General public attending classic car and vintage shows

Diabhalta

...as title suggests.

I like to call everyone who is not involved in any way in classic cars as "mortals". I don't know why, just a silly term I came with. Lack of discipline is really significant at every show and kids are the worst when it comes to this matter. Why do they have to touch the cars? What is a purpose of this? Two years ago in Tipperary there was a hillbilly guy walking around the Fords section and pressing his thumb on every single mint Ford parked there. Wearing a dirty coat and dirty wellies looking all silly (I would say lack of intelligence is the case here). I was looking at him like wtf are you doing, is everything ok between your ears? hello... knock knock.

Yestereday in Robert's Cove somebody was messing with my rear wiper - moving it up and down (I could clearly see the dirt marks). Then some 4yo kid with his parent standing next to him was at it again (while the father was looking somewhere else), father just told him to stop when he saw it and then they walked away (some explanation that what he is doing is wrong would be nice). When it comes to children it's mostly parents at fault just being useless as parents. But why adults have to be at them cars I don't understand. Why would one touch a spoiler of a car, what information it is to be received by this act?

I think organizers of every show should take the microphone from time to time and remind all those "mortals" that cars should be appreciated by looking at them only and not by touching them. They are not toys. Just because there is plenty of them parked next to each other (and there is nobody around) doesn't mean that people have to be messing with them in any way and leaving fingerprints all over the car.

Imagine owning a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona and you want to take the car to some "better" show (like Youghal here in Cork - I definitely wouldn't take this kind of car to some muddy show in middle of nowhere). If I would take this car to the show I would have to hire two bouncers who would be just waving off all the kids like damn flies. Then I could go and walk arond to have a look at the rest of the cars knowing that nobody will be at it.

Is there any solution to this problem? Suggestions and comments welcome.

Diabhalta

One of many examples on this picture (on the left). Is this really necessary?

The Big Red Fella

I dont take my cars to shows anymore, why should i pay 10 or even 20 euro to some club so that they can charge people to look at my car & touch or paw it in a muddy field? its beyond me never again i got my car damaged at mosney couple of years ago, from now on i just drive my cars & enjoy them!

carchaeologist

Lately iv become pig sick of the entire classic scene in this country to tho point of where I'm probably going to sell off or scrap most of what I have due to lack of interest on my part.
The scene is just becoming diluted with morons and chancers, and going to shows as has been said is a battle with kids and parents that don't know what's happening.

Technoprisoner

you can never be to careful....your car might dissolve if somebody might touch it !!! i am a car enthusiast and have often had my car at shows ect....its not a classic but that is neither here nor there....cars get touched on a daily basis....they are not polished to a high sheen and then put on the back of a trailer under car covers and brought to their final destination. it is not as if these people are scratching your car or doing it any damage.let them touch it..the fact that they are interested in the car in the first place should bring some pride and joy to you...instead all you find is hatred

Capri

Could be worse, I was at the Chicago Auto Show years back and watched these 'rednecks' going from car to car pulling and breaking stuff when they thought nobody was looking. Pointed them out to one of the staff who got security on to them :P

As for the 'scene' - losing interest also due to lack of sales /movement of stuff in IRL when compared with other parts of the world - just look at the number of 'bumped' ad's on DD

corktina

It's muddy fields, entrance fees and shows insisting that I have insurance when it is THEY who should provide free entry,cover for their exhibits and a decent field (well, at least they could cut the grass!) that I object to.

(I saw one stand at Trim where they had the foresight to bring their own mower...great idea I thought!

Oh and I forgot to mention all those stalls selling non-car related tat...why oh why do they let them in! Oh and certain offspring up to no good, such as those at the show at the Newcastlewest Cheshire home who had climbed on to the roof of a building. I left soon after as I had bad experience of these particular types a previous year then when they stole ignition keys out of one car and were jumping in and out of unlocked cars .

bjpower

I always thought the events were run for charities or car clubs. why would you pay for other people to look at your car?

seems madness.

trevorbrady

corktina wrote: »

...particular types... ...were jumping in and out of unlocked cars .

it's not just young scrotes in tracksuits that do this. See this pair of old geezers, one in the beetle, the other trying the door?



