Thoughts on elitism...and the new restorers

Jim.....It's not too early to learn the correct spelling of your favorite beer...(Check the label if you need help)

 

Car shows ****...

 

that about sums it up.

id like to add, people **** more than their cars... even well built cars **** if their owners are ****s

 

I've always felt "judging" of hot rods or customs is impossible..(apples and oranges scenario)........and now, and even more riduculous, they are being judged at the gate...(can't come in...no safety gl*** allowed)....sorry if I offended anyone, but that is an elitist way of life. Even Goodguys or the nsra don't do that......they do limit the entrance on year of manufacturer due to the limitations of the facility.....not on what you have built.

 

That's what I'm sayin'.

 

This was fun.


At least we won't be all driving the same type or style cars.

 

Two areas that I know fit this bill...


The stock meets where any given vehicle meet has to be correct or close.


And now I'm seeing it at the traditional car shows..........

Whereas, no cars are allowed, built to a certain theme or of certain materials or designs.

mmmmmm....... Interesting.

 

Running "period correct parts" on your rod because you don't like alternators on your rods doesn't get you branded as elitist. Telling someone else that their car is "wrong," a POS, or they are an idiot beceu THEY want an alternator (or other modern part, or flat black, or...) on their rod is what gets people branded as elitist.

Don't get defensive because you like period pieces. See my post above. it's not having favorites or building your rod "period correct" to the last bolt that's a problem. It's the sense that those that build their cars that way look down their noses and actively insult those that don't that is the concern. If you (anyone out there, not just the person quoted) are not one of those people (the actual snobs and haters) then this really doesn't apply to you, does it?

Again, see above. having teh differnt idsea on the subject is NOT what gets people branded as elitist. It's telling others that their way to build something is the wrong way that does it. If he told you you have to build your rod his way, he'd be an elitist. If you told others they had to build their cars your way, YOU'D be the elitist. You don't do that, so you're not.

 

Very enlightening post. I build what I like and what I am comfortable driving. I just tell people who have different opinions is "that the only person you have to please is yourself".. So enjoy it while you can.

 

call me an elitist,i rebuilt the Rocket engine that was in my '54 Oldsmobile instead of installing a SBC with "Rocket Oldsmobile" valve covers.

i also have thousands of trouble free miles using generators.

like my dad used to say "if it ain't broke,don't fix it."

he taught me how to rebuild starters,generators,distributors,carburetors etc.etc.
because that's what he had to do when he was young and didn't have any money.

 

PS do you think I should ebay all those square nuts I took off my 32. They are real 32 parts [/QUOTE]
LMAO-some yahoo was selling 4 used 32 hinge pins on ebay!

 

Aww.... geee..... shucks....

There is the occasional opinion that matters..

XOXOXO

Stacey

 

The original builders of 'Traditional' cars would laugh at 'correctness'. I think they cared more about function (hot rods serving street/race duty), or quality/appearance (customs). They used what was available.

I know what you are saying. I think they be more extremists, either way I avoid them. It was better when they stayed in the original restorer circles or the vicious Corvette(sorry about your *****) circles.

 

I have aluminum "general Lee" turbine wheels on my truck and I don't feel elite
one fine day I'll get a full set of Chrome reverse wheels to use til then a little salute from the p***erbys would be appreciated when they admire and covet my turbines!

I doubt anything on my truck is period correct for anytime line, its what I had or could afford and I pieced it all together myself except a couple things I had to take to the machine shop to have done

 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.

 

Who are these elitists? Seriously? I don't know any.

I know alot of guys who share my p***ion of finding old parts and using them on Hot Rods. Guys who have spent years gaining the knolledge and skill to build a hot rod with soul.... Old parts have soul.

I am drawn to history...... Even my house is old. It was built in 1847.
I don't look down at people who live in new houses, but damn, I love my old house.





I think you worry about what dudes think way too much? If you are that worried if they won't let your car into Billet Proof, just don't go.
Seriously, start your own show.

It could be the "Shiney Happy Show"
There could be happy people holding hands..... and lots of group hugs.
And group pictures too.
Puppy Dogs and Ice cream.
hahahahaha

What about the guy at BTT50's who moved his 47 Chevy street rod after I parked next to him? Is that dude an elitist? That guys was pissed, because Max Wedge sat in his lawn Chair..... Oops. hahahaha
I thought it was funny.

Hatch has a complex.

 

where is GERM when you need him?

 

Anytime you go to a cruise or car show people come around and criticize your ride. Usually the compliments out weigh the negative BS. However, there’s always some loud mouth **** that “has” to let everyone know he’s the “expert”. I had a guy point at my car and exclaim to everyone in earshot that fibergl*** cars shouldn’t be allowed at the cruise. It was pretty funny since the car is steel. ***h#les are just part of the hobby.

 

so would people call it a rat-shack?

 

Its cool by me when people do things to be cheap, but I get a little anoyed when folks display period incorrectness because they are lazy. When someone has a junkyard 75 Monte Carlo SBC in their rod because they can't aford to build and olds or nail head thats alright by me. Another thing i hate is when rat rodders think a car is not traditional becuase it has paint or chrome, when the truth is in the 50's and 60's any street rod or custom would only be in primer until the owner could afford paint. As long as people are not ***holes I will always have appreciation for any rod or custom built with a nod towards tradition.

 

I don't worry about what people think of me or my car.....I just see a similarity of "old time restorers" and "new age hotrodders" and see the irony of it. As far as shows go, I have my favorites and love to see the cars....it's just that I've never needed to be part of any group, or club, or be accepted in any way shape or form.....I'm really better suited on a bike.

