Annoying people at cruise's and shows.

[1969chargerrtse]

So I did another day of driving around and ended the evening going to one of my favorite cruise nights.   I had a nice time and parked the Charger next to my Mopar buddies and their toys.  I see this guy wearing a grey T shirt that says Mopar and another guy I know that has a 69 charger also.  Mr T shirt was all over my car, looking here, poking there,etc...  I walked away went to do something and come back 10 mins later and he's still scrutinizing my car underneath etc...  .  This time I say, " Gee if I knew you wanted to look so close at it I would of brought a magnifying glass".   The guy I know says something like maybe he wants to buy it?  But I say but I don't want to sell it?   and he says, "I don't even like Chargers."  With which I replied " My god imagine how long you would be going through it if you did? "   And walked away.  I sometimes  think it's better to live in your own car loving world and stay away from the groups?   So what stories do you have to share?

[markstealth91]

Who wouldn't stop to stare at your car? That thing is amazing! Maybe he just had bad people skills?

[1969chargerrtse]

Who wouldn't stop to stare at your car? That thing is amazing! Maybe he just had bad people skills?

Hey you.  You live 20 mins from me, when you gonna stop over .
He wasn't staring, he was dissecting and it annoys me somewhat.

[mally69]

Your car looks awesome man, Reminds me alot of mine   I wouldn't worry about his dumb ass. My favorite line when people start that kind of crap is,,, ok where is yours at, get it out here....  And usually they walk away without another word. If they don't have a car there they just want to make you feel like they have somthing that is better than yours just to make them feel good about themselves.  I hate it when people do that.

[69_500]

I hate to say it but I'm that type of a person. I tend to stare at cars that I like. And in my mind I make mental notes, of things. However I can tell you this much I won't pick apart a person's car verbally, now in my mind I'll make notes, but not mention anything. Unless the person asks what all I'm looking at, and then I might explain some things.

IE for instance. Last year at Carlisle I kid you not, me and HEMIgeno were looking at 1 Daytona for probably close to an hour and a half. Actually spent probably 25 minutes just looking at the jack in the car. The owner of the car found it comical that we spent so much time looking at the small things on his car rather than just looking at the main pieces.

[elanmars]

Every now and again someone will look at the car and have that "wow" look but when they see I'm the owner, they'll ask if it's a 440 and then they'll say something asinine like "glad I ain't got one of these, bet you get like, 5 feet to the gallon!"

gee, thanks idiot, I drive a '73 Charger for the MPG! I can understand if someone was being facetious but if they do the whole "pfft" before saying it, screw 'em.

some people just totally miss the point and have the jealous factor going on.

[Chatt69chgr]

I tend to spend a lot of time looking at cars that I really like------which are few and far between.  But I try to find the owner first and ask permission.  Particularly if I am going to take a lot of pictures.  And I will spend a lot of time looking at very minute things.  I want to know if a part is original or has been modified.  I need that info for the restoration of my 69 Charger which is ongoing.  I think one big worry is that people will lean against your car with a belt buckle or let their camera swing into the body accidentally.  That's a big worry when you have several thousand dollars invested in a paint/body job.  I looked over a 69 charger at the last car show I attended and it was obvious that a lot of things were not "correct" but I certainly didn't start pointing incorrect things out.  Turned out the guy had owned the car for over 25 years and just enjoyed driving it around.  He was a real nice fellow and I spent probaby 30 minutes chatting with him.  I enjoyed talking to him as much as I did looking at the car.   So I think the guy that spent so much time looking at your car just had bad people skills.   