I only copped afterwards that neither of them were the owner. I was standing near my van, chatting, only a few doors up from the beetle. The old boys appeared, opened the drivers door and one of them poked his head in for a good look. I was thinking that I didn't like it but sure, he'd close up and piss off any minute, right? NO! The cheeky old fart climbed in! I went over and told them to sling their hooks, the missus was in the back of the van with the two babbies, who were asleep. That'll teach me to leave the van unlocked, despite standing only a few feet away and it being occupied at the time...

Despite all that, I'm not going to talk down the Irish Classic Car scene. Sure, it has it's chancers, muck savages, morons etc but at a show like the Stradbally Steam Rally, you're going to get that calibre of spectator. On the flip side, I'm active in the VAG scene too and at shows like the Limerick VAG show, Dubshed in Belfast, VAGE show in Fermoy (next Sunday, incidentally!) you get a different calibre of spectator, 99% of which "get it" that you shouldn't touch, molest, maul, open, sit in etc anyone's car without their express permission. Horses for courses I guess...

Diabhalta

Technoprisoner wrote: »

you can never be to careful....your car might dissolve if somebody might touch it !!! i am a car enthusiast and have often had my car at shows ect....its not a classic but that is neither here nor there....cars get touched on a daily basis....they are not polished to a high sheen and then put on the back of a trailer under car covers and brought to their final destination. it is not as if these people are scratching your car or doing it any damage.let them touch it..the fact that they are interested in the car in the first place should bring some pride and joy to you...instead all you find is hatred

Cars get touched on daily basis by their owners or people around them, not by strangers. If you see a classic parked on the street do you go there and start messing with it? Of course you don't. And unfortunately you're not right there about people not scratching or damaging the cars. Earlier this year in Kinsale I saw a chap bending over and hitting a car with his loose zip on his jacket. Tiny little chips on the boot lid, that what was left from his nice visit. Idiot.

Look... when you go to an Art Gallery do you touch the sculptures or the pictures hanging on the wall? No you don't. It seems to me like the cars are just another attraction at these Vintage festivals/Family days whatever it is called. You have bouncy castles, face painting and then there are cars. In Robert's Cove I was waiting in my car for some cars in front of us to move (we were boxed in) and I saw like seven-eight years old boy trying to open a Volvo Amazon parked nearby. Really? Where on earth he takes the confidence that he can just try to get into somebody elses car and sit in it? Also I saw one older lady with toddler who was eager to see a mini-bike in the rear of the blue Chevy ElCamino SS - and... he kicked the car a bit with his wellies when he was in her hands...

I don't have a problem when people are interested in the car, but I would prefer it to be in appropriate way (by looking at it only and by chatting with the owner). Children messing with the wipers, trying to open the doors and kicking the car with their wellies... that is very innappropriate.

Old cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed, but they are not toys for everyone to mess with. At car shows they are exhibits.

And definition of exhibit is:

ex·hib·it (g-zbt, g-)

1. To show outwardly; display: exhibited pleasure by smiling.
2.
a. To present for others to see: rolled up his sleeve to exhibit the scar.
b. To present in a public exhibition or contest: exhibited her paintings at a gallery.

In 2006 and 7 I was at one of the biggest US cars meeting in Czech. We are talking about cars worth from 5-40 grand here, ranging from freshly restored Camaros/Firebirds, mint numbers matching 69 Charger R/T and plenty of stunning Cadillacs etc. The organizers sometimes reminded visitors and asked them (by saying it out loud in the microphone) not to touch the cars (at Cadillac section there was a big sign saying: Look, but don't touch). How about something like that here in Ireland? Just one sign at the main entrance for the 'mortals' would be enough to give a clear message.

In Ferrari museum in Italy the cars are accessible to everyone and there was only a yellow line on the ground around every one of them (cars like F40, F40LM, F50, Enzo etc.). I spent there almost two hours and saw only like two small kids touching some cars (one of them monkeys was loose, and second got told by father not to touch that damn thing). Which is quite good result when you consider the amount of people walking around. I didn't see any adult doing such thing. It is also completely different kind of place, I mean if you go to a Ferrari museum you are most likely a car enthusiast and you know that touching the cars isn't ok.

It's all about people. Get group of 100 random people and there is a big chance that at least 20-30 of them are idiots.

