Unfriendly vs. Friendly car folk

[Bryan]

Had something happen today which got me to thinking...I was heading home in my (old) car, when I peer into the rearview and see another old car coming up on my rear. Now, like everybody else here, I dig old Iron. I admit, I'm not the most knowledgable, or the most mechanically inclined-but I'm trying and learning.

Most people I run into seem pretty friendly, always willing to share a story, or some bits of knowledge. Which is why I love this place-there's a wealth of information here-and I pour over it daily( Thanks Ryan!)

Anyhow back on track with my story- The car gets up closer, and changes lanes to run along side of me. It's a 55 or 56 4 door ford, a couple of young looking guys driving. I give them a wave, they give me the Outsiders/ Dueces Wild scowl.

Everybody else I've seen driving their car is always quick with a wave, or a thumbs up, or a friendly rap on the pipes. My point, hell I don't know, maybe my hair wasn't tall enough today, or something. The whole thing just was kind of amusing. End of disorganized, un-thoughtout rant.

[TP]

Obviously their loss.I don't understand anyone not being friendly. I like everyone until something happens that makes me not like them.That's the main reason I think this intro hazing sux. TP

[C. Montgomery]

I agree with TP...

[Smokin Joe]

Kid's probably pissed his daddy didn't buy him a Honda with a wing like all his buddys! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'll venture another guess. His girlfriend's Mom loves the car but his 14 year old girlfriend won't ride in it! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Crease]

Hey, looks like we're into the same crap, let's completely frickin ignore each other. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

It's never made much sense.

[Petejoe]

There are assholes in every group. I could imagine back in the 50's... driving your deuce through town and passing a merc lowboy, normally these hoodlums ride with clubs and look down on anyone else outside the group. I'm sure you would get the perverbial finger or a scowl that would shake your booties. I too always give a wave to any old car going down the rode, even if it's a goldchainers car. Many times these guys are only in it for competition and don't show any appreciation for any other car.

[46stude]

Did you post an intro before you waved? Some guys have been known to have a fit if you don't properly introduce yourself before you just start waving.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Fast Elvis]

Right it off to people with small minds.......they just don't get it.......or maybe they just finished eating at Taco Bell and were trying to find a washroom!! :grin

[LiL' NiCk]

Ha-HA-HA Man, Do I know about Razing!! When I intro 'd myself I became known as the "s-10 whitewalls" guy. I realized that ol phrase always rings truth...At the end of the day you know who your true friends are.

Good luck w/ '53....Nick, I got a '52

[MercMan1951]

I've noticed while driving my 'old' cars, that guys in other 'old' cars will usually give you a nod or a thumbs up, if your ride is decent while passing by in traffic. They are basically saying, "Hey, I understand you, you're cool", or 'I think your ride is cool'...or at least that's what I'd like to think...even if I'm in my daily, if I can catch the driver's attention of something cool, I give him the nod or the gesture...(thumbs up)...& I usually get one in retun that says the same thing, or that the other guy knows that I think his ride is cool and he's saying a "thank-you". I've gotten that myself while driving. It's like a rite of passage, from a stranger saying, "hey, I like what you got!"

I got howled at with a lot of 'thumbs up' action by a bunch of drunken guys in an Excursion Limo one night leaving the liqour store in the '77 Marquis...I take that to mean they thought my ride was smooth...(which I think it is) for a disco-era showcar http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have also noticed Harley guys doing the same thing to each other. On the road, a fellow biker will do basically the same thing. This also applies to Jeep guys. Hence the common (around here) Jeep bumper sticker that proclaims "It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand."

You're part of a "group" and an aknowledgement to your "tribe" is common while out navigating the streets.

