Younger crowd in the hobby.
- Thread starter 35fordtn
- Start date
Now that's funny, because usually the "old guy's" need to ask a young'un to teach them the computer skills. So you are doomed!
Sure hope the ignorant negative comments from a few don't chase you away, the hobby needs and should be embracing the young blood, especially when they are as keen as you seem to be.Hey guys... I know this is an older post... but I'm going to throw in my couple of cents worth...
I'm 51 and have had a flathead v8 for the last 34 years... I currently have two v8's and have been to a variety of V8 national meets. I know there are always a few that ruin it... and have for me on several occasions. I remember a grand national in dearborn when I just got my '66 Thunderbird on the road and my v8 was laid up. I drove from a midwest city and parked it out in the lot with the rest of the modern cars, but as I was pulling in one day a V8 member says... "son, is there a flathead under the hood?" I said no, and he said well get it the he **explitave out of here... Are you kidding me.... Definately didn't make me feel welcome.
In my opinion the V8 national has done a horrible job of making the younger folks welcome ( even other newcomers young & old), as I've heard the same from a number of folks, even at the meets. There's a lot that the national should do, from making the national meets affordable ($85-$100 registration cost is too much,) having good activities (includes almost no activities other than car judging or ladies bus tour to few or no seminars). I like the stock cars myself, but if you go to some of the hotrod/streetrod events and there are younger guys who have a passion for flatheads, even though it has speed equipment on it. Maybe the national should rethink things.... and work on tapping these folks... as you must remember, we're all just caretakers of these, and ultimately their worth/value is dictated by those behind us who care or have a passion for them, or not. How many of you have tried to sell an original car and had difficulty in doing so ( at least getting your price). Prices are headed downward, not up. Every time I contemplate going to a national meet I remember all the times the jerks making snyde comments at the meets and I look at the activities and see that there's really not much going on (other than judging)... and I have to ask myself is this how I want to spend my hard earned money having fun and enjoyment.
I think that the national should take a good hard look at things if they want to bring new faces. Look at cultivating younger/new members, meet costs, attitude, meet content, and yes, maybe that includes having a modified flathead class. I think that they would find that many of them have a passion for the same thing. Go to a Model A national, they have youth parties, youth chassis assembly, tours, events, seminars, and are as friendly as all get out!
Just my 2cents worth...
I'm 51 and have had a flathead v8 for the last 34 years... I currently have two v8's and have been to a variety of V8 national meets. I know there are always a few that ruin it... and have for me on several occasions. I remember a grand national in dearborn when I just got my '66 Thunderbird on the road and my v8 was laid up. I drove from a midwest city and parked it out in the lot with the rest of the modern cars, but as I was pulling in one day a V8 member says... "son, is there a flathead under the hood?" I said no, and he said well get it the he **explitave out of here... Are you kidding me.... Definately didn't make me feel welcome.
In my opinion the V8 national has done a horrible job of making the younger folks welcome ( even other newcomers young & old), as I've heard the same from a number of folks, even at the meets. There's a lot that the national should do, from making the national meets affordable ($85-$100 registration cost is too much,) having good activities (includes almost no activities other than car judging or ladies bus tour to few or no seminars). I like the stock cars myself, but if you go to some of the hotrod/streetrod events and there are younger guys who have a passion for flatheads, even though it has speed equipment on it. Maybe the national should rethink things.... and work on tapping these folks... as you must remember, we're all just caretakers of these, and ultimately their worth/value is dictated by those behind us who care or have a passion for them, or not. How many of you have tried to sell an original car and had difficulty in doing so ( at least getting your price). Prices are headed downward, not up. Every time I contemplate going to a national meet I remember all the times the jerks making snyde comments at the meets and I look at the activities and see that there's really not much going on (other than judging)... and I have to ask myself is this how I want to spend my hard earned money having fun and enjoyment.
I think that the national should take a good hard look at things if they want to bring new faces. Look at cultivating younger/new members, meet costs, attitude, meet content, and yes, maybe that includes having a modified flathead class. I think that they would find that many of them have a passion for the same thing. Go to a Model A national, they have youth parties, youth chassis assembly, tours, events, seminars, and are as friendly as all get out!
Just my 2cents worth...
Vic Piano
Well-known member
Excellent,
I'll be posting more information on the Mountain "Barner's Bash" (being held on Friday, October 26th and the Moonshine Festival that weekend), here on the FordBarn and the non-Chevy section of the ChevyBarn, looking forward to meeting you in October.
