Man you guy have no idea how much it sucks that people my age act dumb when it comes to vintage rods or hot rodding. It seems like their idea of a hot rod is a Toyota Supra with a rotary engine and twin turbos. I know hundreds of kids (no joke) within a few years of my age (24) and maybe two dozen of them know about rods. Its sad to think of what is going to happen to hot rodding.............................
Sure am glad to hear from ALL car lovers....did,nt mean to suggest that some are lesser because they may not like traditional rods ,, only ment I don,t know if those into cars nowdays have the dreams we did ? For some of us a hotrod seemed to be so far from possibly ever being able to afford something like that... And as some have mentioned , our lives were so limited and things moved along much slower where today there,s so many more things to accupy the mind........... Sorry to sound like the walk to school was uphill both ways (way back then ),, but things sure have changed
Being a seventeen year old kid I can see where you guys are coming from with how almost all the kids now-a-days don't know that much about traditional hot rods, but you got to also look at how much less old cars are driving around. The kids now are into what they can get their hands on and are basically doing the evolved version of hot rodding. But I don't care for the evolved version of hot rodding I like it traditional.
Who knows. I always thought old stuff was cool. Old radios, old TVs, old cars, probably the best thing my mom ever got me was a big stack of 70's Rod & Custom and Special-Interest Autos magazines at an auction across the street when I was like 10, if that. I always liked hot rods, and the more traditional looking, the better. But then I guess one of the first few words I knew was "car" (pronounced at that time as "kye"), my mom could leave me in the playpen by the window and I'd point at every one that went by - truck, bus, stationwagon, whatever, and tell my mom about the "kye" - maybe my blood type is SAE30 or something.
well ive got a 56 yr old that stops by the shop everyday and slobbers all over the (namebrand boydster 57 chevy truck)im doing for someone. but looks at me and says "why are u building that when u can build this " i dont get mad i just tell him ......that makes that dude happy and this makes me happy. oh....btw...he calls my truck a (scrap-rod)it sounds better than (rat)
Maybe I have a different outlook, but, heading up on 37 early next week, a lot of this started a long time ago. There were a LOT of guys in my highschool that didn't know one end of a torque wrench from the other - and still don't. I faced the fact a long time ago that some people just don't care about cars. I work with 2 guys that pretty much fit that description. When these guys talk about modifying their vehicles, it's almost always ordering taillights, headlights, rims, etc. They think I'm nuts for building an old car with not much of anything to start with. They have the "why bother" attitude and have even asked me why I just don't buy a fiberglass body. But, I understand. I don't get their love for crotch rockets and what I would call unmodified vehicles. To me, it's what you build, not what you buy. My sons (12 & 14 - they live 4 hours away with their mother) and my nephews (19 & 21) have no interest in cars other than as a way to get from point A to point B. I've tried and failed to light the spark with them. Video games are my oldest son's love. No interest in anything mechanical. My youngest son? Who knows - he hasn't latched onto anything yet. My nephews just need to concentrate more on staying out of jail these days. I've had a love for all things mechanical for as long as I can remember. I don't "get" what some people do with them or why they like them "that way", but I still love the mechanical aspect. Along the same lines, I've been known to spend hours and $$$$ fabricating something I could easily go out and buy. But that's just me. I've read everything "hot rod" related that I could get my hands on, and that interest has lead me here as well. I'll even encite a riot by saying that hot rods aren't necessarily old cars. A hot rod to me is something modified (preferably by the owner - if you don't build them, I'd say you're a hot rod owner, not exactly a hot rodder) to go faster.......or sound faster.........or to look faster. Maybe I'm old school in saying that a custom isn't necessarily a hot rod either - but my '85 Monte Carlo is. All the money in that car has gone under the hood. Looks like crap.........well, these days it runs that way too, but that's beside my point. Some of the imports are serious hot rods too! Lots of mods, many by the owners and some of the owners don't think racing seats make 'em faster! And they know that stickers aren't power adders. Some of them are different. How many guys did you go to high school with that had big meats and a hood scoop on a car with a tired stocker under the hood? Or on a 4-door ............. that was stock under the hood? The money thing isn't enough of an argument. I see LOTS of kids driving cars newer than my "new" car! They have no interest in old cars, I really have no interest in new cars - guess that makes us even, cuz I don't "get" what they want any more than they "get" where I'm coming from. To each his (or her) own I would have to say. Lots of people my age never did "get it" and never will. I don't push it any more. Long winded and rambling, but that's the way I see it. Tim D.