Technoprisoner

Diabhalta wrote: »

Cars get touched on daily basis by their owners or people around them, not by strangers. If you see a classic parked on the street do you go there and start messing with it? Of course you don't. And unfortunately you're not right there about people not scratching or damaging the cars. Earlier this year in Kinsale I saw a chap bending over and hitting a car with his loose zip on his jacket. Tiny little chips on the boot lid, that what was left from his nice visit. Idiot.

Look... when you go to an Art Gallery do you touch the sculptures or the pictures hanging on the wall? No you don't. It seems to me like the cars are just another attraction at these Vintage festivals/Family days whatever it is called. You have bouncy castles, face painting and then there are cars. In Robert's Cove I was waiting in my car for some cars in front of us to move (we were boxed in) and I saw like seven-eight years old boy trying to open a Volvo Amazon parked nearby. Really? Where on earth he takes the confidence that he can just try to get into somebody elses car and sit in it? Also I saw one older lady with toddler who was eager to see a mini-bike in the rear of the blue Chevy ElCamino SS - and... he kicked the car a bit with his wellies when he was in her hands...

I don't have a problem when people are interested in the car, but I would prefer it to be in appropriate way (by looking at it only and by chatting with the owner). Children messing with the wipers, trying to open the doors and kicking the car with their wellies... that is very innappropriate.

Old cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed, but they are not toys for everyone to mess with. At car shows they are exhibits.

And definition of exhibit is:

ex·hib·it (g-zbt, g-)

1. To show outwardly; display: exhibited pleasure by smiling.
2.
a. To present for others to see: rolled up his sleeve to exhibit the scar.
b. To present in a public exhibition or contest: exhibited her paintings at a gallery.

In 2006 and 7 I was at one of the biggest US cars meeting in Czech. We are talking about cars worth from 5-40 grand here, ranging from freshly restored Camaros/Firebirds, mint numbers matching 69 Charger R/T and plenty of stunning Cadillacs etc. The organizers sometimes reminded visitors and asked them (by saying it out loud in the microphone) not to touch the cars (at Cadillac section there was a big sign saying: Look, but don't touch). How about something like that here in Ireland? Just one sign at the main entrance for the 'mortals' would be enough to give a clear message.

In Ferrari museum in Italy the cars are accessible to everyone and there was only a yellow line on the ground around every one of them (cars like F40, F40LM, F50, Enzo etc.). I spent there almost two hours and saw only like two small kids touching some cars (one of them monkeys was loose, and second got told by father not to touch that damn thing). Which is quite good result when you consider the amount of people walking around. I didn't see any adult doing such thing. It is also completely different kind of place, I mean if you go to a Ferrari museum you are most likely a car enthusiast and you know that touching the cars isn't ok.

It's all about people. Get group of 100 random people and there is a big chance that at least 20-30 of them are idiots.

the point i am trying to make is you probably do more damage yourself to the car in wear and tear than the odd person touching your car. ive been to shows before ive had my car in them as well...i would be happy that somebody was showing some interest in my car rather than call them mere mortals. these people do not see cars in the same light as us car gods. the cars are exhibits....people come to look at cars...that sometimes includes looking in the windows to look at the interiors....some exhibits even leave their car doors open for people to view. if you cant stand people doing this then maybe you should stop bringing your car or leave it outside in the car park with the rest of the paying public

Diabhalta

Technoprisoner wrote: »

the point i am trying to make is you probably do more damage yourself to the car in wear and tear than the odd person touching your car. ive been to shows before ive had my car in them as well...i would be happy that somebody was showing some interest in my car rather than call them mere mortals. these people do not see cars in the same light as us car gods. the cars are exhibits....people come to look at cars...that sometimes includes looking in the windows to look at the interiors....some exhibits even leave their car doors open for people to view. if you cant stand people doing this then maybe you should stop bringing your car or leave it outside in the car park with the rest of the paying public

probably... as it is my property, it is something else when some random douchebag scratches it or I do some minor damage to it. These people you are talking about are at the shows as well, but there are people who see them as just old cars and see no specialty in them. People come to look at cars... some of them do, some of them don't (and then there is all that messing with wipers, opening the doors without the consent of the owner etc.). And this thread is about the second group. You're talking about people looking at cars, I am talking about idiots who are doing things they shouldn't be doing. Period.

lil'bug

I was at a show years ago with a vert Ghia we had just put a new interior in and had the seats done.
Left the hood off of the car and when we got back to it some one had stood on the seat!
I was fit to be tied

Diabhalta

this scene from a movie is a bit harsh (no obvious reason to be this tough), but this is exactly how it feels when there is an idiot around a car messing with it at a car show.

