Rant about posing, bad music, & how I got into old cars...

I'm kind of torn on the whole issue where everyone mocks the rat rod people, billet aluminum folks, or those that like a certain sort of music.

I can't decide which is more trendy.. to jump on the bandwagon as it goes by, or to be the guy claiming to be old school, and above anything new...

My take on the issue, being as I'm still somewhat young, is that every individual person had to start somewhere. You'll hear some dude who's 65 talk about Jerry Lee Lewis being the epitome of hotrod music, someone who's 45 talking about the Led Zepplin, someone who's 35 talking about the *** pistols, and someone who's 85 talking about Miles Davis..

Basically everyone started somewhere and from that timeline forward, the 'hates everything' type person claims that stuff was going downhill since day one of their own personal experience..

Being I'm 27 and enthralled with original 1950's cars, I have no idea what the original 1950's hotrod culture was like other than from what I've read or seen on archival clips. A good example of what people would ***ociate as a poser vs. purist: My grandfather and his good buddy hotrodded cars in the 50's. My grandfather then started farming and isn't really into custom cars.. he likes nice NEW cars like his Buick LeSabre or whatever. His good friend has been a mechanic his whole life and currently tours to car shows in his 51 shoebox.. The two of them both were into it, and then one of them moved on.. I don't see my grandpa as a historical poser.. He just got out of it because the fun was no longer there for him.

I see people like that today, where they think it's cool, get into it, and then move on if it's not their thing (gold chainers/ratrodders?). The old buddy loves his old cars and still wrenches for a living even though he's over 70 now..

My story is that I was always smitten with old cars as a kid because my grandfather (same guy) has about 50 old cars sitting down at his ditch on his farm and I'd play in them when I was a kid (at risk of being stung by wasps, or attacked by badgers)... Mostly I was in awe at the durability of an old car versus anything new. I also appreciated the simplicity over anything new. I am a hopeless luddite who appreciates simplicity over cheesy high tech. My parents are the anti-car people, so nobody ever got me turned on to it when I was young. Anyway, as life has gone on, I latched onto all sorts of goofy hobbies and I am the quintessential poser I'm sure.. I did aggressive inline skating in college, wore the baggy pants and had blue hair.. Then I got into Vespa scooters.. Use to listen to ska and punk music and run around town on my scooters all months of the year(put 5k miles on my Vespa in college)...

I graduated. Now I work full time, and I live too far outta town to ride the scooters, which were great transportation in college. I started riding my motorcycle instead of the scooter, and now that I have a paycheck I get nicer toys like my W650.. All throughout college I was picking up the skills to wrench on my bikes and then cars.. Listening to my popska and poppunk music..

Flash to present day: I still love my motorcycle. I still have the scooters, but don't ever ride them because I live on a highway and well the motorcycle just is a lot more fun... I got tired of the young sound of pop punk/pop ska and listen mostly to AM radio and cl***ic country anymore... I think it's just a part of growing up where you spend your late teens as a scenester, and then when image no longer matters (you're married, and all your friends have left you) you just fall into your own niche. I spend my days in khakis at work, and my nights in ****ies out doing yard work and ******* around in the garage.


So now I finally took the dive into cl***ic cars, not so much to fit into a crowd, but becuase it's personally enjoyable to piss around with it, and try to fix it up and make something out of it. I'm sure it's just my next rung in the poser ladder, but it seems like a more long term hobby than say Vespa riding.. The scooters were a gateway drug to bigger engines

What I find as weird in my case is that I live in boondocks Iowa, and none of my personal friends have EVER been into any of my hobbies. The 'goldchainers' and 'ratrodders' I see you mention I think are the type that get into it because of peer pressure or to fit in with a clique?? I've just kind of always had personal goals and interests. I was the only kid in town with scooters, and I know for a fact I'm the only kid in town who prefers vertical twin 1960's motorcycles to anything new... When I got my car recently I figured it was just a venture on my own as well. I've always kind of done things by myself and never had a group of people to hang out with (in real life) and do it. The internet really is the only place I get to socialize about anything I do as a hobby, being that my real life friends think I'm pretty weird with all my 1950's ****, antiques, and old vehicles..

My real life friends are just there from growing up and going to school together and the only interests we share are goofing around, fishing, hunting.. Typical Iowa stuff.

So I've always felt weird like everyone probably imagines me as the big poser, when really I'm one of maybe a handful of people around here that's into anything I'm into. And the fact I typically do everything on my own.

If I am a poser, I have nobody to pose for

But what I DO know about the internet is that the #1 hobby is sitting on an imagined throne and telling everyone that isn't exactly like you that they ****. It is true of every single message board I've ever read. "I'm old school, you're new, and you ****!" I see that all the time.