I dont want to sound like the old fart that I am, but its not just the younger generations that dont get it. I am not necessarily refering to hot rods, but life in general. Have any of you tried to hire any decent help to work in your shop? Its damn near impossible to find anybody that is willing to work for a living anymore.Its not just the young kids,it seems to be a general trend around here. back to the car thing,I grew up around stock cars,studebakers,model A's etc.etc. My dad loved cars and passed that love on to me. My daughter is 27 now,and when she was born she came home from the hospital in my 39 chev coupe,she also grew up around hot rods and street machines,and although she now lives in Florida she still attend car events when ever she can.
Dan, The next time he (or any other young kid comes around) give them a ride in ithat old car. Let them feel the tradition, hear the rumble of an old hot rod. Then they'll "get it" and the spark/flame will be lit. If not then at least you can say you tried. Paul
Its not the kids that dont get it, its their parents that dont get it. The parents put them in front of a tv and dont have fun with them. I have always said " If we cant take the kids we dont need to go " I guess thats why Im single raising a daighter. Oh and she knows more than just hot rods.
My grandpa wasnts to know why I'm messing with all this old junk when there are so many neat new cars to play with.
I find myself playing the monkey in the middle. My parents just don't get it. To them, a car is something with seats and a steering wheel to get you from point A to B. My little brother (22 y.o.) doesn't get it either ... dreams of performance BMWs and shit. He can't understand what I would see in a "rusty heap". They roll their eyes and prattle on about airbags and reliability. I tell them when I'm done my car will have "airbags" and be reliable. I can't wait to wipe the smirk off my brother's face when I roast his Subaru and he starts dancin' around like a little dog, "Can I drive it?!?! Huh? Huh? Can I drive it?!?! Pllleeeaassseeee?!?!?!"
I don't know if the walk to school was uphill both ways 'cause I couldn't see that well in the dark....in the swamp...carrying my little brother...
I tell you what I dont get...MODEL TRAINS. Sorry , just doesnt do it for me. I'm sure somebody on this board has one whether they admit it or not. I was taking my lunchtime walk around the facility yesterday with some folks from my department who range in age from 30 to 70 yrs old. We passed one of the nicest 67 chevelles I have ever seen in the parking lot. Slick as glass, drag radials, undescribable but looks somewhat like the year one chevelle if you have seen that. I stopped in my tracks and began to drool and everyone else just walked on rolling their eyes. Funny thing is, I work in the ENGINERING RESEARCH BUILDING. You would think a nice ride like that would empty the building. Nobody else even gave it a look. I cant stand the fart can muffler cars personally and, yes, some of them are fast. But for the most part I make it a point to kick their arse in my DD 2001 Buick Lesabre on a regular basis. They just look amazed...
Yep them young kids just don't get it ! When I was young I walked to and from school up hill both ways, barefooted on broken glass. My 80 yr old dad told me to quit fooling with that old 30 Ford and buy a real car, Hudson Hornet or a 54 Buick Roadmaster. If we all liked the same stuff it would be a boring life.
ok time for the punk kid to speak up im 20 i live in bfe iowa but i do every thing in my power to learn about 50s 60s trad hotrods they just have somthing that none of my firends will ever have unless i show them they way and im proud of that i wish i was that parts pedlaer i would of wasted my day w/ you asking you questions and probly got fired but o well i love model As any year any style even a fordor any way my 46 year old dad dont even under stand why i like hot rods hes a mucel car type of guy but he still respects hotrods for all the hard work and (i think) heart and comintment they take there was nothing like driving around in my 61 comet for the first time and i cant even fathom drivin a modle a w/ no glass seting a 5galon bucket with open headers on the y-block i did gave my 89mustang to my dad because i didnt want to sell it but at the same time i reallt want to build a real hot rod i am planing a model a todor sedan w/ y-block an older guy in a near by town has 7!!! model a bodys but my dad is also palning to drop a 460 into the mustang i just startred a new jod and got talking to a coworked and found out hes a mustang guy he has had a 65 k code 2 65 shebleys 3 saleens and is waiting on the new shelby wow dose he have some stories hes has done alot of autocross and we where talikng abut 60s nascar how ford cleaned house lots of stuff to lean fron this guy i thrive on this
SAME HERE!!! wish I did though because the guys that I know were into them at a young age have so much knowledge now.
Sorry Zimm. I would love to hear your opionion, honestly. BUT with no punctuation except for the 3 exclamation points somewhere in the middle it is just a LOT of work to do so. Try this link: http://www.state.ia.us/educate/ccwp/cc/index.html Not trying to be an ass but reading that is flat out work.
