Car show arrogance

[dave73]

Just this past Sunday, I saw a guy open the door of a 70 roadrunner to look inside. No it was not his car. Some people have no clue, they should not be allowed in.

[Rev-It-Up]

Just this past Sunday, I saw a guy open the door of a 70 roadrunner to look inside. No it was not his car. Some people have no clue, they should not be allowed in.

People need to be educated about car show etiquette.  Once at a morning cruise in at a donut/pastry place, I watched (from about 20 feet away) a woman with a chocolate donut and a full, uncovered cup of coffee, proceed to open the door to my 70 Challenger RT/SE and sit inside my brand new leather interior.  It was like I was running in slow motion trying to get over there fast enough to stop her.  She just had no idea. 

[wldgtx]

Just this past Sunday, I saw a guy open the door of a 70 roadrunner to look inside. No it was not his car. Some people have no clue, they should not be allowed in.

People need to be educated about car show etiquette.  Once at a morning cruise in at a donut/pastry place, I watched (from about 20 feet away) a woman with a chocolate donut and a full, uncovered cup of coffee, proceed to open the door to my 70 Challenger RT/SE and sit inside my brand new leather interior.  It was like I was running in slow motion trying to get over there fast enough to stop her.  She just had no idea. 

Stop it... That really happened?  I am not even sure I would know how to contain myself without losing my cool. 

[Rev-It-Up]

Just this past Sunday, I saw a guy open the door of a 70 roadrunner to look inside. No it was not his car. Some people have no clue, they should not be allowed in.

People need to be educated about car show etiquette.  Once at a morning cruise in at a donut/pastry place, I watched (from about 20 feet away) a woman with a chocolate donut and a full, uncovered cup of coffee, proceed to open the door to my 70 Challenger RT/SE and sit inside my brand new leather interior.  It was like I was running in slow motion trying to get over there fast enough to stop her.  She just had no idea. 

Stop it... That really happened?  I am not even sure I would know how to contain myself without losing my cool.

Yep...that really happened.  I contained my fury and was actually able to have a conversation with her about etiquette at car shows and cruise ins.  I'm convinced it was divine intervention, that she lived.

[CudaMoparRay]

Funny enough this must be a Brea area mentality LOL
Took my 'Cuda to my brothers in Fullerton just 1/4 mile adjacent from Brea and his neighbors wife came out and commented on how nice it was. She went back in then came out again and said her husband was asking if it was a Hemi to which I answered no it is a 360. She went back in then came out again and said her husband was just too lazy to come out to see it unless it was a Hemi but at least he sent his congrats.
I did not say anything as my brother told me he is just a chicken with a mouth.
I honestly think that people like that have deep personal or health problems and jealousy so can't help but blurt out crap.
It is bad enough when you do have a million dollar mopar and say something bad but when you don't even have one, please!

[RCman]

Yeah some of the things mentioned here are the exact reason I have no interest in car shows. Prior to owning my car I've attended a few only to see guys picking part cars with "this isn't correct" and "you should have done" type comments. Annoying. I don't have any desire to stand around and listen to that about my car. Now if it is all in good fun from a buddy that's cool, heckling is expected. Strangers not so much. It isn't perfect but it is a driver and it is mine. Plus I don't like crowds.

Anyway it isn't just Mopars or e-bodies either, same thing happens in the Jeep crowd at wheeling events.   Don't get me wrong there are hack jobs in every part of the auto world but tearing into someone's rig 'cause it only has a set of Dana 44s and 36s and not Dana 60/14bolts and 40s or 'cause it has a 383 auto and not a 440/426 4 speed isn't needed. Just seems to come out more in the car world. It's a little different outside the muscle car world because we tend to be nice about it and help the guy/gal out with things rather than criticize. Then again it is mostly owners only or club member kinda thing and not an open to the public thing at some pizza joint so that helps.

[Cudajason]

Funny story... So in addition to my Mopars I also have a 1987 Buick Grand National.

I was at a car show with it one year and there were a group of kids (14-16) with one male adult who was listening to the kids comment on all of the cars (Plenty of Ooohs and Aahhhs).  Well they get to my car and they are perplexed, they are not sure what it is and they started to walk away and one of the kids says "Meh just a chevy 350" to which the adult male that was with him said "What?  A Chevy 350?  Do you even know what you are talking about?"  I could not help but laugh.

The guy got the youngster back in front of my car and schooled him on the differences between a Chevy 350 and a v6 Buick 3.8 turbo.  The kid was really embarrassed, and I actually felt bad for him, so I told him about the car and the work that has been done to it.  He asked me how fast it was and I told him "extremely".  He just smiled, gave me a high 5 and walked away.  I thought it was pretty cool.

You sir have the right attitude...teach the kids.

You guys should see how bad it is with a pink and purple car...all kinds of comments!!  Is that your wife's car is my favorite!!

I remember the first cruise night I took my car to after getting it back on the road, guy walks up and says you know what's wrong with your car.  I said no, what?  He says you are missing you fender tag and something else too, maybe that it was pink.

