Car show arrogance

[Marc70challenger]

I don't care if you aren't a "car person" you should know not to touch other people's stuff.

I won't and never have sat still.  I call em out.  And I'll take it all the way.  IDGAF.

On the flip side .... some "car people" are arrogant asshats regardless of what they know or what they do.

[jimynick]

Boy! Do I ever feel happy that most people at car shows- I've taken it to 2-3- don't give me any BS about my poor old, flat black, half assembled POS 74! Maybe I won't finish it and save myself the misery. I'll leave it for guys who own nice, shiny ones like Murray. Heh.heh. 

[71GranCoupe]

Heck, when I am at a show and shine or similar, I even ask if OK to take pictures before doing so. It is called respect, and many today don't know what the word means. 

[MoparJunkie]

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.

Hey you have a more "desirable" 71 than me, at least yours is an R/T. Mine is an L code 383 2bbl lol. I get the same responses though about 71 vs 70 and an auto vs manual. You also have a great stock color. I couldn't do GY9 so I'm changing it. Non-car people especially can be ignorant and disrespectful. No one should be touching someones car without their permission. If you saying  "Its just a  car" then you are obviously not a car person and need to leave. Just some simple respect and decency goes a long way.

[Crash520]

While I was at SEMA last year I spoke to two guys there that had  Cuda's, one was the grey one with the turbo diesel the other was Zack who did the white one recently in Mopar muscle, the guy who did the grey cuda was really good to chat to and was happy to chat about it, Zack was the same only I couldn't get away from him, I'm not from the US so he had nothing to gain business wise, he stopped cleaning the car and just wanted to chat about the car!!! I was taken back by both these guys and at such a big event. Some months later I sent Zack an email asking a auestion and he still remembered the chat we had, so there are some really good guys out there. They all help us forget the dickheads thankfully

[nsmall]

After reading this thread I'm thinking I won't go to a car show or if I do I'll have low expectations for people and their comments.

I don't care what someone drives, I respect others. I love all old cars

The only time I lose my mind and verbally go after someone is when someone makes a comment about my son who has autism.  You would think it doesn't happen often but it does and I go ballistic on people and I'm like the most calm person I know.

  These are just cars but because we put so much time and money into them it's hard not to take comments personal.

[YellowThumper]

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!

Think of a yellow 74 with Yearone 17" rims, stock on the outside, fuel injected with twin turbos and AC.
I have...So close yet so far away.
Man i have to get back to it.

[nsmall]

Yellow Thumper, get at it.  No seriously that guy obviously has issues. We need more humble people.  Not everyone can be as awesome as the folks on this site.

[YellowThumper]

Dammit Mike! Brea, that's just up the freeway from me, I would have cheerfully gone to that Dads Day show with you and we could have doubled up on that yahoo!!  As everyone has said here, what do we go to these gatherings for anyway? Maybe he and his Cuda should go to the corner until his attitude changes..............or until his father gets home. I went recently to a local show here in Riverside, not a lot of Mopars, but none the less. One guy and his sub-lime green 440 RR (Randy) a real friendly individual willing to share the life of his car and himself to me. One helluva beautiful Plymouth and he works at K&N. I told of my '70 Challenger w/ SL6 he was really and genuinely interested (you can tell). I have had car guys see a '70 Challenger, like mine, at a show or cruise and stare not saying a word and then screw up their face and go "meh" and walk away. And then there are those that will look and smile and say"wow"this is a nice car, then say I didn't know you could get a six in a Challenger.? Tell me more about your car.   Nuff said.......     Thanks,   Al

Lets hit up the cars and coffee event in corona soon then. That's even closer to you. @ the Saleen headquarters.

[Rev-It-Up]

Honestly, the nice people outnumber the idiots, for sure. We just seem to remember the idiots more often. So don't let the comments by the few stop you from enjoying a night out with your car and friends. There will always be people with egos and ignorance around us. It's the thieves that really bother me. One of us stays with the car at all times. Who was it on here that someone stole a lug nut off their car?

[wldgtx]

This thread has staying power... 

Me personally, I have learned to appreciate more and more cars and brands as I got older.  When I was a kid if it wasn't a Mopar I was not interested.  But I have had Mustangs, Corvettes, Chevelles, TA's, etc.  What I really like to do is talk to the guy or gal who has his or her car and talks about all of the things they have done to it... Whether it is restoration, stereo, paint, restomod, etc.  Whatever it is that keeps the passion alive I am all about.

What I don't understand is how someone goes to a car show without a car and talks shit in any capacity.   That just blows my mind.

[Sleepychallenger]

Good to know Im not the only one that has issues at car shows. I get a lot of: Its not a real R/T, it doesn't have the right hood. If you're going to clone it, do it right. Why didn't you do a 440 or hemi? Why are you hiding the fender tag.

I got tired of explaining that it is a factory flat hood R/T and if they knew how to read a VIN they could tell it is an R/T with the correct engine. I generally park and walk away. Let those who want to enjoy it do so, and those that want to be a$$ hats without anyone to comment to. Where I found this to be a problem is the hand prints. I came back one day to a mom standing next to her kid and he was climbing up the side of my car to see inside...shoes on the door like he was climbing a mountain. I was not happy 

[purple1]

We took the car/trailer combo to a local Friday night cruse a few years ago. I'll try and paint the picture for you. A guy had his Corvette taking up 2 parking spaces (the wide way) and he had the stands with rope to keep people away. I pulled in to the 2 spaces next to him (long ways) cause I need the 2 spaces and most like that were taken.

We had a nice time at the cruse. A lot of attention was getting directed at the trailer. People were walking past him to see the thing. He never spoke to us at all. When we went to leave we over hear the guy say "Good he's leaving. I didn't want to be parked next to a Mopar anyway." My wife and I just looked at each other and we left.

[Oldschool]

Just a couple of weeks ago I took the car out for the first time in a while. When I came through the cars to find a parking place everyone was turning to look. The car sounds aggressive. Anyway, I wasn't going to be there very long and I was actually there to look for a buddy of mine. When I parked the car and got out, some fellas walked up to me and wanted me to take the hood off. I told them that I wasn't going to be there very long and I wasn't going to take it off this time. They wouldn't let it go, they started following me away from the car pretty much demanding that I remove the hood. I politely said not this time once again. Then one of the dudes said that if I didn't, someone might think I was running an LS motor. I said if anyone has ever heard a LS that sounds like that, they had issues and kept walking away.....

[Spikedog08]

Wow Ken, For a minute I thought you were going to say someone removed your hood for you . . .     

I know people talk sh!t about my cars as well but I guess I just don't hear it and don't care.  Now these days, I just giggle when someone comes up and asks if that is my charger . . .