Auto shows and children.....

Smack35 wrote: Wasn't a whole lot of crazy kids at the DC show last year. It starts this weekend if anybody wants to go! I showed my FV last year. It had 2 "look but no touch" signs, and yeah, there were hand prints but no broken fiberglass or stolen things (I did remove the steering wheel and other things that can be messed with).

This isn't the best thread for me to read since it's been a couple days since I dropped my car off at the DC show and it'll be there for the duration. I don't really worry about anyone doing anything particularly bad to it, though it is a top-down convertible. But it's behind ropes along with a bunch of other cars (representing the local SCCA efforts) and there'll be people working the area all the time. I'll be there fairly often as my work schedule allows.

Anyway I don't care for kids at car shows. They don't seem to understand the concept of 'you're hogging the fun car and there's thirteen people waiting for their turn behind the wheel'. Last thing I need is to wait out a ten year old making vroom vroom noises in something I'm real curious about. So I go during the week, usually mid-afternoon to do my wandering around. The wife comes after work and I can show her the highlights.

I've always wondered what happens to the cars after the show is over. I imagine most need at least a good cleaning, but some get really beat up and I wonder if they're even sellable - what happens after that?

A few years ago Chevy had a setup where you got into a Corvette and they took your picture. When I was there, the kick panels and stuff on the inside of the door were already pretty much used up, and that was probably only halfway through the show's run. The car probably needed $1000 in parts to get back to showroom 'new', but could they even sell a car that thousands of asses had been in and out of in a ten-day span? It boggles the mind.

Claff wrote:

Smack35 wrote: I've always wondered what happens to the cars after the show is over. I imagine most need at least a good cleaning, but some get really beat up and I wonder if they're even sellable - what happens after that?

I have another friend that works for a company that deals with these things. They get the cars before they even start the auto show circuit and believe it or not they quite often repaint the car even though it's brand new. Their job is to make it flawless so they paint the door jams, wet sand the paint, repair any imperfections from the factory. The car goes to the show then they get it back afterwards and do it all over again. Now they deal with body and interior so I am assuming some one else does the mechanical stuff. There was a nice Mustang GT with a manual at the show that felt like the shifter had been jammed in gear and wouldn't move. I wonder in a situation like that ...do they have to tow the car off the floor out to a shop? At any rate I think many of these cars move on to the Chicago Auto Show in a couple of weeks for more abuse.

I have been taking my boys to all kinds of car shows since before they could walk. It all comes down to the parents, my two, they are now 7 and 3, treat the cars better than our own stuff. New cars shows are a great teaching tool, i have crawled under trucks with my 7 year old to show him what the different parts are and what they do and things like that.

It is sad that there are people that abuse stuff but that is the way things are.

There's one thing more irritating than being stuck in traffic while your 6 month old waves the trim to the C pillar around in the backseat, and that is the cracking noise it makes when they pull it off in the first place.

This made me chuckle.

I don't know how you engineer for this stuff, but it happens. You'd think our '06 Sienna would be kid-tested, but two seatbacks have come off, or nearly so. One was the driver's seatback (a plastic panel) that fell victim to a kick too many. The other is the plastic back of the right side second row seat, which everyone seems to use (in it's back-folded-down position) as a handhold on their way into the third row. It wasn't made for that, of course, but the "real" handholds ("Passenger Assist Handles) are kind of out of the way.

Claff wrote:

Smack35 wrote: Wasn't a whole lot of crazy kids at the DC show last year. It starts this weekend if anybody wants to go! I showed my FV last year. It had 2 "look but no touch" signs, and yeah, there were hand prints but no broken fiberglass or stolen things (I did remove the steering wheel and other things that can be messed with).

This isn't the best thread for me to read since it's been a couple days since I dropped my car off at the DC show and it'll be there for the duration. I don't really worry about anyone doing anything particularly bad to it, though it is a top-down convertible. But it's behind ropes along with a bunch of other cars (representing the local SCCA efforts) and there'll be people working the area all the time. I'll be there fairly often as my work schedule allows.

Your car will be fine. Mine was closest to the rope and all it got was two hand prints or so. The worst is putting the car on the trailer. This one shiny happy person thinks he's the man and yells at you until you leave. He got pissed that I had to circle around the underground so my car could point the right way on the trailer. The he yelled at me b/c I couldn't drive it up on the trailer. So I just took longer doing things to piss him off. All the corporate drivers were really cool and came over a few times. One guy dropped a VW prototype off the trailer so we all helped them get it back up without too much damage....after we took pictures of course. Once again, your car will be fineI stay around for a little if people have questions, I liked interacting with the people and letting interested parties sit in the car. It's a cool experience to have your car at a huge show.

Steven

In reply to rogerbvonceg:

That's what I'm talking about. You can't plan for those kinds of things, and unless you want to watch your kids every second of every day, they're going to find the weak points in everything you have.

Small kids are walking entropy events.

I think for durability testing, the manufacturers should hire two year olds and fill them with candy and redbull before unleashing them on a prospective design. You would get quality improvements immediately.

As soon as I saw the title of this I knew where it was headed. It's no different than seeing kids snacking off produce in a grocery store - defective parents.

mndsm wrote: I think for durability testing, the manufacturers should hire two year olds...

No need to spend the money, as every company has a few of them around.

Wally wrote:

Xceler8x wrote: Rowdy kids suck... When I take my cousins to the strip bar they're stealing the girls tips. They're pulling on their g-strings. They're even pestering them during my lap dance. It just ruins the whole scene. Then I get mad and they cry. After that I'M THE BAD GUY?! Wtf dude.

I give em each their own roll of dimes on the way in

For loading their fists to land a solid wallop or for tipping?

