My "Ding Bat Rant"

'69Novajoe · #1 05-27-2011, 12:10 AM

<span style="color: #3333FF"><span style="font-weight: bold">I posted this on the Nova site where I'm a member. I wanted to post it here just to get it out there and to make people aware of what could happen if they aren’t careful. But, even saying that, being careful sometimes is totally out of our hands. What I’m talking about is respecting someone else’s “ride.” My Nova has been the recipient of more than a few scratches and dings in its “life” and I guess I haven’t been able to prevent them no matter how hard I try (short of putting a rope barrier around it!!). The latest one happened just this past Saturday (actually May 7th) on our (Nova) PCH Cruise. To begin with, I’m not pointing fingers at anyone, just trying to “educate” and “inform.”

When I left Ruby’s, after lunch, I decided to cruise down the coast and ended up at Mandy’s Pizza Restaurant to meet Steve, the owner. When he came out, he wanted to check out my car because he’s building a ’69 Nova also. As we worked our way around the car, he pointed out one “nice” scratch on the driver’s quarter panel and I told him where it came from (because I actually saw and heard it happen!!) But you can imagine my surprise when I noticed something on the driver’s door that looked like dried wax or maybe bird poop. I wish!! It was a door ding that took the paint with it, about ¼” by ½”. I was pretty sick when I saw it, but what can you do?? I don’t know what’s worse, a nice custom paint job getting a ding or, as in my case, an original forty-two year old paint job getting yet another “battle scar.” I’m trying not to let this affect me and I’ve already named “it.” I’m gonna call it the “Aron badge of Honor”, because I will never forget when I got it!! At least it’s my attempt to put a positive spin on a negative situation.

What’s really irritating is where I was when this happened. Or rather, where I wasn’t. I wasn’t in the Wal-Mart, or Ralphs, or “you name it”, parking lot, where who knows who is pushing shopping carts (or whatever), not really giving a hoot about anything. No, I was around a bunch of gear-heads who, I hope, love cars as much as I do. So, in retrospect it could have happened at the Donut Shop, in Long Beach near the aquarium, at Port’s ‘O Call, the hospital parking lot or Ruby’s. I am so careful around other cars because I know, first hand, the heartbreak of the slightest scratch or ding. Again, I’m not trying to place blame about this incident (no pun intended!) and I don’t mean to be a complainer/whiner, I just wanted to make everyone aware of it and to ask people to be more careful when they are looking at others “pride and joy.” Thanks for hearing me out. I’ll get over it. Life goes on. There are more important things to really get upset over and even then it might not do any good!!

Joe </span></span>__________________

old5.0 · #2 05-27-2011, 02:38 AM

Nobody has any respect for anyone else's cars anymore. Several years ago I went to a show and took an 89 Mustang LX with a nasty little 427 Windsor I had sitting around. Late in the afternoon, somebody points out a guy sitting on the front of my car. I walk over and ask him nicely to get up. He stands up and says "It's just a Mustang". A little irate at this point, I respond "It'll just be a concussion if you plant your @$$ on my car again."

It was no show car, just a beat up old street racer, but what makes anyone think they have the right to use <span style="font-style: italic">anyone's</span> car as bench?

jbsides · #3 05-27-2011, 04:07 AM

Joe, I remember you pointing out that scratch on your driver's side quarter and explaining how it got to be there. It was more or less in response to my asking a donut derelict to not lean on the back of my Lemans Blue '69 SS. Not an original one-owner car, but the thought of what it would take to get that paint back to the way it was, well, enough to make me wonder why I was there at all. I have not been back, and at a club gathering at the shop in Norco last Saturday, my partner and I agreed, it's just not worth it. We have stopped going to shows, Pomona, everything. Sad to say, but the "sorry, buddy" you get for the battle scar is just not fair compensation.

JB

**427.060** · #4 05-27-2011, 06:52 AM

I was at a show a few years ago where a guy stopped and let his Doberman urinate on the wheels of a friends AAR Cuda. The guy was quickly escorted off the show site.
James

**Mr. Chevy** · #5 05-27-2011, 07:08 AM

Joe, we have the same issues here... Some of these people, mainly non car people, that show up to these cruises or shows want to touch everything.. I either yell at or politely tell these people to get their paws of the car. I have used the line, "I don't come to your house and feel up your siding!!"

I have seen people get in someone's car and sit in the drivers seat. I have also seen people open hoods, trunks and doors like they are at a new car show or dealership lot.

And what is even worse are frickin kids!!! Over the years I have caught the little bastards jumping on someone's running boards, and of course touching or screwing with every damn thing they can get their little hands on. Last year I caught a kid trying to peel the front area of the body stripe on my 69 Chevelle..

