One of my favorite things to do is just hang out and listen to what people say about my cars. I stand just far enough away so no one knows it's mine. It's actually very entertaining, when you don't need everyone patting you on the back to feel good about yourself. Lots of compliments, lots of "I would have done XXX", and on occasion if you are humble enough to know that you always improve you will hear something good that you can use. The only true snobs are people who cannot appreciate the work and craftsmanship that went into a car just because its not their "style". I am snobby too, I think I am better than narrow minded ignorant people.
I don't think we're talking about "liking" every sort of hot rod. I don't LIKE billet clad fiberglass cars that all look the same... But I DO understand the passion these guys have for them. I think that's the issue here. Guys who don't "understand" why people like other types of cars... That is the narrowmindedness that I feel he is experiencing, and that I am talking about. Sam.
Any group of people will have a percentage of snobs, whether its cars or old ladies quilting. As long as the person I see in the mirror isn't a snob, thats all I care about. So, like Squirrel said, some of us are. I'm not.
If it's got wheels, I like it. Too many people have tunnel vision and that's sad. My personal preference is that of the traditional styled cars and traditional inspired customs.
I'm sympathetic to the guy with the homebuilt 32 PU, and find it equally ridiculous when I see a Hyundai-load of Pompadorables shit-talking somebody else's car. That said, nobody has a constitutional right to a car show parking spot. If the gate dude doesn't think your ride fits their desired theme, well, hey, them's the breaks. It might seem unfair to you -- "hey! my car's steel and you let in a fiberglass!" -- but it's not your call. Quit whining, go to the spectator lot, or head for the exit and plan your own Traditional 80s Style Only car show. Like SamIYam noted, the irony is that the "Traditional" shows (whose entry rules street rodders complain are too mean and picky and arbitrary) started up because they were getting shunned and turned away from the high-dollar events in the 90s.
Well I had wrote out a long post about how I thought this thread was pretty positive when I expected otherwise. I got a new lap top and learning to use and I hit something and poof it was all gone. LOL So I'll save you th elong post. Getting together with like interest folks is simply trying to make sure you enjoy the day. Snobbery has nothing to do with that. Unfortunately sometimes there must be paramaters set. I realize my car just sort of squeeks under the line for the Cinematic as it is far more traditional in the sense of being stock as opposed to a traditional hot rod but the traditional in whatever sense is what I like. Hopefully next year I'll have found a car more suited for a hot rod. My 54 IMO is more suited for what it is.....a daily driver. That said, I doubt I get either kicked out nor draw large crowds to my car. Both are cool with me. The idea wasn't for many to drive hunderds of miles to see billet and Camaros. Not allowing that isn't snobbery. Now if you refuse me a beer because my car isn't an all out hot rod......well that would be snobbery.
I wanted to say that. I'm not a purest by any means, I can appreciate someone elses ride; but I probably wouldn't show up at Starbirds in one of my old beaters either. If fitting in is important to ya you should probably try and find a place that you fit in and hang out there.
..........take a good look at some of the vehicles that were at the PrimerNationals the past couple years, a bit of everything and.....yes, some primer.
It is all just back-lash. The billet thing was so over done that there is a certain amount of hate for it. Just like the whole anti rat rod movement going on now. Too much of any trend is going to get hated on and for good reason. By the time it becomes popular (over done) it is distorted from what it actually began as. Billet was innovative until it got blown out of proportion. For me I remember hating those cars even when I was "picking my nose". For the record most off the gold chain wearin' non car building guys were real jerks back then so I don't have much sympathy for them now. Maybe that is another reason no one wants these cars/people around. They don't like to be reminded of the bad times they had at car shows back in the 80s 90s. Just responding to this post conjures up images of Hawaiian shirts, cryin' dolls, people waxing cars, $8 hot dogs, shitty ass oldies by cover bands, poodle skirts, paying for spectator parking. Blaahh ... sorry ... back to topic I don't think any educated car guy on this board would be a snob or rip apart your buddies car verbally if they saw it on the street or ran into your friend at the 7-11. I for one can always find something cool on a car or have something positive to say. Like the guys dad BUILT it, that is cool to me. BUT if you try and ram it down someones throat by taking it to a show where it doesn't fit the advertised criteria there is gonna be some disdain. Cheers
At the end of the day, it's important that ALL of us remember, that ALL of this stuff is NOT serious. If you disagree with this statement, you might be too focused and need to get a life. My "passion" for hot rods runs in the ridiculous, compulsive, maniacal side BUT when someone else doesn't "get" my compulsion, I'm totally cool with that. There's hardly ever a reason to be a dick to someone on an initial meeting, but if someone PROVES them self an ASS, then, by all means, let 'em have it!! HAHAHAHAA As far as the guy being shunned for his billet wheels by the guys who have trad rods, don't blame those guys (even if they are hypocrites), either change the wheels or find a different crowd to hang with. We humans are so silly with are SERIOUSness!