Max Headroom

mmmm........were you never kids..(are you still not, a wee bit)....we all love cars, looking , smelling, touching them..its nothing to do with whether youre an enthuiast or just have a passing interest..If you were to come across your favorite dream car whatever it be, would you not feel the need to touch it...i can guarentee if it were behind some glass/fence you'd be a bit miffed....
If you show your car then you should expect it to be touched... scratched or have parts damaged would be unacceptable but these things happen when you show...but can also occur when you park anywhere really...
If your car draws attention you have to be prepared, annoying as it is ......kids these days go mostly un-parented ..but thats another forum...

Just my opinion...;)

corktina

don't agree...you wouldn't touch a car in a street, why would it be acceptable at a show?

stan07

YOU DO NOT TOUCH, SIT IN ,LEAN ON or any other bodily contact with someone else,s car.FULL STOP.

I have had people open my car while i,m standing there !
People knocking down the side of my car with there knuckles !
Slide there hands down the full length of the car !

WTF. I spend alot of time cleaning waxing polishing and someone thinks they can maul something that is not there,s.

I had an occasion to ask 3 lads not to lean on the car as they were chatting .I came back later and the bootlid had been gouged with what i can guess was a key !

to those who say it should be expected at a show......rubbish

You have to respect someone else,s property

Diabhalta

Max Headroom wrote: »

were you never kids..(are you still not, a wee bit)

scratched or have parts damaged would be unacceptable but these things happen when you show

yes, but I never did any damage to anything valuable for no reason whatsoever (thanks to my parents doing a good job while raising me and my own intelligence).

well that is the thing, this shouldn't be happening. Let's say some touching is ok, but you really can't just get in the car like it is yours etc. It's just unacceptable.

ectoraige

corktina wrote: »

don't agree...you wouldn't touch a car in a street, why would it be acceptable at a show?

Because it is at a show. The assumption is made that the owner wants to show off his car.

When a nice car is parked outside a shop, the assumption is that the owner needed milk.

stan07

Diabhalta wrote: »

yes, but I never did any damage to anything valuable for no reason whatsoever (thanks to my parents doing a good job while raising me and my own intelligence).

well that is the thing, this shouldn't be happening. Let's say some touching is ok, but you really can't just get in the car like it is yours etc. It's just unacceptable.

TOUCHING IS NOT OK

stan07

ectoraige wrote: »

Because it is at a show. The assumption is made that the owner wants to show off his car.

When a nice car is parked outside a shop, the assumption is that the owner needed milk.

SO YOU THINK THAT BECAUSE IT IS A CAR SHOW YOU CAN TOUCH WHAT YOU LIKE ?
May i suggest you go to a show at the gaiety theatre and then feel all the cast after the show and see what happens.....

ectoraige

I can read the lowercase just fine, and frankly I don't see the relevance in suggesting I go touch people when they are finished work.

I have no particual interest in classic cars, but I can appreciate their form and design. A car is not designed to be a painting to be hung in a gallery, or as a performance piece to be viewed in a theatre. A car is designed to be sat in and driven. I saw a BMW Isetta a few years back and what impressed me wasn't how it looked from the outside, but how it opened, the way the space is utilised, in such contrast to the modern car.

If somebody told me they brought a book for me to look at, I would assume I could open the cover and see what's inside. I suspect all the other members of the general public that you are giving out about would have the same expectations as me. Judging from the posts here, this seems to contrast with the views of the classic car community.

If this is the case, then if you bring your cars to show off to the general public, perhaps you need to put up signs and cordons so that the general public can understand what is and is not allowed. Otherwise people are going to continue thinking that it's okay to experience the car on display with more than their eyes.

alastair

stan07 wrote: »

TOUCHING IS NOT OK

Stranger danger?

I couldn't care who touches my pride and joy at a show. As long as no-one scratches the car, or sits on it, I'm more than happy for them to caress it, stick their head in, or whatever.

conor2469

I can live with people pawing the car, but leaning against the car really grinds my gears. The buttons on the arse of jeans do a lot of harm. The amount of times I have seen mouth breathers draped across cars (That they don't own) whilst chatting away without a care in the world.

