Wtf??
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Hello
I was at a car show last week (I entered it)... I noticed one of my center caps to the knock off wheel was GONE...
I was sick and upset I asked if anyone had seen someone around my car...One guy told me there was a man bent over looking at my front tire and rim... GREAT...One time I leave my car (to look at other cars at the show) some A hole takes the center cap off my car...
My woman asked me if I was going to participate in any more "car shows" GOOD questions Im not so sure if I want to anymore..Im not sure whats wrong with people these days?...I ordered a new one that will be here tomorrow...
Life is wonderful in the sunshine state..
I was at a car show last week (I entered it)... I noticed one of my center caps to the knock off wheel was GONE...
I was sick and upset I asked if anyone had seen someone around my car...One guy told me there was a man bent over looking at my front tire and rim... GREAT...One time I leave my car (to look at other cars at the show) some A hole takes the center cap off my car...My woman asked me if I was going to participate in any more "car shows" GOOD questions Im not so sure if I want to anymore..Im not sure whats wrong with people these days?...I ordered a new one that will be here tomorrow...
Life is wonderful in the sunshine state..
I know what you mean man. I was at a corvette show here in town last year. A guy got in my car was hitting thur the gears like he was at a track racing the car. I came up to him and ask him what he was thinking, and he got out and shot me a bird. Told are said to one of his friens I was a azz H.. 10 years ago I would have giving him a AZZ H to think about. 
Alot of crazy people out in the world today.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 304
From: Charlotte Area North Carolina
Unfortunate. Really makes you question whether it's worth going to car shows if things keep coming up missing.
My wife is fanatical about attending our Vette at car shows. She suspects everyone and trusts no one. One or the other is always present and watching. I never leave the car doors unlocked. I do crack the driver side window about 2" so other car show vendors and advertisers can toss in a brochure.
We heard from several at Carlisle, PA of a man and woman team working owners where one would distract the owner in a conversation while the other would remove the things they came to steal. Painful lessons.
My wife is fanatical about attending our Vette at car shows. She suspects everyone and trusts no one. One or the other is always present and watching. I never leave the car doors unlocked. I do crack the driver side window about 2" so other car show vendors and advertisers can toss in a brochure.
We heard from several at Carlisle, PA of a man and woman team working owners where one would distract the owner in a conversation while the other would remove the things they came to steal. Painful lessons.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,934
Likes: 657
From: Norwalk ohio
2019 Corvette of the Year Winner
St. Jude Donor '15
While at a car show I watched as I saw a guy leaning into some one else car that I knew he dint own. I walked up just as he started to walk away asking what's in your hand , (he turned and said what you a cop) I said no but my son-in-law standing next to me is . After my son-in-law asked him the same question he came up with the guys shifter *** . Then he 
got a ride in a nice looking cop car.
got a ride in a nice looking cop car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 6,501
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From: The Golden Triangle, Florida
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '20 thru '25
That just makes no sense to me. That part is not that expensive or rare, why would someone do that?? It's hearing stuff like this (and the Gas caps that get stolen at Carlisle) that make you wonder about some of the people involved in this hobby. Just once I'd like to read a story where the person gets caught in the act and gets what they deserve. 
I don't leave my cars unattended at any shows anymore. I try to work with the owners of the cars around me to watch out for each other if I want to do a quick walk around.
I don't leave my cars unattended at any shows anymore. I try to work with the owners of the cars around me to watch out for each other if I want to do a quick walk around.-- Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
I went through a few Mustang "GT" gas caps several years back. I figure they were souvenir hunters for sure. The better reproductions have a wire cable that retains the cap to the gas tank filler lip...didn't matter got 'snipped' and stolen anyways.As to the guy ripping through the gears at a car show...I have let a couple get by that sat in my car but if the clown was abusing the car and then flipped me off to boot....its call the cops time. The one cruise-in at Old Town, Kissimmee I regularly attend has added real cops on bicycles under the new ownership - which I appreciate a bunch.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,345
Likes: 87
From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Wasn't it a few years ago that they used to break off the hood emblem from the Cadillac's to make some sort of pendant out of them. Maybe this guy used to be one of those but has now graduated to using center caps off of vettes to replace the Cadillac units.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 32
From: Sarasota Florida
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
Packard and "Flying Liberty" hood emblems were popular theft items. I think somebody even made a cheap repro Packard emblem to use at shows so you could keep your original safe somewhere.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,251
Likes: 62
From: Imperial Missouri
LoL I think so...I have a lighter (I think from one of the previous owners)... I found inside the door panel that has a acid edging of Vietnam and has cities names also edged from Saigon to up North Hanoi..i put that on the console kinda display with the car..I would take that before I would take a center cap..