Dont wanna be an ass, But, This is a pretty crappy example... If your ride is/was a Honda, I'm sure you'ed be more than welcome to park next to another import tuner ect. He's got a 32' that he wants to show next to another 32' or similar vintage... So, we are all aware how different apples and oranges are, thanks? This is more like comparing red apples to green. The gap of difference is'nt very big. And besides, I don't think I've "ever" been to an event that did'nt have 1 car there w/ billet wheels/ steering column/ mirrors/ pedals ect. Food for thought so to speak. Like I said, "don't wanna be an ass, but" this is just my view on Black & white thinking. Graham
You cannot enter the Early V8 Ford shows with a Corvair ... Nor can you show your 56 T-Bird at the Mopar Nationals ... That what the GoodGuys shows are for ... They acept most anything with the 40 dollar entry fee ... Even then there are some rules ... Most folks hang with other folks with the same tastes and opinions ... but every so often ... someone comes along and wants to bend or break the standards ... 1) Sometimes they just want to cause trouble ... 2) Some times they wil not/ cannot spend the money to get the required vehicle ( Can you see me trying to get in a all Dusenburg event with my little old Deuce Ford roadster ?? ) 3) Sometimes they just do not know the difference. .
I guess I'll have to make back-up plans for Saturday. I like Hawaiin shirts and my car does have wax on it. I better be prepared. Sorry, LOL. I just wasn't sure what was wrong with waxing you car in a Hawaiin shirt. Maybe I'm missing something. LOL
I like cars. In my stable I have a tuner 95' mazda, a musclecar 69' mopar, a road race prepped 80 Z28, a channelled 49' Fleetline done in a traditional style with modern driveline and chassis, and a daily driver 80's S10. I can go to any show I feel like and listen to the snobbery about my other cars.
Hotrodding, traditional or not, has always been about innovation and personal taste in automobiles. If you don't understand that, then you are NOT a traditional hotrodder. These posts are such a sucker game, but here I am,
Snob's? Elite? No, that's why there are fence's. Find your like minded folk's and hang...............
You can park next to me. Big Olds has wax on him AND I love Hawaiian shirts....especially vintage ones.
Cars being waxed by guys wearing Hawaiian shirts AT car shows is what I mean. LOL Nothing against Polynesian inspired work wear or cars with wax on them
Are some people "snobs"? sure... but dont look at the whole scene that way. Car shows have "rules" as to what can/cant be shown not out of any snobbery (at least not at Billetproof) but just to concentrate a particular style of car in one show. Some people can take this attitude as "snobbery"... but it aint. If you tune into a rock and roll radio station, you dont want to hear rap songs. Doesnt mean you necessarily hate rap, it just means you want to listen to rock and roll. Same applies to car shows.
For the most part I would have to say that the Hamb is not made up of snobs. There are niches in every aspect of car culture. It's when one side looks down on the other that makes me fucking puke. Next thing you know the requirement for a pre-war show will be bumped up to having period correct clothing. I can't tell you how many times I have been at shows where guys look at me like I am lost because I don't have a "ducks ass" and 3" cuffs on my jeans. Point being this. Yeah his truck is not period correct and he probably should look to some other shows where he can throw his '32 in. But that does not mean that if for some reason he did show up we should treat him like a rapist. For gods sake its a '32!!!! On the other hand, it would not take that much cheese to throw some steelies and bias plys on that thing either. I am sure that his father would be proud that he has kept it in the family and is making the most out of it either way. Who wants to be around a bunch of assholes who would look at you differently because of your wheels chemical makeup anyway. Even if I had the baddest '32 around it should not make or break the opportunity to meet good people right?
I've lived in small towns most of my life. The local car shows are a mix of rods, old stockers, race cars and weird shit because pickins' are slim and everyone is welcome. I always learn something from an unexpected car. But "theme" shows are different. The promoter has the right to invite whatever he wants and tuff shit to the whiners. I really enjoy all the cars Street Rod Nat's but when I'm at the Lone Star Round Up I just don't want to see any red kit cars. It's your buddies choice - drive it and be proud or change it to fit in. How many HAMBers have a couple of sets of wheels to fit in where ever?
I like cars and the real people (sorry Denise, I corrected that from "guys") that build and drive them. I ignore the critics without a car just there to make a fashion statement- to that end I AM a snob.
The Jalopy Journal