 

I'm an extreme elitist.

I refuse to enter any car show that would actually allow my car in.

 

I think Mark Morton nailed it:

“We think we're hot rodders. Hot Rod thinks we're street rodders. Street Rodder thinks we're rat rodders, Rat Rodders think we're restorers, restorers think we're all SATAN and here we are, a bunch of really *****in Hop Up Guys, like ******* boll weevils...lookin' for a home.......Ha!”
-Mark Morton

 

This reminds me of a conversation just the other day I had with a mate who owns a GT Falcon (aussie Musclecar) Who'se a member of the GT club. Some of the members are that far up their own ****holes that the current way of thinking is that "if the car has second hand parts fitted, even if they replace ****ed originals - the car is no longer original". WTF - my reply was what about when the light bulbs blow and are replaced, what about when the brake shoes wear out, what about when the windscreen is replaced due to being hit by a rock - IS THE CAR NO LONGER ORIGINAL - ****heads.

Back to the plot - an original Hot Rod built years ago (unless its been sat in a barn for 60 years) will have been updated in some way or another. For example Frank Macks 27T roadster - has a carter carb - no-one bags this for not being original, the Kniekramp car has the wrong steering wheel and dash ?????? compared to how it was built . Some parts on Hot Rods are replaced due to being worn out - others for more speed etc.

A friend of mine has a 50 Merc Kustom which SHE built about 18 years ago, whenever she goes to shows comments like "the roof is chopped wrong" or other ******** - it upsets her as she takes it all in, and she did a lot of the manual work herself. I say to her to tell the roof chop Nazis to show her THEIR Kustom Mercs then they can decide together what's right or wrong.

I heard a story years ago about a 1920's Rolls Royce that had been cut down and used as a recovery Truck during the Second World War up until the 50's . So realistically it had been a recovery truck longer than it had been used as a p***enger car, when it was finally restored in the 90's it was restored to its 20's livery. There was anger from some of the blokes friends who wanted it to stay, but restored as the recovery truck, to the others who thought it was Right to be restored as the p***enger car. Who was right? - Who cares, the owner rebuilt, restored or whatever the car to how he wanted it.

I've been stood around my old cars at shows when people are looking under the hood to listen to what people are saying, "yes but it's got an alternator" that's not original, So I pipe up and say, "yes and the flathead is also a later model and it has a hidden electric fuel pump" - "oh do you know the owner"??, "yes I do, its my ****ing car, if you don't like it Piss off - they normally leave at this point. For some shows I'd leave the car near where my tent was pitched, I wouldn't park it on the showfield.

Build it, drive it, enjoy the wind and rain in your face (in open cars), your smile when you take it out of the garage and drive it anywhere, the looks on the faces of young kids as they see their first Hot Rod....A Hot Rod has and always will be a personal build up of what the owner sees as his car - UNIQUE

 

thats the glory of our Hobbie. you build your car to your liking. Who gives a **** what other people think. The worst way to build a car is how the next guy would think about it, when you sell it.

Dont forget, the cars done way back when were from guys who couldnt afford the "gold chainer" stuff, but adapted to what was available. The result were some beautiful customs, cars that are highly desirable and/or copied.

Those guys who blast on your ride, are pissed off because you have a car they may never own...or they got thier heads stuck up thier ****s so far the only thing they see is ****...so either way you loose (in thier opinion.)

That is one big reason why I dont attend the "National" shows like the L.A. Roadster show (at least the "Gold Chainer" section) I spent the whole day in the parking lot and swap area and had more fun, and met some really cool HAMB'ers and other Gearheads.

 

My current ride is a 1965 Plymouth Sport Fury which has been built with the 'build what you can with what you have laying around' method. It's either too new, too old or just plain wrong.

Mid-60s. Factory four-speed. Big block. Two door. Hardtop. The Mopar purists die a little every time it drives by.

 

Amen!

 

It's really just HUMAN NATURE ......
We want to excel- to win -to be"better"-or "one up"- the other guy .....

It really has nothing to do with the cars......Its in our genes to do that [and survive].
I never could seem to measure up as a kid with the"critics" in this car hobby I love- and as an old guy I really can't seem too, either.......

I and a whole lot of other folks just need to learn one of lifes hardest lessons.....

Be happy with where you are-who you are- [and what you have], in your life.
Try not to belittle or berate others attempts at greatness [or their possessions] ,however humble or great they may be.

 

Nobody wants or likes to get stereotyped. Posts like this sterotype people. An ***hole is an ***hole no matter what he likes. Someone can put a number on the amount of "period people" that make a snide remark. The problem is nobody can offset that number with the amount of period people that say "nice ride" (even if it runs an alternator) because we don't know what they really care about. They were just strolling by.

I know I talk too much here. I sincerely want to help other people if I can because I'm so p***ionate about it. I also want to help the young guys just getting started to understand that most period people are not elitists at all. They are p***ionate about the cars and parts that they fell in love with so many years ago. The next time someone says "that's not correct" when he wasn't asked...call him what he is...an ***hole, not a period correct elitist.

I rarely respond to these no win opinion polls, I'm not going to or trying to convince anyone that my opinion is any better than anyone elses. It's the stereotyping that bothers me. After a while people start to believe it as fact. When I see a car that has all the right stuff (my opinion)I like to talk to them about it. They aren't elitists...really!

I'm not singling you out. You responded to my post and I'm just giving my re****al. I hope this makes sense.

I'll shut up now.

 

Doesn't matter where you go,or what you are doing,

there will always be some ***holes looking down their noses at you.








Usually,for no good reason.