Clash at Coffee and Cars

[mtrain2000]

I agree with the OP.

This is the reason I don't drive my cars to most shows. Why do car owners get mad when little kids jump on our old cars, well, in my case I build just about all of my cars.

That being said, I put quite a bit of work into them, and that minor scratch that little Johnny put in the door, might seem minor to the parent as its "just an old car", but to me it means having to put more work into a car that I had already finished.

It also shows/teaches a total lack of respect for other peoples property when parents let kids do these things.

Also, I can't even tell you any memories from when I was 2 years old. I might have sat in 100 hot rods from the day, but I don't remember any of it.

I think maybe when a kid gets older, maybe around 9 or ten then they can be introduced to the hobby. As by then they will either have an interest in cars, or not.

Anyway, I have seen all kinds of bad things with kids at car shows. I have seen kids throwing a football between the cars, little kids with metal toys running them up the sides of cars, and the spills of ice cream etc.

The biggest one was where I seen a guy with an old vette run up, and almost get into a fight with an idiot who had let his kid get in the car, and play behind the steering wheel.

[Cobra #3170]

I don't go to many shows because my car is pretty rough and not really show car material. When I do, I never leave the car which makes it not a lot of fun because I don't get to look at the other cars. I have had some issues years ago, like having a guy put is not so small girl friend on the front fender for a picture but no issues the last 20 years. When small children come around I ask them and their parents to be careful around the car and they have been.
If the kids are well behaved I ask them if they want to sit in it and they generally do which makes them and their parents happy. I would guess that when the parents see me watching they tend to keep the kids under control so we don't have issues. I have had a couple of adults give me trouble when they were asked to keep hands off, but they get the message and leave. It really is a parents responsibility to teach kids to respect other peoples property but if the parents do not, the kids won't either.

[OnyxRider]

Well to lighten things up my twin daughters now ten years old are being taught secret black-op fighting skills to protect our cars. They know the autos are theirs so from now on all children approaching will be watched very closely by my children.

[Three Peaks]

Regardless of how you feel about how the OP reacted ( I would have reacted the same)- he probably taught the father a valuable lesson and I would be willing to bet he and his kids will be better mannered at future car shows....

Bob

[mtrain2000]

Originally Posted by Three Peaks

Regardless of how you feel about how the OP reacted ( I would have reacted the same)- he probably taught the father a valuable lesson and I would be willing to bet he and his kids will be better mannered at future car shows....

Bob

I wish I could believe that, but some people never learn.

[tcrist]

First, how do you know that the guy is the child’s father and not a step father or uncle or just the child’s mother’s boyfriend? Not enough information in the first post to really know anything.

I have to say that I agree with the OP that it was not right for the child to do what he did. The child should have been taught better. But it did happen.

The OP would probably be surprised at what has happened to his other vehicles that he has had in the past or currently owns, including is replica. Probably by people that he thinks he can trust.

[REAL 1]

Baby carriages and kids 2 to 6 year olds have no business at car shows. They have no clue what they are looking at nor the capacity to appreciate. They are a problem waiting to happen. Parents with kids that young at car shows are immediately on the idiot list as far as I am concerned and the chances are fair to good that they lack the common sense to have instructed properly and even so what are the chnces of a child that young listening anyway or doing so consistently? When I see a very young child even with the parent right there I make it immediately known to keep back and no touching. When I bring my car to a show, that is when i still do its for their benefit not mine as far as I'm concerned. As such I expect my property to be respected. I do it politely but firmly. Couldn't care less if they like it or not.

The time for a parent to instruct their kids not to touch is before the show not after they start touching.

As far as letting kids sit in my car. Rare. When it happens it is usually for older kids AND kids that love Cobras and are clearly "car" kids who really appreciate what the car is and see it as a special opportunity.

Just to let some 3-4 year stand on your seat and smear his little sticky hands all over your dash while he plays with your steering wheel so you can feel like a big shot and think you made some toddlers year, he likely won't remember you or your car beyond his next dirty diaper, which he may be cooking up right on your seat. To me your an idiot but it's your car.

Inconsiderate people today and the trash that seem to predominate today's youth is why I rarely take my Shelby to shows anymore and when I do they are very select shows where the caliber of people are higher.

As far as that child being killed at that low rider show. Tragic yes. Idiotic beyond doubt. Here's an idea. Cars aren't supposed to bounce. If you want to bounce, buy an "F'n pogo stick. Second if you are stupid enough to have car that does nothing but bounce, at least have the brains to bounce it outside.

[tcrist]

While I agree that car shows are not for children, what if the new or newer parents are car people? Should they just not do anything because they now have children?

Yes, they should keep control of their children and it seems that the last 20 years or so some just seem to let their children do what they want. Like I said earlier, my children knew better and my grandchildren know better also.

[MaSnaka]

I think the kids should all be welcome if they would just leave their idiot parents at home.

We recently had a toy drive at an elementary school where the kids got a private car show for bringing in toys to donate. A few Cobras, high end exotics and some nice Chevys showed up on a Monday morning. As hard as the kids (hundreds of them) tried to be respectful and not touch, some did and when I saw those little hand prints on my car I just smiled because the kids had so much fun. At least no one got burned on the pipes.