Vic
Ken/Alabama
Well-known member
Hey,dont let it get you down. I had basically the same thing happen to me there 7 yrs ago at the meet in Hiawassee . One of the old farts in the Ga group proved to be a real equine posterior all because we were parked at the wrong spot because thats where we were told to park. I swore i would never go to another one but I did go back this year and had a great time. The vast majority of the old car people are really great folks.
Vic Piano
Well-known member
Hi Ken, think you'll be able to join us on our Mountain "Barner's Bash" driving tour on Friday, Oct. 26th?
Larrys40, I agree with you and us "young ones" (I'm 63 and was a member of the EFV8 Club for some 30 years) have got to stick together...
The club is changing, but they move at the speed of a receding arctic glacier.
I've enjoyed the regional meets that I've attended, (never cared for the judging aspect of the meets). I really enjoyed the V8 TIMES but, I think, (at the rate they’re adding new “younger” members), the Obituary will soon become the focal point of the magazine. 
Larrys40, I agree with you and us "young ones" (I'm 63 and was a member of the EFV8 Club for some 30 years) have got to stick together...
The club is changing, but they move at the speed of a receding arctic glacier. I've enjoyed the regional meets that I've attended, (never cared for the judging aspect of the meets). I really enjoyed the V8 TIMES but, I think, (at the rate they’re adding new “younger” members), the Obituary will soon become the focal point of the magazine.
Ken/Alabama
Well-known member
Hi Ken, think you'll be able to join us on our Mountain "Barner's Bash" driving tour on Friday, Oct. 26th?
Larrys40, I agree with you and us "young ones" (I'm 63 and was a member of the EFV8 Club for some 30 years) have got to stick together...
Maybe . I should be there on Friday.
Chris
Well-known member
I am 31, I have 3 Early V8 cars. I am in the local V8 club here but have had mixed feelings lately about the V8 club. It's mostly older folks, and it seems all they are ever concerned about is "where are we eating". We do not do a whole lot of tours, and half of them start on Thursday or Friday. That's fine and all if you are retired, but for guys who gotta work we don't get to go.
Vic Piano
Well-known member
It looks like we'll be starting our "tour" early Friday over in Helen and work our way back to Dawsonville.
wisbangman
Senior Member
Hey, I'm 68 years young, and own and drive a old Ford. My kids, all boys, are 46, 41, 38 and 35. A couple are car guys, but none own an old Ford. Would you guys like to be adopted ? I would be proud to have " adopted sons, " who like old Fords "
PhoenixFear
Senior Member
I wonder how it would be down here for me. I've talked to a few guys abut their cars and they seemed helpful, however this is at a show and not a meet or anything like that. I'm 24 and have been wrestling with this project for a couple years now. Meeting fellow people in this hobby can definitely make or break it for me. The only real help I have is off this site and whatever books I can buy.
jerseyboy
Well-known member
I'm 49 and have been working on my wagon whenever time and money allow. I used to belong to the Early V-8 Club, but left because I felt I was getting more help thru the Barn. I also have met some at meets and some forums who look down on newbies for asking "dumb questions".
Fortunately for the new Barn, there seems to be more of an age mix and a diversity of types of Fords.
One day I hope to finish the wagon and go to some tours and meets.
Keep V-8ing and 4-banging!
(my sign off is a tribute to Dale, he was a very helpful Ford guy)
Fortunately for the new Barn, there seems to be more of an age mix and a diversity of types of Fords.
One day I hope to finish the wagon and go to some tours and meets.
Keep V-8ing and 4-banging!
(my sign off is a tribute to Dale, he was a very helpful Ford guy)
OldDad
Senior Member
At the risk of killing off yet another thread, this reminds me of my brother's (ex) father-in-law, who was a legend in his own mind. He had all the answers, on any topic you happened discuss, although those answers were frequently incorrect. He owned a '29 Packard four door sedan, with a straight eight, unrestored survivor. At the time, I was 25, doing the chassis work on my '40 coupe, and had just rebuilt the flathead with polished Evans heads and manifold -- you know how it looked. Took him out to the garage to show it to him, and his response was "oh nice, but isn't it kind of an abortion?"
Later, he complained that he wasn't able to take his Packard out as much as he liked because he wasn't able to wash it anymore, and didn't want to risk it at a car wash. Told him I'd be more than happy to wash it for him. So he says come on over on Saturday and you can wash it and then we'll take it for a spin. I was delighted at the opportunity to go for a drive in his Packard, and eagerly headed over there. Washed it carefully for him, and when it was chamoised off, he says "Ok, let's run it over to the gas station and put some air in the tires. Here's the keys." I was dumbfounded! I never dreamt he would let me drive his car, and had also never driven a crash box at that time. So, we climbed in, and although I knew the theory of double clutching, the practice took more than a few crunches! I was of course horrified to be grinding away at his transmission, but he just sloughed off my protests. Anyway, I got the hang of it finally, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. At that time (1985), people would wave at you when you drove down the street in a vintage car. I felt like Lindbergh in the ticker-tape parade, except that I was doing the driving.
