How has the ressesion affected our hobby

Von Rink sounds like you are fine respectable Honorable man shame most companies have lost the honor you have and chosen profit for a few on the backs of who really does the work nuv said

 

I try Boss..shame that some of the others have screwed it up for those of us that have ethics and values..but I have to look myself in the mirror every morning and be the man my child and wife expect, and Im not about to let them down or the people i have worked side by side for, and with for over 38 years of my life.
its a bitch out there, and sometimes i wish i could just clock out and go home and leave it all behind me..but thats not who I am either..so until death do me part

 

The recession has both hurt and helped me. It hurt me because my income sank in 1 year from $70000 to $22000. However I dont have much debt so I am fine. I dont drag race anymore, and my car and trailer are for sale. My streetrod is a driver but wont be finished in the normal time frame. That is how it hurt me.

It helped me because, one day while pondering my situation, I realized how lucky and fortunate I am. My fridgerator is plastered with ST Jude Childrens hospital pics of kids that I have helped by donating money to their organization. I would take my situation over theirs anyday. I am fortunate that my kids are raised, and my thoughts go out to dads who are struggling to raise their children. The thought of working and not being able to afford somthing that makes your childs face light up is a cause for depression, at least for me. Grocery and school clothes shopping would also be a burden. I have had many great vacations, camping trips and 4 wheeler rides, and car shows with my sons and family. My sons get older, and realize how much they had and did.

It could be better No doubt, but I will take this instead of the worse. I have my family and health, and my hotrod. For that I am thankfull.

 

Amen , I too am very thankful for many things.

great positive post

 

As a retired person, I am OK with a pension, etc. and no payments of any sort,also have a little stashed away. The economy and the shrinking jobs are a great concern. I worked 45 years and did well but today I feel for folks that want to work and cannot find a decent job.
All of this makes me want to be very cautious now and possibly start liquidatiing some cars and parts that I have had for many years as I don't want to put out the funds right now to build another car.
There are lots of older guys out there with enough funds to do what they please, but they are also in the conserve mode. I don't know what to expect next so I'm hunkered down and playing it safe-at my age, I can't go out and do it all over again so risks and buying things for "want" vs. "need" are not in the cards for me.
Lots of great deals out there on cars but I have 3 done plus the regular cars--that's more than enough right now.

 

I agree Carlos. And especially so since the supreme court ruled those corporations are like people themselves and can lobby our government legislators for even more laws and contribute unimaginable (not to mention unaccounted) sums of $dollars$ to political campaigns, and all perfectly legal and within the law........ those champions of job creation.
Yep Carlos, nuv said is right.

 

I work in the publishing biz. Times aren’t great. I often feel I have to work twice as hard to earn ½ as much. And like many others who have posted before me, I’m struggling to sell two very nice (not HAMB friendly) cars I have along with a bunch of extra parts I have on hand. Not that long ago, the cars and parts would have sold quickly. Not so today.

With that said, I don’t think bitching about it will make my new project move along any quicker. So here’s what I do: Since I can’t buy parts as often and I can’t forge ahead as quickly as I’d like on my car, I work slowly on what I have. I get to spend a lot more time on a given part or sub-assembly in the build. Over the past year, I’ve even redone bits and pieces that normally I wouldn’t have thought twice about. What that means is, the various pieces that will eventually make up the car are actually turning out far nicer than they have any right to . Being slow, deliberate and patient definitely has its rewards!

There are other rewards too: The slow and methodical, do-it-all-myself approach provides with an opportunity to try new things. It gives me time to ponder other ways to do things (unleashing a bit of extra creativity I guess). It also allows me to learn new skills (even for a cranky old Fart like me…L-O-L). And finally, it really makes me appreciate what I have and where I’ve come with my project, and really in life. I think that’s my life-lesson here.

Take care guys. And ponder the positive approach. It’s sure better than the alternative!

‘Beard

 

This is 100% true. As a contractor I went from working 75 people to 25 people and still will have to lay more off soon. Its hard to make money right now.

 

Yep...Sure has. Wife and I both lost our jobs in the past year. We both found another quick but at about 1/2 the income. Was able to squirrel some $$$ away by selling some stuff but it is starting to get a bit thin again.

 

Seems the last part of the post pretty much sums it up . . .

 

God I just knew you were from Michigan . . . when I saw "Ford's" That has always cracked me up when I was in Detroit . . . they don't call the other companies "GM's" or "Chrysler's" . . . but "Ford's" - that still sticks! Not bustin your balls, just getting a good laugh in the middle of a tough thread.

 

the recession has danged sure helped my parts buying. I'm learning rapidly not to say, "Would ya take $x instead of $X?" 'cuz, buddy, people are in need of cash.

oddly enough though, welders and body man are both hard to get a hold of around here. all of them around here are booked up.

