For the last couple of days, I’ve been watching an interesting argument going on within the pages of Jalopnik. On one hand you have Kristen Lee, who had some pressure to let off after seeing what she determined was behavior that she believed was out of control, uncalled for, and straight up disrespectful that involved people touching, leaning on, or otherwise physically interacting with a car that did not belong to them. I’m sure you can appreciate her take on the subject…regardless of value of the car (objective or otherwise), finding someone leaning against the car that you did not approve of prior to is usually permission to go straight into expletives as you sharply ask them if they can get their ass off of your car.
On the other hand, Bradley Brownell has a counter-offer: while he understands fully the respect part, he believes that some cars are too pampered and coddled, that it’s rude to not let people experience these machines, and that part of the joy is learning. To Brownell, looking is one thing, but being able to stick your head inside of that real-deal Ford GT40, to see the leather, to feel the shifter handle, and to smell the aroma that you could only find in a race car that’s over fifty years old and has been beat on like none other for most of those years.
I’m in no position to make a call here. I’ve only jumped the asses of two people ever in regards to touching my cars: one was a young woman who wanted a picture of her sitting on my 1973 Chevelle, but she decided to try and sit on the fiberglass pin-on hood and I wasn’t having any of that, so I asked her to pose on the trunk instead. The other was a rather creepy individual who was trying to mind-meld with my 1987 Dodge Diplomat via the front door glass. He claimed he was just trying to get a better look at the four-speed in the car. I believed that I was being canvassed and let him have the full anger, loud and proud. None of my junk holds much value past what I perceive, but many of you do have cars that are worth their weight and more of you believe that anyways. So, you tell me: Are you for letting people really get the experience of your car or are the “look but don’t touch” signs clearly posted?
Keep your hands to yourself. Uncouth behaviour from privileged snowflakes no respect for OTHER PEOPLES PROPERTY. You want a better look ASK PERMISSION.
Pretty simple. My ride, my woman, my French fries, etc. They do not belong to you, PAWS OFF!!
If I see a kid, especially under 15, looking at my car, I tell them to open the door and sit in it. Most of the time I will let them start it and rev it.
Adults, not so much. But my antiques get used and aren’t museum pieces. I try not to get bent out of shape about people touching them.
Sitting on them is right out though.
With my permission? Hell, let’s go for a ride in it!
Without my permission? I hope they drown in the blood of the family.
Their*
Yeah , if they are 16 or maybe in their 30s and seem truly in love with the vette and seem respectful , they can sit in it , crawl under it as much as you can a vette but not even I sit on it . And if I lean heavily against it it would be the tail end.
first thing i taught my son when we started going to car shows(he was about 5),was,DO NOT TOUCH!—it doesn’t matter if it’s a scruffy pos,it isn’t yours,and you respect other peoples property—i’ve been known to get huffy with people at car shows for rubbing up against the cars,or letting little roscoe get his grubby little hands all over something that someone spent all day cleaning,and it’s not even my car!—my lady and i were at a car show earlier this year and got to chatting with the owner of the ambr car,a truly stunning vehicle with about 12 bazillion dollars in it—much to my surprise,he asked her if she wanted to sit in it!—not only her,but he was letting kids check it out as well!—–that’s a great way to get them interested in the hobby
If someone asks, ok. If not, no. I will cut a lot of slack to kids though. I wouldn’t want to be the one to deter a potential love of cars in them.
It may seem trivial but I was raised to respect other peoples stuff.
Ms. Lee has it about right. The other guy has little experience putting his own stuff in front of the public, I’d gather. Given the freedom, people will touch, fondle/rub against, sit on and slide across your car. The one dent in my purple Chall was apparently done w/ a baby carriage pushed into it, hard, at a show. I always thought the “Don’t Touch” signs were stupid but I’ve seen how necessary they can be. There are people who will get in a fight with you over their perceived right to press their bodies along your car. I’ve had to ask, tell, and then yell at neighbors and even relatives to get them to stop rubbing their hands on my cars, it’s bizarre. Yes, treat a car like it’s someone else’s property and keep your hands to yourself.
If there are parents and kids at a show, I’ll let the kids sit in it if they seem interested and they seem careful and appreciative.
It’s called a “car show”. I’m showing you my car. It’s not a “car interactive experience”. If I spend a year making it ready to show I have not invited you to touch it.
I was at an outdoor show last year and witnessed a parent prop their kid on the painted running boards of a Great 8 Ridler contender for a photo. The kid was wearing muddy rain boots and was grinding their feet into the paint like Rick James on Eddie Murphy’s couch. I kindly asked them to stop and they looked at me like I was the asshole. They had no idea of the damage they were coursing to a six-figure labor of love that didn’t belong to them. Some people simply don’t know how to act.
Wheaton, Illinois cruise night. Woman encourages her kid to climb on a pickup truck because “That’s what the cars are there for.”
More? Same show, same night. A guy comes back to his 57 Chevy with a white tuck and roll interior. Older couple sitting in the back seat, eating burgers. “We were sure you wouldn’t mind.”
As noted philosopher Bob Chiluk says: “Look with your eyes, not with your hands.”
