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Please don't touch article by Steve Moskowitz.......


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A friend just gave me a copy of the March/April 2005 AACA Newsletter and I must say it is great.

Steve had wrote a article called (Jump Start). I enjoyed this article very much. I'm sure you all have read it as it was about PLEASE DON'T TOUCH.

I know there are alot of cars that are so special that I agree with this very much. I have to say though that when I let a young person sit in my car and take a person for a ride it is the best feeling one can have. I love to do this kind of stuff at small local car shows as this is how I got hooked also. I also have had some cards made up (like Baseball cards) with picture of car on front and information about it on the back. I give these away to people that show any interest in the car and they love them. They take them and show other friends when they get home. I have had people tell me that they had seen the card somewhere so they just had to come over and see the car. This is a great thing to do if you have a rare car.

My rare Hurst SC/rambler was my dream car. I have decided to use this car in the way that I had dreamed I would when I was a boy. Drive it for fun and a pass at the track thrown in from time to time. I do win a trophy at local shows about 70% of the time but I'm never looking to win so I'm never disapointed if I don't get one. I had learned along time ago that you can take the fun away from your dream real fast if you don't have the means to restore a car right but started it anyway. I know their are restored SC/ramblers out there and their are some that are in bad shape but their aren't many SC's that have survided as a nice car that is seen around town on a nice day. I don't have the means to restore my SC and it is not bad enough to do it anyway. I personally have learned that I would not have any more fun if I did and I'm not looking to make money by selling it any time soon so why do it (so much fun just the way it is).

I love to share my car with other people but you do have to watch some of them.

See attachment above and you will see just one of the things I have done with my car. That article was in the AMO Newsletter.

My Wife is going to join us up tomorrow so we will be AACA members!!! I'm very proud of this and can't wait for Greensburg Pa. show.

thanks,

matt & valeri

FREEDOM=AMC

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Here is special friend named Brent holding one of the cards. I met him at the 2004 Chrysler Classic Awards Banquet. I won the points series for the AMC class in 2004. It was held in Indianapolis so we also went to the speedway and did the HALL OF FAME. Some nice cars here,even a wonderful V-16 Cadillac!!!!

thanks,

matt

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I also really enjoyed Steve's article. I just wish that there was no need for "Do Not Touch" signs. But I have seen people, adults as well as kids, do some very thoughtless things around other peoples cars. And why anyone would bring a dog to a car show is beyond me. The pavement is usually very hot and there are kids around.

We do enjoy letting kids sit in our Legends racecar. They are so thrilled to sit in a real racecar that they have seen race.

So as long as there are people with no idea how to behave around antique cars, there will be "Do Not Touch" signs.

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My Parents & Brother live in Charleston WVa. just about 7 miles from St. Albans !!!! I hope to have my Hurst SC/rambler down at the state capital this year.

My Dad has a Tan 1949 Packard that he and mom take to some shows every now and then. My brother has a nice original 1963 Cadillac. The Mayor of Charleston is the man that now owns my Dads old 1956 Chrysler, see my post (old car stories). Maybe you have met them or know of the cars ???

thanks,

matt

Do me a favor and go on this web site for Hurst SC/ramblers. Their is a picture of one that was in Charleston WVa.years ago and we are trying to find out what happend to it. www.joiesjeeps.com . I know of a SC/rambler that is in bad shape that a man is trying to fix down in Branchland WVa. I'm sure you know where that is. We are trying to track down all 1,512 that were built and give each one a page to tell it's story. Please look around and check out the Survivors Page.

I think the owner of that SC might own some kind of Driving school in St.Albans. I think he still has a AMX racecar.

thanks,

matt

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Your parents are just awesome people. I met them at our car show and we have remained in touch. Your mom and dad save soda cans, pet food cans and foil for my "Aluminum-For-Animals Spay/Neuter Fund". They drive down to St. Albans and we meet at the local Tim Horton's for them to drop the stuff off and then we stand around and catch up.

I did not know that the Chrysler had belonged to them. We know that it belonged to the Kessels at one time. Maybe they bought it from your mom and dad or the other way around. Not sure. It is parked in the parking garage at Shanklin Park near the court house.

Do you ever come to Charleston?

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My Mom and Dad are salt of the earth people !!!! They love animals and have always tried to help them !!! I have four Fainting goats , dog ,cat rabbit and a game rooster !!! Dad just loves the rooster as it reminds him of the old days with his Dad.