[tdub]

A number of years ago, I had my 71 Challenger vert at a show in Spokane. I overheard a guy telling his friend my car was a fake shaker hood car after looking at the data plate and not to vote for my car. I said I was the owner and bought the car in 1972 and still had the original window sticker and broadcast sheet. He looked me up and down - I was wearing jeans and a flannel shirt along with tennis shoes - and he said there was no way a car that rare was in the Northwest and that a person like me could afford it. I offered to show him the window sticker and broadcast sheet but he said he could tell the car had to be fake. I gave up and walked away. I never have taken the car back to Spokane for a show. In fact I now only show the car once a year locally and take my son's "fake" 71 Challenger R/T hardtop instead to other places. I'll soon have my 74 Ralleye Charger done and we'll see what the comments are on that car.

[mikesbbody]

Who wouldn't stop to stare at your car? That thing is amazing! Maybe he just had bad people skills?

I agree 100%! I think he was probably talking out his ass  you should have asked him where was his car?

[TUFCAT]

Rob, I'm guilty of looking at cars pretty closely that I'm very interested in - like Chatt69chgr.  With that being said, I'm never, ever, rude to the owner.  In fact, if the owner does come back the first thing I do before saying anything else... is to compliment his car. This usually always leads into small talk about the reasons I'm so interested in it - - which is because its just so damn nice!!

Typically, the cars I pay the closest attention to are the ones that are similar to the ones either I own, have owned, or want to own. This helps me look for, and make mental notes on the detail items. Once again, this probably leads into more questions along the lines of how did you find that item? , where did you buy it? , or how did you restore it?  I try to keep it to a minimum unless the owner seems very willing to talk more. 

I'd say 98% of the people I meet love to talk about their own cars. These owners are willing to offer their advise, helpful suggestions, common mistakes to avoid, and suggest shops that are great to deal with for restoring any particular part of your car.

The small percentage of shithead owners who don't engage in conversation are usually unhappy people, who know next to nothing about their car and merely wrote the check for it. These people don't  know the water pump from the fuel pump...and are too arrogant to figure it out.  Luckilly, there are very few of these people around.  I've found even the guys with loads of dough (the check-writers) are gracious, friendly, and appreciative. 

Your response was great. I've never had that happen, but if it ever does....I'll try to remember that one!     

[Hissing Cobra]

It's not just in the Dodge camp that this happens. I've got a 1979 Ford Mustang Cobra and I can't tell you how many times I've had to deal with people's ignorant comments. The best one is this, "Is this a REAL Cobra?" Of course the answer is "Yup." Then I get "Ford didn't make a Cobra in the Fox Body style until 1993." I then reply, "That is actually incorrect. Ford made Cobras from '79-'81." Usually, those people walk away with thier head's shaking.

I go to a lot of shows and cruise nights and I see flaws in EVERY car - including my own. I keep my negative thoughts and stupid comments to myself.

[hotrod98]

I tend to find at least one car at the larger shows that I'll spend a lot of time looking over. I usually keep my thoughts to myself though. My biggest gripe is the guys with the nice mopars and then they put Wal-Mart of Delco batteries in them. Just a pet peeve of mine. I always use Mopar batteries and it never fails, someone always mentions the Mopar battery.  With my red 71 Cuda, they will mention the real Mopar battery and never even realize that the car is really a Gran Coupe and not a real Cuda. 

[elanmars]

also, a lot of people don't believe me, I guess because I'm 26, that my car has a 400. They're always like, nah, that can't be right, Chargers never had no 400s! it's gotta be a 440 or 383! 

[68 CHARGER R/T]

he's just jealous 

[JimShine]

When my car was a regular Charger, it wasn't too bad. You would get the usual clown that would put it down because it was rough, small motor, non-numbers matching, etc. When I brought it out as a General Lee, the whole thing changed. Granted, there were lots nice folks that were cool and just wanted to show their kids the car or get a picture taken with it. But there is a whole other level of asshole that emerges, and they appear at every single show. The guys who will tell you your car is wrong because...., tell you their father was a stuntman, that their uncle had a real one, that you are partially responsible for killing Dodge Chargers. Now I will go and look as a spectator without the car. Maybe someday when I have a regular one again it will be fun, but for now it isn't worth the frustration.

