People just don't understand us

[dursleyman]

Its a nice afternoon so I have taking advantage of the weather and was working outside in front of the garage. I am fitting new seat foams and diaphram to the drivers seat so have got various bits and pieces scattered all about when a neighbour who was passing by stopped to talk and asked about what I was doing. I often like to work on the car outside and I explained that after 30 years the foam had disintegrated into dust and the rubber perished so it needed to be replaced.

She then asked me "When you have done that will the car be finished?"
I replied "No, it will never be finished, there will always be something more to do" and then watched her try to work that one out.

I had to explain that working on the car, driving it some, and then working on it some more was the whole point of owning it but she didn't understand at all.

Afterwards I started to wonder if I understood it myself, but then I had a nice cup of tea and got back to work.

Russ

1980 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK

[Ianftr8]

Never did understand why every year I spend thousands of pounds on my car and yet it is still only Poseidon <u>Greens</u>[:D].

Oh yes - many many miles with a huge grin on my face - loads of really good friends.
Been to France and Le Mans more times than I have fingers, up to the top of Scotland - down to the bottom of Cornwall and many other places besides.

At the age of nearly 50 and with 30 odd years of driving Triumphs under my belt I can still be a bit of a hooligan - don't you just love the sound of a V8!!

Why, why, why?

Cheers
Ian

Ian Freeman
1979 TR8 DHC
Triumph Courier
Triumph owner for 31 years

[Spectatohead]

I know that most people here in the States consider the car just another household appliance. If it works it's good, if it doesn't get a new one. People like that can't see that cars like ours have a soul and a personality. Sure, many cars are soulless but most people wouldn't care, or even notice, if the car had a soul or not. It is just another appliance to them. To bad for them. That is about as religious as you'll ever hear this old atheist talk.[8D]

Jim Clark
'80 TR8
'97 Maxima 5spd

[rgsSpider]

Jim you are exactly right! And THAT is why GM is still in business!!

If you think about it, you really have to be able to DRIVE to drive a car this old. These days cars do most everything for you. Take someone that has only ever had a newer car and put them behind the wheel of a wedge and they may not even be able to start it. "Where's the start button at?"

Randy

1980 TR7 <font color="red">Spider!</font id="red">
http://rgstr7spider.tumblr.com/

[Workshop Help]

The start button on a 1930 Nash is right there on the wooden dash board.

Mildred Hargis

[whitenviro]

On my 1930 Ford Model A the start button is on the floor next to the accelerator. They had to make it a foot switch because your hands are busy retarding the spark and pulling on the choke lever/adjusting the carb!

But I know the feeling; I do most of my car work by the street in front of my tiny garage. One neighbor keeps asking why he never see's me driving it, just working on it. I tell him "When I'm driving it I'm not in the driveway am I? That's why you don't see me!"


[/img]
1980 Pageant Blue DHC with removable hardtop.

[windy one]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by dursleyman</i>

I had to explain that working on the car, driving it some, and then working on it some more was the whole point of owning it <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Amen. I wouldnt have it any other way with any of my wedges
I occationally Look for things to clean/repair/replace. Especially when the weather isnt so nice.

Johnny

[FI Spyder]

Work on it in winter...drive it in summer. Each year there is less and less to be done, other than the niggly little stuff that pops up on a 30+ year old car.



- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT