Fun Car Show Story... Blast from the Past

A couple weekends ago, my son invited me to a local evening car meet... he said he and a few friends were getting together, and it was at a parking lot barely 4 blocks from my house. I do the C&C occasionally, but it's not really my thing to attend the several dozen car shows that pop up all over the city... suffice to say, looking at a long row of brand-new Dodge Challengers and another row of 70-80's Corvettes really isn't my thing. Plus I don't own a lawn chair, several gold chains, nor a vinyl jacket with a large Cavallino on the lapel.

But to his, "Come on, get out of the house for once" comment, I had no argument. If it weren't for those bi-monthly trips to the cigarette store, it's likely I'd never leave the house. (Not even to drive the 308? Welcome to north Florida, where every day offers a surprise thunderstorm from June-August).

Turned out that it was a meet with "a few of his friends", and about 40 other people and their friends. Most of these people are the type that either a) purchase a brand muscle car and tint the windows or b) drive a BMW or Japanese car circa 1990-1998, and have turbos and suspension than costs more than a set of original Coromoda rims and a Saratoga roof. All of them faster than my car. Probably faster than any car I've ever owned... except for my son's Z3, which despite his various upgrades... let's just say his beating me around a particular curving back road had far more to do with my worries over law enforcement, than my worries on his car's performance.

In any case... let's go back a few years, to another C&C Event. It was a bright summer Saturday morning, and as fate would have it, there were 4 local Ferrari owners in attendance.

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(Mine in the center, and the 348 departed before the picture taken)

As is normal, the cars had the large groups of people standing around. A group in particular was some younger guys, around 12-13 years old. One of the smaller kids summed up some courage, and said... "Um... i don't guess there's any chance it could sit in it?"

Adults usually don't ask; kids, it's not uncommon. So I popped the door open, and told him to take a seat. His face exploded with a smile, and he hopped in. Put his hands on the wheel, someone took his photo... and then.... he pressed the clutch.

This is not an issue in a normal car. It is an issue when the e-brake doesn't work, and you're parked on a hill.

As the car began to slowly roll backwards towards the curb, I yelled "OFF THE CLUTCH!" To his credit, he immediately let go, and the car stopped with no incident. His smile had turned to horror, and with a dozen apologies he slowly got out of the car. No harm, no foul, it's ok... and that was that. (Though since then, I've always told an invitee "Do NOT touch the pedals."

Fast forward to July 2022.

So I'm standing near the car. This tall kid walks up to me and says, "Sorry to bother you... this may be a weird question - but did you ever go to C&C at Bannerman a few years ago?"

I thought for a moment and said, "Are you the kid that popped the clutch in my Ferrari that day? Yes, I completely remember you." He looked embarrassed, and I heard another string of apologies. I laughed it off, and told him that even though nothing had been damaged, I certainly remembered him... he was the original "don't touch the pedals" originator.

But beyond being a kid that almost hit a curb, he'd also grown into a young adult that loves vintage cars. He's bought a 1978 MG with some issues with power and ignition loss, and is tracing down issues with a multimeter, suspect coils, and the like. I forgot to get his name/number, but if I see him again soon I'm going to see if he's interested in some quick help with diag.

As I was leaving, a guy with a camera asked if I'd mind if they'd shoot my car... so, quick vid of me driving home @ 5.08.



I know we think that the new generation only cares about phones and electrical cars and don't know a stickshift from a dipstick - but they are out there. Even the kids with the K-swaps... they're gearheads just like many of us - it's just a new flavor of enthusiast. There's indeed hope for the future.

 

I think it's an issue with the darkness + camera coloring. The ambers are outside, and the reds inner. In person, they do actually glow red.