I can see why people print the little Do Not Touch signs to put in the window.

I was at a car show at the weekend and witnessed a boy of around 6 years of age (No parents in sight) open the door of a freshly resprayed Fiat 500 shell and then slam it shut. There was a woeful clang, As far as I remember it hadn't had any latches or striker pin fitted....
I also witnessed two scobes of around 13 going around opening the doors of any unattended car they fancied.

I always lock my car at shows. If anyone wants to see the interior or engine bay all they have to do is ask and I am more than happy to oblige.

stan07

"A car is designed to be sat in and driven"
you are right but not by anyone who happens to admire it !

I hear what you say about art etc.

I,m sorry you think because a car is at a show people will think its acceptable to touch it .

gobnaitolunacy

I recall a sign in a car museum years ago, something along the lines of 'if you let your kids jump on this car, we'll follow you home and jump on your living room sofa.'

kyote00

Mullingar ?

After about 4pm, lots of unattended kids roaming around alright

I generally don't mind pawing or sitting in if they ask - can't be too precious about it - otherwise it will eventually drive you nuts.

The old buffers can be the worst

Saw some youngsters push over a portaloo in Trim once :eek:

conor2469 wrote: »

I was at a car show at the weekend and witnessed a boy of around 6 years of age (No parents in sight) open the door of a freshly resprayed Fiat 500 shell and then slam it shut. There was a

squonk

If you're that precious about your car, why bother showing up at a car show?

For my part, I'm partially sighted. It's nice to be able to get close to things to spot some smaller details and appreciate them. I also love to get my hands on many things, not just cars. You can pick up a lot of extra information. I also have a huge appreciation of cars and their design and their build. I love to feel panel gaps, give the doors a gentle push in the middle to see how well put together they are. Each time I sit in any new car model that I haven't been in before, I'll give the interior a run over for build quality/use of plastics and other materials etc.

At a car show, yes I would be going around touching the cars and examining them. That being said, I appreciate the work and time the owners have spent/are spending in getting and keeping these cars on the road so it would be more along the lines of careful/reverential touches. I'd have no interest in vandalising the car or damaging it. Having an owner barking at me to not touch their car would seriously get up my nose however.

The contract for a car show as I see it is that you, the owner, bring your car along to display and get it admired. I, the punter, come along because there are plenty of old/unusual cars there to see and I get to examine them, compliment you on your vehicle and move on. I don't want to vandalise your car, and you don't want me to either.

If you don't want punters touching and interacting with your car though, then don't come to the car show. In fact, keep your car in your garage, surrounded by cotton wool because that's the only way you'll guarantee it's not going to get some ding.

stan07

squonk wrote: »

If you're that precious about your car, why bother showing up at a car show?

For my part, I'm partially sighted. It's nice to be able to get close to things to spot some smaller details and appreciate them. I also love to get my hands on many things, not just cars. You can pick up a lot of extra information. I also have a huge appreciation of cars and their design and their build. I love to feel panel gaps, give the doors a gentle push in the middle to see how well put together they are. Each time I sit in any new car model that I haven't been in before, I'll give the interior a run over for build quality/use of plastics and other materials etc.

At a car show, yes I would be going around touching the cars and examining them. That being said, I appreciate the work and time the owners have spent/are spending in getting and keeping these cars on the road so it would be more along the lines of careful/reverential touches. I'd have no interest in vandalising the car or damaging it. Having an owner barking at me to not touch their car would seriously get up my nose however.

The contract for a car show as I see it is that you, the owner, bring your car along to display and get it admired. I, the punter, come along because there are plenty of old/unusual cars there to see and I get to examine them, compliment you on your vehicle and move on. I don't want to vandalise your car, and you don't want me to either.

If you don't want punters touching and interacting with your car though, then don't come to the car show. In fact, keep your car in your garage, surrounded by cotton wool because that's the only way you'll guarantee it's not going to get some ding.

Squonk, i hear what your saying and with partial sight i can understand the need to use other senses.
I spent alot of time and money to produce the car i have and i want other people to be able to enjoy it too.
If you say don,t bring your car to a show because people should be able to push in panels and physically check your panel gaps then i,m afraid there would be no car shows of any quality.

