Clash at Coffee and Cars

[saturnkk]

Originally Posted by cgwitt

Hey cool guy! I take my COBRA to car show 3 to 4 times a year and I let kids climb in while their parents take photos. They get their little hands all over my machine and with a little bit of elbow work – my machine cleans right up. I spend about $800 bucks a year having it detailed and its garaged most of the time except when I'm out on a COBRA run with my buddies. Most of us have replica COBRAS and some of us have grand children. Yep I do! If I was there while you were whining about your car because a 2 ½ year touched it, you would probably found your butt in a local dumpster. Nous Defions and De Opresso Liber cool guy and if you want to get together some time – give me a jingle.

What's your number?

[JBCOBRA]

I walked back to my to find some guy taking pictures of his boogie makers in my car standing on the seats.
I asked him if it was his car? He said no. I said that's right. Now get the kids the hell out of My car!

[tcrist]

Well, I am not going to read the whole thread, so if this answer was already posted, sorry.

The guy removes the child’s hands from the first and then removed them again from the second. It would look to me like he was trying to do the right thing.

Yes, the child should have been taught better (mine were and they taught theirs also), BUT, at least the guy was trying.

After seeing that the guy was trying and somewhat succeeding you just had to say something, anyway. Then you get upset because he got upset with you.

It looks to me that you were trying to be a wise a$$ and just had to mouth off. Trying to look big in front of everyone at the expense of what was probably a very upset and embarrassed father.

[Dangerous Doug]

Wow, some of the responses here surprise me. I, too, am one of those magnanimous Cobra owners that invites people to sit in my Cobra for a quick photo op. However, I am also a father who has trained my son to keep his hands off other people's cars at car shows or even in mere parking lots.

That father at the car show needed to be called out. He was letting a 2-1/2 year-old walk freely a a car show? He needed some schooling. Sure, he was embarrassed and miffed, but hopefully he learned that some people don't want their car touched---and it's the owner' prerogative.

I wasn't there to catch the tone, but I would have been visibly annoyed with the dad, myself. If HE wasn't a dick, he would have apologized and tried to diffuse the situation. He was at fault.

And, really, threatening to toss someone into a dumpster? Another example of someone who should apologize and diffuse. Sheesh!

DD

[DanEC]

Well - after reading all of this back and forth I'm convinced I voted correctly for the - I avoid public showings to preclude such issues - category. I have sympathy for the guys and gals who like to see classic and custom cars and have kids to shepard around and who do try to manage them. But, I have also seen my share of complete idiots and assholes of all types at car shows and cruise night who are completely irresponsible and even destructive. I've found that I want to participate less and less in such shows and prefer to just go and be a spectator myself. I don't have my old cars and replica to garner public attention with anyway - they are for self appreciation.

[601HP]

It looks to me that you were trying to be a wise a$$ and just had to mouth off. Trying to look big in front of everyone at the expense of what was probably a very upset and embarrassed father.


The 2 Cobras were parked at the end of a row of cars, and that row was sparsely populated.

The parent, his son and we two car owners were the only folks in the area. Neither of us raised our voices during the short verbal exchange. Neither displayed anger, but mutual annoyance was evident.

No one else was within earshot. It was no one else's business, especially not a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal chest-thumping dumpster-chucking cretin (post #35). I don't "grandstand."

The little event wasn't anywhere near as adrenaline-pumping as your speculative and embellished version would have it.

I'm now reminded of a line from the movie STRIPES, when Sgt. Hulka looks over and says "Lighten up Francis."

David

[FatBoy]

Originally Posted by 601HP

knuckle-dragging Neanderthal chest-thumping dumpster-chucking cretin (post #35).

Brilliant!

[tcrist]

Speculative, maybe, embellished, I doubt it.

That is what is great about the internet and forums. You can post only a bit of what actually is happening and let everyone else fill in the blanks as they see the scenario play out. Then you can tell them that they are speculative.

[DougD]

Wow. Some of your responses explain to me exactly why this happened. There are a lot of people out there the just don't give a damn about someone else's property.

Any parent who lets a 2 1/2 year old run free at a car show is one of these. No 2 1/2 year old is responsible for himself. The parent is. Period.

I raised my kids to be respectful of others and their property. Until they moved out of the house as young adults, I felt like they were my responsibility. Had the kid been mine, I would have told him that touching was off limits, and had he continued, we would have left the show and he would know exactly why. And I would have apologized to the car's owner.

Having said that, I frequently let kids sit in my cars at shows. I am always hovering nearby. If I see a kid who is respectful and curious, I ask him/her if they'd like to sit in the car (after asking the usually nearby parent if it's OK). They are typically surprised, but usually consent after a few seconds. I belt them in, let them wear my race helmet, etc. The smiles are priceless, and hopefully another car guy or gal is hatched. And maybe a future Prius sale will be a new Ford instead!

I'm not a veteran, but anyone who wants to try to kick me into a dumpster is welcome to try. Send me a PM for an appointment...

[jr289]

Kids were "jumping" on a "kit car" not an original, right?