The 1956 Chrysler was my Grandfathers car and we are so pleased that the Mayor uses it as his daily driver to this day!!!!! The list of cars that we have owned over the years is long, we have had very rare ones and always enjoyed using them. A man asked my Dad one time when he owned the Wills St. Claire , what if something would happen to it ? Dad was real nice and said , well I guess their would be one less and some parts for the other guys !!!! I love that as the cars have always been fun to us. I work 6 days a week so when Sunday comes around I drive the SC/rambler as I hate to use up all my time cleaning it.

My trucking driving job takes me to Charleston alot and I stop by and see them often.

thanks,

matt

I paid my Dues today , I'm a AACA member !!!!!

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I have two horses (one is "legally blind), a Dalmatian, two ferrets and a guinea pig. I had a cat for almost fifteen years until she had to be put down due to cancer that was inoperable.

We ran into your mom and dad once at the Long John Silver's in St. Albans a couple years ago, there were some other people with them. Was that you or do you have a brother/sister that live here or visit? The other people were also driving an antique car, but now I can't remember what it was.

Next time you come to Charleston and have the time call and say hi. We are the only Linden in the book. Say hi to your folks for me the next time you talk to them.

Small world, huh?? smirk.gif

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most likely my brother as he has old cars as well.

I will look you up sometime.

Did you go on the Hurst SC/rambler site and see the one that was in Charleston. Maybe you had seen it before.I had only seen it once and that was at least 20 years ago.

We did take our dog to all the car shows years ago but never walked her around any of the cars. Dad would have killed us if we had done that. I would be really pissed if my car was damaged by a dog at a car show. If you know my Mom you know how careful she is about everything.

thanks,

matt

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Yes, I did look at the site. The group that runs that car show is the "Golden Oldies Car Club". They may have records that could help you track the owner of the car. I have the name of a guy that is, or was, the president of the club if you want it.

I don't worry so much about car owners that bring their dogs. I worry about the spectators that do walk their dogs right up to the cars, and between them, and it never occurs to them that the dog, tags on the collar or the leash could cause damage.

I really like your mom and dad a lot. A true gentleman and lady.

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I also often let folks sit in my car or pose by it, and give rides when possible, but agree about the need to use the "Please Don't Touch Signs" too - I find that the people who really want to know about the car or would like to look or sit inside are pretty respectful and seeing the signs will always ask permission before getting too close. I agree about the dogs too. The car owners dogs seem just fine, but I cringe when I see some huge dog on a spectator's leash heading toward my car - one once headed right toward the front tire with his leg already raised - I spotted him and hit the horns and he turned and pulled his owner with him. Guy seemed to get the message as he and dog headed for nearest tree.

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Ed,

Try being the chief judge for an AACA national meet and show up at the host hotel on Thursday about noon and find that there are 400 Dalmations in the hotel and parking lot. There was a national Dalmation show that finished Thursday night. Then there was a multi breed show with about 500 - 600 dogs on Saturday in the field next to the judging field. You talk about a lot of crap that I had to take. (HA) Folks have called that the Dalmation Meet.. You should have seen the look on the one ladies face when I asked her where they were going to get all the fire engines for all those Dalamations. She dod not see the humor in that. I don't worry about one or even two dogs any more.

Dan

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Do you mean four hundred of these? (See attached photo of my Dalmatian "Haylee".)

And it is a common error to spell it Dalmation, but the correct spelling is Dalmatian. Don't feel bad, lots of people do it. wink.gif

And loved the joke about the fire engines for the dogs. grin.gif

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YEP ! 400 of em' They made a real mess out of the hotel and the parking lot. There were hotel employees in the parking lot with tall boots on sanitizing the lot. The grass around the hotel was nothing but brown spots. Attached is one of the signs they had around the hotel, even the owners didn't pay any atention to it.

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That is horrible that happened. When people do things like that it closes doors to them in the future.

Whenever I take Haylee anywhere I have special bags to scoop up after her and a water bottle to rinse down where she goes. And I don't take her places where she can go in other people's yards. I would not want someone to do that to my yard.

Dogs are going to go, that is a fact. It boils down to respecting other people's property and rights not to deal with what someone elses dog leaves behind.

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AS you know I enjoy giving rides to people in the Hurst SC/rambler. I for one always wanted to know what it felt like to ride in a Rumbleseat or in the Sidecar of a motorcycle. Always thought that would feel great. I would also like to ride in other (real) muscle cars to see what they are like.

thanks,

matt

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Well Dan, if the lady didn't like the Fire Engine joke, you could've told her that there wasn't enough beer, wagons and Clydesdales in the world that could haul every one of those dogs away.

I'm sorry to say this, but at a lot of shows, you sometimes have your hands full keeping an eye on the people. Dogs, Snakes (yes I've seen Boas too), cats, etc. should not be permitted on a show field. All it takes is for two dogs to start fighting and the next thing you know they're in the side of someone's car.