[Shakey]

So I did another day of driving around and ended the evening going to one of my favorite cruise nights.   I had a nice time and parked the Charger next to my Mopar buddies and their toys.  I see this guy wearing a grey T shirt that says Mopar and another guy I know that has a 69 charger also.  Mr T shirt was all over my car, looking here, poking there,etc...  I walked away went to do something and come back 10 mins later and he's still scrutinizing my car underneath etc...  .  This time I say, " Gee if I knew you wanted to look so close at it I would of brought a magnifying glass".   The guy I know says something like maybe he wants to buy it?  But I say but I don't want to sell it?   and he says, "I don't even like Chargers."  With which I replied " My god imagine how long you would be going through it if you did? "   And walked away.  I sometimes  think it's better to live in your own car loving world and stay away from the groups?   So what stories do you have to share?

From what you typed, it sounds as though he was simply looking over your car and you decided to start the conversation with a wise ass remark.   

How do you know what he was thinking as he looked over your car?

[1969chargerrtse]

So I did another day of driving around and ended the evening going to one of my favorite cruise nights.   I had a nice time and parked the Charger next to my Mopar buddies and their toys.  I see this guy wearing a grey T shirt that says Mopar and another guy I know that has a 69 charger also.  Mr T shirt was all over my car, looking here, poking there,etc...  I walked away went to do something and come back 10 mins later and he's still scrutinizing my car underneath etc...  .  This time I say, " Gee if I knew you wanted to look so close at it I would of brought a magnifying glass".   The guy I know says something like maybe he wants to buy it?  But I say but I don't want to sell it?   and he says, "I don't even like Chargers."  With which I replied " My god imagine how long you would be going through it if you did? "   And walked away.  I sometimes  think it's better to live in your own car loving world and stay away from the groups?   So what stories do you have to share?

From what you typed, it sounds as though he was simply looking over your car and you decided to start the conversation with a wise ass remark.   

How do you know what he was thinking as he looked over your car?

I've been in the classic car stuff for almost 40 years.  Been to hundreds of shows and cruises, and met with thousands of people.   I know the difference from "looking over a car" and picking through it with a fine tooth comb for 20 + mins.  I think when he was underneath looking at inner panels I stared getting a little annoyed, and then watch him whisper to the other guy.  I know when ever I look close at a car I'm attracted to I always say hi to the owner and comment on the car and then poke around but not for long as I try to draw a line of not looking to obsessed.  Maybe what you're suggesting is true but out of the many people that looked and talked with me (he didn't) that one bugged me.  Not losing sleep over it, just sharing my thoughts.   Remember, he shared one thought.  " I don't like Chargers"  and as my RR conv buddy said,  then he's the only one.

[whitehatspecial]

With all due respect to you, I can see why the guy got annoyed. The "magnifying glass" comment was sort of off-handed and he was probably feeling awkward for looking at your car so long. Personally I feel proud when people give my car a thorough inspection. They could be just curious or really admiring the details.

Either way I wouldn't let spectators bug me because I enjoy talking to them and listening to their comments..positive or negative.

[1969chargerrtse]

With all due respect to you, I can see why the guy got annoyed. The "magnifying glass" comment was sort of off-handed and he was probably feeling awkward for looking at your car so long. Personally I feel proud when people give my car a thorough inspection. They could be just curious or really admiring the details.

Either way I wouldn't let spectators bug me because I enjoy talking to them and listening to their comments..positive or negative.

So now I take some hits    With all do respect to me, if you're going to rape someones car, wouldn't it be nice to say Hi and give a positive comment then go inspect it like you're a cop looking for hidden drugs?    I find it hard to believe that most people which would be chilling out at a cruise night, and watching someone go up and under your car without coming over to say hello, wouldn't bug them just a tad.  If it helps any my comment was said more in a light laugh tone than a rude one, because I'm not rude to people.  Now bug off.