So far I've been fortunate with only getting smuges on the car but nothing stolen.I usually go to shows with a large group of friends and everyone watches out for each other.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 32
From: Sarasota Florida
Yeah it does...I cleaned it up and it still works..It has survived well..considering it probably in the car for a couple of years (probably decades) I wish I knew which owner (lost) his lighter in my driverside door..Cool find I thought..
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 619
From: northern CA
It's got me thinking of purchasing repro parts to replace easily lifted originals, as a 'show only' option. Horn button, lighter, shifter ball, and gas cap come to mind (C2). As an investment against losing an original part, it would be worth it to me. .. Dang thieves. . Whatcha' gonna do? ..
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
I just can't get over the cojones of somebody that would lift something with the number of owners and spectators at such events....not even counting you might get your face pushed in buy an irate owner or even arrested...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 916
Likes: 2
From: prescott arizona
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 916
Likes: 2
From: prescott arizona
I know what you mean man. I was at a corvette show here in town last year. A guy got in my car was hitting thur the gears like he was at a track racing the car. I came up to him and ask him what he was thinking, and he got out and shot me a bird. Told are said to one of his friens I was a azz H.. 10 years ago I would have giving him a AZZ H to think about. Alot of crazy people out in the world today.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Hendersonville TN
Unfortunately, I think these types of episodes are just reflections of our society and, why not? Think about it. Have you watched any TV show lately that is targeted to the youth demographic that doesn't disrepect core values? Tune into MTV and just watch for a few minutes some of the crap that network puts out....and our children/grandchildren soak it up. It's cool to disrespect authority and even cooler to get away with it.
Obviously, we don't know if it was a young person who took the center cap nor are all youth disrespectful of society, but more and more are influenced by declining social mores. You wonder sometimes where it will lead.
OK, I just realized I'm starting to sound like the old fart my kids say I've become.
Obviously, we don't know if it was a young person who took the center cap nor are all youth disrespectful of society, but more and more are influenced by declining social mores. You wonder sometimes where it will lead.
OK, I just realized I'm starting to sound like the old fart my kids say I've become.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 6,501
Likes: 1,938
From: The Golden Triangle, Florida
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '20 thru '25
Unfortunately, I think these types of episodes are just reflections of our society and, why not? Think about it. Have you watched any TV show lately that is targeted to the youth demographic that doesn't disrepect core values? Tune into MTV and just watch for a few minutes some of the crap that network puts out....and our children/grandchildren soak it up. It's cool to disrespect authority and even cooler to get away with it.
Obviously, we don't know if it was a young person who took the center cap nor are all youth disrespectful of society, but more and more are influenced by declining social mores. You wonder sometimes where it will lead.
OK, I just realized I'm starting to sound like the old fart my kids say I've become.
Obviously, we don't know if it was a young person who took the center cap nor are all youth disrespectful of society, but more and more are influenced by declining social mores. You wonder sometimes where it will lead.
OK, I just realized I'm starting to sound like the old fart my kids say I've become.
with all you said. I see this attitude in my 26 year old son and he didn't get it from me or his mother. He also says I've become an old fart. I am 65 so he may be right. The other day I was having a talk with my son about how Lady Ga Ga is a waste of space and is a bad influence on young people. In the middle of the talk, I recalled how my dad wouldn't let me watch Elvis when he appeared on Ed Sullivan and told me that Elvis would destroy the morals of our generation.
I've become my father
-- Steve