Had my Cobra replica at the coast. Two women approached admiring the car. I walked up and invited them to sit in the car which they did. Took their picture using their cell phone. I looked off to the side and said “better get out, I see the owner coming”. They bailed pretty fast with mouths hanging open. Plan to do it again and again…
I usually don’t care when people lean on my car or looking into the windows at the car show. My junk is junk. Lousy paint won’t know about a scratch on it.
I have gotten perturbed a few times in the past. At a show once, I came back to my car to find two guys literally sitting on the hood of my car. Not cool. I pointed their stupid asses to the unused lawn chairs sitting right behind my car.
I had my car in my driveway and the windows were open. I found a couple dudes with their entire upper bodies inside my car. they thought it was OK to trespass on someone’s property and check over my car like they it was for sale. They were lucky they didn’t get shot.
Well myself I don’t have anything that I don’t use as it was intened.So looking and touching is no issue. Younger folks I always try to talk with. But if you have a high end vehicle .I get it completely.On the other hand I find people in the big cities don’t give a rats ass about anyones stuff. I pretty much go to small town events . You can leave your car with the keys in it,with no issues. Personally,you can keep your high $ rods,and big city shows. .Just yesterday we went to a small town fest ,It had a car show ,RC tractor pull, flea market and mud volley ball. There now, see that there is a good time.
I was taught to respect other peoples property, I expect the same!
I had a woman put her son’s foot on my newly plated bumper to tie his shoe!
The newly plated bumper was now quite scratched, she didn’t see a problem!
People are no longer civilized, they have all reached the lowest common denominator.
KK
God help anyone stupid enough to get near my car without a tetanus shot. If they wanna touch it, go ahead. Just don’t bitch at me when you get caught up in the rust and can’t get loose…
An old mechanic I worked with a long time ago would perform his favorite prank at local car shows every summer. It went like this. He and his wife would arrive early and park his unrestored 1950 Dodge 4 door away from any other car. He would leave the area and come back later when the show filled up a bit. To the horror of car owners on both sides, he would encourage his wife to climb on the hood and roof so he could snap a photo. He would say very loudly \”look Hon, an old Dodge, just like we had! Get up there and let me take your picture. The owner won\’t mind.\”
I have a daily-driver 40 coupe with a no hood blower and attend all the local outdoor shows.
On the dash I\’ve often left a sign that says: Ok to get in car and sit down.
Ok to photo your wife-kids-girlfriends in car. Those who see the offer rarely get inside…but frequently take photos outside of car standing by it. In my part
of country (Northwest) I think a majority of the event spectators are respectful-
honest- and well mannered. Maybe being a hot-rodder gives me a different
outlook than the no-dust / billet community.
OMG!!! Those careless people might knock the dust off of the rust of the fake patina that l paid so much for to look like that real POS out in the woods that the skunks won’t even live in!
An old mechanic I worked with a long time ago would perform his favorite prank at local car shows every summer. It went like this. He and his wife would arrive early and park his unrestored 1950 Dodge 4 door away from any other car. He would leave the area and come back later when the show filled up a bit. To the horror of car owners on both sides, he would encourage his wife to climb on the hood and roof so he could snap a photo. He would say very loudly “look Hon, an old Dodge, just like we had! Get up there and let me take your picture. The owner won’t mind.”
100% behind Kristen Lee!
Its all about RESPECT for other peoples property, which I am seeing less of these days! If its not yours, ask the owner if you can touch it, sit in it etc… I would be more than happy to respond kindly to those people than just have someone “ASSume” its public property and have their way with what’s yours.
Personally, I respect EVERY car at a car show, cruise night, and even on a daily basis in the Walmart parking lot, if its not mine, I don’t have a right to touch it, simple as that!
Respect, it goes a LONG way!
When I was a kid it was kind of understood (due to some good parenting that was based around respect), you don’t touch.
In the past 10 years or so, its been almost unbelievable to watch what kids will do at shows. I’ve watched as teenagers and younger will walk up and reach inside of cars to touch stuff or run their grimy hands down the side as they are walking by with their parents standing right there watching…clueless.
Even if my car is grungy from driving power tour or something…just because its dirty, doesn’t mean its not valued highly by the owner.
Stupid parents make stupid kids. From running their hands over every car in the place to riding their bikes between cars to actually getting into somebody else’s vehicle. I’ve seen it all in the last 40 years and have hated each and every one of those people equally.
If you really wanna see complete ignorance and lack of respect for other people’s property go to a truck show. Not sure why most of the morons I see just naturally assume since it’s a big rig I can just hop right in it and see what all the controls do!!
By the time I leave Macungie every year my neck hurts from shaking my head in amazement. Freakin idiots!!!
And you wonder why I have sidepipes on my Corvette. This is not a problem. That said, it is trespassing and malicious mischief if someone is on your car. Car shows are their own hell – after all, the people there are bringing their cars to be seen and experienced by others – so while there are certainly lines that can be crossed; there’s also the pampers crowd that hyperventilate then bust a vein if you’re within 20 feet of their car.
Is it OK if we touch you WIFE? I thought so….