Event Coverage I think I'm getting numb to the hobby

And just be ready to have your car ignored by the masses, because it isn't a copycat.

 

Tradition, by definition, is repeated behavior, passed across generations.

Break the chain by a generation, or two, and it's not tradition.

One-of-a-kind builds are not traditional, unless you are cloning one.

A Model A with a 24-stud flathead, bias plies, and no fenders is traditional. Build one now, and you are doing something that was done, and was repeated over and over. Repeated behavior, from an era, repeated in that era.

An Ed Roth car is not. Build one now, and you still are still not Ed Roth, you are doing something that was done, but was not repeated over and over. Repeated behavior, from an era, not repeated in that era.

Sameness comes from tradition. Commonness comes from tradition.

Uniqueness stands in defiance of tradition.

 

Welp, I have to say that I never thought that this thread would go 10 pages. I figured I would vent and my 2 friends would comment and then it would fade away into the sunset….

 

I think @Moriarity already shared the cure.

Just drive your car as much as possible. Take it to the store. Drive it to the shore for an ice cream. Take it to the strip mall. The bigger and busier the parking lot the better. The more mundane the better - but make sure you enjoy the drive.

When you finish your errand and leave the store or whatever - look across the parking lot and you'll remember why this is fun.

You'll probably only see one car - and guess who it belongs to?

 

Just remember. this website is not the world. It does have its rules, and they are to be respected.

That does not mean that you cannot build something that does not follow those rules, it just means that you cannot show it here.

It does not mean that you have to automatically hate everything that cannot be shown here.

I dig traditional stuff, but that is just one thing that I like. It is not practical for me to have a traditional build, for a whole host of reasons that I have already gone through on other threads. None of those are negotiable, and none of them make me less of a hot rodder.

I just cannot feature my things here, and that's ok. I still have the only car/truck like it in the parking lot.

 

Stock Racer, I couldn’t agree with you more. I spent my share on drag cars and the rest I just wasted. If cars are moving at speed, and there is a swap meet as a bonus, count me in.

 

Well, look what happened. You stepped in in now.

 

We've probably all become somewhat "numb"....at least I think I have. When I say I've become numb, I mean it in the sense that I don't feel compelled to closely inspect every car at a car show. I remember the first NSRA Nationals I went to, Detroit '72 I believe, I was overwhelmed by all of the hot rods and was looking them over top to bottom. Because of the time spent doing that, and taking a bunch of pictures, which I probably haven't looked at again since they came back from the film developer, I probably only saw a tiny percentage of the cars there. If or when I go to a show now I'll stroll past the rows of cars fairly quickly until I see a car that has some special appeal. I don't think that makes me jaded to hot rodding all together, but I feel it's fine to look for and at the cars that have something about them to draw me in for a closer look. It might be traditional, unusual, radical, newer or older, it just has to raise my curiosity for a closer look to see what the builder did.

Someone mentioned King Solomon saying there's nothing new under the sun. I think in hot rodding that's pretty much the case but at least the cars are there to refresh the memory on how things can be done, put together and in some cases admire the execution and craftsmanship.

Lynn

 

Seriously guys and girls, just enjoy your hot rods whatever they may be!

 

Not having a go at @Blues4U here.
This is the attitude and mentality I just don't get.
Why are so many builders/owners so worried about what "the masses" think of their car?
Here's some advice. You do you, and let them do them.......

 

Ignored? I'd rather be invisible.

For me, the worst part about our cars is the attention they draw.

 

I want people to scratch their head and wonder why mine looks different.

 

@Roothawg - Just take the DragNFly to the corner store and be done with it.

 

Your car too ???

 

Ha….actually it looks a lot like me.

 

I would have to push it. It’s in a sad state right now.

 

This right here.. took my kids to hockey.. football etc in my car and I get a bigger thrill looking at my car in a lot than any show...

 

how about taking a one speed pedal bike for a intense workout in the Okie midday sun. Material field, material harvest. Stuff chasing stuff will not fill the hole in the soul.

 

Two words……heat stroke.

