Car show Etiquette. : MGB & GT Forum : MG Experience Forums : The MG Experience

Re: Car show Etiquette. #41
realmwalsh Michael Walsh Los Angeles, USA 1975 MG MGB	Posted: April 04, 2012 02:26PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 815

In reply to # 2031327 by BillB1 I can see both sides of this issue. I like to drive my cars and I’m always happy to show them off to anyone who is interested. But I also like to take good care of them and I do my best to avoid subjecting them to situations that would cause damage.

I participate in the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival every year, which includes displaying your car on the main street of Watkins Glen for several hours while a crowd of 20,000 people fills the street. As my car is left unattended for much of this time, I anticipate lots of fingerprints and the occasional scratch. Several years ago I returned to find a young woman lying on the hood of my 57 MGA coupe, while her male friend took pictures of her. I don’t know how long this had been going on, but as I approached she struck several poses including putting both feet on the hood. I asked her to get off, and of course her boyfriend wanted to know who I was. When I told him I owned the car he said, “Give me your address and I’ll send you copies of the photos”. I told him I wasn’t interested in the photos and while I was flattered that he chose my car for his pictures, it was a little extreme to be climbing all over the car. I explained that the hood is aluminum and if it gets bent it won’t straighten out very well.

His reply: “Whatever… Let’s go babe there are better cars than this here”.

You're far too polite "Get your skank off the hood of my car, douche!" would be about the most polite thing I could muster.

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #42
mgbanthony Anthony Henderson Gananoque, Ontario, Canada 1962 MG MGB 1962 MG MGB 1970 MG MGB GT 1974 MG MGB 1991 GMC Sierra 1500 → more	Posted: April 04, 2012 02:26PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 2,859

In reply to # 2031153 by 80MGBLE This topic gives people a rather nasty view of MGB owners. I let people touch my car all the time. It's just a car.

Care to specify how you come up with that idea?? This topic clearly indicates that MGB owners are generally tolerant and welcoming of those who have the manners and common courtesy to respect the property of others by asking before touching. eye rolling smiley

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #43
oldthudman Claud Pipkin Houston, Texas, USA	Posted: April 04, 2012 03:25PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 781

You might look into some "portable rope barriers"........At the auto shows I've seen car displays that have ropes around the whole area(i.e. Ferrari, hot rods/custom cars)....

Car display personnel at auto shows will often lock the doors on their exhibit cars.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/c/safety/crowd-control/barricades?infoParam.campaignId=T9A&gclid=CMq32daBnK8CFahgTAodhGqVbg

I agree however, manners seem to be thought of as "old fashion" these days..........too, many of our people today apparently believe they are privileged.... confused smiley

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #44
rficalora Rob rficalora Cypress, TX, USA 1976 MG MGB V8 Conversion "MG MUTT"	Posted: April 04, 2012 03:34PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 1,679

May be a regional thing. There's certainly a less responsible element, but folks are generally more respectful around here. I'd say well over 1/2 of the kids still say sir & ma'am. I had my car at our Cars & Coffee last month & left it while I walked around & looked (we get about 1500 cars the 1st Saturday of every month so there's lots to see). I dropped by 3-4 times & always had at least a few people around my car but never had anyone in it & didn't find any finger prints. As a general rule folks look at the cars but don't touch -- and any younger kids who started to were quickly educated by their parents.

Now, here's a challenge for any of you with grandkids -- my father-in-law did this & it was great... a few years ago he bought a copy of "A gentleman's guide to etiquette" for each of his grandsons. Gave the books to them while visiting a few months before Easter - said "Read it; there'll be a quiz at Easter." And there was. It was great to see them read it, test eachother, etc.

This year it's a different book - one about leadership.

Of course, he did it in a fun way so the kids even liked it.

We already teach our kids to open/hold doors, pick stuff someone dropped up -- before they can get to it, etc. But I'd never thought about the book/quiz idea -- I really liked it & plan to do the same whenever I have grandkids in the 10-15yr old range.