Because of people thinking they should be able to touch, many beautiful and rare cars are kept in storage and never brought out for us to see. i know of a few guys who have collections and refuse to publicly show them because of
this.

I have no problem showing someone around my car and letting them sit in it especially kids .I will chat with people all day and answer any questions i can.

But the unwritten rule is ........you do not touch someone else,s car without there permission.

Diabhalta

squonk wrote: »

Having an owner barking at me to not touch their car would seriously get up my nose however.

The car is not your property and without a clear "yes" from the owner you are allowed to look at it only.

Tell me how many people checking the gaps between the panels and other closer examination do you see in this video?

conor2469

kyote00 wrote: »

Mullingar ?

Yep, good event.

alastair

Diabhalta wrote: »

Tell me how many people checking the gaps between the panels and other closer examination do you see in this video?

No need. Those Italian supercars generally have awful shut lines. I've yet to see a $12,000 carb on an Irish show stall though. Bargain!

corktina

ectoraige wrote: »

Because it is at a show. The assumption is made that the owner wants to show off his car.

When a nice car is parked outside a shop, the assumption is that the owner needed milk.

are you really OK with people pawing your pride and joy? I can't see anyone welcoming this

Max Headroom

So your car is on show.....are you going to sit there all day "guarding" it..??
If youre not there, who's going to answer my questions about your car, or tell me its not ok to pop the hood or stop me from opening the door (assuming its open) and sitting in.....imo unless its fenced off i may do all of the aforementioned.......but I wouldnt........but there are plenty of people who will.....When my car is ready and i show it, I will be at it all day....for the reasons above..;)

JP 1800

I was in Mullingar myself on Sunday with my Volvo P1800 and saw some of the crap that was going on with kids and some of the uneducated adults around. I saw one chap and his collection of kids banging the doors on a freshly painted Rolls and said to my girlfriend that we were leaving as it was clear that some of these people have no respect for the amount of time, effort and money that goes into some of these cars. I enjoy driving my car but I do not enjoy having to repair damaged caused by other peoples ignorance and stupidity.

Diabhalta

Max Headroom wrote: »

If youre not there, who's going to answer my questions about your car, or tell me its not ok to pop the hood or stop me from opening the door (assuming its open) and sitting in.....imo unless its fenced off i may do all of the aforementioned.......but I wouldnt........but there are plenty of people who will.....When my car is ready and i show it, I will be at it all day....for the reasons above..;)

Nobody, the car is locked to prevent people like you doing something you're not allowed to do.

---

btw. here is a little "behind the scenes"... those few who are being stupid at car shows are bringing down the average of the whole country.

Kenny Logins

What is Intelllgence?

Diabhalta

Kenny Logins wrote: »

What is Intelllgence?

I know exactly what it is and I will tell you: it's a typo.

gobnaitolunacy

Moral of the story...don't attend any shows in Bosnia or Albania.

Diabhalta

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

Moral of the story...don't attend any shows in Bosnia or Albania.

Lithuania, Portugal and the whole eastern europe can be dodgy too.

Kenny Logins

Diabhalta wrote: »

I know exactly what it is and I will tell you: it's a typo.

Any typos in the numbers?

Anan1

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

Moral of the story...don't attend any shows in Bosnia or Albania.

Or maybe don't take ridiculous maps at face value?

gobnaitolunacy

Anan1 wrote: »

Or maybe don't take ridiculous maps at face value?

Esp. ones where Donegal and Norn Iron people are smarter than the rest of the island!

hi5

Kenny Logins wrote: »

What is Intelllgence?

Intelligence is knowing the difference between an i and an l.

