Fight at a car show

[RangerMac]

My brother and I were at a car show at the Valley Forge Casino and Resort for the 4th. This thirty something dude was admiring my car, looking at the engine at a respectable distance. From behind, this other guy pushes him towards my car. At first I thought they were friends messing around. I stood up and yelled at them to watch it. When the guy that got pushed turned towards the other guy, he got shoved again towards the rear of my car. I was parked next to this completely unrestored, prestine Corvair. The guys started fist fighting. I put myself between them and my car so that they didn't hit it. They ended up behind our cars, kicking and punching. Luckily, they didn't touch my car, but the corvair received a nice dent from a missed kick. I got that feeling I used to get when I was young and rowdy wanting to jump in choke someone out or place some well placed fists to the head and neck area of these two idiots that have no respect for others.

[Ron61]

And all this time I thought that you were supposed to be able to take your car to a show and enjoy the show. But you are correct about the lack of respect for other peoples cars or anything else for that matter. So far we have had no big fights here but there is a big problem with people walking up to a car in the show and getting in it without asking the owners permission.

Ron

[mrmustang]

This is one of the reasons why we are looking to move out of the area/state.



Bill S.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by RangerMac

My brother and I were at a car show at the Valley Forge Casino and Resort for the 4th. This thirty something dude was admiring my car, looking at the engine at a respectable distance. From behind, this other guy pushes him towards my car. At first I thought they were friends messing around. I stood up and yelled at them to watch it. When the guy that got pushed turned towards the other guy, he got shoved again towards the rear of my car. I was parked next to this completely unrestored, prestine Corvair. The guys started fist fighting. I put myself between them and my car so that they didn't hit it. They ended up behind our cars, kicking and punching. Luckily, they didn't touch my car, but the corvair received a nice dent from a missed kick. I got that feeling I used to get when I was young and rowdy wanting to jump in choke someone out or place some well placed fists to the head and neck area of these two idiots that have no respect for others.

Just a thought, but I suspect that a large percentage of the crowd at a casino might not be car enthusiasts and some of them might be leaving the building having had some alcoholic beverages, perhaps too many... So a casino might not necessarily be the best place to take your car for a car show. I hope the covair owner was able to get the police or security involved to get the fighters to take responsibility for the damage.

I kind of remember a story posted somewhere years ago where a Kirkham owner had his polished car on display outside of a casino at some convention (in Vegas maybe?) and a drunk guy came out of the casino and thought it would be funny to fall on the shiny car not realizing that he would do any damage to the car...

Obviously displaying your car at a concours d la elegance will probably get you much more respectful attendees.

If you are local to the area perhaps you might find a better behaved crowd of car enthusiasts tomorrow at the monthly car show in Pottstown.

www.pottstownclassics.com

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

This is one of the reasons why we are looking to move out of the area/state.

I thought there were morons everywhere, not just around here.

Although I have heard that the citizens of Singapore are usually very respectful and you don't have to worry about finding used chewing gum on the streets, people dancing on bars or the smell of urine in elevators.

[kevins2]

Damage at a car show can happen anywhere. My brother has a '68 GTO and was helping out at a GTO car show. A lady pushing a stroller was paying attention to her second child walking with her and sideswiped a GTO, putting a deep 6" scratch on the rear fender.

Fighting around a show car is stupid, but going to any show carries an element of risk.

Regards,

Kevin

[blown871]

some people pay extra for that entertainment!!
surely they did not spill their beer either.

(but I can feel the pit you got in your stomach... with that unraveling next to your ride) yikes.

[patrickt]

I would have just emptied my fire extinguisher on the both of them.

[decooney]

Originally Posted by RangerMac

...the corvair received a nice dent from a missed kick...

It may already be resolved but I am curious to know if the Corvair issue was taken care of. If this show was open to the general public, and if the casino did not have security guards present in the area, there is a good chance the casino will have to pay for ALL the damages to the Corvair owner to get it fixed. Some here are aware, I hosted and ran a fairly large event at a casino once that was open to the public one of the days. The insurance coverage and requirements for # of security guards was completely over the top, with dual policies. I can't imagine something cannot be done to help out the Corvair owner. Or, find the two fighters and make them both split and pay for the Corvair damages. It's always a shame when a few idiots come in an ruin it for everyone else.

