After reading HotrodPrimer's story about taking the guy he met for a ride, I want to relate an incident that occurred yesterday, wishing that our story ended as well. We were out with the Caddy and we decided to go to Spartanburg, SC to the infamous Beacon for lunch as we have never been there. It was an experience fer sure! We were sitting outside having our lunch and several folks were looking the car over as they came and went. One fellow was really checking it out, going from the front to the back and each side. Finally he just walked up and opened the drivers door looking for the plate on the door jamb. I was surprised that he did that and walked over to where he could see me and said "excuse me, EXCUSE ME!!! and stood there with my palms up displaying the international WTF sign. When he finally looked up and saw that I was aggravated he closed the door and skulked off. I think he was embarr***ed as there were several other folks there also. After it happened I felt bad and didn't want to taint his impression of "hot rodders" so I walked over to him and asked if he wanted to look the car over, but the damage was done and he said no and walked away. I just hope I didn't behave too badly, but I thought it was pretty brazen of him.
Most days down in town lots of bikes are lining the streets cars too sometimes,,I have seen people just go and lift the hoods of cars to see whats there,,even more suicidal somebody just sit on someones bike and have there friend take a picture,,even see a guy sit on someones bike and get his girl to sit on the back !!
No, there are some things you just don't do. I can see poking your head in a window a little bit but don't touch, and sure as hell don't open doors,etc. He knew damn well what he did was wrong and that's why he slunk off and later wouldn't look you in the eye. I guarantee the other people checking your ride were also thinking WTF.
Dude, don't sweat it. Do you think he would have been cool if he had caught you looking in what ever he had driven? I doubt it. Your car is your personnel property. Just like your home, you wouldn't want someone opening the door to see what kind of television you have, would you? Nice people ask for the extended tour! Here in Houston, depending on what side of town he was in, he would have gotten an *** kickin'..... or worse.
Hell no Ken!!!!!! If anything you weren't in his face ENOUGH! International sign for WTF cracks me up..............
Its private property, plain and simple. Would you ask this question of us if a stranger walked into your house to check out the LayZboy he could see through the curtains? Rule no. 1: Dont mess with other peoples ****. Rule no. 2: When in doubt, always refer back to rule no. 1.
There is no excuse for stupidity. Even if the fellow had just had one like it stollen, he should have asked to see the number plate, or called the local PD. He is a lucky dude that he didnt get his *** whuped.
I think you were absolutey right in what you did. It reminds me of an incident a couple years ago at a local cruise night when some guy (who obviously wasn't a car guy) opened a car door and let his 5-6 year old kid climb inside. The owner came unglued on the guy and rightfully so. I'll gladly let someone look around if they ASK, but it's not a used car lot where they can jump in at their discretion.
Damn... I wouldn't have gone back to patch things up. Unless it was going back with reinforcements, to patch up the overlooked areas in an insufficently thorough ***-beating. Okay, enough of being an internet tough guy. But in all honesty, I wouldn't worry; your reactions won't 'taint his impression of "hot rodders"'. Maybe his stupidity has - but if that's the case, do we want some ***hat like that to ever come to a car show again? I don't. My pop has a good story he tells about this very subject. He stopped into a store, came out a few minutes later to find a guy and his kid sitting inside his car. No ****. The guy is telling the kid "I used to have a Studebaker just like this". It wasn't a Studebaker; he hadn't had one since before I was born (think it was his 37 Cord, 8BA & Ferd drivetrain swap; brush-painted purple... but I digress) - it's probably a good thing for the guy that his kid was there. Dad's in his late seventies now, and I'm still not 100% sure I could lick him.
I subconsiously put my hands behind my back when I'm looking at a car, maybe to ease the owner's mind that I won't touch his/her car... Some people just don't understand. I saw a kid running his fingers all over my friends brand new paintjob the other day. I once had an older lady show me how much she loved my new paint by laying over the hood, metal ****ons on her jacket and all... It was flattering and terrifying at the same time. I didn't have to come unglued, as her husband did it for me!
It's the "2 second rule." If the person would take the extra 2 seconds to think about what they wanted to do, or take that time to find the owner and ask permission... we've probably all dealt with it as some point. If I had a dollar for every ***** I've found posing on my bikes ...anyway. But I guess it's like common sense...not too many people have it. People just don't have any respect for others' property anymore. They see all the glitzy-glammy "hot rod" shows on tv, and just equate it to that. They don't have any idea of the time, money, time, blood, sweat,and p***ion for what we do, that goes into a car or bike. To them it's just something that's as easily purchased as a gallon of milk at the local supermarket. Damn shame really.
If I had your self control, I wouldn't have to bear the burden of knowing I'm 62 years old and haven't had my last fistfight.
I think you handled it very well. Yes, the international WTF signal works and going over to ask if the rude dude wanted to see the car was actually the kind of gesture that should endear rodders to folks like that.
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