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Gerry's Garage Talk: Car Show Etiquette
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Posted by nwv_admin Wed Oct 13, 2004 09:18:00 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments What did you do at the last car show you attended? Did you just look at the cars, marvel at the paint jobs and engine detail, admire the interior, talk to the owner and tell him or her how you liked the car? Most of the owners will be glad to tell you the story of their cars. Often times, the car is one the owner admired in his or her youth, but couldn't afford at the time.

One of the things that some car owners have expressed to me is that they have put a lot of time and in most cases, hard-earned money, into their vehicles. They enjoy cleaning, displaying and showing off their prized possessions to both friends and the public.

At car shows, several car owners complained to me the that some spectators are not respectful. They touch the cars, and let their kids climb on the running boards, slide down the fenders and open and close the car or trucks doors without the permission of the owners.

One car owner told me someone had scratched his polished valve covers and carburetors' air cleaner with some kind of sharp object. He told me that was the last car show that he was going to attend. Another owner said one spectator held a child up to look inside the car and the kid kept kicking and running his shoes along the door. The paint was scratched so badly that the owner had to have it sanded and polished to get the scratches out.

At one car show last year, I observed a young boy holding on to a door and jumping up and down on the running board of a pick-up truck. The owner was upset and came running over to try and get the boy to stop, but the father grabbed the boy and apologized to the owner for his son's action. The owner was a little upset, but he just asked the father to not let his son do that again. I love kids, and we should take them to shows to introduce them to the world of cars, but we should also teach them to respect the property of others.

I've seen all kinds of signs on cars to remind spectators not to touch. Here are a few:

1. "Please look but DON'T TOUCH"
2. " 5000 hours of BLOOD & SWEAT, PLEASE DON'T TOUCH"
3. Attention: "Thousands of hours, buckets of tears, pints of blood, one near divorce, thousands of dollars -- look, stare, drool, take pictures, but JUST DON'T TOUCH."

Upcoming car shows include the Highway 99 Cruise 'n' Show Oct. 22-24 in downtown Bakersfield. For info, call Art at 661-589-0947, John at 661-634-9166, or see http://www.hwy99cruise.com/

Until next time, Gerry.

E-mail me at gwbyron2@yahoo.com

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