About 8 years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of watching someone sit on the fender of my '81 MC SC ... uninvited ... at a local S Elgin cruise night. I slowly made my way back to my car ... and just stood there ... watching him ... wondering how long he was planning to plant his rear end on my car's fender. I didn't wait too long; his buddy suddenly noticed that I was staring at them ... and motioned for him to move. He looked back at me, shrugged and walked away. I didn't say a word, though when I saw him leave in a spotless older (late 1960s early 1970s as I recall) Dodge, I wish I had. You really think I'd have survived unscathed had I sat on HIS car?
Now, sure ... my '81 MC SC (like all of my Monte Carlos) is FAR from perfect ... so a new scratch on an already-scratched fender is NOT a big deal. And, given the shape of the paint on it and my other MCs, I suppose I shouldn't be all that concerned...or complain too much. However, it is the principle. Too many times, people disrespect other peoples' property ... without a thought.
Something similar happened just this past late April. I walked out of work one afternoon, to find a car parked next to mine with a flat tire. As I walked up to my 87 MC LS/CL, I calmly took note that the people changing the tire were very close to my car. Then, as I walked past the front to the driver's door, I noticed a guy put his wallet on the hood of my car ... gliding it over the hood as he reached into it. I opened the door ... watching him as he left the wallet on the hood of my car. The girl with him happened to notice my stare ... and motioned for him to remove his wallet. He did ... and actually apologized, saying, "Oh, sorry, sir." I just nodded...and then shook my head as I got into my car.
Then, the first Monday in May, I came out of my doctor's office ... to find a center cap on my '87 MC LS/CL's honeycomb/checkerboard wheels missing. All 4 were on the car when I went in for my appointment, but only 3 were left when I got back to the car. The one missing ... driver's side front....
Maybe it's just me ... but I treat everyone else's car, whether I like it or not, as if it were my own. I don't lean on them, I don't sit on them, I don't even TOUCH them ... unless told it is OK. Why others don't have a similar mentality ... especially car enthusiasts ... I do not understand. In some ways, I don't even understand non-car enthusiasts not understanding this concept....
*sighs*
Anyone else have similar experiences?
NYMCC - Bronze Member Elgin IL
Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...Chitown #2 = 07/25/09 WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "All around me are familiar faces" ... Tears For Fears ... 'Mad World'
we did cavalcade of cars back in 2008 ,, they had a band setup on one evening close to were our cars had been parked,, people were pusing on the ropes and leaning on the cars,,
I have learned since moving to NY you cannot have anything nice. No respect for other people cars/property. I have been to many car shows back in IN and do not recall any stories such as yours.
I am lucky to have a nice paint job on my cruise/show car. It has 1 scratch in two years after it got painted. After I clean it up in the garage its is spot less...but i am always amazed when i got home and there are finger paints all over it...park it back under the lights and you see the prints all over just amazing me...what do you think its going to feel like is my only question lol. I also had a friend throw a mcdonalds "cheif wiggum" toy across a show and bang the actiob figure off my car after the guy he was throwing it to didnt catch it...that was a little irritating but i knew they didnt mean to do it. But if you bring them out you have to expect a little of this, but in return you expect a little respect at times. I was at the show when the band was playing and people were leaning on our cars, that was very aggravating also. This was from car people also, they should know better.
I am lucky to have a nice paint job on my cruise/show car. It has 1 scratch in two years after it got painted. After I clean it up in the garage its is spot less...but i am always amazed when i got home and there are finger paints all over it...park it back under the lights and you see the prints all over just amazing me...what do you think its going to feel like is my only question lol. I also had a friend throw a mcdonalds "cheif wiggum" toy across a show and bang the actiob figure off my car after the guy he was throwing it to didnt catch it...that was a little irritating but i knew they didnt mean to do it. But if you bring them out you have to expect a little of this, but in return you expect a little respect at times. I was at the show when the band was playing and people were leaning on our cars, that was very aggravating also. This was from car people also, they should know better.
that one guy i still remember leaning with his beer ,,
-- Edited by 87 Monte LS on Tuesday 1st of September 2009 10:03:52 PM
you could be right about that. But after all these years I seen to many bikes/skate boards/ strollers all to close to anyones cars. It raises the question why we show them at times,
First of all I don't care what kinda condition a car is in, no one should put there hands/body/personal belongings on a car, no matter where it is, especially at a car show!!!!
I was at one of my local meets, with the GTO it was FILTHY (what else is new) but I kinda parked it in the back...and as I was walking around, I look over to my car and see on the wing a Cell Phone and a lil pouch/wallet....I see 2 guys standing a few feet away from it, along with one girl about a foot away from it in the opposite direction...
I pointed it out to my friends....One of the peps I was with was like I'd just take the cell phones and walk away....and of course 2 of the girls I was walking with wanted to tear someone apart...
as I walked over I was calm about it, sayhing Ok they just laid it down on the wing, so it's not like there are gunna be any scrathes, and I'm gunna replace the wing eventually anyway...
So as I walk up to the car I say kinda loudly...."Wow I didn't realize I bought a $30K Cell phone holder!!!"my friends laughed...the girl turned and quickly grabbed the stuff offa the wing, no words from her, but one of the guys did apologize...
Not a big deal, but still it was the point...
I am also concious of my cameras...
One time at a show in li, an older gentlemen, was admiring a hot rod, and as he started to lean in, he forgot about his camera, strapped around his neck and it was starting to get dangerously close to the car, the owner came running over and was like Whoa be careful....no harm no foul....
I forgot one. Dave and myself are sitting at a show across from our cars with friends. I look over and see the kid dissapper between the cars. I walk over thinking he taking a collectable and see him sitting on teh ground. As I walk up he stands up and says, nice cars. I look in the trunk to see if anything i missing and nothing is touched. I say thanks and teh kid is gone. Next day at a cruise night Dave says, hey what happened to your wheel? He noticed that the chrome cap was missing lol...it probably sitting on a persons bike in a trailer yard right now.
-- Edited by 87ls on Wednesday 2nd of September 2009 10:41:22 PM
I forgot one. Dave and myself are sitting at a show across from our cars with friends. I look over and see the kid dissapper between the cars. I walk over thinking he taking a collectable and see him sitting on teh ground. As I walk up he stands up and says, nice cars. I look in the trunk to see if anything i missing and nothing is touched. I say thanks and teh kid is gone. Next day at a cruise night Dave says, hey what happened to your wheel? He noticed that the chrome cap was missing lol...it probably sitting on a persons bike in a trailer yard right now.
-- Edited by 87ls on Wednesday 2nd of September 2009 10:41:22 PM
Yeah, I remember that day! we've never been back to that show since!
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