What are your thoughts considering the way the Motorsport/Car-Enthusiast scene is heading? Are you happy with its future or are you considering leaving it to do something you feel is more rewarding 10 years down the road?

These questions were currently brought up on GC2 for discussion. I thought I would get ya'lls thoughts on here as well. This was my answer:

I personally think that once our generation is too old to do anything car related, there won't be anything car related happening anymore. I think society as a whole will make it tough to do. Raising gas prices, raising insurance rates, etc. I mean, when I was a teenager, crusing was the big thing to do. We all lived for Friday and Saturday nights to cruise the strip. Now no one cruises, at all. Hell, I could not wait until I turned 15 to get my learner's permit. Then when I turned 16, all I thought about was getting my license so I could drive. As an adult I hear of people who didn't get their licences until they turned 18 or older!! WTH?! is wrong?! I just can't fathom that! It wasn't because it was a parent's rule, it was their choice! OMG! :faint:

The new generation of kids that we have nowadays are into the new and flashy cars. They see a fox body, a 3rd gen Camaro or a souped up muscle car that was a bad ass in it's day and still is, they turn their nose at them. Say they are ugly and serve no purpose. If it wasn't for those cars, where would the new cars be today?

I really think that in ten or twenty years, the car scene will be bunk. Everyone is too much into the latest technology. Which brings me to another point. The cars that are made today, aren't made to stand the test of time like a 65 Mustang, 69 Camaro, 57 Chevy, hell, even on down the line to a fox body and 3rd gen F body. Cars today are junk for the most part. They are built to last a few years and then people move onto the biggest and best thing to replace that heap with. So therefore, people aren't going to get attached to a car. People aren't going to want to waste money to fully customize it and make it their own. They are just going to replace it in a few years, so why bother?

It really saddens me to actually sit down and think about this. Makes me wonder WTF are we doing here, sitting, wasting our time and money that we put into our rides. No one appreciates them. No one understands them. The younger generation is going to see them roll by and say, yak, that's butt ugly. If they only knew.

__________________
~Shannon~


MySpace

"Well behaved women seldom make history."

My thinking about the subject is kind of scattered. I dont really know much about the newer generation, except they are fond of tuners. I think tuners are kind of kool myself. Kids will take a readily available Honda or whatever, and put their stamp of personality on it, and all is well. They like and understand technology, but then so do a bunch of the old folk. Look at what some of them have in their classic hot rods.

There are a lot of levels to the car scene. Hot rod, street rod, muscle car, classic resto, rat rod, retro-rod, tuner, custom trucks, dragsters/racers and soon there will undoubtably be a category yet unnamed for hybrid rod. Those categories that rely soley on gasoline/diesel are probably destined to see a dramatic decline in the next 20 years. No oil.

I saw an excellent presentation recently on world oil production, with charts and predictions of when the peak production will occur. Some predictors had it taking place around 2010-2012. Others showed it closer to 2020-2025. When it does occur, sooner or later, the aftermath does not look pretty, with production decreasing fast and dramatically. That will make the internal combustion engine obsolete.

Technology, laws, and regs are slowly working on the older vechicle's obsolesence as well. Motors with flat tappet cams like the Y and the FE have fewer oil choices available now that the SM grade has taken hold, created primarily to extend cat life of NEW vehicles. Certain State emissions tests dont take kindly to the older less efficient motors either.

As far as the general public's attitude to customs of whatever form, around here at least it is definitely positive. Certainly a lot of people are more taken with a certain category but there is enough appreciation to go around.

__________________
46 1/2 ton with 56 292:thumbsup:

With the growing trend for alternate fuel's the hobby as we know it will be different. It will not have the number's of participants nor aftermarket outlets.
We are headed for a big change. It is a change that we the die hard will not embrace.
As it is for know we need to get as much out of it as we can. As for the value of our passion who know's where it will go.
We need to get the most out of it while it is here.The youth of today will be the big changer's of automotive. There are not that many that have the desire or passion that we have. If it is not video game related - there is almost ZERO interest. I know that first hand.
And while you are at it-racing as we know it will take the biggest hit. 20+ years from know it all will be just a memory.

