Thread: My opinion of why this hobby/sport is dying

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I agree. It isn't dying yet, but it does change for sure, it used to be two young guys on horseback would square off.. then the auto came along and we've been trying to get faster and quicker since. Even if we're using batteries and DC motors, someone will hot rod it and take it to a backroad or a track, garrontee! Guys like us just can't leave it alone, we have to change something on our ride!

Like many here I'm over 60 and remember a simpler time when we really enjoyed life. I know as a kid I lived for the times I could be with my dad and building on just about anything mechanical - probably because he was patient and taught me how to do things the right way. He had an old Dodge businessman’s coupe and we rebuilt the engine sometime in the ‘50’s and I was hooked from that time on. It was a flathead six – nothing at all fancy or the least bit hot rod, but there was something about learning how it all worked together that enthralled me.

As I grew older, I bought go-carts and built mini-bikes before I was old enough to drive. There were good lesson’s to be learned with those old Clinton, Tecumseh and Briggs & Stratton four strokes and the real thrill of the McCullough 2 strokes that would make your go-cart up and fly. I’ve always liked the engine building side of things and while I’ll never come close to the skills that Pat and Jerry have, I’ve done okay with small block Chevys and seen a few that I build turn eleven second quarter mile times - not bad for a “streetable” car built on a budget.

I’ve had some really great cars, ’57 Corvette (yes – I know I should have kept it!) early Falcon, Chevelle, Mustang, some cool trucks and now this little ’63 Nova that has a bit of several cars (Z-28 engine, Super T-10, Fatman Fabrication front end, etc..) and a whole lot of me in it. It’s taking forever to build but has been a great source of relaxation for me.

When my middle daughter was a teenager – she’s in her 30’s now – she used to come into the garage and hang out with me for hours. We’d drink coffee and assemble engines and she was a great little helper keeping thing all organized and wanting to take part in everything. We’d turn the engine on the stand to vertical and she had to stand on a milk crate to get enough leverage to torque bearing caps but she did it and we had fun. Once after getting an engine back in a car and following all the break-in procedures, she wanted to go for a drive in the car. Well, I stood on this little Chevy pretty hard and the smoke from the rear tires literally filled the interior. Stopping I expected to see her scared but nope – she had a grin like the Cheshire cat and said, “That was so cool! Let’s do it again dad!” Precious memories and to this day, we’re still very close and she still loves cars and Harleys.

There’s no one right way to hot rod and that’s what makes it special. But even more so, it’s the bond that’s formed between men (or women) and machines. Be it a stock 4 cylinder, a small block, a monster motor making a thousand plus horsepower, or an electric marvel that brings instant power. It’s hard to explain – like telling people why I like Harley-Davidsons and don’t much care for import bikes. It just “is” and I for one hope that we can somehow pass on the love of all things mechanical. Hot rodding will continue to evolve. I too struggle with the Hondas, Toyotas and the Subaru WRX that sounds like you're castrating cats in a blender – but ya gotta admit, they can be built to fly! For my money, I’ll always prefer eight American cylinders – and as long as the younger generation keep civil tongues when discussing their rides and respect those of us who have gone before them to make what they’re doing possible, I can get along with them too. But in the meantime, I’ll keep doing my thing with the cars I’ve grown to enjoy – most of which are fifty plus years old!

Thanks for letting me ramble – I know most of you here understand..

Regards All,
Glenn

Very well said Glenn... agreed!

Its funny when you think the sport/hobby is dying when it really is alive more than ever. Just the guys that are deep into don't troll around on the internet so you don't see it a lot. I'm probably in the minority here as I'm a bit younger. I turned 30 earlier this year and the 32 is probably my 30th car to build or modify extensively.

The LS comment is a bit much... That is kinda where I have the most fun, but again I don't just slap a junk yard engine in a car. I make my own parts and try to make each one of them different. Once my 32 is done I'm working on a sheet metal intake for dual dominators and the LS7 port heads... Should be interesting.

I have a group of friends locally that is about 20-30 guys/gals deep that are into it. Nation wide there are probably 30-40 more that I talk with, consult, or even visit to toss around some wrenches.

This isn't a plug, but rather something I would like to share regarding younger guys and hot-rodding. This is a truck that was near factory. I met this guy on a forum and he came down from Missouri to have me and my father build him a 4L60E. It wasn't 4 months later I was there for 4 days and managed to take a near stock Silverado SS into a 650hp monster granted with about 10 hours total sleep.

Before:



After:





The funniest thing about this... I got 4 text messages from buddies around the country that are my age. Each message contained a picture of a car older than 1972 and all were of work they were doing tonight.

Originally Posted by Mike P

Possible responses:

1. And you drive a ??? that is how quick?

2, Kid, if I got to explain you wouldn’t understand.


.

The best response is: Because I F^&KING CAN!

