Car show with a lot of trailer vehicles OT

[JoelOkie]

We have been wearing the tread off the tires (over 2000 miles) in my 46 pickup the past couple weeks since our weather finally cooled down, with not one bit of trouble, or issue come up. Every evening we are headed somewhere, and every day all day long on the weekends. Just drive and stop and eat, talk to people, look at things, and make the yard sales and flea markets.

Saturday we were heading to flea market we know about on old 66 south of where we live here, and just happened to run onto a car show in a small town on the way. Of course we had to stop. I was fairly surprised at the large number of people that were HAULING their cars to the show instead of driving them, and then it got pretty amusing to see them get out feather dusters things, and placards, props, ect., and what not and fussing over their cars, trying to make sure they were picture perfect, and posed and turned just right, ect., and here I am with the front of my truck literally smeared with bug juice from bumper to cab top, and dirt and dust around the edges. There were some people that had "drivers", and to me those cars were much more interesting than the rather sterile, albiet very nice and pristine, trailered machines. The ones brought in on the trailers were certainly great cars, don't get me wrong, but to me they are little more than mobile museum pieces, and I am sure the folks that are in to, and own them, must gain their satasfaction just hauling them a long ways (in some cases ) just to show them off for a couple of hours, then haul them back and get them back into storage.

To me the enjoyment of cars is twofold, getting and working on the cars, puttering and tinkering in the shop, and then getting them on the road and putting some miles on them. I think those other guys that don't drive their cars are missing most of the fun, as the cars that are being driven usually draw a crowd about every where you go, and you end up showing them to a lot more people, and meet and talk about cars to a lot of people, as almost everyone either "had one just like it", or their daddy, or grandad, ect did. These people NEVER judge or pick the vehicle apart, they are just getting enjoyment out of seeing them. We went in to an ice cream store to eat a bite the other evening and when we came out there was literally a small crowd of at least 15-20 people at the truck. It was a good 30 minutes before we got out of that parking lot, and we had shaken a few hands by then.

My engine has gotten a little grimy in places again, but it will purr along at 75 as easy as any new car. The paint on my fenders and other places on my truck have taken some small hits here and there, and I have some star garvel marks, and a few running board dings here and there, but if anyone notices all that, they never comment. The way I look at it, I fixed all that stuff once before, and enjoyed doing it, and I can do it again if and when I want, and need to. Right now it's time to drive:) Joel

[55 Fargo]

We have been wearing the tread off the tires (over 2000 miles) in my 46 pickup the past couple weeks since our weather finally cooled down, with not one bit of trouble, or issue come up. Every evening we are headed somewhere, and every day all day long on the weekends. Just drive and stop and eat, talk to people, look at things, and make the yard sales and flea markets.

Saturday we were heading to flea market we know about on old 66 south of where we live here, and just happened to run onto a car show in a small town on the way. Of course we had to stop. I was fairly surprised at the large number of people that were HAULING their cars to the show instead of driving them, and then it got pretty amusing to see them get out feather dusters things, and placards, props, ect., and what not and fussing over their cars, trying to make sure they were picture perfect, and posed and turned just right, ect., and here I am with the front of my truck literally smeared with bug juice from bumper to cab top, and dirt and dust around the edges. There were some people that had "drivers", and to me those cars were much more interesting than the rather sterile, albiet very nice and pristine, trailered machines. The ones brought in on the trailers were certainly great cars, don't get me wrong, but to me they are little more than mobile museum pieces, and I am sure the folks that are in to, and own them, must gain their satasfaction just hauling them a long ways (in some cases ) just to show them off for a couple of hours, then haul them back and get them back into storage.

To me the enjoyment of cars is twofold, getting and working on the cars, puttering and tinkering in the shop, and then getting them on the road and putting some miles on them. I think those other guys that don't drive their cars are missing most of the fun, as the cars that are being driven usually draw a crowd about every where you go, and you end up showing them to a lot more people, and meet and talk about cars to a lot of people, as almost everyone either "had one just like it", or their daddy, or grandad, ect did. These people NEVER judge or pick the vehicle apart, they are just getting enjoyment out of seeing them. We went in to an ice cream store to eat a bite the other evening and when we came out there was literally a small crowd of at least 15-20 people at the truck. It was a good 30 minutes before we got out of that parking lot, and we had shaken a few hands by then.

My engine has gotten a little grimy in places again, but it will purr along at 75 as easy as any new car. The paint on my fenders and other places on my truck have taken some small hits here and there, and I have some star garvel marks, and a few running board dings here and there, but if anyone notices all that, they never comment. The way I look at it, I fixed all that stuff once before, and enjoyed doing it, and I can do it again if and when I want, and need to. Right now it's time to drive:) Joel

HeyJoel, couldn't agree with you more, I share your view point on the trailer Queens type 100%, not putting these folks down , just do not have a hankering to go that route.

As a kid I would build model cars and then want to play with them, they didn't always look that good after that, but they were enjoyed, and were my "drivers" of that part of my youth.