John

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Baby carriages and kids 2 to 6 year olds have no business at car shows.

Really??

[KevinW]

Mr Real1 - do you have kids by any chance?
Kevin

[saturnkk]

Originally Posted by KevinW

Mr Real1 - do you have kids by any chance?
Kevin

Irrelevant. But I do agree that kids should be welcome to a car show just as they are to a museum or library. As a parent it is your respnsibility to ensure that your child is properly prepared for such an occassion or restrained (hand holding not ropes!) if not.

[joyridin']

I don't mind kids at a car show. I have taken my daughter with strict instructions to look and not touch. I figure that if we ban all the kids from the shows, there won't be any car enthusiasts tomorrow.

In most cases, I think the parents are dumber than the kids. Why would a parent even go to a car show if they have no interest in cars, which is really what they are saying. No self respecting car person would dare touch or allow their kid to touch a car.

[tcrist]

Originally Posted by tcrist

While I agree that car shows are not for children, what if the new or newer parents are car people? Should they just not do anything because they now have children?

Yes, they should keep control of their children and it seems that the last 20 years or so some just seem to let their children do what they want. Like I said earlier, my children knew better and my grandchildren know better also.

I would like to clarify this statment as I think it might be taken wrong. What I mean is that the the car shows are not intended for the children, they are intended for the adults.

A parent can be into cars and then have children that are not or maybe one is and the rest not.

I have two boys. Brought up the same and they are two compleatly different people with compleatly different interests. One IS a car guy and the other could care less.

[G-Pete]

If she comes by and leans over the car and put her hands on the it --- I say most of the guys here would shut up and pull their phones out and take some shots. Never mind the prints.......right?

[G-Pete]

......would you yell at her about the butt print? hahahaha

[Cobra #3170]

No, but I would tell her to learn how to hold a hand gun. Druggy sideways doesn't work so well.

[trixter]

That's why I like to go to Cars & Coffee late, after there are no more good parking places. Then I idle slowly through the main venue, pretending to look for a spot, and then go have brunch before everyone else shows up...

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by saturnkk

Irrelevant. But I do agree that kids should be welcome to a car show just as they are to a museum or library. As a parent it is your respnsibility to ensure that your child is properly prepared for such an occassion or restrained (hand holding not ropes!) if not.

Go ahead, properly prepare and train a 3 to 6 year old. LOL.

Candidly, I don't care what new parents do wtih their little diaper dumper. I'm not a little kid person but seems to me they could have prepared a little better like getting baby sitter or leaving them at grandmas but again I don't care, its not my problem. I'm worried about my Shelby not where they leave their little diaper dumper. This mentality that it's ok for parents to bring their little darlings to car shows is one major reason you will rarely if ever now enjoy seeing my Shelby at a car show. I've learned over the past 17 years. Some of you that think its fine go right ahead. Bring your car there. Its jake with me. But after you finish talking to some schmuck who asked if your car is an MG and giving him a little lesson on "Cobras" or replicas thereof only to turn around and see little Petey running his Hot wheel on you fender, don't be upset just calmly explain to his idiot/oblivious parents rumaging through the storage compartment of his little stroller that they should have "prepared" little Petey better for the show or "restrained" him.

Enjoy.

Oh, and yes. I have three kids. One son who is 22 and has who has a Shelby GT that is very heavily modified and runs it at NASA events at various tracks. Actually just got back from Watkins Glen. He also runs an automotive site on Face book and a web site call Automotive Erotica you guys would like. My twin 17 year old daughters each love cars. One drive a 60's edition turbo Beatle the other a Camaro SS" with some performance mods. I raised my kids to love and appreciate cars and didn't bring them to car shows until they were old enough to appreciate and understand what they are looking at, were out of diapers and old enough to understand why they should not touch other peoples property beyond that they shouldn't..

[saturnkk]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Go ahead, properly prepare and train a 3 to 6 year old. LOL.

Candidly, I don't care what new parents do wtih their little diaper dumper. I'm not a little kid person but seems to me they could have prepared a little better like getting baby sitter or leaving them at grandmas but again I don't care, its not my problem. I'm worried about my Shelby not where they leave their little diaper dumper. This mentality that it's ok for parents to bring their little darlings to car shows is one major reason you will rarely if ever now enjoy seeing my Shelby at a car show. I've learned over the past 17 years. Some of you that think its fine go right ahead. Bring your car there. Its jake with me. But after you finish talking to some schmuck who asked if your car is an MG and giving him a little lesson on "Cobras" or replicas thereof only to turn around and see little Petey running his Hot wheel on you fender, don't be upset just calmly explain to his idiot/oblivious parents rumaging through the storage compartment of his little stroller that they should have "prepared" little Petey better for the show or "restrained" him.

Enjoy.

I was at the Woodward Dream Cruise last month and have to whole heartedly disagree. Hundreds of 3 to 6 year olds came by and nearly all of them werer well prepared for the event (not touching, staying close to or holding their parents hand). I heard multiple parents remind their excited kids "remember, don't touch...look only" It can be done, should be done and anyone who does not prepare their child for ANY event they attend when they are young is either lazy or knows no better. Kids aren't perfect and will get over excited at times but certainly can have boundaries and discipline instituted at an early age.