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #45
fordgt Gary Ford Gainesville, FL, USA	Posted: April 04, 2012 07:14PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 3,205

In reply to # 2031327 by BillB1 I can see both sides of this issue. I like to drive my cars and I’m always happy to show them off to anyone who is interested. But I also like to take good care of them and I do my best to avoid subjecting them to situations that would cause damage.

I participate in the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival every year, which includes displaying your car on the main street of Watkins Glen for several hours while a crowd of 20,000 people fills the street. As my car is left unattended for much of this time, I anticipate lots of fingerprints and the occasional scratch. Several years ago I returned to find a young woman lying on the hood of my 57 MGA coupe, while her male friend took pictures of her. I don’t know how long this had been going on, but as I approached she struck several poses including putting both feet on the hood. I asked her to get off, and of course her boyfriend wanted to know who I was. When I told him I owned the car he said, “Give me your address and I’ll send you copies of the photos”. I told him I wasn’t interested in the photos and while I was flattered that he chose my car for his pictures, it was a little extreme to be climbing all over the car. I explained that the hood is aluminum and if it gets bent it won’t straighten out very well.

His reply: “Whatever… Let’s go babe there are better cars than this here”.

Beat down would be appropriate here grinning smiley

Gary
1974 DeTomaso Pantera (done!!)
1969 MGB (almost finished!!)
1973 Cougar XR7 Ragtop (next project in line)

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #46
JMoore John Moore Clifton Park, NY, USA 1961 Austin-Healey "Bugeye" Sprite 1968 MG MGB GT 1970 MG MGB 1999 Land Rover Discovery II	Posted: April 05, 2012 07:16AM Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 18,385

As someone said, it must be a regional thing. I've been to carshows all over the Northeast and have rarely if ever seen anyone touch my car unless they asked first. Only time I can think anyone did anything silly was at MG2006 in Gatlinburg, when several MGexp members, including James Wolf put a bunch of coffee cups in my engine bay as a joke! I thought it was pretty funny. Then again, that was probably because I switched his indicators so they were on backwards! lol (long time ago... many of you probably don't get why that's funny...)

Anywho, I guess my perspective comes from having young boys and taking them to car shows. I got my MG in 2003 when they were 6 and 4. I took them to many shows with me and often they would help me prep my car by washing, cleaning and waxing. I thought it was a great way to teach them about cars. At shows they knew to "touch only with their eyes" and to respect the cars and keep their distance. Most guys were great and appreciate the fact that young boys were excited about cars, but the ones that stick out in my mind were the guys that when they saw us coming started running about like peckish hens, flapping their arms and basically telling us to leave. Jerks! Too bad. When I finished my resto is 2006, I used to enter it in shows under my boys' name. We've had some good times together! And one of my favorite shows when they were little was in Plymouth Mass. THe show was during the cranberry festival and addition to show there was lots of fun things for the family to do.

Just relax guys. Engage young people and encourage them to be interested in old cars or ouur MG's will turn to dust along with you.

John Moore

'70 MGB, '68 MGBGT, '99 Land Rover Discovery II, '61 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #47
JMoore John Moore Clifton Park, NY, USA 1961 Austin-Healey "Bugeye" Sprite 1968 MG MGB GT 1970 MG MGB 1999 Land Rover Discovery II	Posted: April 05, 2012 07:18AM Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 18,385

I counldn't find the photos with all the cups and beer cans in my engine bay.. .but here is one of me flipping arounds James' indicators. All in good fun!

John Moore

'70 MGB, '68 MGBGT, '99 Land Rover Discovery II, '61 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #48
LittleBritishCar Rick Anderson Napa, California, USA 1966 MG 1100 "Julia" 1975 MG MGB "Chiquita"	Posted: April 05, 2012 07:48AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 853

I used to display a large mason jar full of ashes with a big sign that read, "THIS IS THE LAST PERSON WHO TOUCHED MY CAR WITHOUT ASKING!" It was a very effective and yet humorous way of getting the message across.