My ultimate dream is to travel Route 66 from Chicago to LA in the 47 Coupe with good folks like you, and hopefully I will be able to do that someday......Fred

[JoelOkie]

HeyJoel, couldn't agree with you more,

My ultimate dream is to travel Route 66 from Chicago to LA in the 47 Coupe with good folks like you, and hopefully I will be able to do that someday......Fred

I'll meet you in Chi whenever you are ready Fred!

Joel

[randroid]

Folks,

I concurrence with what has been said, Lynn took me to a local cruise-in a few weeks ago and we saw some beautiful cars, mostly powered by SBCs and Furds, and it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't drive Pigiron of course (of course!) but we went in Lynn's 2004 Dodge Stratus with its '51 Dodge Ram's Head hood ornament, which was called 'cute' by a few people, and that 'cute' hood ornament was likely the most creative thing in the parking lot.

The cruise-in was basically a display of after-market gadgets bolted onto repro frames and bodies; a reflection of how much the owners were willing to spend to pay somebody else to wrench on their cars for them. I don't think there was one motor head in the two dozen owners in attendance and some of them didn't even show the courtesy of taking their cars off their trailers. When I mentioned Pigiron the best I could muster was a condescending "those were good cars too", and they smiled went I granted them that their cars were probably faster on the top end, but I may have lost a few potential friends when I mentioned that my engine could run unleaded gas in 1935 and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it to the moon.

I think I'll stick with the looks of admiration she gets from simply being driven and the satisfaction I receive from doing so. We mustn't sully the waters of someone else's imaginary world.

-Randy

[1940plymouth]

Joel,

I also agree with you, your wording was perfect on this subject, thanks

Bob

[old rat 49]

If you don't drive it then why own it ?

[TodFitch]

If you don't drive it then why own it ?

In my youth I was activities director for a large AACA region on the East Coast. We had hundreds of members in the region. I was amazed to find that some people only ever were to be seen at the monthly meetings. Others were only to be seen at "shopping center meets" (fund raisers for the club for having your car parked at a shopping center that was doing an event to drum up sales). Others only were to be seen on tours. And still others were only seen at judged shows.

Of course there was a core group that went to pretty much everything, but there were significant number of people whose participation was unfathomable to me. For example, why belong if you are only interested in meetings?

Anyway, I came away with the notion that there are many different reasons why a person might be involved with old cars. And just because my preference is for touring, it does not mean that it is the reason for everyone else. I won't have a "trailer queens" as I'd rather have a car than an object of art. But I can understand that there are others who feel differently.

[Dennis Hemingway]

Why does it always come down to trailering vs driving? I do both, If we are going over 100 miles I will trailer my car because.

1. My wife likes comfort,

2. My back can't take more than 50 miles setting in an old car.

3. I can carry my 12 volt refrigerator for my gluten free food.

Originally Posted by old rat 49

If you don't drive it then why own it ?

I have just as much fun working on my cars and/or showing them at a car shows, and I'm able to walk when I get to a car show.

TodFitch; My car is not a Trailer Queen, But my wife is. A happy wife makes a happy husband and after 43 years I plan to keep her happy.

If you don't like me because I trailered my car to a show, Your Loss.

Dennis:cool:

Edited September 8, 2010 by Dennis Hemingway

[Robin (UK)]

Why does it always come down to trailering vs driving? I do both, If we are going over 100 miles I will trailer my car because.

Dennis,

I guess the other posters can answer directly but the impression I get is that their concerns are regarding trophy-hunting owners who seem to get more pleasure from receiving a prize than they do from actually driving their cars.

I don't think anyone would take issue with you using a trailer for long journeys. Because your car also gets used and enjoyed.

I must say, I always fail to understand the reasoning behind owning a car that is not driven.

Maybe it's 'perfect', but so what.

The pleasure of old cars is not just how great they look, but how they sound, smell and handle.

I always maintain that as much as I think my Plymouth is a beautiful rolling work of art, the best view is the one through the windshield and along the hood.

[1940plymouth]

Thru the windshield, along the hood:)

[cwcars88]

I agree with most statements about trailered cars, but I think we need to cut Dennis some slack as I have had two back operations and no how painfull it can be.

Wayne

[claybill]

why must everyone look at the car hobby thru such narrow eyes..?

i once bought a $100.00 coffee cup..i dont use it..i just love to look at it every morning.!!!

i owned 100 vintage bicycles, restored them all, how they represent an american era, i loved to look at them and think about their 'time'...never rode a one.!!

look around your life..you will find something that transcends its use.....

think about it.

can the whole be bigger than the sum of its parts..?

bill

[bamfordsgarage]

To each his own — there's as many flavors to this hobby as there are cars and owners.

But you can definitely count me in with those who would rather drive than polish...

