Dude, I bet doobage would make him quieter. As for Zima, when it first came out years ago I ran into an entire rack of it on display in a restaurant in Chicago, it was pretty embarrassing.
Excellent journal entry. I am never one for being star struck, however, I do have my own personal heroes that fabricate a sense of awe when our paths cross. I am an extrovert, so it is not hard to talk to anyone much less those I put a label on, rather, it is harder to make a conversation happen which is not going to deluge them with mundane questions and over used statements. Cars are a great social lubricant, nine times out of ten, my experiences with cars have kept me from putting my foot in my mouth when around new people whom I usually find out were famous for one reason or another. Those famous people who can blend in and carry on a conversation do so with my respect, because they are now just another gearhead. The two best cases I can offer up was meeting Caballero when I was a teenager at a skate session in Phoenix back in the 80's and then fast forward to VLV 08 and able to shake his hand and talk a bit with him. Nothing had changed in his demenor outside of finding out he and I shared more commonalities than a love of skating. Regardless of the music, the tricks, the apparel and the decks that carry his name, he was another guy looking to enjoy a conversation about cars and anything that happened to come up. The other case was when I was running the gate at Hot Rod Ron's Greaseball two years ago and the Texan Guitarist shown in Buzzards post appears with a friend and the friends daughter. I knew who he was immediately and was able to interact with him as another gearhead. He walked up, asked what was going on in the Congress Hotel parking lot. I told him that this free event is open and he is welcome to check out the vehicles and mingle. Before he entered into the event, I asked him to hold on a second and got Ron's attention that he had a guest who wanted to know more about this function he was putting on. The car enthusiast stayed quite a while and mingled amongst the crowd and was just another gearhead as far as I was concerned. The best thing about the HAMB is never knowing whom you are talking cars with if you don't have a face to the handle. I like that because their celebrity status means nothing when they are just here to enjoy the same hobby the rest of us are enjoying.
LMAO. Nads, I will meet you in Austin next year. And I don't drink that shit, it's just an Austin kinda drink. I'm a whiskey guy, it's not bad unless you're a mean drunk.
sometimes being oblivious is a good thing. Mr G came up to my Uncle Nick at a show and was looking at his 32 Ford roadster. My Uncle proceeded to talk his ear off not even knowing who he was. Uncle Nick is just friendly that way. Billy thanked him for the conversation and went on his way. My Uncle never knew who he was.
Zmooth. I, too, am super shy to people I haven't met before, especially if I recognize them. A little more than a year ago, I met one of drag racing's legends, Dave Hough of Nanook Fuel Altered fame. They were running the car with the Rat Trap at Moroso in West Palm Beach, FL a week before an exhibition deal at the NHRA Gatornationals. I would never had spoken to him, but I was hanging out by the car on and off for a while and he initiated conversation. Turns out, the Hough family is some of the greatest people. Very down to earth, very friendly. I spoke with Dave all weekend. He was keeping me up to date with the tune ups. Telling stories about some photo shoots with Steve Reyes. By the end of the weekend, I felt like I'd know him for years. Unfortunately, the next weekend, at Gainesville, I was helping load the remnants of the car into the trailor after Rick had a horrible crash. Dave is still one of my heroes.
I'm kinda the same way Ryan...except when I'm in a acr setting, I got no issue talking to anyone...but put me where I don't know people or at a bar..and I can't say 2 words till someone breaks the ice..haha...and you're right..perfect custom
For a shy guy you won't have posted any pics of yourself? Anyone got one? I always like to know what a blogger looks like, it adds to the personal touch of the blog... Come on guys, someone snapped Ryan last weekend, right?...
Funny thing about that... Back in the '60s my dad had more than a little resemblance to the F1 driver Graham Hill. So they dressed him up to look like him (probably a rowing club badge on his dinner jacket ), and let him mingle at a racing car club party. Fooled a lot of people appearently... So when Billy G showed up I thought it was somebody that just looked like him to see everybody fall over themselfs to meet him. So I walked the other way... Untill Ron came and got me "you've got to get back to your car, Billy wants to see it" So I did.... Nice guy, we talked cars for a while.
SMOoooooOTH 54 FORD!! Flows evenly!! And Ryan you give me inspiration & hope for myself! I am also too SHY for my own g** damn good! Ryan you have GREAT automotive success,,,,,I admire! I hope I get to the point where my "cool car....art" pushes all my social anxiety SHit to the wayside.--but looks like I gotta long way to go. Thanx Ryan.
Ryan, and anyone else that might be introverted, might like this book titled "The Introvert Advantage."
I really liked this thread. I don't post often - it's a reflection of my tendency to sit back and observe. I've always admired those extroverts that can hold the attention of the room with their stories. I'm more of a "Chimer", I'll add my two cents here and there as the opportunity arises. Beer tends to make me a little more vocal. In relation to cars, since I found this place out I've been able to meet more than a few like-minded people. Heck, I even met a few Hambers at the Autorama this year and I wasn't even drinking! On a side-note, one of my most regretable moments was not having the stones enough to introduce myself to Big Daddy Roth at St. Ignace. I was standing 10 feet from him. Perfect opportunity wasted. He died within a year.
I gotta confess my ignorance -- Who is Jimmy Vaughn? Shyness is a normal male thing. A guy needs something to talk about. He can't just talk about nothing. Cars are something real. And real cool to talk about.
There are pics of Ryan on here...I've seen them! I'm fairly shy as well. I tend to over compensate by feeling like I have to talk a lot & fill up any empty space. So I come off as a chatty cathy when I'm actually fairly shy around new folks.
Jimmie's 54 Vicky Custom is ace. And I say that with no bias in favor of this year FoMoCo body style.