 

No biggie dude!!.. I should saved that clipping instead of throwing in the trash..

 

I agree , this is a very tough thread, and I want to thank everone for respecting each other and keeping a positive attitude,It always helps to tell your friends your problems, for there is always hope and good advise from those listening.

It's going to take help from everone in this great nation to solve this problem , and not just our goverment, corporations, and small business.

 

I have always been on a small budget for my hobby With 2 great daughters 4 & 7. But after they cut my hours down to 32hrs. Ya its tuff. All you can do is think frugal and positive. Keep trying to buy USA and make the stuff yourself.Some times if you make it yourself it turns out better than if you bought it! Like Joe Dirt said "Ya Gotta Keep On Keepin On"!

 

In the past I could afford to part with some money but now all the boat owners are putting off getting their boat tops and upholstery repaired. Their crafts are going to s**t and I find myself fabricating nothing. Hopefully I can create a product that the Chinese can copy and sell back to us.....just being sarcastic.

 

I have a pretty unique view of things. I'll do my best to keep the politics out of it, but that's where it starts. The media and public servants (HAH!) have everyone running scared from the individual consumer to the corporate office. All of the buying slows down or stops. Credit dries up. All of a sudden we shouldn't spend, and every TV/blog/paper has all of this "economy and budget" bullshit fanning the flames. I say fuck em all. I'm working and I'll spend as I always have. But there's another spin to it. QUALITY PRODUCT. I won't use cheap shit to raise the margin of profit a few percentage points. Keep the quality your base has become acustomed to and you'll keep working. Yes, I believe it's that simple. Now if you're thinking "Yeah Highlander, that's easy to say but..." I guess I should report that a company that makes 99.9% of it's cash flow on disposable income is growing. That's right, we're growing into a larger facility and I'll be hiring 2-4 more people within the 3-6 months. If every buisness, well fuck that, if 1/2 of the companies in this country did the same we'd laugh at the rest of the world. All of this has put the fucks to you and me in different ways, but I can't seem to give up. I've been through a few bad times, both country wide economic times and personal. What's the alternative? Sell it all for 20 cents on the dollar and hoard the little bit of money, or keep kicking ass and holding your ground? I'll hold my ground. You got a skill? SELL IT!! Got an idea? PUSH IT!! Every single one of us can do the same. We can grow our own life styles to what we want if you adjust your own personal idle mixture accordingly.

I have a few things that just aren't selling. I have a vette carrier...still. I'm not giving it away and I'm not at the point to do so. A Packard project car too as well as a Caddy motor and trans. I know what I'd have to pay if I was looking to buy so it's only fair for me to ask the same. Sure I'll move a bit, but someone offering less than 1/2 of my asking price because times are bad? Yes I've had that happen. My response is usually a very nice "go fuck yourself" without using those words. Then again, if times are so bad I guess I'll order a new Brookville 3W for $10K, right? Maybe the next barn find 5W Deuce will sell for $6K. I'm in!!

I truely don't mean to dis anyone here who's struggling right now. I know many of us are. In many ways I am too but more because of the "climate of society" rather than reality. My tires don't last longer, I still need to eat a certain amount, and I had to pay for the parts to repair my appliances. Fuel prices have driven up the cost of everything from an ear of corn to a fuckin bottle of nail polish. Life goes on. I'm not one to go without because our elected officials are trying to line the pockets of their supporters. Fuck them too. Talk about a loss of quality service, I'll be damned if I'll pay more and get less from my reps and my gov't because some DC licknob says I have to. I'd rather fight back and stand my ground. I wish everyone from the OEM factory worker to the farm feilds to the McDonalds drive thru would do the same.

Hey, you're reading this, right? This board is a sterling silver example of quality, in many of it's members and of itself. Again, I'm not trying to kick anyone who's feeling this worse than others. It does suck, and it does put the boots to those trying to realize their dreams.

 

Its got me from being a new member(fng)to a grenade inspector on the hamb.It seems I have more spare time on my hands than money so, I spend more time talking and reading instead of spending money on my cars.Its all good im actually learning something from all the post

 

About a month ago my wife comes in all panicked she said someone is trying to get my stuff. They took the chain link fence top rail, and were probably coming back to get my stuff. I said she was delusional and the top rail was probably gone for a while, the only people that would want my stuff have got to be in there 50's and 60's and they just weren't about to pull off on the parkway and steal my stuff. I said it had to be somebody looking for scrap, so we started asking the neighbors and sure enough theirs was gone too, told the girl who lives across the street and she said it was in the paper, guy got caught on the parkway walking with the aluminum pipe, go figure

 

We can´t roll up into a ball of fear, econimists tell us that consumer confidence is key to getting out of this mess, I feel the media should spend some time and show some companys that are still successful despite the resession, that would give everyone hope and get us back on track. I think if they dropped the property tax for new buyers, that would make investors purchess the distress homes and make them affordable rentals, this would correct the housing market and in the long run, our local goverments would have more revenue.