I don't know if people are jealous that others copy them, or stumble onto their ******* territory? What's funny about your typical internet authoritarian type is that they will tell you "Don't by ******, it ****s. I drive yyyyyy." Then someday when a bunch of people buy yyyyyy the same person whines that they were into it before it was mainstream. As if they can't make up their mind whether they want everyone to be like them or not..

Really, when you get to know the big egos on the boards, you realize that they started somewhere and were once just as goofy as you (me in this case).. We're not all 100 years old, so therefore we weren't the first people to discover or do anything really....

I just got my first cl***ic car, and I intend on it being a long term hobby at this point, but who knows.. All I do know is that present day it makes me happy to wrench on it, and gives me something to look forward to doing when I get home from my job.

As for me rebelling against anything, I don't think I am... I definitely like to be different, but nobody is oppressing me. Mostly I just have this (imagined) Utopia in my head where I drive cl***ic cars as my daily driver, and my house is full of vintage collections of all things 50's, barring of course cable TV and high speed internet

The point of my long boring rant is to get some discussion going between people to see if anyone agrees with me that we can't all be the epitome of cool, and we all had to start somewhere.. OR maybe I am just a m***ive loser..

Someone help me out..

 

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Someone help me out..

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Ok...go work on a car and quit worrying about dumb ****.

 

M***ive loser, you ****.
But everything you just said is right on!

 

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Ok...go work on a car and quit worrying about dumb ****.

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LMFAO
People spend too much time ****yzing and are not working to change their predicament.
Damn Television !

 

I like all the Music you listed.... What does that make me,

 

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The point of my long boring rant is to get some discussion going between people to see if anyone agrees with me that we can't all be the epitome of cool, and we all had to start somewhere.. OR maybe I am just a m***ive loser..

Someone help me out

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********. I'm the epitome of cool, your a loser, and that can't be helped. end of discussion

Just kidding, I think you may have a point, but I'm more interested in all the cars your grandpa has out behind his barn!

 

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The point of my long boring rant is to get some discussion going between people to see if anyone agrees with me that we can't all be the epitome of cool, and we all had to start somewhere.. OR maybe I am just a m***ive loser..

Someone help me out

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********. I'm the epitome of cool, your a loser, and that can't be helped. end of discussion

Just kidding, I think you may have a point, but I'm more interested in all the cars your grandpa has out behind his barn!

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Unfortunately most of the cars have no bottoms due to rust, and a few have big trees growing through the engine bays.

Most of them are 1954-1960 as far as age goes. there's a 57 chevy with 2k miles on it down there (head on collision), a few cadillacs, a packard, a dodge coronet (hemi engine)

I took some pics of them once.. I can put them on the web and let everyone complain about letting perfectly good cars rot down there

Some thieves found out about the cars somehow (probably hunting tresp***ers) and stripped most of the good parts off the vehicles.

 

Yeah, that is a waste letting them rot like that. Being from new england I see it all the time and it's such a waste. Make sure you give them a proper burial when the time comes. (and scrounge for any leftovers)

 

ah, nevermind.

 

Here they are (some of them)

Do these look like they're worth anything to a HAMBer??

Rust In Peace

 

if it worries you this much,you might just be a poser,yea.

 

Poor bubble top!!!!

 

As an old Iowan myself (born and raised)...I tend to agree with your ***essment...age is the great equalizer...and even tho you are ONLY 27 (damn, if I knew then what I know now...oh, to be ONLY 27 again!!), your "rant" seems to be from a much older person.

Everyone on this board is a "poser" of some sort...whether they admit it or not..an "alter-ego" so to speak. And in all probability, I'd bet most of them wish they had the disposable money all the so-called "gold-chainers" have...

Now when it comes to "moi," you, and anyone else on this board, can call me what they want, doesn't bother me one bit ...I've been into cars all my life and have been thru many infatuations, from kustoms to drag racing and everything in between...now I'm back to MY roots...the stuff I liked and drove when I was about 27..."traditional" stuff...and if it doesn't fit the popular "billet" mold these days...too bad. It doesn't mean I'm excluded from car events...it just means that I like "different" and am respected for that.

Same with you...what do you care what everyone on this board thinks? Do your own thing, hang out with friends that enjoy what you do and play with your car as much as you like. Go rod running, meet new people...not everyone will appreciate what you do to your car...but the whole point is: It is your car...do with it what you will.