He's Stevie Ray Vaughn's brother, he's an extraordinairy guitarist in his own right, he plays with The Fabulous Thunderbirds and he's been a greasy haired bad ass all his life.
Ryan - Reading this made me realize that I'm not alone. I'm always anxious in social settings - but, like you, I appreciate a well crafted car. I felt as though you were writing about me. Anyway, that's why I like to work on my stuff alone - even if I often don't know what the hell I'm doing. I'd rather spend hours figuring out my own way to make something right and I prefer to take in cars without a sidekick. Maybe this is a syndrome and we can get some scientist to study loner car guys.
There are two things I like doing alone, riding my bike and working on shit, even though I get plenty of help from friends. I don't listen to music when I'm working either. But I am extroverted...a bit, sometimes I talk my friends into sleep, then I start talking to the couch and the cat, and sometimes the curtains.
Some of my favorite music just happens to come from professionals with nice hot rods. Gibbons, Vaughn and of course Clapton. They do what I would do if I had any real money......but I think I'd still like to build my own stuff, even if I was rollin' in cash.
This is an interesting thread. My take on this , most car guys, and especially hot rodders, are down to earth real nice guys to talk about the hobby with. They really don't come off as cellebrities and I get the impression that they don't want to be treated that way either. My talking to verious "famous" people at car events have been great as long as Ive held the subject matter to car talk and not "oh my god I love your (music, comedy, acting,etc.)". I' ve been quiet most of my adolesence, however as I get older I find my self becoming more outgoing and talkitive. So I say complement the people with the cool cars nomatter who they may be, we're all the same. It's just that some of us have cooler "day jobs".
I'm surprised @ all the introverted people - I'm not alone Anyway my 2 RoundUp stories dealing with the same thing: I knew Dennis OBrien (OBrien Truckers) was going to be on my flight to Austin and he was bringing "Luke" with him....well "Luke" was actually Luke Karosi of Kustoms Illustrated and HotRods Illustrated. As I was sitting in the Airport terminal they sat down right next to me and my wife - We've never met before, but Dennis had shirt or jacket that said "Obrien or Dennis or Obrien Truckers" on it, making it pretty obvious. I didn't say a word for about 10min. Then got up and went to the bathroom - sure enough I was drying my hands and so was Dennis - He gave me the typical men's room bathroom "HI" and I was finally able to introduce myself. He then introduced me to Luke. Pretty much everyone else I met was through Dennis as he has to be the most outgoing person I have ever met. Anyway - quick story #2. HAMB meet and greet. I had a few questions about D.W.'s Model A coupe, but had never met him. I knew who he was only from Reggie's BBQ and Thursty Thursday activities. It took all I had to stop him (when he appeared to be on a mission to somewhere) just to introduce myself and ask him about the CAR. -The Great Equalizer Uhhhh wait was this supposed to be about Jimmy Vaughan's car - that was pretty cool too.
Funny this thread pops up here today. I saw a nice, maroon '50 (I think) Dodge/plymouth roll into the other end of the parking lot. Since I used to have a '49 Plymouth, I almost went up and talked to the guy. But I didn't, because I remembered how nervous it'd make me when strangers came up to me to talk about my car. What's real funny is that my best friend in the world is this guy who's sick as a dog, weighs about 110 pounds soaking wet, and hobbles around on a cane. He'll talk to anyone. I'm six-foot-something, weigh in about 240, and in the prime of my life. But when I'd see people checking my car out, I'd just whip around a corner and go another direction so that I didn't have to talk to 'em at a stop light. But at least I'm not shy behind a keyboard. -bill
Im a pretty shy person myself. I always have great plans to meet everyone at a show and I always just clam up once Im there. I recognized a bunch of names at the round-up but only actually talked with a couple. Thanks for posting this Ryan...
I think a lot of us spend too much time alone,in the shop,with our projects and the shop dog. Often,very creative people would rather communicate with their handiwork,than with their mouths.Ryan,gives us a place to anonamously interact with likeminded enthusiasts.Thanks Ryan,we understand,some people just want to kick back and observe rather than be the center of attention.At an event were all just car guys(and gals)celebrities included.
I'm still a little shy at first but can talk to you when I get to know you... not in (or in front of) big groups though... but I can talk to my friends for hours. I've met/seen quite a few "celebs" but I can honestly say that the only time i have been star struck is when I met Keith Weesner (which I don't think he knows) about 4 years ago but have gotten to know him and his wife Penny and they are incredibley cool and talented people. Jimmy's car is about as great as he is... he's a very cool guy... We (Rod, Lee and myself) had lunch with him in Austin and he wasn't rude to anyone that came up to him and interrupted him having lunch... -Juan p.s. I had a grat time in Austin, you can read about it on deadend soon... and it was cool to finally meet you Ryan!
I agree that old cars, customs, hot rods, whatever you like, puts us all on the same planet. As a pinstriper, (you cannot be shy doing that!), I stripe vehicles of all kinds for people of every race, social standing, rich, poor, famous, not famous. When I do a job for a client, it can be anything from a lowrider to a new Escalade, we become buddies because we respect what the other likes to roll with. Car lovers, especially hot rodders and customizers are the best. Without all of you, I would not be doing a job I love. As for Jimmie V, he could become a highly paid consultant on how NOT to build a custom. I've know him for over 20 years and he only gets better with age. He is definitely a model citizen in the rod and custom community and he is always willing to ask "how ya doin' ". Thanks J.V. for all the years of friendship and an inspiring smile. Mike Hartman Mikey's Pinstriping "Linear Abstracta"
The Jalopy Journal