I blame the stupid parents for this... I NEVER leave my car alone.. If I do leave to go to the restroom or grab something to eat or drink one of my buddy's that I park with stays with the cars and watches them and vise versa..

I hate to say it but you have to babysit your ride at these events... Even this doesn't prevent everything from happening but hopefully you can ward off a problem or accident before it starts. A trick I like to use when you have undesireables around your car is to keep the old micro fiber rag handy and start wiping the car down in front of them and that usually makes them either walk away or else they back way away from the car (which is where you want them to be) and they start asking you stupid questions...

That brings up another topic, stupid questions asked at a car show... One year I made up a David Letterman style top ten most stupid questions or phrases said at car events.. Here it is:

10.Do you drive this everyday??
9. Did you buy it new??
8. I'll give you three thousand dollars cash for it now
(comparing this dollar amount to the old window sticker)
then this is always followed up by their laugh HA HA...
7. Is it for sale??
6. They don't make em' like this anymore..
5. My Brother's Uncle's Friend's Lover had one of these only
it was a 4 door, was brown and didn't have the big motor...
4. How fast will it go, will it peel the tires??
3. Is it all original??
2. Boy, you should take this to Barret Jackson. You would
get big money for this thing!!!!
1. What year is this??

OK off my soapbox now... Hang in there Joe...

Rich

'69Novajoe · #6 05-27-2011, 07:12 AM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: old5.0</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nobody has any respect for anyone else's cars anymore. Several years ago I went to a show and took an 89 Mustang LX with a nasty little 427 Windsor I had sitting around. Late in the afternoon, somebody points out a guy sitting on the front of my car. I walk over and ask him nicely to get up. He stands up and says "It's just a Mustang". A little irate at this point, I respond "It'll just be a concussion if you plant your @$$ on my car again."

It was no show car, just a beat up old street racer, but what makes anyone think they have the right to use <span style="font-style: italic">anyone's</span> car as bench?</div></div>

<span style="color: #3333FF"><span style="font-weight: bold">You just nailed it Tony, it's all about respect. I had a guy do the same thing to my car, leaned against it with me standing right there. When I told him to get off, he said he wasn't hurting anything. Dude, let me be the judge of that!!
</span></span><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbsides</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Joe, I remember you pointing out that scratch on your driver's side quarter and explaining how it got to be there. It was more or less in response to my asking a donut derelict to not lean on the back of my Lemans Blue '69 SS. Not an original one-owner car, but the thought of what it would take to get that paint back to the way it was, well, enough to make me wonder why I was there at all. I have not been back, and at a club gathering at the shop in Norco last Saturday, my partner and I agreed, it's just not worth it. We have stopped going to shows, Pomona, everything. Sad to say, but the "sorry, buddy" you get for the battle scar is just not fair compensation.

JB </div></div>
<span style="color: #3333FF"><span style="font-weight: bold">I really don't want to get to the point where I don't drive the car or take it anywhere. That's the most fun. I guess things will happen and you have to make the best of it.

Joe</span></span>

'69Novajoe · #7 05-27-2011, 07:19 AM

<span style="color: #3333FF"><span style="font-weight: bold">Rich, I hear you loud and clear. The real bummer for this latest "mishap" was that it happened around a bunch of Nova guys, or at least people who should know better. But, like James mentioned, a "sorry buddy" is all you're gonna get. Love your top ten, especially 5 & 6.</span></span>

**Xplantdad** · #8 05-27-2011, 07:26 AM

Joe...that really sucks!

The nerve that some people have. We must have it a bit nicer (or we are a bit luckier)...as I've only had one occurrence at Pavillions...and believe it or not, it was with another "car guy".

Joe, you definitely have the right attitude...don't change that.

Maybe make up a sign thanking the inconsiderate jerk for his lack of caring?

Take it easy Joe! Maybe we'll see you this winter sometime... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

**CC Rider** · #9 05-27-2011, 02:20 PM

Bruce, were you with me when I saw some guy insert half his torso (up to his belt) through the open window looking inside my car? Happened at Pavillions last year.

Another top 10 - What kind of wax do you use?

**69 Post Sedan** · #10 05-27-2011, 02:59 PM

I went to a outdoor car show with a couple of friend's just last week. One of the guys (Boomer) is the original owner of his 1978 Z28 and it still has the original paint. We had just returned from getting some food and there was an older, clean cut gentleman, leaning against his Camaro while talking to a woman and I asked Boomer, "Is that guy leaning on your car"? Needless to say he went over and asked him, politely, to not lean against it. The gentleman was sorry and said it a few times. This was a grown man and he doesn't have enough common sense NOT to lean against someone else's car?????? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Kurt