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Frank The Plumber · 06-14-2010, 02:10 PM

When I decided to build a 38 panel some 4 years ago I am sorry to say that I didnt go to the experts out there and ask them how I should build my truck so that I could conform to their standards of acceptance, I didnt submit a parts list to be reviewed by committee,I never asked anyones permission on what type of an engine I should have, what color to paint it or whether billet was acceptable. I didnt do this because Ive had many cars over many years, been to hundreds of car shows and stood next to absolutely flawless expressions of automotive art as well as iconic pieces of history and listened to self proclaimed experts and authorities dissect demean and nitpick gorgeous flawless work, as well as completely historic accurate restorations. In every case they were people truly from the outside looking in.
When you first get involved with old cars you think this is how you should act but after a while you put two and two together and figure out that these guys making all of the observations are living in their moms basement, they are spectators, these are the guys who spit in your car or worse when youre not looking, or theft your shifter knob, your comrade in this passion is the guy who owns the car 2 down, the guy who looks at your stuff and sees the picture, the guy who knows his ride is right across the lot and respects that his is not absolutely perfect either so he shuts up about your imperfections. So I didnt ask any of these spectators what they wanted to see, I asked my wife if I may allocate some of our funds towards a ride, she said I may, I went through all the old pictures and took ideas from you and you and you and that guy too and feel that I built a ride that is mature, respectable and that I like. For me it is very simple, those of the world who respect my pride in my vision as I respect yours are comrades, fellow enthusiasts, brothers, those of the world who pick pick pick and disrespect are spectators, at the end of the event all they leave with is a key fob, a drink insulator and a pep boys coupon for an oil change.
Years ago I won a trophy for some show, a first place, thing was huge, I went through and judged all the cars in my class and put myself about fifth out of ten, I never turned in any paper work and never stood by my rides to get skewered by the judge guys, most likely why the ride won, by my calculations this 19 year old kid had the field beat, he had a baby in a stroller and his cute young wife had another on the way, He had no chrome, he had all used parts, his ride was not perfect but for what he had to work with this kid had all the men beat, he and I spent most of the day just learning from each other, he came to me thinking he was going to learn something and in a half hour I must admit I had been schooled, he was a craftsman, he came in tenth, I called him up and told all of those guys that he was first and had to argue for thirty minutes with the 2nd and 3rd place goofs about why he was first and they were not 1st and 2nd. In the end I won and my man got HIS trophy. The next time I went to a show I put a nice sign on my ride that said do not judge, I waked down the row and there was my comrades car... with a nicer sign that said do not judge... and a new baby daughter.
Thats what its all about.

06-14-2010, 02:10 PM	#90
Frank The Plumber Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 693	Re: cameraderie When I decided to build a 38 panel some 4 years ago I am sorry to say that I didnt go to the experts out there and ask them how I should build my truck so that I could conform to their standards of acceptance, I didnt submit a parts list to be reviewed by committee,I never asked anyones permission on what type of an engine I should have, what color to paint it or whether billet was acceptable. I didnt do this because Ive had many cars over many years, been to hundreds of car shows and stood next to absolutely flawless expressions of automotive art as well as iconic pieces of history and listened to self proclaimed experts and authorities dissect demean and nitpick gorgeous flawless work, as well as completely historic accurate restorations. In every case they were people truly from the outside looking in. When you first get involved with old cars you think this is how you should act but after a while you put two and two together and figure out that these guys making all of the observations are living in their moms basement, they are spectators, these are the guys who spit in your car or worse when youre not looking, or theft your shifter knob, your comrade in this passion is the guy who owns the car 2 down, the guy who looks at your stuff and sees the picture, the guy who knows his ride is right across the lot and respects that his is not absolutely perfect either so he shuts up about your imperfections. So I didnt ask any of these spectators what they wanted to see, I asked my wife if I may allocate some of our funds towards a ride, she said I may, I went through all the old pictures and took ideas from you and you and you and that guy too and feel that I built a ride that is mature, respectable and that I like. For me it is very simple, those of the world who respect my pride in my vision as I respect yours are comrades, fellow enthusiasts, brothers, those of the world who pick pick pick and disrespect are spectators, at the end of the event all they leave with is a key fob, a drink insulator and a pep boys coupon for an oil change. Years ago I won a trophy for some show, a first place, thing was huge, I went through and judged all the cars in my class and put myself about fifth out of ten, I never turned in any paper work and never stood by my rides to get skewered by the judge guys, most likely why the ride won, by my calculations this 19 year old kid had the field beat, he had a baby in a stroller and his cute young wife had another on the way, He had no chrome, he had all used parts, his ride was not perfect but for what he had to work with this kid had all the men beat, he and I spent most of the day just learning from each other, he came to me thinking he was going to learn something and in a half hour I must admit I had been schooled, he was a craftsman, he came in tenth, I called him up and told all of those guys that he was first and had to argue for thirty minutes with the 2nd and 3rd place goofs about why he was first and they were not 1st and 2nd. In the end I won and my man got HIS trophy. The next time I went to a show I put a nice sign on my ride that said do not judge, I waked down the row and there was my comrades car... with a nicer sign that said do not judge... and a new baby daughter. Thats what its all about.