 

Root ,
You’re right,,,,I never thought this would go 10 pages,,,,LoL .
It almost feels like Facebook sometimes,,,,,people complaining about this or that,,,,,because they are not motivated,,,,or just feel disconnected from the world .
Can you imagine how spoiled we are that we can’t appreciate having a nice car ?,,,,,,,when most people would be proud just to ride in it,,,,much less own one !

Be grateful to be able to build these machines,,,,,,,,instead of having to exist in a factory environment and never be able to realize their dreams .

Forgive me if anyone is offended,,,,,I didn’t mean to ,,,,,,,just an observation from the loser section,,,,LoL.
I feel better about myself after reading some of these posts,,,,I’ll never have anything,,,but I’m still trying ,,,LoL .
Get out there and drive them if you have them,,,,,,isn’t that what it’s all about ?

Tommy

 

I've been doing car events shows rod runs whatever you want call them for fifty years now. I don't get as fired up as I used to but I'll go to few each year. As we used to say "The fun is in the run" or "Get your rod out and play with it"

 

OK, I can fully buy this part. Engaging in 'traditional' behavior is recognized across all sorts of human endeavor. Ethnic entertainers, competitions at local fairs, chili cook-offs, logger jubilees, any sort of behavior where people get together to celebrate and continue some activity or artform that may or may not be useful/popular in the modern world. Competition and individual achievement within the tradition is what keeps these activities fresh and vital. That's essentially why this forum exists.

This is where I say bullshit. Following that reasoning to its logical conclusion, only exact copies would qualify as traditional, denying the very reasons these cars exist. These cars weren't generally built because everyone wanted one like the other ones; they were built to showcase the owner's individuality. It could be a guy who wants to go faster than the others, or a custom builder who wants to stand out in the crowd. The point is, each owner had individual reasons for doing what they did whatever they may be. You're elevating the art forger while running the artist out of town. This is the grimmest sort of mind control; no individuality allowed. If this is true, the horse is truly and totally dead and many of us are wasting our time here.

But I don't believe this. The HAMB era covers so many different styles/types of builds, finding one that floats your boat shouldn't be all that hard. Any car built in an era style and spirit should be considered traditional, yes, even your show rod.

 

That okay I ignore the masses.

 

I disagree with your entire take on this. I won't be swayed, so let's move on to something else.

And no, my show rod won't be seen here, unless it is for the brief interval between the post and enough people reporting it to have the thread deleted. I know this, have accepted this, and will post it elsewhere.

 

I agree. If you want multiple definitions of creativity, go back and review all of MR. Moriarity’s collection. Even his Zingers and shrunken ‘57 Chevy is a feast for people in need of a creative infusion for the mind. . Same as my hopes for my 1948 Ford F1 is that it will be different that there will never be a copycat .

 

I can't say I'm exactly " numb " to the hobby but if I happen to be up around 4:00AM, the only thing I really look forward to is reporting the CDB ads that show up before anyone else gets to them. Must be I haven't lost my competitive spirit, huh?

 

I wouldn't say "worried", nobodies worried about anything, but it is kind of nice to be noticed among a collection of cars and not be ignored. But at the end of the day I'll still do my own thing whether it's appreciated by anyone else or not.

And this is an attitude and mentality I don't get...

 

I was camping at Tunnel Mountain campsite for the Touring Tin Father’s Day rod run every year from 1982 right up to very close to when it ended.
For the longest time I had t shirts from every year and glass beer mugs too.
It was a really good time in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
A family camping get together long weekend and some guys hung around after the Sunday show and shine and made it a week long camping trip.
Good times sad that it’s over.

 

I drive my Coupe everyday, and what cracks me up is, all the curious faces. What is it? What year is it? Why do you drive an old car? Nice Ratrod?(ASSHOLES!!!) Some of the kids in my neighborhood have been asking me for a ride, lately. The look on their face is great. FUCK shows.....There's less and less that interests me. When I do go, it's to see friends. One big reason is, there's no year cut-off! Many of the Traditional shows I USED TO go to, were PRE '65 only.

 

Sorry about your mom, Billy.

Quit whining?
Build something?
Ok. Good idea.