[DanEC]

I've seldom participated in car shows for this reason although I do go to a Sonic cruise in 6 or 7 times a year and annual car show that my car club sponsors. I'm fortunate to never have had my vehicle damaged by anyone but I'm inclined to go less and less all the time due mostly to behavior like this. The vast majority of people are just jerks anymore. You see it everywhere - airplanes, movie theaters, on the street, etc. I think of myself as an average Joe but I would never conduct myself like a large part of the crowds I see dropping in at car shows and cruise ins. Of course some of them are just unappreciative of the car culture in general and just see cars as daily transportation - never intending to purposely damage anyone's property. These are the folks that you find leaning on your dusty fender or kicking the tire. But why they even bother to stop and come in I don't understand. And then there are the jerks like the 2 guys fighting and oblivious parents pushing strollers along cars and letting little ones run loose to jump up and down on 32 Ford running boards that really just seem to be hell bent to cause all the damage they can.

[LuvDaBlues]

Originally Posted by DanEC

"jump up and down on 32 Ford running boards"

Wow, the memories!
When I was about 10, my neighbor (20 years my senior) pulled a '32 Chevy out of a field and built the most incredible hotrod. A buddy and I were farting around one day when I launched off the running board to for a pro-wrestling power dive. I thought my neighbor was going to whip my ars. Felt so bad I told my dad, where then HE proceeded to whip my ars........

Yep, lessons learned.

[marco454v8]

France is no better. I was at a show last summer with a friend and his kirkham, within a few minutes while talking to him in front of his car, one kid opened his gas filler,and another was banging on the front-parents did zip!
That lack of respect (which stems from the parents) is wholly unacceptable

Mark

[Jamo]

I've lost my temper a few times in settings like this. Last year I was taking pics of Tom Kirkham and Brent Mills and their wives in front of my car in the infield at the Monterey Historics, and I'm watching some moron through the viewfinder start sitting on my rear fender while his friends took pics. Asked him semi-nicely once assplaining it it was arruminum, and he continued to sit and said he just wanted one pic. Then I got in his face and continued towards him until he finally backed off and left. Turned around and Tom and Brent were as shocked as I was that the guy didn't immediately move and at least mutter an apology.

I have no patience for idiots...and I stay away from car shows because of it.

[Jaydee]

I was at a classic car show, and some dick with a belt buckle was leaning over a brand new Ferrari to look at the engine. I pulled him away, told him what an idiot he is. And the owner thanked me. No respect.
JD

[RangerMac]

Originally Posted by 1ntCobra

Just a thought, but I suspect that a large percentage of the crowd at a casino might not be car enthusiasts and some of them might be leaving the building having had some alcoholic beverages, perhaps too many... So a casino might not necessarily be the best place to take your car for a car show. I hope the covair owner was able to get the police or security involved to get the fighters to take responsibility for the damage.

I kind of remember a story posted somewhere years ago where a Kirkham owner had his polished car on display outside of a casino at some convention (in Vegas maybe?) and a drunk guy came out of the casino and thought it would be funny to fall on the shiny car not realizing that he would do any damage to the car...

Obviously displaying your car at a concours d la elegance will probably get you much more respectful attendees.

If you are local to the area perhaps you might find a better behaved crowd of car enthusiasts tomorrow at the monthly car show in Pottstown.

www.pottstownclassics.com

Actually, these dickbags were both showing cars. It had to do with one messing with the others girlfriend.

[RangerMac]

I suppose we have all had those moments where you find yourself wanting to reason with someone in regards to having some respect for what you have bought, built, pampered, etc. I am not very nice anywhere I go and people show a lack of respect for what does not belong to them. To me, my Cobra a childhood dream come true. DON'T TOUCH!!!!!

[olddog]

All the small car shows I have been to seemed to have all respect-full people, perhaps they are all car guys at the small out of the way places.

There is a big show a the city square around the courthouse every year. Within short walking distance of the square there are government housing project in two directions and run down houses in the other two directions. The most disrespectful car show I ever attended. Absolutely the area matters. And the show should have rules posted and security to stop bicycles and pets.

I know some people on here loves their dogs (I like them too) but they do not belong at a car show. I had some idiot trying to pull his dog (leg hiked) away from my tire with the chain about six inches from my paint. I told guy to quit fighting the dog. Piss will wash off, but if the chain got into my paint, I was going to sand it down with his head.

