the vehicles i drive predate the time period in which i live or have lived in. always liked cool old cars, even when the guys in school had camaros and mustangs. good post
My point exactly beaner. Appreciating hot rods and fast bikes is one thing and does not relate to the"superficial"(thanks squirrel) ladies I was referring to. Thinking back the superficial girls were kinda fun.....but better a memory than an on going nightmare.
George, 'Beaner, Jim, Tony...who'd think a little reflection on then and now would go so well? George, don't look for it, but the racing is still happening. I know I could fall in like yesterday given the equipment and resources. As far as Mrs Highlander, well she'd be right there with me. She took video once, several times was in the shadows watching for Johnny Law, and most times just glad to blow off some steam along with me. The track? Not so much, and in that 2nd year if the sun was out and the night was clear you could find me at Detroit Dragway. She didn't like how I'd get silent and angry about a lost round. I had and still have a competitive gene, I just compete in a different venue and against myself. Trying for that perfect score, hoping that a select few will appreciate the vision that I was fortunate enough to share in with a client and now friend. I find these personal and professional rewards last longer and are in fact recorded. It's better than the racing in some ways, but not as exciting as duckin the law through a back road. Today they all go to jail, get their cars impounded, get criminal records. Even spectators or those unfortunate few who get stuck in the traffic caused by the racers or the law. That's enough incentive right there to keep me away. A couple was on their home from a wedding, dropped off some relatives, got stuck behind the racers 1st, the law next, and they too went to jail. The cop didn't buy their story, and who would right? A couple dressed up all nice decided to go out racing? I heard they were dismissed in court but still. As much the same as some of it is, it's different too, in more ways bad than good.n
Something happen last night that I missed? We came from "what color do I use" or "my spinners won't spin" to a conference room setting talking about how we got to where/what we are. Entertaining to say the least.
Besides traditional hot rods & customs and women, I bet most of us listen to the same kind of music we liked in high school...
I haven't got to what or where I am I have always been this way. I was born a misfit, and will probably die one. But one thing about it, I am good at it. @falcongeorge Uh make that 3 things I am good at.
Ego? Maybe. Sometimes. All I know is, I was at my happiest, maybe even my peak, early in the morning, when I was the only driver and car on the road. No fans, no onlookers, no witnesses, no bull shit. Just me, my hot rod and the road. That's why this new build seems like it's taking forever, but I've only been working on it for 3 months. Thanks for giving me something to think about. A musician died today, that I never really liked, but I'm going to miss him.
I'm surprised that this thread has had this much attention, but I'm glad it's prompted a lot of responses. I've never been any good at this. I'm the poster child for "buy high, sell low." Speed has always been a rush for me, too, but I never got very serious about formal racing. The occasional stoplight race, yeah, even now. About the numbers: I remember turning 88.58 in 15.56 in my Olds in 1957, but I can't remember my own cell phone number. Yeah. I drive my '58-style shoebox proudly, and I enjoy the attention it draws, even if the viewers weren't even born when it was commonplace. My dad loved cars, but he couldn't really be called an enthusiast. I think his interest probably triggered my own, but my knowledge and passion had surpassed his before I even got my driver's license. Yep! You're absolutely right about this. It saddens me, since I devoted the better part of my life to car stuff, but it's gonna be history before long. On further reflection, I'm not sure I wrote it for the HAMB. I may have thought it would become an article or book, but then I saved it and forgot about it until I ran across it yesterday. The superficial girls were a fantasy better than the cars themselves. I think they probably still are, but I can't remember. Yes! I was into jazz as a kid, and still am, although my musical interests broadened considerably after graduation.
It's all ego. Do not lie. Superficial? Perfected body work/workout or a car that is impossibly straight/Sour Grapes/ Color coordinated. Built body or motor that revs to the moon/ Insanely high or down low, what do you really know? Point A-to-Point B, born to die/the ride in between/ Suit & tie/T-shirt & jeans for life/that your wife/daily driver/stop light bruiser/weekend cruiser/Know when to say when/wind up a loser. Overdose of grandiose/yesteryear or last night. Ego on wheels/get real/thats the deal/make those tires squeal/Sold your soul for a Happy Meal/'Keep it real'? C'mon it's just a hobby/job/lifestyle & more/Attention whores. Yes, the power & the glory comes w/a price.
