A few years ago, we took our Charger
to the Chryslers at Carlisle show, now
known as the All Chrysler Nationals.
I told my wife for weeks how it would
finally be nice for "her" original car to
receive the recognition it deserved.
You know what happened. All around us were
cars in various states of
correctness. The winner in the
category was a nice Charger with fancy
aftermarket wheels and wide tires with a
lot of chromed pieces under the hood.
Penni was devastated. I was
pissed. I don't think I will get over it.
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Bravo, Tom! Well
said.
I take my 57 Dodge to
several car shows a year, and it has won its share of accolades. It has
period appropriate but incorrect upholstery, the turquoise and white paint is a
change from its original gold/white, and it has several other minor, unoriginal
features when it was reclaimed and refurbished in the 1990?s. IMHO, no car
should be in a survivor tent if it has had any restoration, refurbishment, or
updating done to it. (OK, tires!!).
Since I am not fond of
customized cars, lead sleds, and hot rodded cars, it irks me when I see one of
these weird wonders carry off the trophies when carefully preserved and
restored/refurbished/original cars are passed over because they are not snazzy
or sexy enough. But, life is unfair.
I didn?t buy my car to
win trophies, I bought it to enjoy. A ?thumbs up? on the street is more
gratifying to me than a metal-tinted plastic tchachkey that sits on my mantle
and has to be dusted.
Tony
Boatman
Boise, Idaho
57 Dodge CRL
D500
69 Barracuda
Convertible
**************************************
There are few things I respect more in a person than a devoted passion, coupled
with a selfless drive to do honorable things.
Conversely, nothing pukes me out faster than the self-promoting types of
braggarts and boobs we all know and love so well. Unfortunately, within a
subject such as ownership / appreciation for something so stand-out as a 50's
car, there are many of this latter type attracted to these cars because it draws
attention, and consequently it draws attention to the person. And boobs of
a feather, flock together !
Trophies and ribbons are nothing more than gold colored, sparkly landfill
garbage meant to "wow" the simpler minds over some sort of "look at ME!"
achievement. So what ? You amass a case full of crap as some sort of
payoff for car show attendance ? No thanks, .... I'll get off this bus
right now.
Sure, we all like a degree of recognition for all the work we can put into our
cars, but to seek that "jolly" in the form of competition against the crowd
easily amused by chrome and sparkle is self-defeating, at the very least.
You have to go into it deeper than that, or you are destined for
disappointment.
I am with Tony. The BIG payoff is the smile you put on some oldtimer's
face, the Grandma who comes over to tell you about the experience she had buying
a similar car back in 58, or the kid who is thrilled to see your car. All
this is a whole lot easier to dust and takes up less room too ! But it
really is what separates the people I truly respect and all those other folks
who do not do it for selfless reasons.
I will never do a car show again. I may go to them, I may even take my
car. But it will always be left outside the gate, over by the edge.
People can enjoy it if they please, but that is it. No trophies, no
ribbons, no attitude. Just keep it for fun and nothing
more.
Enjoy your car. Enjoy the fact that it brings warmth and goodness and fond
memories to others. Do it because it makes you happy to bring joy to
others. What could be more rewarding than that ? When you lie dying
at the end of your journey, what will bring peace to your soul, ... trophies
won, or joy brought to others ?
Just a thought.
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