Got "Kit Car'd" again today----

It is funny for me to be at a cruise in with my 4 year old daughter and she gets on me if I am talking to a friend and touch their car. She gives me a tug reminds me "we are not supposed to touch some one elses car". She is also quick to get on the neighbors kid if they get a bike alittle too close to the cars. You gotta teach em early.

I have more grumpy old men touch my car than kids. I pulled up next to a model A club at a cruise in and as soon as I was away from the car I seen them over there picking it apart opening and shutting the doors. It is nice to not to have to worry about pretty paint, but a little respect is still in order.

 

Plain to see that you didn't read my second last post before this one. Open mouth---extract foot!!!

 

I think too many people (women mostly) view cars as nothing more than transportation. When I got married, my wife had a 10 year old from her first marriage. My wife saw her car as a metal box that took her from point a to point b. Dings, scratches, etc. - to her were not a big deal, just something that happens. I on the other hand am crazy about keeping my shit nice. My stepson would come flying into the driveway on his bike constantly and I'd get annoyed at him and tell him to stay away from my truck. My wife used to get irritated with me, she thought I was being ridiculous. Until he lost control of his bike and put a 18" scrape down to the metal of my drivers door - so I had to look at it every time I got in the truck. That was a hell of a night in our house - and the first big fight after we got married.

Two years (and one other unfortunate incident) later they both respect the perimeter around my cars and bikes. And seeing the time and money I put into my projects, the wife 'gets it' now. Still waitin' for the boy to get bit by the car bug though...

 

No thanks..............

 

Owning a shop makes 90 percent of this into a daily ritual...so far the most common answers are..."no,it's not for sale"..."no,it's not mine,this is a customers car.I drive the rusty Cutlass over there"(usually draws blank looks of bewilderment) "get off the car.it does not belong to me,and I don't know if the owner wants any pictures taken of it in this state." (which is alot of fun with a really,really nice car,thus implying that something is HORRIBLY wrong with it,but they didn't notice) but those are the fun ones. I typically don't yell at the young.ns, but I have a rather interesting scenario here.

as of about 4 months ago, an "art gallery" moved in next door. it is NOT an art gallery. it is a Punk Rock venue. typically, I would have no problem with this,except I have discovered that anyone under the age of 18 that considers themself"punk" has,for some reason, a need to fuck with my cars. Imagine,if you will,coming out to find "Miss Hot Topic" in 40 pounds of buckles,chains,and spikes SITTING on the hood (indian style) of your car.

now,in an attempt to be civil, I first asked "please,GENTLY get off of the car" when the response was all too flippant, I then put on "Angry Man" face and yelled"GET THE FUCK OFF THE CAR,AND IF YOU SCRATCHED IT,I AM GONNA FREAK THE FUCK OUT!!!!!" this seemed to garner the desired effect.
Our cars have been "tagged" (sciflyer) have had the emblems stolen, and after every show, I get to go through the cars and pick "old milwakee" cans outta the grilles. I fully respect the "Do it yourself" side of the club, but this shit has gotten out of hand. so, I did probably the shittiest thing I could have...I signed a lease for thier building. They were having troubles with the landlord, and were moving at the end of the month, but I sped up the moving process by about 3 weeks.

point being, it could be worse...I would dig the hell out of silly questions asked by some kids. instead I get either romulans (emo haircut=romulan)
or this new breed of Punk that looks alot like donald sutherland in "Kelly's Heros"...(When did a full beard become Punk? am I that old?) that seem to live to fuck with my business,and customers cars.

 

Did ya burn out for him?! When I was 11 or 12, and already totally crazy about cars I was out on my bicycle and I saw an older guy about my grandfathers age in a really nasty sounding Dodge Demon. I gave him the univeral "smoke 'em" sign and he obliged as he rolled out of the parking lot. I thought that was the coolest thing ever!

 

At a show I met a guy with a mid to late 20s big classic touring car. Sorry I don't remember the make or year, I just remember it was HUGE. While at a cruise-in he came back to his car to find a woman letting two kids jump up and down in the back seat of his car. He asked them why they were doing that and was informed they were having fun and "it was just an old car, it didn't matter." He calmly asked them if it was their car, they said no. He asked what their dad did for a living. They said he was a truck driver. He asked them if they would like to buy the car. They said yes, so he informed them loud enough for mother to hear that the car cost more than their dad could make in 5 or 6 years. The mother imediately experienced a blinding flash of the obvious, removed said offspring from the rear seat, apolgized profusely, and split.

PS. Racer5c , You are the man, put 'em in their place!

 

I think you handled it perfectly Brian. The only way to address a problem, such as this, stupid/inconsiderate parents and inquizitive (sp?) kids, is to directly confront the kid. The dumbass parent hasn't taught them to respect other peoples property so you have to do it for them, in a sturn and direct way, but not rude. Most kids are good and will comply and even appreciate it if you take the time to explain it to them. I worked in retail sales for years and this is the best method from my personal experiences. If you confront the parent, your in for a fight because their too ignorant to understand where you are coming from. I would never think about touching another persons property, let alone get in their car. If I did, I would expect to get my ass whipped...that's the way we were taught...respect other peoples property no matter what. And for you guys jumping on Brian, you need to stick around a little more before you shoot your mouth off. He's not a "badass" and has forgotten more about hot rods than most of you will ever know. Way to go Brian, I just figure you did something I won't have to do down the road. Thanks.

 

Hey since it's a kit car just unbolt the running boards next tie ya go shopping fool them little kids
time to close this one
Ken

 

Few years back I told a 14-ish yr old kid in Blockbuster "Nice 'hawk kid" he ran started pulling on this soccer mom "see Mom, that guy likes my mohawk" mom said "yes honey, but he looks shadey"

Shadey? why the hell does everybody think I look shady?

 

I thought that was an attribute...

 

Many years ago, I stopped for breakfast in Lewiston, ID in my '65 Excalibur - as I was walking back out of the restaurant, some TIThead told me he had one JUST like it...and why did I remove the MG badge? I tried to be patient with this individual, but he was adamant that the car was a Brit roadster...even after I showed him the sbc and the registration. His boots were redolent of a working dairy farm, and his breath wasn't any better.

"I'd rather be cloud-plowing"

dj