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #49
kerbau53 Geoff Morton Naples, Florida, USA 1978 MG MGB V8 Conversion "The Wreck"	Posted: April 05, 2012 09:26AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 1,070

Quote: It's those uncivilized people in Florida! lol

The majority of whom come from north of the Mason Dixon Line. smiling smiley

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #50
80MGBLE Jim S. NH, USA 1980 MG MGB	Posted: April 05, 2012 09:43AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 869

In reply to # 2031342 by mgbanthony

In reply to # 2031153 by 80MGBLE This topic gives people a rather nasty view of MGB owners. I let people touch my car all the time. It's just a car.

Care to specify how you come up with that idea?? This topic clearly indicates that MGB owners are generally tolerant and welcoming of those who have the manners and common courtesy to respect the property of others by asking before touching. eye rolling smiley

"You're far too polite "Get your skank off the hood of my car, douche!" would be about the most polite thing I could muster. "

No, I don't really care to specify Anthony thanks.
But I would like to ask, when you actually engage someone in a face to face conversation do you really roll your eyes sometimes like a 10 year old? Just asking.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2012 10:50AM by 80MGBLE.

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #51
JMoore John Moore Clifton Park, NY, USA 1961 Austin-Healey "Bugeye" Sprite 1968 MG MGB GT 1970 MG MGB 1999 Land Rover Discovery II	Posted: April 05, 2012 10:05AM Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 18,385

In reply to # 2031977 by kerbau53

Quote: It's those uncivilized people in Florida! lol

The majority of whom come from north of the Mason Dixon Line. smiling smiley

Based on the feedback in this thread, I guess the rude ones moved south! Really, who would want to leave "God's Country"!? lol devil smiley

John Moore

'70 MGB, '68 MGBGT, '99 Land Rover Discovery II, '61 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #52
oily-hands Owen Frankland Stockton on Tees, Cleveland, United Kingdom 1937 MG TA "Numbum" 1971 MG MGB GT "The Bruise" 2002 MG ZR	Posted: April 05, 2012 10:12AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 5,166

My cars aren't show cars and I don't normally do shows.

On the odd occasion I do dispay my car(s), I have no problem with touching, sticky fingers or not, but I do draw the line at getting in wthout permission. I view the inside of my cars as my personal space. Climbing on is not on at all.

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #53
realmwalsh Michael Walsh Los Angeles, USA 1975 MG MGB	Posted: April 05, 2012 10:42AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 815

In reply to # 2031898 by LittleBritishCar I used to display a large mason jar full of ashes with a big sign that read, "THIS IS THE LAST PERSON WHO TOUCHED MY CAR WITHOUT ASKING!" It was a very effective and yet humorous way of getting the message across.

I like it!

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #54
JMoore John Moore Clifton Park, NY, USA 1961 Austin-Healey "Bugeye" Sprite 1968 MG MGB GT 1970 MG MGB 1999 Land Rover Discovery II	Posted: April 05, 2012 11:08AM Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 18,385

In reply to # 2030459 by mgbanthony It's not only the younger generation. I've had fellow "enthusiasts" open the trunk, sit on a front fender, lean on an early B taillight and pop the lense out of the retainer, and get in the driver's seat and go through the gears.

To John Moore: No MGBs aren't Bugattis, and not all of my Bs have won national awards. I do however resent the heck out of anyone who touches my property without permission. Perhaps when you go through the inconvenience and expense of having scratches and light dents removed from a freshly restored B front fender as I have, as a result of a pompous a$^ "enthusiast" parking his 300 pounds on it at a car show you may find that you become a little more uptight .

My two kids have gone to car shows since an early age and were taught that "look but don't touch" was the appropriate behaviour.

I agree that letting a kid sit in your car gives him a great thrill and have no problem with that under my supervision. Adults should get their own toy. smoking smiley

Anthony,

Thanks for correcting my spelling, I appreciate your help! Speaking of helping, perhaps you and that other guy can pass copies of Emily Post's Guide to Etiquette at the next car show, I'm sure you'll be a shoe in for the "coolest geezer award". Or better yet, use your walker and rope off your MG, that should work nicely. Then again, it might not... most of those young whipper snappers listen to "rock and roll" and don't listen to authority! lolol Geeez...

