Our Two Cents: Signs You’re Taking The Car Hobby Too Seriously
Passion is a double-edged sword. It lets us create things that others can appreciate, but sometimes it takes us so far down a wormhole that we no longer know what direction is up. Perhaps you have been lucky enough to fall in said wormhole, climb your way out, and live to tell the tale. Or perhaps you never fell down in the first place?
No matter what corner of this hobby you find yourself in, odds are you have a thought or two about taking this scene too seriously for your own good. That’s what I figured, anyway, when asking this question to members of Hagerty Media, and the team did not disappoint. Here are their replies:
Hoarding
“Parts hoarding. Bonus points if you have parts lying around for cars you don’t own. I recently found a set of polyurethane diff bushings meant for a Miata I sold years ago. I haven’t got rid of them yet because I might want another Miata someday.” – Chris Stark
The Forest vs. The Trees
“I know I am getting too serious when I lose sight of the bigger picture and get caught up in what I am doing in the moment. Whether it’s old cars, amateur racing, or any other facet of the car hobby, attitude can be almost everything.
I just had a really frustrating weekend at Mid-Ohio, chasing my go kart’s engine issues. I was miles off my pace from last year. My initial anger told me that having fun shouldn’t be such work. Then I took stock: I am at the track, doing what I love. Yes, there was no way I’d set a PR with a hobbled engine, but the thrill of correcting oversteer in a kart at 80 mph and wrenching under a tent on a beautiful day are a lot better than the alternative.” – Eddy Eckart
Look But Don’t Touch
“Signs that say ‘Don’t touch me, I’m not that kind of car’ and the like. It’s a car. You might as well put a sign on it that says ‘Go away,’ or ‘I hate people.’ If you’re that worried about it, don’t take it out of the garage. Kids experience the world in part by touching, and fingerprints are just that, fingerprints. They wipe off. Accidents happen at car shows, prams and bikes sometimes touch metal, a sign won’t stop that.
I saw a ‘don’t touch’ sign on a WW2 Jeep in Normandy last month. Really? It’s a military vehicle with a renowned reputation for toughness and being filthy, and you’re worried about some kid fondling the bumper? As far as I’m concerned, a ‘don’t touch’ sign is quite literally a sign that you are taking it all much too seriously.” – Aaron Robinson
“I’ll have to agree with Aaron’s response. I’d like to add one thing: When you talk to the guy (usually a guy) who owns a classic car and they nonchalantly mention in conversation how the car is their baby. Their wife or kids aren’t allowed to touch the car (I suspect these are the same folks who wonder why younger people don’t seem interested in cars). When you’re prioritizing the car over your spouse or family, then something has gone seriously wrong with your priorities.” – Greg Ingold
All Work And No Play?
“For me is when you spend more time working on them than actually driving them. Unless you’re restoring a low mile museum piece, they need to be enjoyed and driven, even if they may break down 2 miles from the garage.” – Sajeev Mehta
Closed Minds
“I get annoyed any time I hear somebody say something like, ‘I don’t understand why anyone would like that car.’ Maybe it irks me because I like so many weird vehicles that most people don’t care for. But thinking your opinion on cars is the be-all, end-all for what is ‘cool’ or ‘collectible’ or ‘interesting’ is peak taking it too seriously.
People like what they like, who cares what you think? Enjoy the fact that they’re into cars and move on with your life.” – Ben Woodworth
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Agree with most of what has been said.
Help end snobbery…whether it be the untouchable Jeep or a far too obsessed PCA member (you know who you are).
But, and there always a but, the feel free to touch thing can go to far when you come back to your brass-era roadster and find kids standing on the floorboard while mom takes a picture or a kid trying to unscrew a $20 brass valve stem cover because “it looks like a shell casing”. Or a j d playing with the bulb born and destroying the $100 section of brass flex tubing.
My favorite ” touch” story.
As part of a marque club, I had my car at the car show celebrating the centennial of the Indy Speedway. It was Friday, so not open to the general public yet. I stood admiring a beautiful Mercer Raceabout.
The 20-something son of the owner asked if I would like to sit in it. Until then, I didn’t get closer than a foot for fear of fogging the brass with my breath.
Wow, I got to sit in (on really) a Mercer!
Very kind and generous.
I was genuinely touched. I spent part of the weekend giving rides to whoever asked, including some Army troops manning a display.
Finally, there is an entire sub population of our hobby that take things too seriously…they’re the people making a living off it…auction houses, many dealers, museum curators and a few authors. To them it’s not a hobby but a business.
Most stories about people at shows touching, sitting, leaning, etc on our cars, would not be changed by a little sign in the car’s window. Those people are generally clueless.
Quick story…recently had a woman who was going to apply spray sunscreen on herself, so she walked away from her own car and went next to mine, where I watched a cloud of the spray drift over my car. I was tempted to give her an earful, but figured it caused no damage, so why get into a pi$$ing contest over it.