The guys YOU came across are clearly not the owners of the car you encountered. Probably on "loan" to them from their Dad... & assholes to boot. Don't sweat it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Spedley]

[ QUOTE ]
Did you post an intro before you waved? Some guys have been known to have a fit if you don't properly introduce yourself before you just start waving.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Hahahahahahahaha, that is absolutely fuckin hilarious and sooooo true!!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Bryan]

Yeah, I forgot my introduction! It's funny, getting the hardass Rockerbilly look from these guys-I'm really too old for that kind of thing-GRRRR I'm a hardass http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Too funny!

[subrock]

I get the same thing riding my vespa. the people that dont wave most often are the weekend dressup harley riders and the squids on crotch rockets. they all think that vespas aren't cool enough , but I have done more work adjusting a cable than they have ever done to theirs. the people that understand the work that goes into maintaining a vintage vehicle will wave if its a fucking mobylette moped. I know the people who wave are jealous http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Ian

[Deyomatic]

I think it boils down to them having very little confidence or self esteem, so they take it out on you. They want you to know that their car IS better than yours, so they won't even acknowledge you.
The only time I encounter this is when the other car is a tacky street rod. That whole, primer=shit mentality that alot of them have. I just figure fuck them.

But in your case...I'd be willing to bet that it was daddy's car, they were borrowing it and were raised to think that the car is to be treated with the utmost respect. Dad's '55, avert your gaze....so they probably thought their 4 door Furd was somthing special.

If this makes no sense, it does to me!

[plan9]

maybe they just suck because of their gay ass 4dr ford?

[Morrisman]

Many years ago I was on the 'freeway' (Motorway in the UK) riding a little Honda 500 something or other, when I spied a Harley chop on the shoulder, broken down. Being a mechanic type, and always carrying a bunch of tools and shit, I stopped to see if the big hairy dude needed a hand. His friendly response was to sneer at my little ricer and say "FUCK OFF" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
So I did. Five minutes later, as I pulled into a warm and dry service station, the heavens opened and it pissed down. Good! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[manyolcars]

You said your car is 'old', but what were you driving? A 1977 Marquis is not an old car.

[zman]

according to his profile he has a '53 Merc Monterey, if this was it cool, if it was a '77 Marquis I wouldn't have waived either, as a matter of fact I would have laughed...

[Antibilly]

ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh thumbs up !!!

really though NOT everyone is in the best of moods all the time. Maybe they were outta beer or on there way to a funeral?
Some times you just dont HAVE to be friendly http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[flt-blk]

Damn punk hot rodders!

They probably just stole the car and robbed a liquor store.
or
Maybe they were runnin shine.
or
They were out crusing and got their ass kicked in a street
race, headed back to the shop to do a V8 swap.

Who cares what everyone else thinks!
TZ

[Deuce Roadster]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif



Most of the time.......I wave or wave back.


Unless they are in a PT cruiser....... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

A lot of folks around here THINK they are driviing a 'old car' too when driving their PT cruiser. If you want a PT cruiser, that's OK by me but I am not going to give you the 'old car wave' in one.

A good number of folks drive old stuff around here because it's all they have or can drive. Lots of old 50's and 60's stuff is just daily drivers in the Southland.....nothing special......just used cars.

Not much rust........in the Southland (middle South Carolina).


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[AHotRod]

Stay the course and be frindly, it's there loss.

[CherryBlossom]

[ QUOTE ]
That's the main reason I think this intro hazing sux. TP

[/ QUOTE ]


I agree.

[CherryBlossom]

[ QUOTE ]
I have also noticed Harley guys doing the same thing to each other. On the road, a fellow biker will do basically the same thing. This also applies to Jeep guys. Hence the common (around here) Jeep bumper sticker that proclaims "It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand."

You're part of a "group" and an aknowledgement to your "tribe" is common while out navigating the streets.



[/ QUOTE ]

You're exactly right - my 02 GMC fullsize is flamed and lowered, and just about anytime I pass a group of Harley's on the road, they always give out a thumbs up. Same with the 2 other trucks in town that have flames....It's like your own little secret group, even though ya don't know each other http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Django]

I've had billet queens pass me by without so much as a glance. I don't know about you guys, but I can SENSE another old car from blocks away. The last guy to ignore me was on the highway in a pink 48 chevy passing me. No shit.