squonk

To be honest the OP probably shouldn't attend car shows. As I've said previously, I won't go out of my way to completely paw a car. I wouldn't open one but it's no harm for the owner having it locked in any case to prevent that. The general public and kids especially will open vehicles. Next time you're at a county show or something like that, have a look at the tractor stands and the amount of kids jumping on the machines, opening doors and hopping inside. Heck, I'd do that myself at a tractor stand if the machine is open. To kids there isn't much of a difference. I get completely that an owner might not want kids jumping over his interior. Just lock the car. If a kid is getting unrully like hanging off a bumper or kicking a door, move them on. While there are no doubt idiots doing the rounds, there are a lot also who genuinely admire the cars on show and want to connect with the machine. I actually haven't made it along to a car show really and would likely ask the owner if I could touch were they there. There is quite an unlikeable air to the posting in calling punters 'mortals' and insisting that everyone stand behind some notional imaginary barrier placed around the car whose width and area depends largely on the owner's own personal sense of paranoia. If you take your car out on a classic run, there is every chance it'll get damaged there as well. While I can't drive myself and, if I could, I would very likely be involved in the classics scene as I've quite an interest in older cars yet the comments of some on here really do the scene no favours. I applaud the poster who made the decision to leave a show because he noticed some scrotes messing with some cars in the surrounding area. There's nothing stopping others from doing the same. A blanket 'no touch' rule is ridiculous however and, while there are some cars I wouldn't go near (I've a dislike for MGBs in particular), there are some I would definitely like to examine closely in a non-disruptive way. Some older cars, like W123s etc. are incredibly well built and quite heavy. it's nice to be able to compare quality like that from a past era with the cars of today. I think if someone is taking due care to not damage your car, then you can't say very much. Of course, if someone is opening and walloping the door shut repeatedly then you have every right as an owner to comment and ask them to move on. Anything else is a bit of overkill. If you can't hack it, then don't display your car. The solution is pretty simple.

stan07

squonk wrote: »

To be honest the OP probably shouldn't attend car shows. As I've said previously, I won't go out of my way to completely paw a car. I wouldn't open one but it's no harm for the owner having it locked in any case to prevent that. The general public and kids especially will open vehicles. Next time you're at a county show or something like that, have a look at the tractor stands and the amount of kids jumping on the machines, opening doors and hopping inside. Heck, I'd do that myself at a tractor stand if the machine is open. To kids there isn't much of a difference. I get completely that an owner might not want kids jumping over his interior. Just lock the car. If a kid is getting unrully like hanging off a bumper or kicking a door, move them on. While there are no doubt idiots doing the rounds, there are a lot also who genuinely admire the cars on show and want to connect with the machine. I actually haven't made it along to a car show really and would likely ask the owner if I could touch were they there. There is quite an unlikeable air to the posting in calling punters 'mortals' and insisting that everyone stand behind some notional imaginary barrier placed around the car whose width and area depends largely on the owner's own personal sense of paranoia. If you take your car out on a classic run, there is every chance it'll get damaged there as well. While I can't drive myself and, if I could, I would very likely be involved in the classics scene as I've quite an interest in older cars yet the comments of some on here really do the scene no favours. I applaud the poster who made the decision to leave a show because he noticed some scrotes messing with some cars in the surrounding area. There's nothing stopping others from doing the same. A blanket 'no touch' rule is ridiculous however and, while there are some cars I wouldn't go near (I've a dislike for MGBs in particular), there are some I would definitely like to examine closely in a non-disruptive way. Some older cars, like W123s etc. are incredibly well built and quite heavy. it's nice to be able to compare quality like that from a past era with the cars of today. I think if someone is taking due care to not damage your car, then you can't say very much. Of course, if someone is opening and walloping the door shut repeatedly then you have every right as an owner to comment and ask them to move on. Anything else is a bit of overkill. If you can't hack it, then don't display your car. The solution is pretty simple.

I rest my case. please let me know whenever you are going to attend your first car show and "connect with the machine" !

squonk

stan07 wrote: »

I rest my case. please let me know whenever you are going to attend your first car show and "connect with the machine" !

Rest all you want! With an attitude as you've displayed I personally wouldn't have any interest in attending any car show in which you'd participate!

Diabhalta

squonk wrote: »