Well, I don’t think we’re guilty of hoarding, exactly, but what about someone who keeps a car for the better part of a lifetime? We’ve had our Porsche 356 sunroof coupe for 57 years and counting! Yes, it runs and is driven, but is there a name for that? I mean, who keeps a car that long? In our defense, we met because of that car, and it was our honeymoon car, over 53 years ago…
When your cars are running a d driving, that is collecting. When they have been sitting for years with weeds growing up around them, that’s hording.
Good to know. Four Porsches and one MINI, all running. Nothing that isn’t. Yay—we’re collectors,
Enjoyed the article but disagree with the logic that children and low IQ adults show be allowed to touch your expensive, often one-of-a-kind paint job. A true collector will spend hours polishing their ride to display it. Why should that effort be compromised.
I rent a 10′ x 16′ storage garage – and I back halved a second level. Up top is a “collectable” – a 1932 deeply rusted Ford cabriolet. I can barely stumble through the lower level. Absolutely cannot move anything bigger, heavier than a fender. (got 11 ’32s of those.) A 90+ percent complete model 18 chassis. I’m 90! Am I a collector or a hoarder?
Sorry to break it to you, but I think that falls into hoarder teratory. I really hope to make it to a healthy hundred years old too, but I hope I’ll know when it’s time to start thinning the heard and selling some of the valuable spares I will have accumulated by that time. That way I may be able to make a few bucks off the stuff, so anyone that inherits it will not just call the junk man to have it hauled off for scrap metal. It may be time to think about selling off some of that stuff and using the money for something drivable or maybe a cruise.
I owned a ’33 Chevy standard sports Cp (had the rumble seat) for 48 years. Whenever I took it to car shows and had a family with young kids i’d say “Have you ever sat in a rumble seat” then the confused look and I’d point out the rumble seat & say “would you like to sit it it?” And they did. All those smiles were worth the few wipe-able finger prints. At one of the last shows I took it too a father came up to me and said “about 10 years ago you had my 5 year old son in the rumble seat. He still has that picture on his desk”
This is exactly why car shows are important. I’ve been on both ends of this. I was that ten year old kid that got to sit in a ’56 Packard and I’ve let kids sit in my ’92 Jaguar XJS, as well as my other cars. I hope half of them remember that show, like I did from 57 years ago.
I owned a ’33 Chevy standard sports Cp (had the rumble seat) for 48 years. Whenever I took it to car shows and had a family with young kids i’d say “Have you ever sat in a rumble seat” then the confused look and I’d point out the rumble seat & say “would you like to sit it it?” And they did. All those smiles were worth the few wipe-able finger prints. At one of the last shows I took it too a father came up to me and said “about 10 years ago you had my 5 year old son in the rumble seat. He still has that picture on his desk”
My buddy and I have for the last year been selling off classic car parts that we have had for years. Two storage units full of 69 Camaro 67 Chevelle parts some new still in the box. Sold the last set of tires & wheels last Friday .
We did extremely well. Now I only have some old Ford parts & old Mopar wheels . It’s so nice to have the space and no longer paying for two storage units . No more hoarding.
I had a 67 VW bug convertible until last year, worth around $15k I always got the biggest kick from letting parents take pictures of their youngsters sitting in the car. I think young children love Bugs because of their size and looks versus some larger vehicles which overwhelm them. That being said if I had a much more expensive car I’d be more particular about touching it 😁. I was raised as my children were to never touch something that is not yours without asking.
Regarding ‘Closed Minds’ – I very much agree. One of the best things about the car hobby is that it’s all good. There is plenty of room for all kinds of cars and people. Original cars, restored cars, custom cars, rare, not so rare, fast cars, slow cars, and so on. We should always encourage and appreciate the enthusiasm!
I recently came across 4 new in the carton oil filters for a ’91 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 that we gave to our grandson 6 years ago, who lives 1,000 miles away. Too expensive to ship them to him. Free to any of you who would want to pick them up in Tehachapi CA 818-414-2430
When I attend a car show, I like to early on, go for a walk around the area and explore who, and whut they brung. That pretty much out of the way, I return to my offering to field questions about my entry. If there are kids or interested adults that seem to be responsible enough, I’ll invite them to sit in the car, and enjoy the difference that it offers from other cars. Kids are very appreciative, and the parents also – lots of phone pix
shot with loads of smiles. I haven’t put up any “do not touch” signs, and fortunately most people are considerate and not indulging in the question of what metal feels like, but a bit of detailer on hand takes off
any deposit. The major goal of a car show, IMHO, is to make people feel happy and enjoy themselves with
cars, and introduce others to our world of cars, not shoo them away.
– when your latest comment is not accepted for submission here, cause you have replyed too many times already. you’ll get this message back from Hagerty >> “You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.”
(like i just did)
I drive my vettes even in the rain.
I just got the same”posting comments too quickly. Slow down.” message. Question to the Hagerty Posting Police…how often can we ‘post’, is there a limit ? I do not think I have posted any comments for several weeks.
Thanks, Lucky Jed Hannan
I have read here that what it ACTUALLY means is someone is posting simultaneously.
It’s an internet equivalent of a busy signal. Wait 10 seconds and try again.