Claff wrote:

Smack35 wrote: Wasn't a whole lot of crazy kids at the DC show last year. It starts this weekend if anybody wants to go! I showed my FV last year. It had 2 "look but no touch" signs, and yeah, there were hand prints but no broken fiberglass or stolen things (I did remove the steering wheel and other things that can be messed with).

This isn't the best thread for me to read since it's been a couple days since I dropped my car off at the DC show and it'll be there for the duration. I don't really worry about anyone doing anything particularly bad to it, though it is a top-down convertible. But it's behind ropes along with a bunch of other cars (representing the local SCCA efforts) and there'll be people working the area all the time.

you parked with Karen Kraus's ESP WRX?

irish44j wrote: I also get terribly annoyed at car shows when a car is parked there with a sign that says "please do not touch the vehicle" or something to that effect. Last show I was at had a black Continental GT sitting there with such a sign. I made a point to put a big sweaty handprint right in the middle of the hood. If you don't want me to touch your car, then don't bring it to a car show that I have to pay to get in to.

Gawd please tell me you're just joking. Geez.

I love media days. Other than the scheduled press conferences where media move en masse from exhibit, to exhibit, to exhibit... there's virtually nobody around the cars. But some media are no better than spoiled children... such as the guys who sit in the bloody car when there's a horde of people trying take their photos so they can go file their story before the next unveiling. Or the young blogger who stands up just as a car is being unveiled to get a better shot... effectively placing his head square in the shot of every other media person present.

Or... the company reps that take up the first two rows, so that the media (who are supposed to be there to publicize their vehicle, right?) end up trying to shoot around the backs of their grey heads.

Or... the talking head guy who introduces the car, whips the sheet off... and then doesn't get the hell out of the way so we can get at least one clear shot of the vehicle that doesn't also feature his portly belly.

Lesley wrote: Or the young blogger who stands up just as a car is being unveiled to get a better shot... effectively placing his head square in the shot of every other media person present.

No love for jalopnik, eh?

Lesley wrote: I love media days. Other than the scheduled press conferences where media move en masse from exhibit, to exhibit, to exhibit... there's virtually nobody around the cars. But some media are no better than spoiled children... such as the guys who sit in the bloody car when there's a horde of people trying take their photos so they can go file their story before the next unveiling. Or the young blogger who stands up just as a car is being unveiled to get a better shot... effectively placing his head square in the shot of every other media person present. Or... the company reps that take up the first two rows, so that the media (who are supposed to be there to publicize their vehicle, right?) end up trying to shoot around the backs of their grey heads. Or... the talking head guy who introduces the car, whips the sheet off... and then doesn't get the hell out of the way so we can get at least one clear shot of the vehicle that doesn't also feature his portly belly.

Amen brother. Made me chuckle a little bit. I guess everybody has got their own things to deal with.

the knuckle heads have damaged the new cars already at the Chicago Auto Show to the tune of $30,000.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/around-town/cars/Auto-Show-Trashers-Caught-Red-Handed-Cops--116391809.html

ww wrote: I did let my kids get in the cars that were open for "touching". But I can tell you, that if I caught you putting your sweaty hand on my FIVE and a half year long resto-modded 480+whp RB26DETT powered Datsun 240Z with a paint job that cost more than MANY new cars, I would beat you within an inch of your life and I don't care if you paid $20 to get in.

+1 and then some, heck I have found people putting kids into my cobra (no top) at the supermarket and had very unkind words to say.

ww wrote: My "If you won't discipline him I will!" comment wasn't well received!

I find "why do people like you breed" works well.

I took my kids to car shows - and instructed them beforehand what they were allowed and not allowed to do. It's called parenting. It's also part of growing the next generation of car enthusiasts.

If you see a child mistreating a car, ask yours: "Would you like that kid over there to treat your new bike like that? Then make sure you don't do that to someone else's stuff."

slantvaliant wrote: I took my kids to car shows - and instructed them beforehand what they were allowed and not allowed to do. It's called parenting. It's also part of growing the next generation of car enthusiasts. If you see a child mistreating a car, ask yours: "Would you like that kid over there to treat your new bike like that? Then make sure you don't do that to someone else's stuff."

+1. We are heading to the Cleveland show with my 7 and 3 year old boys, it should be a ton of fun.

Xceler8x wrote: Rowdy kids suck... When I take my cousins to the strip bar they're stealing the girls tips. They're pulling on their g-strings. They're even pestering them during my lap dance. It just ruins the whole scene. Then I get mad and they cry. After that I'M THE BAD GUY?! Wtf dude.

seems somewhat relevant...

There's so much wrong with this picture...

One thing to remember is that some people that are too irresponsible to be a good dog owner still breed.

And if you ever call them out on parenting skills, you will always be in the wrong.

Too bad shame and humility have been lost over the years.

xflowgolf wrote: There's so much wrong with this picture...

No kidding... lowered modern VWs? Why???

One of the vintage car clubs in my area put on an All British car show a few years ago.

Some kid kept crawling on a guy's MG. The owner yelled at the kid several times and when the kid paid no attention, he picked him up by the armpits and set him down away from the car. The kid's mother was nearby (of course, doing nothing to control the brat) and had the owner arrested for "assaulting" the kid. Cost the owner several thousand in legal fees to get out of that.

We had our own show later that year and put up signs in English and Spanish that instructed people not to let children touch the cars. Of course, didn't really work.

Went to a Jaguar club show once and saw an entire family of obese-slow-walkers climb into a buddy's late model Jaguar XJ.

The local clubs generally avoid public venues for shows now.

FlyinMikeyJ wrote:

xflowgolf wrote: There's so much wrong with this picture...

No kidding... lowered modern VWs? Why???

Guys still with their pants hanging? Come on, aren't we on to something else yet?