Anyway, when we got back to his house, I handed him the keys, shook his hand, looked him in the eye and thanked him for a once-in-lifetime experience.
His response? "Arrg..harumph!"
It was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but I am still thankful to him for it.
Later, he complained that he wasn't able to take his Packard out as much as he liked because he wasn't able to wash it anymore, and didn't want to risk it at a car wash. Told him I'd be more than happy to wash it for him. So he says come on over on Saturday and you can wash it and then we'll take it for a spin. I was delighted at the opportunity to go for a drive in his Packard, and eagerly headed over there. Washed it carefully for him, and when it was chamoised off, he says "Ok, let's run it over to the gas station and put some air in the tires. Here's the keys." I was dumbfounded! I never dreamt he would let me drive his car, and had also never driven a crash box at that time. So, we climbed in, and although I knew the theory of double clutching, the practice took more than a few crunches! I was of course horrified to be grinding away at his transmission, but he just sloughed off my protests. Anyway, I got the hang of it finally, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. At that time (1985), people would wave at you when you drove down the street in a vintage car. I felt like Lindbergh in the ticker-tape parade, except that I was doing the driving.
Anyway, when we got back to his house, I handed him the keys, shook his hand, looked him in the eye and thanked him for a once-in-lifetime experience.
His response? "Arrg..harumph!"
It was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but I am still thankful to him for it.
1949FORD
Senior Member
i forgot who said something like the young ones and the old one need to sick together. this is entirely true. the rookies and the veterans need to stick together, because i dont think some of the veterans realize that the rookies will be carrying on what the vets do. say, engine services, carb services, or body work. if the rookies dont feel welcome, then this hobby will eventually die and be forgotten. im one of those trying to learn and get good at working on these old fords, and trying to keep this hobby alive. ive gotten a few of my friends to get into the hobby of working on flatheads (and vintage cars in general), and they say they love it. a couple of them have had experiences of the vets not making them feel welcome. what im trying to say is, if the vets give the rookies a hard time, then this hobby will rust and rot away. so, veterans, make us rookies feel welcome. give them advice and remedies to their problems. not just leaving them hanging there, and not getting the job done.
mtflat
Senior Member
Please don't lump 'Stangs in with those others - it makes my Shelby nervous and besides it makes you sound like the guy you were talking about.
If it has an engine and moves I enjoy it...car, truck, new or old, it just so happens I'm partial to flatheads.
mrtexas
Well-known member
It would help if the early Ford crowd were more accepting of guys like me trying to preserve an old Ford while updating with reversible changes for safety.
This kind of attitude is keeping me out of early Ford clubs:
http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=490905#post490905
This kind of attitude is keeping me out of early Ford clubs:
http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=490905#post490905
Fibber Mcgee
Well-known member
I think you got the right idea. Reversible changes so it can be driven are a good thing. I'm in my late 30s so I'm in the younger crowd but Ive had mostly great experiences with the people in this hobby (it might help that I think I live in 1944) but I haven't tried to join any clubs, I just love driving these pieces of history and seeing the smiles on peoples faces. I do recall a story where a guy bought a perfectly restored Lincoln Zephyr (the most beautiful car ever) and pulled the 12 and chopped it up. Now that made me sick, ever since then I've had a distaste for "modified" cars. You can't fix it once you do that.
bart78
Well-known member
I don't think not likeing a modified car is really the way to go. I myself don't really like to see a real nice car get cut up but it's not my car. And I really think that a bunch of the cars start out as rusted out cars. Just check out the hamb and see what some of those guys can do. And if people think its wrong to save a car that has been on its roof in a ditch for fourty years and made into a hot rod they are nuts. I don't know many people that would start with what some people do and build some awesome cars. We are all in the same boat with both sides of the hobby and schould get along. From what I have seen on here and on the hamb it seems some states are making it harder to get a title or anything like that. As with anything there are going to be people that are asses and always will be because that's all they know how to be. Just be nice to them and piss them off more.
Fibber Mcgee
Well-known member
I'm not saying all modified cars,if you can save a rusted out heep and get it on the road that's great. I just hate to see a car that's made it this far and still looks factory cut up. We don't have that many examples left.