Gotta say, this is not me, I continue to change and evolve in my life. The way I look, my political believes, my taste in music, my spiritual beliefs, the way I dress and present myself, even my approach to hot rodding continue to change and evolve. This doesnt mean that I necessarily reject the old stuff (unless it is stuff I am clearly better off letting go of, and there has been a lot of that ), it more is a question of adding new ways of thinking, listening, tasting, seeing and experiencing to the mix. I love the past, but I am not living there. Hell, when I met my wife, she asked me to shave my cheesy eighties porn star moustache off, I thought "what the hell, give it a shot" found out I was just fine without it. hell, I have even grown to appreciate classical music... but that doesnt mean I have to stop listening to Dick Dale either... As far as I know, we only get to go around once, and dead is an awfully long time, I want to taste as much as I can.
I am what I am, in a groove going all out for life...this is it...not too high on myself (No ego just proud of what I know, learn, do, who I've met and will meet), good to others as needed. Freedom, great woman, good job, a home with all the toys (and the Hamb...seriously), an awesome workshop, a great hotrod project, pretty much a great situation. This is my identity and proud of it. As others have said that when in hotrod = my own high. Life is good Thanks 50
Weird how most of the posters here agree with each other, sort of a private club.....Me? When I built bikes, I built what I liked, never gave a crap about what others thought of my build style, I liked it. Cars? Much the same thing, I build what I like, not to a style or trend, and I look down on those who do. Yes, my builds identify me, if you know me, I get pics from time to time from folks who have found one of my cars, if you see my 36 you'll see me, not bragging, just saying I got my own style. In life, I'm the guy who will stick his head up and ask the difficult question at the most inappropriate time, the guy who insists on an answer to his question, not afraid of anyone, told that I'm a difficult person to be friends with. Always looked for a good fight, been a union rep most of my working life, although I never been a union man, just liked to fight with people who thought they were smarter than me. Met my woman 36 long miserable years ago at a bike run, showed both her kids how to be adults who think for themselves, how not to follow, I got two great adult kids who are my friends. However, I liked cars and bikes since I first learned to walk, I'm the guy who lays on the ground beside your car taking pics of what I like, asking you why you did something the way you did, trying to learn more. Guess I'm part of the club after all........
You are definately in the club...This Hamb is sort of a niche group of people with somewhat like minded interests. While striving to be unique and innovative about things so much has been already done (just have a look the racers from the teens and twenties). There is however always room for the undid mechanical creativity. If its been done before kudos to those that did. I like you like to think outside the box and do things in my own way with integrity. Many others do too. It is interesting seeing others approaches to things. My Hotrod 1962ish. I want to keep it that way and it is my choice...no like me for it...oh well its about me not them. I like thinking old timey. Love the past. I was in diapers then so I have to rely on this site and other interaction to know what was then. Hopping in and old car is as close to going back in time as I'll get. Great input everyone. Oh yeah...there is a saying...Everything old is new again...
I have always been into older cars...I've never had a new one! I've thought about this interesting post, and I came to the realization, that for the past 40 years of cars...I've had a sentimental reason to put my efforts into my obsession. My grandfather taught me most of my mechanical skills...and as a teenager, I was in awe of this man...and not even knowing it at the time. He taught me with so much patience, and cared for my decisions....and I've noticed EVERY time I work on my cars in my garage now, I feel his sense of legacy in my car tastes, goals, and ambitions. I still have his tools, and I feel a 'sense of place' when I do even mundane things on my cars. I'm not sure I would call my car frenzy an 'ego' mentality, but more of a 'comfortable' and 'place of humble appreciation' in my place in life today. I love old cars, driving them, and even working on them...it keeps me 'connected' to my past, and what I've shared with my grandpa, and where I'm at now, because of it....I'm still the same person I was (in my mind anyways) and my grandpa was still here, except I've learned to appreciate most everything more because of time passage....I've grown into more appreciation of those things quickly disappearing in ''my'' society, and where I've made decisions in life that affected those I cared about. My cars, wife, home, dogs and retirement, are simply 'enjoyable' and I feel extremely grateful and fortunate, to have my memories, good and bad...and all of it, keeps me focused in a world spiraling out of control in so many ways. I don't like to tout my own 'record' of achievements....but I will definitely and with passion give credit to where it surely rests to others...I'm just happy to have shared a little of my life with those who had left me with a genuine love of something we all shared over the years and were extremely passionate about.....our old cars! I owe it all to my grandpa, and I'm genuinely 'thankful' to a man who made such an impression on my life...and still does
My fascination with hot rods started in 1965 (I was 5 years old), but even in high school I was into the stories of my dad and various uncles - one of those uncles was Ernie Hall, some of you knew him - and I always had this affinity for '50s DIY go-fast, shade-tree mechanic style. In high school my friends were driving Road Runners and Super Bees when they were still cheap. I had a '65 Mustang that was fairly fast. I still have to suppress the temptation to build my car the way everyone else would like it to be, although I'm slowly getting over that. Shoebox with flathead, yes. But I'm not frenching anything, and I'm not high-centering over speed bumps. So there. I guess that's progress.