John Moore

'70 MGB, '68 MGBGT, '99 Land Rover Discovery II, '61 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #55
realmwalsh Michael Walsh Los Angeles, USA 1975 MG MGB	Posted: April 05, 2012 11:17AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 815

In reply to # 2031873 by JMoore I counldn't find the photos with all the cups and beer cans in my engine bay.. .but here is one of me flipping arounds James' indicators. All in good fun!

Hmmm....sort of reminds me of when chums thought it might be a hoot to disable my car by removing the HT lead from between the dizzy and the coil and then left the show without replacing it or telling me what they'd done and where I could find it hidden.

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #56
realmwalsh Michael Walsh Los Angeles, USA 1975 MG MGB	Posted: April 05, 2012 11:24AM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 815

In reply to # 2031986 by 80MGBLE

In reply to # 2031342 by mgbanthony
"You're far too polite "Get your skank off the hood of my car, douche!" would be about the most polite thing I could muster. "

If you would be so kind as to leave me out of this. Thankyou.

I don't think that reaction is entirely out of line when you come back to your car and some douche has encouraged his skank to crawl onto your priceless aluminum hood and roll around like a sea lion in heat.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2012 11:25AM by realmwalsh.

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #57
80MGBLE Jim S. NH, USA 1980 MG MGB	Posted: April 05, 2012 12:08PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 869

In reply to # 2032059 by realmwalsh

In reply to # 2031986 by 80MGBLE

In reply to # 2031342 by mgbanthony
"You're far too polite "Get your skank off the hood of my car, douche!" would be about the most polite thing I could muster. "

If you would be so kind as to leave me out of this. Thankyou.

I don't think that reaction is entirely out of line when you come back to your car and some douche has encouraged his skank to crawl onto your priceless aluminum hood and roll around like a sea lion in heat.

My sincere apologies to ANYONE who thought I was out of line for thinking that non MGB owners might find MGB owners nasty because of this topic. By all means please continue to discuss how ignorant people can be getting fingerprints on your car doors.

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #58
rficalora Rob rficalora Cypress, TX, USA 1976 MG MGB V8 Conversion "MG MUTT"	Posted: April 05, 2012 12:11PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 1,679

Jim, I'm personally with the crowd that thinks people shouldn't touch other people's things without permission. But even if you want to back off that a bit, there's a world of difference between a fingerprint & opening a door, climbing in and there's even more difference between a fingerprint & climbing on top of someone else's car. Surely you see that?

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #59
BillB1 Bill Boorse PA, USA 1957 MG MGA Coupe 1974 MG MGB	Posted: April 05, 2012 12:30PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 305

In reply to # 2031340 by realmwalsh You're far too polite "Get your skank off the hood of my car, douche!" would be about the most polite thing I could muster.

Too polite? Maybe.

Smart enough not to start a fight with a stranger in a big crowd 250 miles from home on an otherwise fun weekend? Definitely.

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Re: Car show Etiquette. #60
mgbanthony Anthony Henderson Gananoque, Ontario, Canada 1962 MG MGB 1962 MG MGB 1970 MG MGB GT 1974 MG MGB 1991 GMC Sierra 1500 → more	Posted: April 05, 2012 12:31PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 2,859

In reply to # 2031986 by 80MGBLE

In reply to # 2031342 by mgbanthony

In reply to # 2031153 by 80MGBLE This topic gives people a rather nasty view of MGB owners. I let people touch my car all the time. It's just a car.

Care to specify how you come up with that idea?? This topic clearly indicates that MGB owners are generally tolerant and welcoming of those who have the manners and common courtesy to respect the property of others by asking before touching. eye rolling smiley

"You're far too polite "Get your skank off the hood of my car, douche!" would be about the most polite thing I could muster. "

No, I don't really care to specify Anthony thanks.
But I would like to ask, when you actually engage someone in a face to face conversation do you really roll your eyes sometimes like a 10 year old? Just asking.

Non-verbal communication can be very effective. One of the dangers of internet communication is that sometimes people come across differently than in person. So if I felt that an eye roll was appropriate in a given situation it would be used. It tends to be indicative of "here we go again."

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2012 12:39PM by mgbanthony.

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