As for ignorant people, my dad and I were at a cruise night when someone opened the hood on our Whippet (Piano style hinge like you'd see on a Model 'A') and raised the bottom section of the hood only scraping the side of the fender with the bottom of the hood right down to bare metal. Neither one of us were too happy, and the man knew he was wrong and quickly disappeared in the crowd.

.....Chances are if he wasn't smart enough to know how to open the hood, he wouldn't have understood the engine that is in the car, and had no business touching the car in the first place. I've also seen on countless times where parents lift their kids up to see the inside of the car and the kid's feet are touching the side of the car too. At that point, I think it is the parents that need to get smacked. I'm sure if I went out in the parking lot, found their car, got on the hood of their car and did 20 jumping jacks on the hood of their car they might get the message.

....As what Bill Engvall would say.... "Heeeeeeeere's your sign"

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Guest sixpack2639

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As for ignorant people, my dad and I were at a cruise night when someone opened the hood on our Whippet (Piano style hinge like you'd see on a Model 'A') and raised the bottom section of the hood only scraping the side of the fender with the bottom of the hood right down to bare metal. Neither one of us were too happy, and the man knew he was wrong and quickly disappeared in the crowd.

.....Chances are if he wasn't smart enough to know how to open the hood, he wouldn't have understood the engine that is in the car, and had no business touching the car in the first place. I've also seen on countless times where parents lift their kids up to see the inside of the car and the kid's feet are touching the side of the car too. At that point, I think it is the parents that need to get smacked. I'm sure if I went out in the parking lot, found their car, got on the hood of their car and did 20 jumping jacks on the hood of their car they might get the message.

....As what Bill Engvall would say.... "Heeeeeeeere's your sign" </div></div>

ex98thdrill,

I couldn't agree with you more. My local club was invited to last falls Concour de Elegance at Honeyhorn Plantation on Hilton Head Island and being the first "major" show i'd ever been to, I couldn't believe all of the inconsiderate people and their uncontrolled offspring. Just in our cars alone, we had a guy walk up and open doors on a '53 Hudson like he owned it and got snotty when asked not to do it anymore. We had a 2-3 year old climb up on and bounce on a side pipe on a T-Bucket while putting his ice cream covered hands all over it, all the while "daddy" stood back and said," now don't do that junior" instead of getting hold of his child and stopping him. Not to mention the people who will lean on, prop feet on bumpers of, stick their heads into open windows of (without taking the Marlboro out of their mouth), or just run their hands all over other peoples rides.

IMHO People need to learn that consideration breeds consideration. I wouldn't even think about touching someone elses ride without being invited and my boys ( 9 & 11 years old ) know better than to touch.

My younger boy got, what I thought was, a major compliment while admireing a beautiful preteen Marmon. He was trying his hardest to see in the car without touching it, but being a little short yet, was having a hard time of it. I went to pick him up so he could see and the owner came over and said he was the first kid all weekend not to try and climb up on the car to see in it. He reached under the seat and grabbed a wisk broom, brushed my boys shoes off and asked him if he wanted to sit in his car. I thought that was extremely nice of him and my boy thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. He picked at his older brother the rest of the day cause he got to sit it the car and his brother didn't. My 2 cents worth, Carl

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Guest 53Nailhead

I agree with you but, in my travels I've noticed some people just have to be told, sign or no sign & some have to be told more than once. Maybe if we add a little humor to the sign it's more appealling! Just a thought.

laugh.giflaugh.gif Les

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Must be a Marmon thing - Years ago at Hershey I saw a 1920(?) vintage Marmon with a sign that said, "I'm old and I like people, Please Touch Me". People would walk up to the car and gently touch it. Sally and I both have Marmons with rumbleseats. If you see us on a tour or meet and want to ride that RS, just tell us and we'll give you the chance.

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Just a warning on Ron's rumble seat offer. I've seen him drive an all terrain vehicle! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> He practises a lot! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Wayne

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Guest imported_Dwight V.

I wonder if the signs really help prevent people from touching (in a bad way) our cars? I think someone who is ignorant enough to open hoods/doors or prop their foot on a fender will likely not notice or care about a sign stuck under the wiper. crazy.gif

I own collector cars, yet I have to say that a DON'T TOUCH sign even to me is kind of a negative. It may help people feel that old car owners are snobbish and feel they are better because they don't want the peasants fondling their cars (not that most would).