Four days of work and 10 hours of sleep!!! I used to be able to do that!!! Now I have to get ten hours of sleep before a half-day of work!! Getting old ain't for sissies!!

Dang nice work on the pick-em-up!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Four days of work and 10 hours of sleep!!! I used to be able to do that!!! Now I have to get ten hours of sleep before a half-day of work!! Getting old ain't for sissies!!

Dang nice work on the pick-em-up!!

Oh trust me I felt that for a week. I drove 10 hours home after pulling 46 hours straight. The next morning it was loaded up and taken to the Silverado/Trailblazer SS nationals.

I did it all for the love of the Hobby and to help a good friend out when he bit off way more than he could chew.

He is doing 2 69 camaros now and I will be going back up there around March to do the wiring and a bunch of other stuff. This time I'm taking a enclosed trailer with all my tools, welding table, and welder. MOBILE FAB SHOP!!!!

Hey Im speaking in generalities here so please don't take it personal in any way. The stuff your building is top cabin Dan and really sweet no matter how old you are! But you have to admit you are fairly unique for your age... I guess in my way of thinking the old tin is getting very expensive which is putting it out of the reach of the really young guys. If they weren't raised with V8's they could probably give a squat? There will always be motorheads and they will be busting their knuckles on something for sure... Just not sure it will always be a early naturally aspirated kind of rod or classic. Of course Brookville is going strong so who knows?

Originally Posted by M.T.

Hey Im speaking in generalities here so please don't take it personal in any way. The stuff your building is top cabin Dan and really sweet no matter how old you are! But you have to admit you are fairly unique for your age... I guess in my way of thinking the old tin is getting very expensive which is putting it out of the reach of the really young guys. If they weren't raised with V8's they could probably give a squat? There will always be motorheads and they will be busting their knuckles on something for sure... Just not sure it will always be a early naturally aspirated kind of rod or classic. Of course Brookville is going strong so who knows?

You already know how calm I am, I don't take much personal... I guess it was just letting everyone know that some of us youngsters that love the hobby still exist. As far as the money is concerned. Those of us that have the drive will become very resourceful and learn how to make what we can't afford. Trust me that is a large part of why I built almost everything on our 32 truck.....well that and I'm an OCD psychopath LMAO.

Here is another one I did a ton of crap on and this fellow is about 32.

When ever I go to car show of old hot rods. Its all grey beards. They are in love with their 30's,40's and 50's cars that just don't appeal to younger crowd. Does it matter if you have a 32 Ford and change every single part on it to make it a hot rod or take a car that already has 400hp and give it more pop? Not to me. Go with flow I say...

Originally Posted by slincoln 3

When ever I go to car show of old hot rods. Its all grey beards. They are in love with their 30's,40's and 50's cars that just don't appeal to younger crowd. Does it matter if you have a 32 Ford and change every single part on it to make it a hot rod or take a car that already has 400hp and give it more pop? Not to me. Go with flow I say...

I disagree with your statement regarding the interest level of the under 30 crowd. I generally spend most of my time at a cruise talking to younger guys about parts used, sources, and how decisions were made. They may not build, but with the right car there is interest.

You can disagree with me. I didn't mean every younger guy in the world didn't have an intetest in older hot rods. They wouldn't be at car show or talking to you about old hot rods if they didn't have an interest. But its a small %. How do I know cuz I'm that age 30's-40's. All my friends,brother,brother in law are all in that age bracket. We all love to look at them talk toowners and pick their brains. But I don't know one single younger buck that has one. Though we do have to guys that drive their dads old T buckets.

Originally Posted by slincoln 3

You can disagree with me. I didn't mean every younger guy in the world didn't have an intetest in older hot rods. They wouldn't be at car show or talking to you about old hot rods if they didn't have an interest. But its a small %. How do I know cuz I'm that age 30's-40's. All my friends,brother,brother in law are all in that age bracket. We all love to look at them talk toowners and pick their brains. But I don't know one single younger buck that has one. Though we do have to guys that drive their dads old T buckets.

We'll just hope that you and your friends are the minority....

To me, Hot Rodding is like Rock-N-Roll, it will never die!

Sprayed99, that's really cool. You're probably right about how it can look dead but isn't. I haven't been to many big out of state shows for a couple of years. I however did race a pretty large spread for 4yrs with the NHRDA, and there were less guys in their 30's getting in to it than say the 40 up guys. The shows I've been to that were large and in Iowa, the younger crowd really isn't there compared to the old timers. Maybe it's just this area? I know the LS swap is huge down in your area. My uncle lilves down near San Antonio and he's always calling me and telling me about all the LS stuff down there. Turbo'd and blown, pretty cool. The LS swapping is becoming more prominent up here. We always seem to be behind states like Texas. Whether it's songs on the radio or new types of soda or what ever. Probably has more to do with demographics.