 

GM walked away from a lot on money I held in their Bonds when they declared bankruptcy. How did it affect this hobby? I had $400.00 less a month to work with and make purchases. Not much to some but a whole lot to me.
Normbc9

 

" How has the ressesion affected our hobby? " Well, it's woken a lot of people up! That's what it's done. All the hoarders and guys with two or three projects are getting a wake up call. This thing we do is a HOBBY! If you're out of work, the family doesn't have food or clothes and you are trying to figure out how to afford a flathead, then you need to get your head out of your ass! "I had to sell ONE (out of 3) of my cars and a bunch of stuff I had crammed in my garage." WTF!! Boo freakin' woo!

I've read a lot of threads and often wondered where the hell are people getting the money for this shit? The economy sucks more than a $5 whore at a bankers convention and it isn't going to get better any time soon. Unless you're a banker and some of them are going to jail!

I'm single, earn a decent days pay and I still can't afford what my eyes want to buy. You family guys have GOT to be hurting. So, depending on your situation, it might be frugile to put the HOBBY on the back burner. Get a budget of some sort and stick to it. A hot rod should NOT be part of that budget.

This crappy economy is like a big lake we need to cross. The ones who drown are going to be the ones trying to buy a boat, when they should have been taking swimming lessons!

Rant over.... I'm going to fix some Ramon noodles!

 

I think if they dropped the property tax for new buyers, that would make investors purchess the distress homes and make them affordable rentals, this would correct the housing market and in the long run, our local goverments would have more revenue.
Gimme a break here my friggin taxes are goin up & my house value on the market is going down & you want some slumlord not to have to pay his fair share. Our governments would have more revenue ??? Where would that come from me!!!? Lets be fair & have everybody pay their fair share.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

You are right, the savings would have to be offered to everone, this would help current home owners keep making their mortage payments, the goverment would recieve less money on an individual payment , but would make up for it by the larger volume of home owners.
As the distress homes get sold, property values would go up, not to the crazy over inflated prices of 2007, but to their real value. Right now, homes are selling for less than what it costs to build one , and I feel they are under valued.
The economy is much like a rubber band, it expands and contracts, and the real value of things is alway in the center. Right now people are hoarding gold , and I think that bubble will pop soon, lately , China has been purchasing farmland, and comadaties, for people will always need to eat and have a roof over their heads.Tax reform for every one is one of the solutions and streamlining the operating costs of our goverment the other.
The largest factor in our economy is fuel prices, even though the price of crude has dropped, the oil companies have shut down refineries to keep the price up. A lot of things were wrong with our economy, but riseing fuel prices is what triggered this mess.

 

magoozi wrote:

"The largest factor in our economy is fuel prices, even though the price of crude has dropped, the oil companies have shut down refineries to keep the price up. A lot of things were wrong with our economy, but riseing fuel prices is what triggered this mess."

There have been no new refineries built in the USA in 27 plus years thanks to environmental regulations. One potential refinery west of Phoenix has been blocked for more than 20 years with lawsuits by environmental groups. For the record, my property taxes are extremely low thanks to oil and gas production.

After reading 10 pages of posts, I've come to the conclusion that greed is in the eye of the beholder! I also agree with several posters that this is the new "normal".

Finally, I like the poster that is going back and refining his car to make it better since a new project is off the table. I'm following his lead and redoing small things that cost little or nothing to do.
_

 

The bad economy can be a good thing, it depends how you look at it.

It seems to me that friendships become more important than ever. My business is way down, 60% down in fact. But the good news is local friends have given me parts for free just because it helps keep the fun alive.

We all know times are hard but that just means you need to focus on better relationships.

Mike

 

You hear it from your friends and neighbors all the time: "I've always wanted a hot rod", "I've always wanted to get a GTO like I had in high school", or what ever.

Now is the time to talk them off the fence. Prices will never be this low again!

I've been able to do just that with a couple of friends and now we have more in common and our friendships are stonger. Always a good thing.

 

One positive thing the ressesion has given me, is that I am spending more time with my family and kids, enjoying my friends more, focusing more on my job so me and my boss can keep the bussiness afloat, and when I get some time and money , finish my cars instead of going to so many shows.

 

Hey!!!! One look at tfeverfred's avatar Tells the whole story----Losing our shirts!!!!!!!

 

I havent read any of the posts in this thread and I'm not going to.
I will say "HOBBY????"

Theres your problem, right there.
It might be an expensive 'hobby' but for those of us that drive old cars ONLY, its not a hobby but a way of life and a cheap one at that. I bet most Hambers have a modern car that costs them as much in monthly payments as I spent YEARLY to keep my old cars going.