Has an owner's attitude ever put you off a car? I was at a show recently, looking at a high $$$ Steve Moal built Deuce. I went up to the owner and asked a couple of questions about his engine and mentioned that I was putting an engine with the same rare cylinder heads in a hot rod. I got the distinct impression, corroborated by a buddy who was standing close by, that I was getting the 'I don't really believe you - who the hell are you' treatment - just one tick away from 'screw you, how dare you talk to the Great Me'. It completely turned me off the car and I walked away thinking 'what's this prick's problem?' Thinks he's better than everybody else because he paid mega dollars to have an 'every name part on it' Brookville bodied replica built by check book but probably doesn't know one end of a wrench from the other? What's the matter with these weenies - insecurity, zero self worth? Ain't a hot rodder in my book.
Nah, he just didn't know what he had in his car, so he would appear stupid(er) talking to you. don't sweat it.
you have them in all scenes. I run into them at the trucks shows I go to as well. No matter how nice the car or truck is, if the guy is a dick then I just soon he take his car and go home.
We have guys like that here, too. They put one part on their car and think they're Johnny Hotrodder. Usually those guys are the richer version of the "Gangster-Billy" guys that think because they buy pomade, they're suddenly a bad-ass. Don't let it get ya down. Just build what you build and anyone that cops an attitude like that can gargle it.
So quit whining here on the HAMB about one asshole in a long line you'll meet in life and take the newly freed up time to build your car with the super rare cylinder heads......then park your car with its super rare cylinder heads right next to his car with the super rare cylinder heads the next time you see him. Get out of your car, don't acknowledge his existance and go enjoy the show. See? Easy. -Bigchief.
never met a true HOT RODDER who didin't want to talk about his car to interested parties. I used to do some work for a guy who had a bunch of money and bought a nice Art Himsl painted 58 Impala. he was more into autocross and baja 500 kind of stuff. took the 58 out once a year to Hot August nights. that's it. when someone asked a question about his car he did not have an answer for he'd tell them "all I did was hang the fuzzy dice on the mirror, I don't know the answer to your question" never gave any attitude to anyone. he figured some people are good at building cars, he was good at making money.
On the flip side of that, I see lots of other picking apart other peoples' cars at shows. I like to drive my car to the show and park in the parking lot. I'd never enter a show, simply because around here people will walk up to you and criticise your choices on what you did to your car. I run my '54 with the hood off usually, and I've had lots of people say "This stupid car isn't even finished...". My car will never be finished. I drive it too much so i'm always rebuilding something. Maybe that guy was sick of hearing people say "You should have done this", or "you should have painted it this color" etc. etc. At any rate, sometimes people just suck. move on. Chances are his car hates him too.
Go to an "Italian car show". Lots of these guys around (usually with some Ferrari that's past it's "service interval"). The other 90% are really cool. I see alot of those guys at the hot rod shows too, almost everyone I've ever been to. Just walk off and in a couple of parking spaces you'll meet some guy with black under his fingernails more than than happy to shoot shit long enough to piss off your wife.
I was at a show at lake george ny. Talked to a guy who thought that was the only show without snobs. I told him it was because most of the cars were built by the drivers and love to talk about how it was built. I got in a heated debate on the hamb abought hot rods and bought rods. The thread got closed mostley because i got pissed and mouthed off.
seems to me you can spot the asshole in every car crowd. you guys would love a local builder around here, 'older' guy, and built a sweet coupe, like big dollar mag quality, and he walks around in a white t-shirt and 'blue work pants', you'd never guess this guy built this car in his garage, and humble as fuck, awesome guy to talk with. don't let the dick heads get ya down.
we all run into dinks. i know some who are hotrodders, too. they try to impress you with their all-knowing attitude and snub their nose to somebody that has an incorrect part or the wrong tires on their vehicle. success and fame help breed the attitude
Hey, don't worry about idiots like that. We have quite a few here in our area also (HAMB members NOT included). It's one of the big reasons we quit going to car shows around here. We just couldn't compete with the professional check writers. The guys that built every hotrod they owned back in the day yet the one they drove to the show they decided to have a "Professional" build for them.
I tried to talk to a local old time racer one day, he more or less ignored me . Told the story one day after his name came up and the guy told me ..Nah, he is a great guy , did you know he is almost deaf ? Uh oh, no ..didn't ,,he said next time ..talk loud and slow and he will be more than happy tp speak to you Now, 3 years later ..we speak all the time .. Thats my nothing story in regards to the topic
Man, thats basically how everybody is round me. Im young, but i know alot, and i like things traditional. At shows i ususally get along better with the older folks that have been where i am and understand that when your young, you dont want power anything or creature comforts. I got in a heated argument with some guy because im putting a generator on my 41 Coupe instead of an alternator. Alternators are nice, but a good generator system can keep up just as long
The best way to deal with assclown's like that is park next to them.Then watch the smoke pour out of there ears as people all walk past his car and look at your homebuilt car.They hate it when you tell them you built your whole car for less than there chrome bill LOL
Copy that! It rained at the Vette show here one year and the whole bunch almost drowned. I ran up on a vintage Rolls Royce show in Lexington on my way to the Nats in Louisville one year and the Blue Bloods in their ascots and sport coats that cost more than my jalopy were way more interested in talking about their cars than Vette guy's or some street rod guy's for that matter. Go figure.
I'm just the opposite, you ask me one thing about my car and I'll talk your ear off till you actually have to walk away shaking your head and thinking.....is she ever going to stop talking to me
I usually politely reply to questions with "its not my car".....sometimes it is easier than talking to a person that is an idiot..... or someone who is talking to me in gangster lingo like "Yo dawg"
I'm just lucky i guess. I hang around teh old hot rodders. The one guys name is Herb Scott, one hell of a guy! used to be a match racer
Couple of years ago at the Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green I spotted a very nice Deuce roadster with a perfect stance. No one was around and the tires had been buffed so I could not make a note of the brand or size. Later in the day I came by and the owner was rubbing on it. So I went over and asked. He apologized and said he did not know. The car had been built for him and this was the first time he had it out. A gold chainer for sure. But no snob. Later in the day he came by my car, saw me, and came over to chat. I'll bet he is up to speed now. My big bitch is guys who tell me they are also into old cars and then expect me to know all about Cameros.
I have a different but similar stroy related to this topic. I was at a wedding near Scranton, PA and Joe Amato (Drag Racing Joe Amato) was walking out of the bathroom as I was walking in. Apparently he lives near the bar/hall where this wedding was being held. He was obviously there with his wife or girlfriend and they were either coked up or on speed or something. They seemed jittery. Anyway, I feel like I know this guy - I grew up at Maple Grove Raceway watching this guy race and was a big fan b/c I grew up near where he did - sort of a hometown guy. Long story short - complete asshole. He came off as he couldn't be bothered. Really disappointing to see this. Giggly little tramp on his arm acted like she was a queen. Just overall disappointing. I don't imagine he encounters too many fans - most younger folks wouldn't know him! Some car show guys are like this - they think they are better than you or their car is the best - who cares? I like the cars that folks drive - whether it cost 1,000 or 100,000. It doesn't matter who built it or what it cost - just be a decent human being when someone comes up to BS for a few. If they act like a jerk, just laugh at them and walk away.
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