To be honest the OP probably shouldn't attend car shows. As I've said previously, I won't go out of my way to completely paw a car. I wouldn't open one but it's no harm for the owner having it locked in any case to prevent that. The general public and kids especially will open vehicles. Next time you're at a county show or something like that, have a look at the tractor stands and the amount of kids jumping on the machines, opening doors and hopping inside. Heck, I'd do that myself at a tractor stand if the machine is open. To kids there isn't much of a difference. I get completely that an owner might not want kids jumping over his interior. Just lock the car. If a kid is getting unrully like hanging off a bumper or kicking a door, move them on. While there are no doubt idiots doing the rounds, there are a lot also who genuinely admire the cars on show and want to connect with the machine. I actually haven't made it along to a car show really and would likely ask the owner if I could touch were they there. There is quite an unlikeable air to the posting in calling punters 'mortals' and insisting that everyone stand behind some notional imaginary barrier placed around the car whose width and area depends largely on the owner's own personal sense of paranoia. If you take your car out on a classic run, there is every chance it'll get damaged there as well. While I can't drive myself and, if I could, I would very likely be involved in the classics scene as I've quite an interest in older cars yet the comments of some on here really do the scene no favours. I applaud the poster who made the decision to leave a show because he noticed some scrotes messing with some cars in the surrounding area. There's nothing stopping others from doing the same. A blanket 'no touch' rule is ridiculous however and, while there are some cars I wouldn't go near (I've a dislike for MGBs in particular), there are some I would definitely like to examine closely in a non-disruptive way. Some older cars, like W123s etc. are incredibly well built and quite heavy. it's nice to be able to compare quality like that from a past era with the cars of today. I think if someone is taking due care to not damage your car, then you can't say very much. Of course, if someone is opening and walloping the door shut repeatedly then you have every right as an owner to comment and ask them to move on. Anything else is a bit of overkill. If you can't hack it, then don't display your car. The solution is pretty simple.

Guess what... Cars and tractors are completely different category. Tractors are working machines, cars aren't.
---
How dare they to put these cars behind a tape at Irish festival of speed? People should have a chance to appreciate the cars, possibly open them and sit in them. What is the problem here?

Enough of sarcasm, obviously all this is to prevent people like you to do whatever you want with the car.





They even hired a security to make sure nobody will touch them. Ridiculous I say!

squonk

Diabhalta wrote: »

Guess what... Cars and tractors are completely different category. Tractors are working machines, cars aren't.
---

So it's alright for tractor dealers to have their brand new machines overrun with kids because sure 'they're working machines' but the general public have to maintain a 300 mile perimeter around you're precious motor at all times? . New tractors might be working machines but they're worth a hell of a lot more than your classic car. If the people who own these are happy to have them displayed then it says a lot about yourself to be honest.

I really have to question why some posters here even bother to display their cars at all? I don't see the point. You don't want people going anywhere near them, so why even bring them out on the road in the first place? What's the point of having a classic car in the first place if you spend your life worrying whether it'll pick up a scratch or a ding here and there?

Not all of the general public are marauding scumbags out to kick the doors and windows in on your car, steal your hubcaps and kick in your lights while keying the paintwork and having a laugh. The attitude displayed here is actually quite insulting, assuming that all car show attendees who are not owners themselves are just there to cause trouble and are some how less gifted and appreciative of things themselves because they don't own a classic car.

I'm into astronomy myself and have invested quite a bit of money in my own interest. My gear is equally comparatively expensive and fragile but the difference is that I'm quite happy to give passers by and kids the chance to use my scope if they're curious. Yes, if they're taking the piss then I deal with it but I've found that if you treat people with respect, for the most part, you'll get some respect back. Denigrating people with lowly names is a terrible attitude and is probably as much of the problem in the first place. As I've said before, if I find that I'm too worried about my scope getting damaged, then I won't go to an event, otherwise I'll go, enjoy the event, the banter and the interaction with the public and go home after having had a great day. I think a lot of other people on here have the attitude, its a shame that some don't however.

kasper

I'm into astronomy myself and have invested quite a bit of money in my own interest. My gear is equally comparatively expensive and fragile but the difference is that I'm quite happy to give passers by and kids the chance to use my scope if they're curious.

problem solved let the people look at the cars and tractors at a distance of half a mile with a telescope

alastair

Diabhalta wrote: »

How dare they to put these cars behind a tape at Irish festival of speed? People should have a chance to appreciate the cars, possibly open them and sit in them. What is the problem here?

...

They even hired a security to make sure nobody will touch them. Ridiculous I say!

Maybe you might be better focussing on the cars that aren't multi-million investment pieces?

Here's a rather more ordinary (however lovely!) car from the same show. Clearly under threat of destruction by reckless women, intent on touching the precious.

Don't get me wrong - anyone who damages a car - whether through vandalism or carelessness is completely out of order. But there's quite a gulf between that and someone daring touch your newly waxed pride and joy.