As for on bikes, I always wave when I pass a rider on any bike. Harley guys almost never wave. Since I got my Ducati a few years ago a higher number will wave, but usually do not. And for the record, I've never waved at a scooter either. But if they wave at me, I would certainly wave back.

[CherryBlossom]

[ QUOTE ]
As for on bikes, I always wave when I pass a rider on any bike. Harley guys almost never wave. Since I got my Ducati a few years ago a higher number will wave, but usually do not. And for the record, I've never waved at a scooter either. But if they wave at me, I would certainly wave back.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would imagine Harley riders tend to look at crotch rockets kinda the way hot rodders look at ricers....not all, but some.

[zman]

[ QUOTE ]

I would imagine Harley riders tend to look at crotch rockets kinda the way hot rodders look at ricers....not all, but some.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah but it's different, most Hot Rods are fast and ricers are posing. Well most crotchrockets are fast and Harleys are just posing. So I think the critchrockets shouldn't wave to the Harleys...

[Django]

[ QUOTE ]


Yeah but it's different, most Hot Rods are fast and ricers are posing. Well most crotchrockets are fast and Harleys are just posing. So I think the critchrockets shouldn't wave to the Harleys...

[/ QUOTE ]

haha, good point!
Japanese bikes = crotch rocket
Italian bikes = cafe bikes http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[cool57]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif



Most of the time.......I wave or wave back.


Unless they are in a PT cruiser....... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

A lot of folks around here THINK they are driviing a 'old car' too when driving their PT cruiser. If you want a PT cruiser, that's OK by me but I am not going to give you the 'old car wave' in one.

A good number of folks drive old stuff around here because it's all they have or can drive. Lots of old 50's and 60's stuff is just daily drivers in the Southland.....nothing special......just used cars.

Not much rust........in the Southland (middle South Carolina).


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[/ QUOTE ] I always wave back, unless I know the guy is an A-hole. It doesn't matter what the other guy is driving, if he waves at you he's acknowledging that you are driving something cool (he just doesn't realize that you are a snob)

[saltflataddict]

[ QUOTE ]
maybe they just suck because of their gay ass 4dr ford?



[/ QUOTE ]

I new there would be an Ignorant ass who would say that. How about people are just asses, thats why they didnt wave. leave the 4 doors out of it..the xtra 2 doors are inocent here..

[OGNC]

This is kind of funny. This weekend my buddy Jeff noticed that when I am in my 60 I can hang both arms and my head out the window and be the friendliest mo-fo on the planet because it is in great shape and almost drives itself. If I am in my 42 about all I can muster is a head nod because I don't dare take my hands off the steering wheel. The 60 has a rack and the 42 has a 62 yearold steering box and a bad case of mystery steering!

[Nads]

I think it's ridiculous how little we wave at each other these days. I would like to see more people waving and not just because they think they have something in common. We should wave to our fellow pissers when we're standing in line for the mens room too, but we shouldn't shake hands. We oughta wave at other people who are pumping gas too.
In fact I think we need to start hugging each other, waving's so impersonal.
In fact I shoulda hugged that bum sleeping on the steps at work this morning.

[tinyelvis]

Yep... waving is good.. even if I don't get a wave back, I don't get discouraged. I ride too, have an Italian bike looks like crotch-rockety but I know it's fuckin' sweet, so I wave at all bikerz.. 95% wave back.. even harley idiots.. and yeah, most of 'em are idiots!

Keep the wave alive.. you'll run into more good than bad.

[HardLuck]

I know the guys,
they've been watchin' TLC, Discovery or what ever channel has the ol' car build ups. You see they were the first discover ol' hot rods an customs an since they've been into for weeks now they're ol' school.