[hotrod98]

With all due respect to you, I can see why the guy got annoyed. The "magnifying glass" comment was sort of off-handed and he was probably feeling awkward for looking at your car so long. Personally I feel proud when people give my car a thorough inspection. They could be just curious or really admiring the details.

Either way I wouldn't let spectators bug me because I enjoy talking to them and listening to their comments..positive or negative.

So now I take some hits    With all do respect to me, if you're going to rape someones car, wouldn't it be nice to say Hi and give a positive comment then go inspect it like you're a cop looking for hidden drugs?    I find it hard to believe that most people which would be chilling out at a cruise night, and watching someone go up and under your car without coming over to say hello, wouldn't bug them just a tad.  If it helps any my comment was said more in a light laugh tone than a rude one, because I'm not rude to people.  Now bug off.

It was a car show.
I get people studying my cars closely as well.  You should see the way they go over my wife's cuda There are several slight modifcations and I think that thy can't quite figure out what's factory and what's not. I'm both amused and proud when they spend a lot of time looking at my cars. I figure as long as they're not openly bad-mouthing my car, let them have at it. 

[charge-it]

I cured that problem a long time ago, I don`t take my cars to car shows anymore. I enjoy driving it, not parking it so other people can enjoy it. I bought/built it for MY enjoyment.

[68RT4ME]

I was at a show last year. My friends and I were getting ready to leave and some guy walks up to the car with his wife and starts to look it over quickly. He takes a peek inside and looks at the front seats of the car. They are the originals front and back and are a bit faded but intact so I haven't replaced them (don't feel the need). He asks me if this is a real R/T?  I say "yes it is" He gives me a look and with a smart ass tone tells me I should recover the seats. I said "Really? Tell me, Whats your car look like?"  With that, his wife smacks him across his shoulder and yells at him to "Shut up, you don't even have a car" She storms off in a huff with him dragging up the rear. We hear her go on to say "Your always talking Sh.t I hope your happy" We laugh  at the guy cause you just know that was the beginning of a beautiful conversation.....

[Brock Samson]

I ususally enjoy talking to the owners about their cars as or just after i give it a all around scan,.. looking at the options and for anything that might leap out.. 
The stories they share are allways worth the time it takes, because I look at a car it's for just a few minutes but once we get, sorry, they get rolling on their car's story - 20 minutes can roll around pretty easy and some times twice that,.. 
A car has to be pretty modified for me to take a really long time looking at the details, cause Ive seen several hundred if not thousands of cars since I first started peering intently under hoods beginning in 1968.
One thing I enjoy and I find very interesting is to saddle up to folks as they discuss mine (or others) cars to easedrop on their conversations which can be quite the eye opener as they will discuss things among themselves they'd never tell you to your face.
At MOPAR meets it's stuff like the twin pot brake booster finish or the throttle bracketry as my Frankenstein car gives folks plenty to obsess over and no, i wont mention any names here...   
Any how, at the "International Auto Show" here in S.F. I hear the most ridiculous statements you can possibly imagine from folks who don't have so much as a clue...
At least the purists have seriously researched the finer points. No body likes to be criticised but you can definatly learn that way... 

I know from our conversations and your posts that your pretty sensitive,  perhaps he was doing research for a car he hopes to own someday and/or just was admiring your handywork?..  at least he wasn't sliding a magnet along the beltline. 
If it makes you feel better I'm sensitive too... 

Your car is seriously beautiful and I'd be very proud.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I get it all the time as well but I don't let it bother me.  Im not at a show to get pissed off about other peoples opinions about my car......heck ask anyone Im usually the one to point out its flaws.  I don't care....

I have worse things to get pissed off about 

[Charger-Bodie]

I get it all the time as well but I don't let it bother me.  Im not at a show to get pissed off about other peoples opinions about my car......heck ask anyone Im usually the one to point out its flaws.  I don't care....

I have worse things to get pissed off about 

Well said!!