Same here. It’s great to see the big smiles when they sit behind the wheel. Even better when I tell them to push the horn button.
{SIX SON'S !!!} So how many daughter's? When did you ever have the time to build a Rod? lol Or maybe you own a delivery or panel truck, that's right a PICKUP!
My main man and Crew Chief a few years back at the Hamb Drags. Several late nights of thrashing to get the car there finally caught up to him.
My grandson at car show. The organizer had some activities geared to kids with a fleet of these old pedal cars
I like seeing little kids at shows and cruise-ins, and if they show real interest I always offer to let them sit in and have Mom or Dad take a picture. I value my rig, but it sure as hell isn't more valuable than a kid having a good experience. Drool and fingerprints don't bother me!
I think my son is the only one that rode in rumble seat to Tulsa Ok. & back to L.A. in 1976, he was 12 then, now I have given him my roadster to enjoy as I have for 300,000 happy miles since 1968. He was always helping me work on the roadster from 1962 to 1968.
Our kid was a little disappointing. We never did do a paternity test...but I think Bonnie may have been boinking Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.
Kids Get them started early someone has to carry on Hot rod tradition. My Grandson first Good Guys show and now learning to drive for the first time behind wheel of a car
Going to be the first year of car shows for this one, and his 5 year old brother. After seeing all the cool custom buggies and wagons, I got to step up my game!
I have taken my 1957 NAPCO truck to few local shows. It is a driver, but people seem to be reasonably impressed by it. It sits high and has a 348 Chevy in it. Whenever parents come by with their kids, I always let the kids sit in it, they seem to really enjoy being in a big truck (sometimes it reminds them of the cartoon truck "Mater"). My most rewarding experience was when a father and his son (the son was about 20 years old, and confined to a wheelchair) came by. The son was was totally enamored with the truck. He said this was the reason they stopped at the show. The following year I was a another local car show with the truck, and they both came by again and spent some time with the truck. I few day days later I got a text message from the father asking if I could take his son for a ride in the truck. We met a day after that, lifted his son into the truck, and I took him for about a 30 minute ride. The next day I got a text message from the father saying that his son told him the ride was the highlight of the summer for him and thanking me. I have to say, I think I got more out of the experience than he did. don
A very kool woman in Abilene (with awfully nice legs) let #1 grandson try out her daughter's junior dragster.
Was at a run last summer. Little dude and his mother come walking past the coupe; kid had eyes like saucers. He had to be 5 or 6. Offered mother to let him get in if he wanted. Made his day! who knows? Might me the next (insert big name here) one day! We all had to get the bug one way or another. Side note - his mother said I reminded him of his Grandpa.... Either that family got started way young, or I look like death warmed over. I ain't THAT old yet!
For the most part I like kids at car shows and fondly remember bringing my own. I started getting race cars when they were very young and they quickly learned what the limits were. When I have my current LSR roadster out kids will inveritively want to look in where you sit. With a nod from the mom or dad I ask if they want to sit in it. They ALWAYS look to mom or dad for approval. I tell them they need to do it the same way as I do. Step up on the back tire (usually comes dads help depending on their size), sit on the roll cage and step down on the seat and that’s it. Everyone including the parents ask about the “upholstery” I just laugh and say I do it so can you. Most depending on age want to know why the stick shift is between their legs and no none can reach the pedals… many photos are taken and hopefully that will reach the kids and parents memories for a life time. The best if there was an older brother or sister that chomping on the bit to get into. I let the parents decide. It usually means I take the steering wheel off but they watched and know just what to do. With I see a 5-6 yr old looking at my 56 as the parents comments on the interior and they can’t see in I tell the parent to open the door so they can. It just a car it won’t melt in the rain, finger prints wipe and I’ve never had too; if a kid feels they are involved I’ve hoped the parents take notice. I’ve even let a kid sit in it for photos too. I’ve always found them thankful and parents too. I was parked beside a nice car once and after he saw what I did and the family was gone he said he could never do that. I believe I said something they didn’t like since I’m not one to hold back much. I’m sure the word started with a A..
You're a good man people that are mean to little kids at a car event, are just destroying the value of our cars and parts, because once we're dead and gone and nobody wants them, they'll bring $100 a ton at the recyclers. And what kind of paint is on your car that it can't hold up to a child's fingerprint lol. Now if you have a expensive car with a rope around it, and you're a contestant for the AMBR award, I can understand. Everybody here was a child once, I still am.
The Jalopy Journal
