VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Were have the fans gone???

While out today for My first long spring drive in my lovely 38 coupe, that I woke up from her winter sleep, I noticed that from all the people I passed waiting for the bus, walking or pulling up alongside me at a red light I was not getting the smiles and waves that I usually get (and give) from folks that love to see things like our old cars...I thought to myself, and guessed, it's probably the downturn in the economy?...or the sadness of folks out of work?.
Were are all the grins and the waves?????? Then I figured it out!...No one was paying attention to anything because they were either TEXTING EACH OTHER or talking on CELL PHONES.
Were are we going with this????? are we heading for a generation that is so impersonal that we can only recognize a acquaintance by their Texting style or custom Ring Tone??? And if we met them in person we would not even recognize them.
I never would think that I would like being called "Old Fashion" but now I don't think I will mind.
What do you think???.....ED

Call me old fashioned, but .

Sometimes it seems amazing some of those "texters" don't walk into things and get hurt.......really scary is when you see them texting and driving .

Old Fashioned or not, you have hit the nail on the head !

Ed, You have brought up a good point. Kids of today do not appreciate or aren't even aware of the good old days and how we had to entertain our selves without texting, and cell phones. I for one have noticed that the only people that acknowledge my car are my age. And as I'll keep driving my "relic", as I was told by a yong man, I'll remember those few oldsters that smile when I drive by, giving them a glance of long ago when things were simple.

Eastern Ed,

I feel bad for you. Do too! I can almost feel your pain. Can too!

I think you have hit the nail on the head. They who used to acknowledge such miracles as an old 1938 Chevrolet Coupe a-coming a-rattling down the street are now not shocked at anything but a single bar on their mobile phone's charge indicator. Their mind's are elsewhere. Same as when they're driving.

What to do: Well, you could hook up a pair of those trumpet horns like Steve has on his, and when you come to the corner get their attention by giving them a blast or two to let them know just what they're a-missing. Also, roll down the window and yell at them to please pay attention, that a miraculous event is taking place and they wouldn't want to miss it. That may work.

Good luck and keep us informed on how my suggestions work,
Charlie

BTW: I haven't experienced any drop-off of attention for my 1941 Special Deluxe coupe. Folk on the corners nudge one another and put their mobiles away. Then they all start waving and a-pointing. I almost think I have something a-hanging off or a-dragging. Many of the other drivers toot their horns. It's right embarrassing really. Of course, I wouldn't want to infer that your problem may be in what you drive, but still... I know, I know. (Barf bags are not furnished. Get your own.)

Charlie.... Instead of "Trumpet Horns" as you suggested I was thinking One of those "Wolf Whistles" that work off the manifold vacuum??? My old 1941 deluxe coupe, that I had back in New York in 1958/59 had one of those, It was on the car when I bought it.
I thought it was standard equipment on the 41's being it fits in so well with the uncouth and uncultured design of the rest of the car (no flowing lines there just the paste on chrome trim)....ED

I've noticed it too in recent years. I've ridden around in old Chevys since I was a kid and within the last 5-6 years nobody seems to care and hardly notices. I think its a combination of the crappy economy, everyone is running ragged. Plus the fact that now people view cars as appliances and doesn't appreciate the art of driving. Its just 'something you do' not something you 'enjoy doing'. Modern times aren't very fun.

Daryl....Thanks for responding...As Kwchevy 1940 say in his response to this post. He said he noticed that people of around our age seen to be the ones that pay more attention to our cars then the Younger folks, I agree.
A few streets away from my home is a busy intersection were this elderly Black Man stands every Sunday and sells newspapers. Every time I pass he goes out of his way to jump up & down and wave at me and give me 2 thumbs up.
I stopped once and bought a paper from him (I have it delivered at home but I wanted to talk to him).
He said he loved my car and it made his day when I drove by...Well I told him that he made my day also and I looked forward to his "thumbs up"
He talked of how he remembered the "old Days" and the cars his dad had that looked like mine when he was a kid.
YES it's still out their and it is still alive but it takes folks who were there to remember it.
I wonder what some of these young folks will tell there grandchildren about when they are our age????ED

People our age are the ones who can appreciate these old cars and what they represent.The younger generation seems to like the so-called "Tuner Cars",mostly foreign in make.I will say I have met a few young guys at car shows who really seemed to take interest in my car and had many questions about it.Let's face it,they're the future of our sport!I think we need to promote our old cars more,to raise the interest of the younger guys and gals.Just my 2 cents!

I have seen many younger folks give the thumbs up to our old Chevys. Mostly elementary age kids that don't have "text thumbs". I think that they will appreciate the older cars once the "herd mentality" of the teens wears off.

I still get a lot of smiles, stares, and thumbs up, especially from the old and very young. Not so much from the texters who barely notice anything even when they are driving. Then there is always the question: What is it?

Both Western Ed and Eastern Ed,

Last Saturday I was coming down the road (not in the 41) and met a snazzy, gleaming black, well done, street rod. It sounded great, with a deep rumble. It is obvious that a lot of talent and work go into making of a nice street rod.

When you go to car shows around here, street rods are just about all you see. They are well done and have a lot of person touch to them by their builders or owners.

The point is they show up so often and there are so many of them that the public has been weened from any thing close to original. Originals don't have the draw that street rods, et al, do and are not that rare, especially on weekends and car shows.

The younger folk seem to be more interested in looking at our old original cars with an eye to how they can make one into an more interesting street rod.

Few but old timers really appreciate the loving care that is required to bring and an old car back to original and to keep it that way. What I mean by "few" is that there doesn't seem to be nearly as many interested as there were in the recent past and are thinning in numbers every year.

Enough rambling. I sure don't know the answer but I think it may lie in that "our time" has come; and just about gone.

Charlie

BTW: Please not that the above is not a negative criticism of street rods, et al. Such was not my intent or purpose.

When ever the 52 hits the street around here we get thumbs up, waves, and smiles. We just did the St. Patrick's day parade here and the wife wore her arm out waving.

GLYN,

Maybe people way out there in Montana are still fascinated by the rarity of anything a-coming down the street not fueled by oats. Just kidding.
Charlie

No offense taken, however we are getting modernized with folks from the left coast. I will not go into the now I am here and want to change every thing to be like it was where I came from Ideology.

I like Montana, Beautiful state with a lot of US history and scenic country! Sister in law lives in Kalispel so get there once in a few years. Don't let them change it.

Kalispell is one of the fastest growing towns in the state, lots of rural tracts have been purchased by out of staters for home sites (seasonal) Still a great town. I spent a lot of time there appraising land for MDT highway projects. I like your 37, a good friend had one that same color and it was all original as I recall. I was jealous as it was prettier than my 38 but not nearly as fast. Talking 1951 here

Thanks for the complement glyn. The 37 is my favorite car of my 3 old ones. It's been in the family since about 1956.
We need to get back out to Kalispell, haven't been there since 2002. I love the mountains and should get the wife and her sister together again.
I replaced the water pump in our 1976 Mobile Traveler Minihome at a campground in Helena years ago. lol

Well when you decide to make the trip send me an e mail if your are coming near Helena. I have met two families through Chevy talk and enjoyed a cup and some conversation. Thursdays are cruise night during the summer, could take you out to York for a York burger!!

So much for this post subject....ED

Yes, we are off the topic here... ...but thanks for the invite glyn, will try and do that.