My 17yr old dautgher is in her second year of Auto Tech in school. She some how thinks that if we don;t do it exactly as her teacher told her were doing it wrong. She says she loves old school stuff, but I'm still not sure she gets it. I think part of it is that it;s like was said .. it's what they can get there hands on.. and sometimes how there treated when they ask questions. I know that even we (in our 40's) get snubed buy some of the "old timers" when we asked questions about Flatheads.. it was like they has to keep the knowledge a secret. It's better now that we are driving it.. and changed the people we hang around .. but my point is it may be the way there exposed to it.
I've been a frickin' car nut since 1942 I still respect my elders and youngsters too! I have to laugh at all the people that take this hobby so serious. All the focus on their own damn self, and don't have a clue whats going on around them (I'm one of them) First this is what I do, but if everyone else did the same thing the same way. I'd be looking for a new way of life. I do this because it's what I enjoy. I haven't had a gun or fishing pole in my hands since the early 80's some would say thats sick! I enjoy my life so why would I give a flying fuck what someone else thinks? That young parts chaser might even have a life! he has a job that puts him in the top 1/2 of the population. If he has a dream or vision he'd be in the top 10%! Who are we to judge? Had a friend that alway said "There are two types of people on this earth. Good and Bad. The only difference between the two! The Good go around saying who the bad are!" I thought that was a stupid statement for years. I now realize that I am judged far more than I judge. so you good guy have fun and lose sleep over who does or doesn't get it and I'll go back out in the shop and play with my cars and sleep well tonight
Does this topic put the Gold Chainers in the same group of some kids that don' get it. Most of the Chainers are clueless, they bought because they don't know how to build or they have more money than brains. Most have the ugly Boyd shirt on with there California duster looking like there shit don't stink and would rather eat a pile of crap rather than to talk to you. I will take my primer and rust covered truck over there over priced trailer queen any day.
I'm 28 now and have dreamed of having a Model A Tudor on the road since I bought my first one at age 11. I finally got one on the road in April. My sister who is 22 dreams of owning a Deuce Coupe (who doesn't?). For now she's been driving the wheels off of a 37 Ford Pick-up. So some of us youngsters do "get it." We're also into imports . . . blasphemy! . . . as we grew up in a house where Pops worked for Honda. Imports are what kept food on the table. I dig all cars and I've had many import projects ranging from all show & no go rides to full on road racers. Each taught me something and I had fun with all of them. And isn't that what this sport/hobby is about? I have grown very tired of the elitist and unaccepting attitude that permeates the car hobby. Sure, many bring it on themselves, but there are others that just want to learn and have fun without being judged by those that are into a different segment of the hobby.
I know what you're saying, but I really do enjoy the ones that do get it. I've been a member of several clubs here in So. Illinois, and I've seen some serious attitude from fellow hot rodders about the younger generation and their cars. My opinion is that I love to see the kids come out to the shows no matter what they are driving. Each generation has their thing. When I started driving in the mid 60's I was hanging around mostly older guys that were into traditional hot rods. I was into muscle cars. Some of them were tollerent, but others felt that "I just didn't get it". If it hadn't been for the few that took me under their wing, I probably wouldn't be the guy that I am today....I guess what I'm saying is that if you find a young person who is curious or interested in what you're doing, don't discount them because of thier age or that stupid Honda they're driving...they're still car guys and gals...make 'em feel welcome in the scene. I started my son off at an early age, and he loves vintage tin. He just turned 25 and even though he drives a boom box on wheels, he's still one of the coolest guys I know, and loves traditional hot rods...My parents didn't understand me (especially when I blew a weeks pay on a set of slicks for my '56 Chevy), and I don't understand much of what my son is into, but thank God I took the time to take him to shows and helped him build several cars. He really is a hot rodder, just in a different way..... Glenn33 www.carartonline.com
it really isnt the age that should be in question, it is the type of person. doesnt matter what age, some people "get it" and some dont. I bought my first car (31 model A) at the age of 18, and no one in my family is a car person. some people were brought up on it and some people just get it. there are older car guys (im 24) that think im an idiot for trying to build a hot rod because they are muscle car guys. it really comes down to personal preference really. A lot of the younger people into hot rods have had it passed on to them from older generations, so it is hard to expect younger guys to be into hot rods because they really have no clue about them. I truely envy those young guys who have fathers to pass on the knowledge to them, I was lucky enough to make good friends with a "grey beard" and have learned a lot from him. If some of you older guys are worried about the future of hot rods, take a kid who has some interest under your wing and pass along the tradition. If i ever have a kid he/she will get the lesson if they are willing to listen, and if i dont have a kid then my nephew is getting the lesson.
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