I just said yeah sure whatever. 

I remember back in the early 90s, when I bought my car and first had it on the road. The local car guys all made fun of me, because I bought a 74.  All the other mopar guys looked at it and passed.  no body wanted the lowly 74.

Fine by me!

Jason

[Brads70]

Funny story... So in addition to my Mopars I also have a 1987 Buick Grand National.

I was at a car show with it one year and there were a group of kids (14-16) with one male adult who was listening to the kids comment on all of the cars (Plenty of Ooohs and Aahhhs).  Well they get to my car and they are perplexed, they are not sure what it is and they started to walk away and one of the kids says "Meh just a chevy 350" to which the adult male that was with him said "What?  A Chevy 350?  Do you even know what you are talking about?"  I could not help but laugh.

The guy got the youngster back in front of my car and schooled him on the differences between a Chevy 350 and a v6 Buick 3.8 turbo.  The kid was really embarrassed, and I actually felt bad for him, so I told him about the car and the work that has been done to it.  He asked me how fast it was and I told him "extremely".  He just smiled, gave me a high 5 and walked away.  I thought it was pretty cool.

You sir have the right attitude...teach the kids.

You guys should see how bad it is with a pink and purple car...all kinds of comments!!  Is that your wife's car is my favorite!!

I remember the first cruise night I took my car to after getting it back on the road, guy walks up and says you know what's wrong with your car.  I said no, what?  He says you are missing you fender tag and something else too, maybe that it was pink.

I just said yeah sure whatever. 

I remember back in the early 90s, when I bought my car and first had it on the road. The local car guys all made fun of me, because I bought a 74.  All the other mopar guys looked at it and passed.  no body wanted the lowly 74.

Fine by me!

Jason

Your car is still all 3 of my boys favorite ! 

Purist  types do not like my car either.  Easy to get the deer in the headlight face.... just ask " Oh where is your car?" 9 times out of ten they don't even own a classic car.

[70/6chall]

OK, folks just one more on this topic of car show etiquette, maybe some of you have seen this. The stroller crowd, not putting down moms, kids or strollers, I'm a grandfather and I love the young ones. Just the families who think they can navigate between and up and down rows of beautiful glistening classics. Saw a stroller scratch one classic, not even a second glance. Here's another a father took his toddler out of the stroller set the tyke on the front fender of a classic to take pictures. This is just another reason my car appearances have been sparse.   Thanks,   Al

[bpsmopar]

Am I in a class all by myself? I've never had any negative comments on my 74. It's just a driver but I try to make it a good looking driver. I get tons of compliments and thumbs up. Maybe my day is coming. 

That's because Canadians are so polite....right Alan?

[YellowThumper]

Let's straighten out a few facts.

Correct me if wrong, but aren't 1974's rarer, as in lower production numbers, too.

Yes with short production year.
Been told mine is somewhere around 1 of 279. All because of undesirable options.

[Cuda Cody]

I'm still bummed I missed that red 73 Challenger Alan found for sale.  Sent an email right away and the guy said someone was already on his way over with cash to buy it.

I don't care if the 72-74 E-Bodies don't get any love, I like them!  And someday I will join the 72-74 E-Body owner ranks.     Just can't give up my 70-71's for one.   

[anlauto]

I'm still bummed I missed that red 73 Challenger Alan found for sale.  Sent an email right away and the guy said someone was already on his way over with cash to buy it.

I don't care if the 72-74 E-Bodies don't get any love, I like them!  And someday I will join the 72-74 E-Body owner ranks.     Just can't give up my 70-71's for one.   

I think a 72-74 is a great candidate for a mild resto-mod....Think of that red Challenger, 100% stock looking on the outside, with YearOne 17" rims.....Open the hood to find a new 5.7 Hemi, 5 speed, aftermarket AC etc etc...I think it would be great!

[Skdmark]

I've had many similar experiences at car shows. That's why my car has not attended any shows since the Nats in 96.
My two girls come with me to local shows and have been well trained on proper etiquette.

Some examples of comments I've been dealt:
Oh it's a 71 Challenger, 70's are better.
383's are the least desired engine in an R/T
Bet you wish you had a 4 speed
What a strange color. Is that Green? Too bad it isn't HEMI Orange or Plum Crazy. (My car is GA4 Gunmetal)

At the mopar nats in 96, I came back later in the day to find small hand prints all down the side of my car from the dust that was blowing around that day. It was the kid whose father's car was next to mine. I looked at the father and said  "WTF?". I was told to "relax, it's just a car". I started making a bee line to his car to "return the favor" and my better half grabbed me to leave... I already spent what was most likely going to be my bail money in the parts corral.

[HP_Cuda]

Like Brad said if someone comes up and starts mouthing off (usually doesn't happen with a guy 6'5" built for football) I say " Hey buddy lets go take a look at your ride" they always slink away.

I still a bit freaked about the time I had to move away from my ride to hear some announcements and some joker ran over and took a couple pix of my data plates. I headed back and that sucker ran. Heh
Still ticked me off.