[claybill]

we love these old plymouths for their mechanical simplicity and straightforwardness...how about those who take it to a garage mechanic FOR ALL WORK TO BE DONE..cant even change a spark plug! he fits in the hobby just fine.!!

i am sure there is someone out there who cant afford a real car..he collects models or pictures..beautiful photos of great plymouths, framed and hanging nicely on his wall. he fits into the hobby...

I was drooling at a 2-tone 39 ply convertible with dual sidemounts..i what could i sell or trade for it???? he trailered it home.

what i mean to be saying is..WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE HAVE SUCH DIVERSITY IN THIS HOBBY..everyone contributes something of importance.

bill

[JoelOkie]

why must everyone look at the car hobby thru such narrow eyes..?

i once bought a $100.00 coffee cup..i dont use it..i just love to look at it every morning.!!!

i owned 100 vintage bicycles, restored them all, how they represent an american era, i loved to look at them and think about their 'time'...never rode a one.!!

look around your life..you will find something that transcends its use.....

think about it.

can the whole be bigger than the sum of its parts..?

bill

I'm not sure how this has gone so haywire...have some of the people baring their teeth read my initial post carefully? There is absolutely nothing in it dissing people that would rather haul their cars than drive them, or looking at anything through narrow eyes. The point I was making (and I'm assuming I have as much right to start a thread as any other member here), is that I personally am glad to be driving rather than hauling.

Here's what I said;

"and I am sure the folks that are in to, and own them, must gain their satasfaction just hauling them a long ways (in some cases ) just to show them off for a couple of hours, then haul them back and get them back into storage. "

and

"To me the enjoyment of cars is twofold, getting and working on the cars, puttering and tinkering in the shop, and then getting them on the road and putting some miles on them." That's seems to be pretty plain to me...but, in case it isn't, I don't care if anyone drives their car AND hauls it, or just hauls it, or just drives it. It's your money that paid for it, and your time, and I still believe in personal freedom, and you should do what makes you happy, and I don't expect anyone to do or like something just because it is what I personally like. Joel

[JoelOkie]

Joel' date='

I also agree with you, your wording was perfect on this subject, thanks

Bob[/quote'] Bob, thanks Joel

[claybill]

no, no nothing about your post joel..all was ok.

i always wondered why many car folks look badly upon those who trailer their car....

myself , a harley rider, would look sourly at those trailering a big road bike on their way to sturgis.....guilty.!

there must be a hundred comments about trailer queens at car shows.....

i see nothing wrong with it....

i am done..good comments all along..

bill

[JoelOkie]

Oh, thanks Bill. I don't think I would appreciate it either, if I went the other way, and everything usually gets back to "walk a mile" in the other guys shoes before judging too quickly. Hard to always know from written words just what a person is saying. Joel

Edited September 10, 2010 by JoelOkie

[claybill]

good words joel....i try to be clear but often come off a little too direct.!

bill

[Plymouthy Adams]

no matter how you get it there someone is going to enjoy seeing your ride..

the big arguement has always been the judging competition of a trailer queen grouped with the hobbyist driver car...face it..when it comes to points and the judge removed points for paint burnt off the exhaust manifold compared to the car that is never run on the road..where is the fairness...this one singe exhaust issue has caused more problems in show than probaly anything else. Even at shows where you must drive the car into the spot..500 feet from a parked trailer still does not make it a road machine..personally I give the road car the edge..is it fair, who cares its just my opinion..

[Frank M.]

As long as Ive read this forum ,Ive not heard a Trailered car owner dissing a driven car owner for doing that. I have both drivers AND " Trailer Queens". Why cant we respect both types of owners? LETS LEAVE IT ALONE-----Please!!!

Theres nothing constructive about it. I believe the intent of the forum is for

fellowship amongst these types of car people Frank M.

[Dennis Hemingway]

Thank You, Frank I could not of said it better.

Dennis:cool:

[Plymouthy Adams]

I hope my comment was not read as dissing folks..clearly I was just pointing out a valid judging point that is not "level" across the field...to give the trialer car a trophy over a street driven hobbist car merely based on a bit of paint missing from a manifold? you decide and may I add, what exhaust manifold is painted from the factory..every coin has two sides and it all depends on who is holding the coin as to what side is most attractive ...and you are correct, the trialer queen owner never says a word as he is clearly at the advantage...and there is a difference between the car that may have been brought in on a trailer as a convience due to distance traveled over the concours cars..maybe this is where I failed to make the distinction.."concours cars should always be grouped aside and unto themselves"

[Frank M.]

As we all know---"you cant have your cake,and eat it too". I said before,that I have show cars AND drivers. I enjoy showing and driving equally. The show car owner loves to make his car as close to original as possible. Its a passion! What I dont get is why a driven car owner will knowingly enter his car against a show car and expect anything but what usually happens. You cant drive a car for very long and expect it to look like it just left the factory. Some will say you can, but Ive never seen it, and Im a REALLY OLD DUDE! All shows should have two divisions. Driven and not driven. Doesnt that make sense? Ill say nomore. Frank M.

[Plymouthy Adams]

and the light comes on..!