I cringed when I heard they were doin' ol' car build ups on cable. All the "too cool for school" chopper putzs will be sellin' their bikes an buyin' ol' cars now the writtin' is on the wall.
Yech!
-HL

[Satinblack]

Funny, when I drive the panel around I get thumbs up and waves from rice burners cars and bikes, harleys, old cars, new cars, VW's, etc. And I wave to all of them. If they are cool enough to acknowledge me then I make a point to give a wave or thumbs up back. We're all Americans! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Smokin Joe]

I get people rolling down their windows on their brand new Yukons at the stoplights to say "Nice car!" Or "What year is that." Big shit eating grinns everywhere I go. Can't put gas in it without striking up a conversation with somebody about the Chevelle. Don't worry about the occasional snob. Stopped at the store the other night and had a lady with a new yellow SST pickup pulled up behind me and the lady driver standing there checking out the Chevelle. Couple minutes of What's in it, what year is it, how fast is it. etc. and she says I sure wish I had one of those! Man, she could have probably bought 5 chevelles for what she had in that SST. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[BLAKE]

I drove the back roads coming back from Austin yesterday in the coupe... at one point I see coming at me a rusty white '74 Camaro with a huge rubber rake and Peterbilt-stack sidepipes. The mulleted driver and passenger give me enthusiastic Motley Crue devil worshipper hand signs out the window... I smiled and (somewhat clumsily) gave it back.

I'm sure it was a compliment... right? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[bornwithatail]

[ QUOTE ]
His girlfriend's Mom loves the car but his 14 year old girlfriend won't ride in it!

[/ QUOTE ]

i wouldn't consider that a problem at all....


-Tony

[D Picasso]

[ QUOTE ]

In fact I shoulda hugged that bum sleeping on the steps at work this morning.

[/ QUOTE ]

it's good that you didn't- oftentimes that bad smell is a type of human adhesive. StinkVelcro. your buds at work would have to wedge you apart.

you know what I love to do? when I can't get a wave out of Mr. Heritage Softail, I stand up on the pegs and wave like an idiot- HERE I AM! makes 'em mad. I like that.

[Jeff Norwell]

4 door







...thats why ...hahahahahahah http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]
4 door







...thats why ...hahahahahahah http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

That was my first thought too, but didn't wan't to be the one to bring it up...again.

UYou gotta take into consideration "car guys" arent usually the typical BMOC.
Some of us have a few character flaws.
Wife calls the character type "TERMINAL INTROVERTS"
They may not know how to respond to real live people in public, or have to think about it so long to figure out what they should really be doing (thinking hard, hence wrinckled brow and frown) that the oportunity passes befor they can respond in a socially acceptible way.
I've had people say "I saw you driving down the road the other day and I waved from my Huntoydatsu but you just ignored me!"
Of course I was oblivious to them since the only thing that concerns me driving down the street in the city is the tail lights on the car in front, the people pulling out from the sides and the traffic lights and traffic cops. I don't have enough concentration left in my acid and booze fried brain to add looking at and actually trying to recognize people inside the cars.
So, if you drive by me and I appear to be off in another little world and am ignoring you, only the first part of that is true.

Or maybe they were jealous because you had a cool MERCURY and they had a 4dr Fucked Over Rebuilt Dodge. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Paul]

MY first thought was your car smokes, or maybe one of them just shit his pants.

and Nads, don't you see me? I'm waving! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Paul

[Stevie G]

When I brought my Hearse back from Louisianna I had people climbing out the window of their car to get my attention and ask me about it. I don't think I stopped once without striking up a conversation about it.
The day after I got it home...the County Marshall was at the door. It seems I had a Junk vehicle in the yard. Damn pesky neighbors. Cops laughed when I started it up and backed it off the trailer. Damn neighbors!!

[Bryan]

Didn't mean to bring the 2 door vs. 4 door thing up-I was just stating that thats what they were driving in. As I'm planning on starting a family, They (4 doors) don't seem all that out of the question for me...maybe a Ranch Wagon or the like is in the future.....