I think a better sign could be made, maybe something with a bit of humor as mentioned above. "I've spent 5000 hours restoring this car; please be careful around it" might be more effective. confused.gif

I may make one for the Mini, since it attracts so much attention: "Yes, ask me about getting a ride in this car!" grin.gif

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I like your idea of placing the 5000 hour type of sign however in my experiences many times its younger kids who don't even see the signs or their parents who many don't really care. I have never placed a sign and have seen it all from kids hanging on my Amphicar's propellers while the parents laughed and took pictures, to kids placed in a $130,000 vehicle by their parents who then jumped up and down on the seats and proceeded to turn and twist all the knobs on the dashboard.

Every situation and show is different. Signs won't stop the destruction so you better keep an eye on your property. And I to give many rides in all of my vehicles, just last month I let a fellow member take his son out for a swim (without me) in the Amphicar. Have also loaned out a vehicle for display for weeks or months for good causes and to promote the hobby.

Most non antique car people just don't realize the time and money that this hobby requires hence their misunderstanding of the care that needs taken around them.

Commonsense is uncommon.

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Most non antique car people just don't realize the time and money that this hobby requires hence their misunderstanding of the care that needs taken around them.

Commonsense is uncommon. </div></div>

You're right Ron. I couln't have said it better. That's why I like going to the national meets over the local shows. You don't see as much of "the good old boy network" in terms of judging, and the spectators tend to show a little more respect towards the cars. Although the crowds were light at the AGNM in Buffalo last summer, I can say that inconsiderate spectators wasn't a problem at all. Besides, most people that take a car to or visit Hershey, have all walked the flea market fields for days and know what it takes to find the parts to put the cars together, and either know the work that the restorations involved, and/or know what kind of money it takes to restore a car.

Matt, if you really want to ride in a rumble seat, I will say that although it is a neat ride for a short distance, they're not all they're cracked up to be. I'm between 6'00 - 6'01, and at my size our rumble seat isn't comfortable. If you are as big as I am, or bigger, and the rumble seat is anywhere near the size of our '29 Whippet, there isn't much for leg room, and they're not comfortable. I don't think the rumble seats were ever built for an adult. If they were, they weren't developed for comfort at all. For a little kid or a vertically impaired person (polical correct term for "shorter" person), that's a different story, and the rumble seats are fun.

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On the other side of the coin regarding the light spectator attendance at the AGNM. It seems a shame when these beautiful vehicles get together and the event isn't advertised at the local level. Having spoke to one of the club members he stated that they decided not to invite the public so no problems would occur. This is not good for the hobby in my opinion.

If we the vehicle owners are worried about damage at a show / event then we need be responsible and keep an eye on our property. I have left a car for a minute and returned to find someone using my trunk lid as a backing for writing out a check. I asked him (nicely) what he was doing and he looked at me like he was doing nothing wrong.

Little warning signs won't cut it no matter how they are worded.

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At one of our local shows one of our own club members, a guy that owns several restored MGs, was talking to a non-car club friend of his and they were both leaning on our 1958 Chevy Biscayne, our first antique car. The first time I very politely asked them to not lean on the car. He stated that they weren't harming it. The next time I told them it was my car and that I had been polite the first time and that they were to get their ***** off of my car and get away from it. I should not have had "to go there" but he forced me into it.

I got a couple dirty looks from him and his friend but they moved. I would have thought he of all people would not do that, but he did.

So there is ignorance even in our own hobby.

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About 5 years ago I went to a outdoor barbeque and drove my 72 Corvette. Went inside to BS and came out to find my car missing. Seems a few acquaintances of mine decided to take the Corvette out for a 45 minute spin, which I probably would have let them but it sure would have been nice to be asked.

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Well there is always the "hook the coil to the body" trick from the Model T and A days. But with my luck the guy touching my car would have a pacemaker and it would get "fried" and I'd make the evening news. So I'll stick with signs and staying close to the car while it's on display is best way to protect it from the "touchies".

wink.gif

Ed

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That takes some guts to go for a spin with someone's car without saying something. They're lucky you didn't report the car stolen. That little 45 minute trip could've cost them a couple of years.

As for the AGNM, I had mixed feelings about it. The show wasn't promoted in a manner to generate interest, or promote AACA, but on the same token, it was a nice quiet relaxing show that didn't have spectators doing dumb things with the cars in the show.

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From a judging perspective, it would be nice to be able to judge the cars without spectators, then let them in when the judging is done. I can't tell you the times I have had to ask spectators to please step out of the way so that we can judge the car.

Judging would go faster if we did not have to deal with the herds of people around some of the cars.

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You are totally correct. That is where it happens the most. And I do feel sorry for the people that want to talk to the owner, admire the car and take photos. But we are not there that long that they shouldn't be respectful of what we are doing also. Most of them did not travel near as far to that show as the judges, administrative folks and meet support staff did.

And it would sure be easier to keep an eye out for people trying to read score sheets and listen in if there were less people milling around while cars are being judged.

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