R-

 

I read this post a couple times to try and digest everything that was being said.I must say,"GREAT POST!"
If I can give you a bit of advice,it would be:Go with what you feel,and don't worry about what others may or may not think about who or what you are;in short:FUKEMALL!
Reading this reminds me of a line from a Jethro Tull song(Skating Away;on the Thin Ice of the New Day):something like,"Did you ever get the feeling that the story's too damn real,and in the present tense;that everyone is up on the stage and you're the only person sitting in the audience".Great song;listen to it sometime.
Been that way all my life and I wouldn't change for anything.I grew up on rock and roll in the early 50's and listen to(and enjoy)just about any kind of music you can name(except rap);drive the neighbors nuts on Sunday mornings playing Enrico Caruso records and stuff out of the early 1900's and proceed from there through Robert Earl Keen and Delbert McClinton to Fats Waller and Billie Holliday to John Lee ****** and Taj Mahal and maybe even throw in a little Robert Randolph and the Family Band with the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Sorry to be ranting but my point is:Enjoy what you do and not what you THINK you should do.
Ray

 

Holy ****, only 33 posts and already a rant!

I commend you, sir!

Hey look, we all question things about ourselves and things we have (or have not) done in our lifes.

Hell, I have taken many many wrong turns in my life, and hurt people along the way. I'd give my left nut to do some things over again, but I cant.

Anywho, I think the key to not being a "poser" is simple; Just know who you are, and BE YOURSELF (unless your on the HAMB of course, then everyone is a HERO ).

Be true to yourself.

And, GET IN THE GARAGE and work on your ride!

 

No disrespect intended but your taking all this way way too seriously.....life is way too short to worry about what anyone else thinks of you or what you like...with that said if you don't like whats being said don't listen, change the channel, close the book, or log off. You want to know what pisses people off.....why a poser is labeled a poser.....its their lack of respect for what they are sticking their noses in.......a poser will pretend to know everything about everything has done it bigger and better but in reality they don't know **** from shineola or even what shineola is.......a poser follows what is popular and will change colors with the wind.....a poser is not hard core a poser is a boiled egg with the yellow still runny and just like the egg sometimes you won't know till you break the little ****er open.....Music has nothing to do with it, how much grease I use in my hair has nothing to do with it, what car I drive or movies that i watch has nothing to do with it.......Its simply about being who you are.......I like grease in my hair, I love my chopped up 53 chebby, I listen to everything from ICP to Johnny Cash and everything in between, and I love pinstriping and everything involved with custom painting..... what does that say about me.......That my pillow is greasy and my wife is pissed all the time, I stay broke, I'm completely demented and I'm covered in paint....other than that who cares.........

 

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Someone help me out..

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Ok...go work on a car and quit worrying about dumb ****.

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God damn....if that isnt the funniest and least complicated answer...... its perfect.

 

It's your life; within reason and legality live it the way you want.

The simple truth is, no matter what car you build/drive you're not gonna fit in everywhere or for that matter anywhere.

So . . . what kinda approval do you need when you're sailing down the two laner in a good sounding, strong running hot rod?
If you can't enjoy that for itself, maybe you're in the wrong place at the wrong time with - perhaps - the right car.

Did that make any sense?
Hope so . . . don't really know and it makes no difference.

Spoken from the view of a semi-sorta silver chainer who's been in the hobby for a long time, but enjoys other things as well.

 

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M***ive loser, you ****.
But everything you just said is right on!

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Ditto...!!!

Mark

 

I'm not really seeking approval myself, I was mostly posting about the way I see things move along on internet message boards. It doesn't matter if I'm in an arts and crafts board, a car board, a fishing board..

It seems like the majority of posting is always people claiming they've been doing it longer than the other guy, and that the other guy is all wrong how he's doing it.

I'm not wanting to start a war or anything, just pointing out my own background, and then what I see happening.

And a preemptive promise to you all that I won't try to piss in anyones' cheerios if at all possible

I don't need validation or anything.. I'm a success in my mind.. Got full time work, my vehicles, and a fiancee that cooks like a chef and loves me even though I do stupid ****.

The direction turned more towards me in particular, but really I was trying to see if anyone saw things the way I see them as far as message boards and elitists on the boards go...

 

I kind of agree. I seem to catch a ****storm whenever I mention that I like muscle cars. On the other hand, it ain't my place to really bring them up on a traditional rodding board. I think the gripe with rat rods is that the term "rat rod" is as overused and cliche'd as much as the Milner coupe. Plus, there are tons of folks tack welding cars together that, quite frankly, are dangerous and stupid as hell. BUT, I try and tolerate the tastes of those around me, and within that tolerance, I must accept lowriders, "rat" rods, and Vee-Dubs. It may not be traditional rodding, but seldom can traditional be captured after the fact.
Good post, made me think- even though sometimes I don't drink the collective kool-aide.
-Crew

 

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I seem to catch a ****storm whenever I mention that I like muscle cars.

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YOU like MUSCLE CARS?!!

Hahaa, I had to throw that in there!

 

You haven't been around here long enough to realize this message baord is different then any of the others you've ever been on.