__________________
Down the two lane blacktop.
Oldskool Is Kool :thumbsup:
Ford Man From Way Back



Check out: hotrodhotline.com for my pictures.

I was thinking a little more about this subject last night. Many if not most of us who are "older" werent much different than todays kids (18-27?), except the cars we had available were different. When I was 21 (I am really thinking hard now), should a 1940 Ford stocker have driven by I would not even have noticed. What I did notice were the fast new Corvettes. So I bought a 1960 Corvette (7 years old), and did what was possible to make it go faster. Technology of the day was 8 track tape decks, Reverb units, FM was just coming in, and fuel injection. Everyone flocked to the new innovations. So the point of this is that people havent changed as much as the world around them. They use what is available and affordable.

Street rods and hot rods have gained a little interest recently due to car shows on cable. Boyd Coddington wasnt my idea of entertainment, but a lot of newbies to the scene were captured. However much of the newbie crowd doesnt have a clue on how to work on any part of a vehicle, so they are weeded out by economics to those few who can afford to have everything done, or who can just go out and buy a ready made flashy car of their choosing. That may or may not help the rest of us. Could help if we are trying to sell a special vehicle, or could hurt through inflated costs of parts, hard to say.

As for my truck and what people think: Most of us can be real snobs when we look at another person's pride and joy. It may be an old Ford with an SBC, a paint job with imperfections, body panels that are not mirror smooth, etc. For me this bias comes out everytime I see a $50,000 plus hot rod. It is going to be close to perfect, there is a very high chance it was built by someone other than the owner, and the $10,000 paint job certainly wasnt done by the owner. So, I just dont pay them that much attention.
Realizing all of this I know that some people will not give a hoot about my ride, but that is OK. It wasn't built for them and few have my objective of utter simplicity.

__________________
46 1/2 ton with 56 292:thumbsup:

Hey SVOChic I took this post over to NSMC to get a response. It will be interesting to see the comments.

I hate to dwelll to much on this subject. Couse if big brother has its way and takes our hobbie/sport away from us gearheads-then what will there be for us to do, . I can see it know old gearhead rehab centers popping up all over to handle th eserious withdrawls.............

__________________
Down the two lane blacktop.
Oldskool Is Kool :thumbsup:
Ford Man From Way Back



Check out: hotrodhotline.com for my pictures.

Awesome. Can't wait to hear their responses over there. I'm getting a pretty wide range of answers.

And like you said, yes if Big Brother has anything to do with it, we won't have our toys anymore. They make it harder and harder nowadays.

__________________
~Shannon~


MySpace

"Well behaved women seldom make history."

I too worry about how much interest the next generation has in this hobby. I think people are getting to one-up-ish....they've got to out do their neighbor, ie. get a bigger screen tv, get a bigger pool, buy the latest H2...H3 etc. All the while only thinking of said items as appliances instead of investments. People nowadays buy things just waiting for the next big thing and move on. I think of all my vehicles as investments.....I don't worry about them depreciating, I do things to keep their value and insure a good return on my investment....my hobby really takes care of my investment! If I get any comment on my truck at all....it's a good feeling that lasts me for days. No comment at all and i'm fine.....built my truck for me, nobody else. Oil is the next downfall towards our hobby. I personally think we, the world, are at the peak of production......it'll be downhill from here-on out. The money we spend on wars could go to helping our future fuel sources, or create alternative ones. Instead we throw away billions on a lost cause...war. The oil situation really has me worried about the future of our hobby. I think there will always be enough people with an interest in vehicles to keep the hobby noticable, but fuel is going to be scarce, vehicles fewer and farther between. It's a sad fact because I truly enjoy looking at and admiring vehicles of all ages........someday, maybe soon, that won't be to easy to do any longer.

__________________
...... BRIAN ......

SVOChic come over to "Ol' Skool Rodz" and check the response.

__________________
Down the two lane blacktop.
Oldskool Is Kool :thumbsup:
Ford Man From Way Back



Check out: hotrodhotline.com for my pictures.

