, you keep that up and Ryan won't be able to get his head to clear the top of the coupe. Geez.......Actually, it is always nice to see and read something of a positive note on here as there are so many that are always thrashing one another. But, I think it was said before, that's what kin do.
PeteJoe was actually helping me with that relay. Leadsled01 picked up a very very heavy vertical sander for me in northern Ohio and relayed it to PeteJoe who brought it to within 2.5 hours of me. These two guys saved me a total of 5 extra hours of driving that day! And because they did that, it put me in a city where I was able to deliver some wheels to another HAMBer for free. Neither of these guys would accept any money, meals, or gifts from me or even send me their address so I could do it in spite of their objections. I have about 50 of these stories on the HAMB. Not everyone can help everyone all the time, or even for free all the time, but it's a great community and I've only been burned one time so far and the HAMB helped make it right. A lot of us are terribly slow to get things done but tend to be reliable in the end. With the good advice, good people, interesting stories, amazing workmanship, and amazing knowledge base on this board, I don't mind the occassional drama at all. Big props to the masses. PeteJoe and Leadsled01...THANK YOU!
Sometimes you just take things for granted and kinda expect all people to be like hambers. Not so. We have our differences and people get pissed but everyone gets over it and moves on. It's kinda like your siblings...you can beat up on em but don't think anyone else can....right Dirty?
one time i lost an auction for a jalopy showdown t-shirt... and the guy that won it (FeO2) had scarylarry send me the stuff anyway! so you know what my favourite t-shirt is!
My experience is that it is just like society in general. Sometimes you break down along the side of the road and the first car stops and the guy can not seem to do enough to help you. The next time 40 cars will drive by before someone stops to give you help. I have met some great guys here so far. They have given some words of encouragement and would drive over and help me if I asked. Then on the other hand there are guys that hit me with a negative vibe every chance they get...and seem to enjoy acting like a total idiot and a dick. I guess it is just like a box of chocolates..........
Wow... deep. I've been on both ends of "the props." I've given and I've recieved. As much as I love cars, I love what the HAMB is just as much.
I have no idea how Ryan dreamed up this HAMB thing, i'm only glad he did. Like most have stated, it sure is a lot like your local car buddies getting together for a work or BS session, you bust some balls and generally give what you can to the current hot topic. Then when things seem to come unglued and you don't know where to turn those same buddies are there for you and can't do enough to help you through whatever the problem is. This is EXACTLY how the HAMB works only a lot of times you don't even know who you are helping or giving a little ribbing to. In the end it just gives you a good feeling and you can't wait to get in touch to experience it all over again. Thanks Ryan Frank
Don't thank me... I have nothing to do with the generosity of the common man. That's a hot rod environment deal that is created by the common bond we all share... It's more appropriate to thank guys like Wally Parks.
I like this quote....I really, really do. You could ALSO swap out the word HAMB and put in just about anything LIFE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP HOT ROD JOB you get the picture.
Last night I had a dream that I found a '56 Ford for sale, and I bought it. When I woke up I said, "I blame the HAMB."
Ditto's...............my experience with the HAMB, is not what I suspected it might be, a mere year and a half ago. It's just a bit more than a website/forum. Thanks to all that make it what it is.
It has been fun but as of late it seems like a business to me all about money to keep this place running?..now we may have to be a payed subscriber to post in the classifieds?? Its Napster all over again !!! I am gonna be hangin out at the ruff rodders site alot more its like the hamb use to be and its all free.. this post will probably be deleted due to being undesirable content LOL
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