Why do they let idiots into a car show on a bicycle? I had one pull between my car and the one beside it. Then stop and want to carry on a conversation while leaning the bike back and forth from one leg to the other without holding the handlebars (look ma no hands). She thought I was rude when I asked her to move away from the cars.

[Bernica]

I am attending less and less shows for this very reason. It's just no fun. You can park your car, put up the "Look, But Please Don't Touch" signs etc. Then, as soon as you try to walk around and check out other cars, some idiot is lowering his kid into the front seat of your car for a photo. Hey, I don't mind that but ASK ME FIRST and wait until I'm there!!

Then there is CSX xxxx, an original Competition 427. At a show, a guy with a big German Shepard strolls up to look at it and the dog tries to jump in, raking his paws and claws down the side of the car, scratching the paint.
The owner of xxxx now has a routine of parking, getting out his folding chair and lunch box and sitting there all day, not moving but just watching and asking folks to look but don't touch, nervous all day. A shame.

Pick your shows and audience carefully.

[Varmit]

I was at a car show for diabled vets last year. We had our Cobras parked in front of the U.S.S. Midway. I was in a chair in the shade about20 ft away from my car. Some dick walks up with his friends and goes to sit on the nose of my car as they take his pic. I ask if he had 20k to pay for my paint from his fat azz on my car. He vanished
A few years before that I just bought my 07 Z06 Vette, it was a week old, I go out in the parking lot and two guys are standing between my car and another car. I know what is going to happen so I go walking over, and sure enough this fat bastard sits on the l/r fender. I walk and tell him he sure has a nice Vette. He says oh it's not mine. I said well I know who it belongs to, looks like the guy takes good care of it.He looks at me, I tell him it is my car and get you fat stinking azz off it. Next time I will be doughnuts on his couch. He says well you don't have to be such an azz about it. I tell him I'm an azz hole and that how I deal with idiots. His friend tells him to shut up, I think he is getting mad, so they walk off. I got no patience for that kind of person.
Another car show, my friend had his new red/white Ford GT parked for display, this damn woman let her 3 or 4 year old son climb up on the hood, using his little boots against the hood scoop vents to push himself up further on the car. I asked her to get him off the $200k car, she had no idea!!!!

[REAL 1]

Certain guys on this forum used to give me crap on this forum because they saw me years ago yell over to someone "DON'T TOUCH" when they were getting too close to my car at a local cruise night. They know who they are.

Back then and now my response is the same "Kiss my a$$". I stay there and most people stay by their cars for one main reason, to make sure nothing happens to it. If you don't watch and care for what you have, no matter where you live there are jerks in every crowd, guaranteed eventually you will only get an "I'm sorry" (if you are lucky) and you are still left with the problem/repair and heartache/aggravation.

Despite your best efforts you can't see everything and catch everything. Over the years I have seen people sitting on my doors for photo ops, small children stepping on my sidepipes, people leaning over with those big boat anchor belt buckles or that big wad of keys hanging from the biker chains or knocking on my fender to somehow try and devine if it's aluminum (despite the fact there is a large sign on the windscreen saying "Yes, it is aluminum, DON'T TOUCH". My reactions were rude and to the point sometime upsetting and startling to the "offenders and parents". I candidly don't give two $hits about people who show no respect and have no brains nor do I give 2 $hits what they think of me. Too bad, don't care.

I used to go to car shows every weekend. I used to enjoy it. However, I found that I enjoy driving the car more then showing it to people the majority of which have no idea or very little idea what they are looking at anyway and answering the same questions over and over and constantly sitting vigil which is exhausting and stressful.

Every now and then I will go a to show but pick the shows carefully based on location and likely crowd e.g. I don't go where there are expected to be "ricers". Thats a $hitty element for sure.
Another tip. Even at the best of shows with the nicest crowds I DO NOT open my hood. Thats a sure fire invitation for people to lean over and look in even when they haven't the slightest notion of what they are looking at and leaving you with that paint divot on your fender. I only open the hood for those that ask to see the engine and I am right there and close it when they are done.

You have to strike a balance. You want to balance the risk and enjoyment. Just pick your shows as best you can and stay "frosty" when there.