"I personally think that once our generation is too old to do anything car related, there won't be anything car related happening anymore."

This sentence written by SVOChic kind of kept bouncing around n my head today. Today I went to the Medford car show, and man were we old! Men and women, with a few "youngsters" thrown in. I took some pictures and posted them in an album. If you look at them, look at the people in the background! Most of the "youngsters" were manikins dressed up in 50's attire.

Shannon you may be dead on right. It IS a little depressing.

__________________
46 1/2 ton with 56 292:thumbsup:

The last few years I've gone back to visit my family in Oregon, I always go around the Blackberry Festival, to go to the car show. I have to agree. Most of the people there are the older generation, very few young people there. It is very depressing and very sad. They are too much into video games and technology. I went to the big one at Coos Bay one year. WOW! Definately much older generation there as well. Hope something changes soon!

__________________
~Shannon~


MySpace

"Well behaved women seldom make history."

Question: Do you think the constant emphasis upon the 1950's, including the music, attracts or repels younger people? I think it has a negative impact. It is probably just me, but the fun is in the rides, having one, putting blood and sweat into it, driving it, and socializing with others of the same interest. Also in the preservation, if even by illusion, of a little Detroit history. About the only time I listen to 50's music is at car shows, where everyone is a hostage listener. The rods at the top of the heap certainly have advanced light years ahead of the 50's, many with motors and other gear that didnt even exist then. They are using paints like acrylic urethane, two stage, etc., not lacquer. Maybe it is time to overhaul the overall image as well. Think about all the guys and gals with shops and businesses in the industry, reliant upon an ever shrinking market. I saw Randy and his wife at the show, manning their booth that included the 50. Did they have the same sense of concern? Sometime I will ask.

__________________
46 1/2 ton with 56 292:thumbsup:

I totally agree with you 100%. The cars are so modernized nowadays, which is great, b/c most of the owners drive them. So, if the cars are being powered by the latest technology in engines, trannies, rearends, wheels/tires and stereo equipment, why are we forced to listen to the old music. I say give it wide variety of a mix that will be something for everyone. Or heck, just don't play it at all. Who really needs to hear music blaring, when you want to check out the rides, you know?

__________________
~Shannon~


MySpace

"Well behaved women seldom make history."

Agreed, agreed.

__________________
46 1/2 ton with 56 292:thumbsup:

I find that a lot of the younger people dont have the financial resources to support the older car/truck scene. some do get involved in th etuner scene becouse that is all that they can afford, then again that is how they are influanced. But we are headed down a road that is not that bright in my oppinion.

__________________
Down the two lane blacktop.
Oldskool Is Kool :thumbsup:
Ford Man From Way Back



Check out: hotrodhotline.com for my pictures.

This is a interesting topic. I believe our hobby will go through it's high and lows, always has. Alot will change but I honestly believe it won't die. Alot of the older vehicles now are to far out priced because of some of the new tv shows and press. This will keep alot of younger generations from owning some of these sought after cars. But a true gearhead will always find away. I myself am 33 years old but when I turned 16 I wanted a mustang. This was when mustangs were rising in popularity big time and I just couldn't afford it. So I settled on a 64 fairlane (that no one new what it was at the time) that was rusting away in a field with grass growing inside of it. This was the first car I ever worked on but it did not stop me from learning. So now maybe the new rodders will start off with a less popular car like a fairmont for example. Also I don't pay much attention to car shows. I personally don't like them. Most people just tend to cut up other peoples pride and joy. I don't care if somebody wants to build a 4cyl cavalier, all the power to them. I respect their love for their ride and would help them out in any way if needed.
Everytime a young kid comes by my shop this is usually the speech I give...lol, but I guess the point is I still notice alot of the younger generation still have a interest, they just need some guidance on how to start.

__________________
gotta love a pro street

i agree with tbolt car enthuseists wont die. i believe that there will always be someone out there that appreciats the car world and what it offers the soul. the cars will change and the people will change but in the end we will see the same love and affection towards this hobby untill everyone lives on mars and people are floating on saucers ahahah