I was in my '87 Nissan Sentra, thats old if you were born in 1998.

Just kidding, I was in my Merc. I'm realize I'm a bit naive, just because we were both in a century old vehicle, doesn't mean we're best buddies.

Oh well, Hey-I'm over it. I actually thought it was pretty funny.

[nor cal nic]

here goes some SHARING i should probably save for the SHRINK... at first... many years ago i got into wierd old cars for the same reason i got into PUNK ROCK and SKATEBOARDS... i felt as if i never fit into the "NORM", i was that kid who never got picked for baseball or even dodgeball... punk rock, skating and as i got older, fucked up looking black cars gave me a feeling of individuality. i didn't have to be chosen by a coach or a peer to skate or to go to a show or for that matter to put a different grill, bumper or exaust, skull or some other, what some people would call 'offensive' object on my car. with this i found like minded folks, there was this brotherhood. a lot of the fellas' i run with now have a similar history and we try to reach out and greet seemingly like minded folks.i've learned through expectations and feeling as if i was let down that the only thing we are responsible for are OUR ACTIONS and REACTIONS... we'll keep waving and reaching our hands out to those we happen past and to those BULLYBILLY types i say, better them than me.
nic

[TINGLER]

[ QUOTE ]
I was in my '87 Nissan Sentra, thats old if you were born in 1998.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ha ha....
Thats my rule. "The 10 years before your own birthday rule".

Hey NADS, I'm waving too. Why are you ignoring us?
and by the way, if you want to wave like a madman....Just go to West Virginia.
Everyone there waves at everyone else they meet on the road.
No lie. Its weird. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Mutt]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was in my '87 Nissan Sentra, thats old if you were born in 1998.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ha ha....
Thats my rule. "The 10 years before your own birthday rule".

Hey NADS, I'm waving too. Why are you ignoring us?
and by the way, if you want to wave like a madman....Just go to West Virginia.
Everyone there waves at everyone else they meet on the road.
No lie. Its weird. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

They are all related....... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif (It's just a joke folks...)


Mutt

[Jester]

funny thing some of the bikers around here will always wave at us in our antique rides, some of the others I don't think have learned to ride with one hand yet and are afraid to wave for fear of laying the bike down. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[burndup]

Dudes on other bikes pass by the opposite direction and look upset when I dont wave back...

WTF? I'm too busy speed shifting... i look at em for a half second and give em a quick nod, aint that enough?

Dudes on big harleys with fat broads loading down the back dont like it when a $400 POS yamaha smokes them leaving stoplights...

People either give a thumbs up or just have their jaw agape when I'm in the copper truck...

When I'm driving the blue thing, I cant tell what people are doing, they're too blurry and gone too quick...

[Nads]

Perhaps the reason that people don't respond to me waving is because I accompany it with that simulated giving oral sex to a girl thing that some guys do.

Pardon me I have to go sniff a stranger's behind.

[Kilroy]

The other day my daughter and I were running errands and pulled up behind a nice chevy truck, lowrider project. I turned down the stereo so my daughter could here the truck do "pedos" as it slowed down. We liked the little truck a lot but as we were following it, I noticed the right rear wheel was wobling pretty bad. I know from experience that's the type of thing you don't figure out untill someone tells you about it, so I figured I'd let him know.

So I pulled up next to him and rolled down my window. I start to tell him about it and he blows his wolf whistle, I say "heh heh, yeah that's great but your right..." and he revs the engine. I tried to tell him twice more before he just made a right turn and pulled away.

He wasn't really a dick but he was playing the cholo-bomber-lowrider-pose pretty hard and I felt like him and his bro were goofing on me a little. His loss I guess and I guess he won't figure out about the wheel until he looses a bearing, but I did kinda annoy me a little.

I guess the point is that just like in society as a whole, there's all kinda asshol... I mean people, into old cars. You take what you get and try not to let the dufus' get to you. But just remember that they're the jack-asses. Don't modify your life/personality for them.