Warning: You may wish you had skipped reading the following rant but read on at your own peril. Your call.
I'm sure that there are folks out there who point out errors in a car and by doing so, in a way that could irritate the owner.
Having said that, I also think that when we know that we have errors in our car that we may overreact to the above people and, also, to those who have your best interest at heart and are merely trying to help.
Folks pointing out errors of another's car need to be especially sensitive to the possibility that their advice and information may not be well received. Thus, it would always be a good thing to do so when the time is ripe or not at all.
On the other shoe, the owner who knows he has faults or errors in his car should not be so hasty in sensing insult where none is intended.
I was at the Hershey car a few years ago when the restorer of the 1941 Chevrolet convertible that was in the museum there at Hershey, and I were admiring a 1941 that had been restored by a man and his two sons from Lancaster. Pa. The restorer pointed out that there was a bolt in the fender where it was attached to the body up near the rear of the hood opening, i.e. near the cowl. The information was taken well by the owner. On the other hand, I asked about the lack of a reverse polarity switch on the starter. This was received in not as gracious manner and I was told that all 1941 didn't have the reverse polarity switch. l didn't argue and left it at that. Later, here on the Chat, I asked about by posing the question. Gene whose opinion I respect, replied that all 1941s had them. Now, I consider the owner a good friend and we have shared many a moment together at Hershey where they (he and one or two of his sons) generally stop by my vendor's booth. They are good people and their car won a Jr status and then Senior status. Over the years their car has been there and shown as a preservation item. I went to the car show last year but I never found the Chevrolets that were surely on display. Given to Hershey's love for Fords I wouldn't doubt that they were stuffed into a back corner of the woods or somewhere else of little prominence. Who knows?
The point with all this is that I believe some of the negative reaction(s( by an owner may be warranted, especially when not considering other listening ears that may be present and thus a source embarrassment to the owner but then some may be overreacting negatively on being informed of their oversight in their car and its restoration, etc, as if caught with their hand in the cookie jar. In other words there may be improvement in both sides of the dilemma of how to behave ourselves. I know that I can always use improvement and I seek such education in deportment. Do too!
I hope to get to the anniversary meet this year and bring my 41. I will hope that all who see me or my car will not withhold any advice or fail to point out errors or mistakes in the car. I will not be offended in any way but, rather,grateful in that knowing better i can fix the errors or mistakes.
Best,
Charlie
BTW: I hope I have not offended anyone for none was intended.