All this time and all I was thinking of was making a peanut butter sandwich while I stared at my car.
Ego is a strange thing. A normal, healthy Ego gives us confidence, pride, a positive attitude and the ability to move forward. Too much Ego and folks will despise your arrogant, holier-than-thou perception of yourself. I've watched as people with huge Egos usually wind up tripping over them at some point in their lives. How this relates to our car-culture I'm not sure but, it's just my early morning ramblings. Do not consider it a scientific observation.
Was going to add something but, after reading the posts I couldn't think of anything adequately profound.
Been thinking about this topic. Some say that the car scene is dead,or dying......I get it. What I say is dead or dying is how we experience the scene. Thing have changed. Look at how many people visit this hokey assed site......millions. I've only been to one event that comes close (In numbers). We're doing the same thing as the kids with their I-phones are doing, socializing electronically . Our cars, for the most part were a means to the culture at large. The technology has opened up a world of the car "community" like none other. All you have to do is look around any you'll find plenty of young guys and girls involved. We have to look harder to find them. I've also noticed at some events the "old gaurd" stuck in their folding chair like a potted plant not willing to look at or talk about anything new. I love it when I run across a twenty somthing year old who drives old iron and gets it. I enjoy their story.
Ego? Well maybe....but, clearly, our hobby consists of two kinds of people, those that build cars, and those that buy cars. We need both, there would be no hot rods except for those that build, otherwise, those that buy wouldn't have access. Old guys, young guys, no matter, at least I'm pompous enough to believe I have an edge over the gold chainer at a cruise night, because I fit into a select few who may be walking the pavement looking for ideas, rather than shiny paint or high buck wheels. No criticism meant, we're all important in our hobby, but I wear black tee shirts and jeans and boots, others wear Hawaiian shirts and shorts with a fair amount of jewelry and I can generally spot another guy like me in the crowd, knowing totally what he's all about. What throws me off is the new crowd, into hot rods and music, tattoos abound, coolness everywhere, young guys learning the art of chopping and building sleek customs, and not seeming to have the aloof attitude us older garage type guys have. They just want to be part of the scene, togetherness is their bag, hanging out and cruising to each others shops, ego? Well maybe. I welcome the change, do all I can to help it along.
LOL between 3:00 AM and about 6:00 AM I am at my peak because I am winning. The rest of the time its pretty hard to fake it. its funny when we talk about ego, I always preferred to ride my bike (and still do) between midnight and sunrise, no one is watching, and even if they are (or were) its pretty hard to see a dude dressed in dark clothing on a black bike at night. Best riding or driving for that matter is out in the middle of no where, you can run it up to speed, then kill the motor and listen to the night. The world as you know it is trapped in a little pool of yellow, but you can hear all the monsters that crawl and creep and creek and breath outside of your world. Then find a quiet place and watch the sun come up. First the dark begins to run to gray, then the gray begins to give way to a sort of purple with a reddish edge then its a full on explosion of color. If you are far enough away from people you can just roll over and nap right there in the morning sun. OK @tfeverfred now see what you done.
I wear hawaiian shirts (or dragon shirts, ultra comfy in the heat, I buy 'em by the gross in Vietnam) shorts and sandals. No jewellery though, thats money that can go for car parts... I hear what you say about the aloofness, I can own that one, I am trying to break out of that, and make myself engage a little more. The HAMB has actually made me do that. Its easy to get isolated when you spend some time away from the scene, move to a new town,and lose contact with your old car-guy friends. I go to a car show, and there arent any familiar faces, its easy to just walk around looking at cars and taking photos, I have to make a conscious effort to say hi to people I dont know, and thats not that easy. Its easier on here, and that has made me more willing to do it in person.
The Jalopy Journal
