And though I have a good friend imploring me to rejoin AHCUSA, it is these very
stories that will keep me from ever spending my money on a losing proposition
like that again.
I enjoy my cars for how they are, not what they are. I don't feel the need to
justify, or validate my ownership of my "toy" car, with a membership to a club
full of "stuffed shirt" assholes.
I know that not all AHCUSA members are shit heads. But just like lawyers, enough
of them are, the rest of the members get the bad rep.
Brad
Jay Fishbein wrote:
> Ah, yes. I will tell a related story about Chuckles the Clown.
>
> Back in the swinging '80's, I was still foolish enough to subject myself
> to the annual abuses associated with Concours Judging. Among the
> entrants in the Sprite class that year was Chuckles, Jr. He was advised
> by his dad that despite the fact that his car was incomplete, it would
> be helpful to HIM (Jr), if he had his work done thus-far, judged.
> (Needless to say, this was in the days before pre-judging.)
>
> For those unfamiliar with Concours Judging, it takes at least 1 - 1 1/2
> hours to judge a car, if not longer, and document the judging sheets.
>
> It is unimportant to detail the condition of this car in detail, but to
> summarize, it was missing dozens of parts, some of which were brought to
> the judging in boxes, the wiring harness was hanging down way below the
> dash, and the worst of all was the condition of the front suspension:
> Roughly, 3/4" of the threads on one of the lower trunnions was exposed!
> One of the other judges asked Chuckles, Jr. if he had driven this car
> and was told yes, from home! (+-1,500 miles) The judge then implored him
> NOT TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE before fixing this problem.
>
> Yes, Chuckles the Clown and I didn't much appreciate each other after
> that event. Soon after, I got the privilege to experience the dark side
> of the British car hobby up-close and personal. Most don't get to it
> underbelly exposed, even though they pay $40-$50 a year to support it.
>
> These internet mailing lists are a breath of fresh air for the hobby. No
> big cheeses with personal agendas clouding the atmosphere, no large
> annual fee to read about how "delegates" and "officers" are using their
> expense accounts.
>
> We're all the same.
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