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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“Respectfully touch” is a very good way of putting it! I only touch when the owner is around and I ask… if I have a desire to touch at all. I often tell people who are showing an interest in something to go ahead an get in even though they don’t ask.
My pet peeve is “I’m not taking it to the show because there is a chance of rain”. I told one fellow who said he probably wouldn’t be at a club show because there was a 40-50% chance of rain (meaning it probably won’t rain, maybe a scattered shower). I told him not to use water based paint next time. He wasn’t amused — said his 68 AMX hadn’t been rained on in 10 years and wasn’t going to be now! THAT is taking things way to seriously! Not wanting to much touching is understandable, but not getting rained on?
I actually have a good reason for not wanting my car in the rain and it’s not about water on the paint. Ever since I bought my car (it was a junker), whenever it rained, I’d get a decent puddle on the carpet. I never figured out where it was coming from and decided to just not have the car out in the rain. Dew or sprinkle is fine, just not pouring rain. The junker was turned into a show-car and it’s been 40 years since, and I’m not interested in disassembling the car to look for what I couldn’t find 40 years ago.
Why do I get the message, “You are posting your responses too quickly. Slow down.” when I’ve attempted to post only one time?
I’m always laugh when folks say
“You let your wife drive it?” (Was Big Healey, then TT RX7, now MX5RFClub)
Waddya think’n? Of course she drives um.
All that matters is if you smile when you drive it!
Hey! I’ll take that Pinto. It’ll draw more folks to it at a car show than a Boss 302 or a RS Z28.
I LOVE THAT PINTO WAGON,ALMOST GOT ONE WITH A 302
Pintos are hard to come by these days. I may have found one junky one during my search in a year. Others are very far away.
y’all love Pintos, so why not Mustang II’s ?
+ it’s not hoarding – it’s classic parts preservation – without which, there would be few restorations + no hobby.
ps: ‘ proudly got some emeritus car stuff that’s 55+ yrs old, even the boxes are antiques now.
I don’t know about others, but It’s not the Pinto chassis I’m interested in. Besides, to me, Mustang II’s are like the misfits of the Mustang family along with Mach-E.
People go to car shows for many different reasons. At one show a middle aged lady approached a car owner and asked if that was a 61 chev he was showing. Somewhat impressed he replied, “yes it is, are you familiar
with the 61″. She said,” not really but I lost something in the back seat of one of those quite some time ago!
I try to avoid hoarding.
Every time I’ve sold off one of my old(er) motorcycles I’ve always included whatever vehicle specific spare parts. I’ll likely never need them and the new owner always appreciates it.
Where could I get one of those “I hate people” signs?
In regards to hoarding, my 55 Oldsmobile has a small supply of parts that you can’t find at your local NAPA store. Heater core, heater control valves and any chrome trim I find at swap meets or club Facebook pages go into my stash. You can’t have enough old car parts.
When I take my ’74 Mercedes 450SL to a car show, I always put a sign on it:
The 11th Commandment:
Thou shalt park only Mercedes here.
“Unless you are blind, please don’t touch” that should be a sign. Or “reach out and touch air, not car”. I never understood why our most primal instincts can’t be held in check. You wouldn’t go to an art showing and touch a painting, or someone else’s house and start touching everything. When we look deeply at a subject without touching our senses are heightened to the area that is being utilized.
I went through a serious over indulgence phase with my first classic collector car which was a 1969 MGB GT about 6 years ago. After I got it I bought all the MG related gear and swag I could find including specialized Christmas cards from the MG clubs in Great Britain. I was all decked out from head to toe in MG related apparel, even bought an original Corgi toys of the car and had just lived for car shows the first couple of years. Then I learned how to actually enjoy driving the car. Now I have a 65 Corvair with zero apparel and just a couple of books and enjoy the heck out of driving it. I stopped caring that it wasn’t “perfect”, but still watch for people getting too close, cant help it, and even won a few car shows without trying.