This statement does not fit the HAMB

"It seems like the majority of posting is always people claiming they've been doing it longer than the other guy, and that the other guy is all wrong how he's doing it."

"majority" is an awful strong statement, especially when it's attached to a negative statement.

No one here, well almost no one here , crams it down others thoats that they are right about stuff, and others are wrong. There are always more then a few ways to accomplish the same results. Most folks realize this and like to listen and learn about other ways things are done. Most folks around here like the "greybeards" to share their life experiences and the "greybeards" like to feel like they are helping to keep the hot rod flame alive.

After a while you will learn this place has a very family like feel and even though you might not have ever met that person in person, you feel like you really know them and will do just about anything to help them out.

Please don't compare the HAMB to other "message" boards you've been on, you will soon learn there is no comparison. The HAMB is far superior.

Long live Ryan and the HAMB!

 

I agree completely with the whole elitist thing, and I think it's not only on message boards, but at shows and anywhere you find a "scene"... no matter what the scene may be... but I also find that the elitists tend to be a VERY vocal minority... I've met some people here in Phoenix recently because of this board, and none of them are scenesters or anything like that (course I don't know 'em all that well yet)...

And to everyone who's been talking about not thinking so much, as a habitual over-****yzer I'd say that's a lot easier said than done... my mind won't stop spinning round and round at 150mph 'til I die... I've thought all the same things that were said in the original post...

I love cars, period... this board is good for one part of that love, that's why I'm a member of about seven other boards... but you always do have the guys (gals?) that have been into X since day one, and will always be right in their own minds...

To each his own, I guess...

 

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After a while you will learn this place has a very family like feel and even though you might not have ever met that person in person, you feel like you really know them and will do just about anything to help them out

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I have found this board extremely helpful(and entertaining). And damn, does this board come together when somones in need, regardless of differences between individuals. I don't think there's a place like this anywhere on the net, and I'm certainly glad I joined(tears forming in corner of eyes)

 

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You haven't been around here long enough to realize this message baord is different then any of the others you've ever been on.

This statement does not fit the HAMB

"It seems like the majority of posting is always people claiming they've been doing it longer than the other guy, and that the other guy is all wrong how he's doing it."

"majority" is an awful strong statement, especially when it's attached to a negative statement.

No one here, well almost no one here , crams it down others thoats that they are right about stuff, and others are wrong. There are always more then a few ways to accomplish the same results. Most folks realize this and like to listen and learn about other ways things are done. Most folks around here like the "greybeards" to share their life experiences and the "greybeards" like to feel like they are helping to keep the hot rod flame alive.

After a while you will learn this place has a very family like feel and even though you might not have ever met that person in person, you feel like you really know them and will do just about anything to help them out.

Please don't compare the HAMB to other "message" boards you've been on, you will soon learn there is no comparison. The HAMB is far superior.

Long live Ryan and the HAMB!

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I do enjoy the way things pan out on this board (best car board I've ever been on as far as old cars go) is that the idiot posters are not supported in a way that all posts get dragged down to the lowest common demoninator, which is excellent.

A person with a sole mission to annoy everyone on here would quickly get bored and leave I think.

The loyalty of the readerbase is something you typically don't find either. People don't hold benefit auctions anywhere else I read, or ever really intend on helping people as much. This board is so active, which I why I'm drawn to it. Call it adult onset ADD, but I really like how fast things move here. And unlike a particular car board (a board that focuses on one brand, or one particular make) people don't get into the ****waving as badly.. mainly because it's hard to compare such different cars (that we all own) to each other

 

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I have found this board extremely helpful(and entertaining). And damn, does this board come together when somones in need, regardless of differences between individuals. I don't think there's a place like this anywhere on the net, and I'm certainly glad I joined(tears forming in corner of eyes)

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Damned if this aint' the truth!

And for what it's worth, this is almost the identical scene I found my first car (a 1955 Ford 2 door post) in. It took me 4 hours to cut the tree out of the engine compartment so I could drag it out of the horse stall it had been siting in since 1965. The car has been prowling the streets for the last 7 years as a daily driver.

So get yer' chainsaw bub!

 

Scooters are a gateway drug...watch out young man!

15 years ago I had a gang of scooters... I sold all of them for a fix of triumphs and fords.

And last week I traded the last one to a fellow HAMBer for a flathead.

 

I still like Vespas.

I have four (and two Lambrettas).

Less talk, more rock.

 

That Dodge still have faily nice split gill parts, they'd look gooood on my 52. I'll be up there next spring (Cedar Rapids), I'll help you take them off.

You grew up following you own path, that's good. I turn 40 next month and all my friends haven't got a clue what I like, 'cept "you like cars right?" They thought I was nuts for not taking on car payments.