[Al G]

Originally Posted by jr289

Kids were "jumping" on a "kit car" not an original, right?

Kit car or original is irrelevant. It's about respecting someone else's property.

[joyridin']

Originally Posted by Al G

Kit car or original is irrelevant. It's about respecting someone else's property.

Exactly. I found a kid sitting on the front seat of my car one time with his mother taking pictures. I about had a heart attack. I would never get in somebody's car without permission. She didn't see an issue until I asked where she lived as I wanted to watch some TV.

Had she asked, it would not have been an issue. After all, it is MY PROPERTY!

[mtrain2000]

I agree with the OP.

This is the reason I don't drive my cars to most shows. Why do car owners get mad when little kids jump on our old cars, well, in my case I build just about all of my cars.

That being said, I put quite a bit of work into them, and that minor scratch that little Johnny put in the door, might seem minor to the parent as its "just an old car", but to me it means having to put more work into a car that I had already finished.

It also shows/teaches a total lack of respect for other peoples property when parents let kids do these things.

Also, I can't even tell you any memories from when I was 2 years old. I might have sat in 100 hot rods from the day, but I don't remember any of it.

I think maybe when a kid gets older, maybe around 9 or ten then they can be introduced to the hobby. As by then they will either have an interest in cars, or not.

Anyway, I have seen all kinds of bad things with kids at car shows. I have seen kids throwing a football between the cars, little kids with metal toys running them up the sides of cars, and the spills of ice cream etc.

The biggest one was where I seen a guy with an old vette run up, and almost get into a fight with an idiot who had let his kid get in the car, and play behind the steering wheel.

[Cobra #3170]

I don't go to many shows because my car is pretty rough and not really show car material. When I do, I never leave the car which makes it not a lot of fun because I don't get to look at the other cars. I have had some issues years ago, like having a guy put is not so small girl friend on the front fender for a picture but no issues the last 20 years. When small children come around I ask them and their parents to be careful around the car and they have been.
If the kids are well behaved I ask them if they want to sit in it and they generally do which makes them and their parents happy. I would guess that when the parents see me watching they tend to keep the kids under control so we don't have issues. I have had a couple of adults give me trouble when they were asked to keep hands off, but they get the message and leave. It really is a parents responsibility to teach kids to respect other peoples property but if the parents do not, the kids won't either.

[OnyxRider]

Well to lighten things up my twin daughters now ten years old are being taught secret black-op fighting skills to protect our cars. They know the autos are theirs so from now on all children approaching will be watched very closely by my children.

[Three Peaks]

Regardless of how you feel about how the OP reacted ( I would have reacted the same)- he probably taught the father a valuable lesson and I would be willing to bet he and his kids will be better mannered at future car shows....

Bob

[mtrain2000]

Originally Posted by Three Peaks

Regardless of how you feel about how the OP reacted ( I would have reacted the same)- he probably taught the father a valuable lesson and I would be willing to bet he and his kids will be better mannered at future car shows....

Bob

I wish I could believe that, but some people never learn.

[tcrist]

First, how do you know that the guy is the child’s father and not a step father or uncle or just the child’s mother’s boyfriend? Not enough information in the first post to really know anything.

I have to say that I agree with the OP that it was not right for the child to do what he did. The child should have been taught better. But it did happen.

The OP would probably be surprised at what has happened to his other vehicles that he has had in the past or currently owns, including is replica. Probably by people that he thinks he can trust.

[REAL 1]

Baby carriages and kids 2 to 6 year olds have no business at car shows. They have no clue what they are looking at nor the capacity to appreciate. They are a problem waiting to happen. Parents with kids that young at car shows are immediately on the idiot list as far as I am concerned and the chances are fair to good that they lack the common sense to have instructed properly and even so what are the chnces of a child that young listening anyway or doing so consistently? When I see a very young child even with the parent right there I make it immediately known to keep back and no touching. When I bring my car to a show, that is when i still do its for their benefit not mine as far as I'm concerned. As such I expect my property to be respected. I do it politely but firmly. Couldn't care less if they like it or not.

The time for a parent to instruct their kids not to touch is before the show not after they start touching.

As far as letting kids sit in my car. Rare. When it happens it is usually for older kids AND kids that love Cobras and are clearly "car" kids who really appreciate what the car is and see it as a special opportunity.

Just to let some 3-4 year stand on your seat and smear his little sticky hands all over your dash while he plays with your steering wheel so you can feel like a big shot and think you made some toddlers year, he likely won't remember you or your car beyond his next dirty diaper, which he may be cooking up right on your seat. To me your an idiot but it's your car.

Inconsiderate people today and the trash that seem to predominate today's youth is why I rarely take my Shelby to shows anymore and when I do they are very select shows where the caliber of people are higher.

As far as that child being killed at that low rider show. Tragic yes. Idiotic beyond doubt. Here's an idea. Cars aren't supposed to bounce. If you want to bounce, buy an "F'n pogo stick. Second if you are stupid enough to have car that does nothing but bounce, at least have the brains to bounce it outside.

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Baby carriages and kids 2 to 6 year olds have no business at car shows.

Really??