He's right on some of the counts. There's an entirely different entry level dynamic than when many of us were in our formative ages. I've seen some of his examples, even here in the Motor City. Never really pondered the sobering, urgent challenges, scarcities and looming legislative realities for entry level enthusiasts -and, us - as he lays them out. We (all) have to adapt and be inclusive of the current, up & coming generations or plan to write off our legacys.

Avoidable Contact #92: Gates and ladders—all the ways old people kill young enthusiasm | Hagerty Media

Enjoy! (or, for some folks, not)

DV

 

I certainly agree that the barriers to entry are much bigger than they were in 'my day'. However, I find his accusations more than a little insulting. I doubt they apply to many on this forum.

 

One thing that I believe will disappear is the mentality that anything other than a perfectly stock car with every date code being correct is the only car to have. I really think that is based on nostalgia which younger guys like myself don’t have any association to. A bit like that black L88 on BAT, for a fraction of the money you could build an LS powered 69 with better brakes and handling, the fact it was the bees knees in 69 means nothing to someone born 30 years later. Hence why resto mods with LS swaps/EFI and other upgrades will be far more desirable than anything that has a carb or stock parts that are known to require Maintenance (leaking stock calipers or ps systems for example)

Just my opinion, but the fact that even I couldn’t be bothered learning about tuning a carb and would rather deal with an ecu and laptop says a lot.

 

On the other hand, seems the words “authentic” and “original” are among the most overused words associated with the 30-40somethings while going through the TV channels and listening to them. They crave a foot in the ‘good ‘ole days’ (can see why). And, they are smart. They can pull up a PDF doc on their laptop, bounce their questions off of a forum as this, and decipher details very quickly - and, seemingly with comparatively less effort when they put their mind to it. (The ultra-liberal/socialism contamination their teachers put in some of their minds is basically their only undoing.)

 

I found the article pretty offensive to those “old people” he seems to have so much disdain for.

Its a popular topic these days.

 

So opinions are like belly buttons everyone has one. There is no doubt "older guys" have driven up the cost of the numbers matching cars from the 60's and 70's. Why? It's because they've done well during their life money wise and have the means to do so. Nothing against them its their money and they can spend it on whatever the want and like. I think hot rodding will long out live all of us. I'm not into some hot rod styles but I would never trash talk their build. It's their car not mine. I'm sure everyone has seen a car/truck and thought "what where they thinking?". Must of been a fair amount cold ones involved during the build.
I'm not into the electric car stuff but some of the high end cars are very fast. You see a lot of younger folks into the electric, turbo and deisel hot rods.

 

I read the article and IMHO it's all physo-babble.
It was 5+ minutes of my life I'll never get back.

 

Anyone who claims they read 500 pages per day throughout their university studies and then write an articles on the car hobby, should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

The article is so full of s### in so many ways, I am not wasting my time to write about all of it. I will say that its no more my responsibility to appease some other generation than it is for them to accept my generation. Who is to say which is "right" or "wrong"......certainly not the self entitled intellectual crowd that is currently lecturing everyone. I also do not accept that the younger generation is facing some theoretical more difficult barriers.......in reality, they have had it easier than most, which is one of the problems with their "perspective:. It comes down to the fact that people like different things.....yeah, no kidding. And who exactly is responsible for the term "boomer" in its typically offensive and purposefully insulting manner.....? Who? I can tell you my younger son-in-law, a WRX owner, likes to spew his BS about me and my 77 Corvette. I was raised to respect people, so I do not do that to him. I think the problem is obvious, and I disagree with most of what this article states

Frankly I am shocked Hagerty would publish such a ridiculous article.

 

When the tuner cars started coming out honestly, I for one kind of look down my nose at them..Hearing the weedwacker noise coming down the street had me shaking my head. Then the light went off and I really started thinking about it and it all made sense. These kids are hot rodding what they could afford. Just what we did. However we were lucky enough to have "muscle" cars to play with most for under 2000.00 bucks My first Camaro, a 67 I got for 400.00 Now These kids are "stuck" with driving whatever they can get.; older Hondas, Toyotas, Scions or whatever. But, they are keeping the hobby alive by "fixing up" their rides. Adding wheels, engine upgrades flame throwers out the exhaust they are taking it to places we could never go due to our engine restrictions .Some of these kids are getting over 400hp out of a four banger. They may not be working on antique iron but at least they are keeping the hobby alive. IMO

 

Kids nowadays just stare at their phone all day. No desire to even get a license much less a car..

 

Bruiser, I couldn't agree more... I had to buy my two oldest grand kids there first cars...and they where in there late teens....

 

I happen to think there are some truths in his straight talk. Sometime there's a place for it and you can always sort out the wheat from the chaff. Whenever the nearly annual "Would You Let Your Kid Borrow Your C3 For The Prom?"posting, or it's similar sister posting (allowing it to be used in a parade, et al), I've observed that so much of the time the answer is a resounding, "no". It's an emotional topic. There's obviously a deep fear of financial or identity loss - or, sheer selfishness. It's an inextricable part of you/us, reflecting our hard work, luck, and memories of a better day. But, if the writer is right - and, I think some points are hitting close to home - the fence we're building around them is sell-proofing them for our hoped-for successors. As he says, they've got plenty of other hobby diversions. We need to help them learn the art of satisfaction they can get from preserving/wrenching on an authentic, original (let alone, beautiful) American icon machine as they can from a video game joy stick. I restored my bucket list car to my satisfaction (in '18 Detroit Concours ), and have now let (3) trusted neighbor kids drive it - with me or their trusted parent in it) take it for a 15 minute drive as part of their H/S graduation gift. They talk about it for months, especially if they are spotted by a friend or coach/teacher. I would not do this unless my own kid if it were a 3 or 4-speed. That would be stupid if they don't know how to shift well. But, I think the best way way to instill some C3 enthusiasm in the next gen is to prime the pump.

 

My son has been welcome to drive my Corvette almost from the time he got his license, and did so on many occasions. (He drives a stick almost as well as I do.) The only way to cultivate responsibility in kids is to give it to them.

I was hoping to cultivate an interest in cars within him but his interests lie elsewhere. He likes the car and appreciates my passion for driving it, but really doesn't share it.

Not totally sure what my point is here, but I don't think we have as much influence over what the next generation does as we might like to think.

 

I had three girls. None of them had any interest in my cars or motorcycles. Now I have two son in laws.....again, no interest. In fact my WRX son-in-law comes to my house, walks right past the garage door on his way to the couch to pull out his phone and start playing video games with his friends. I have two grandsons. IF they have interest, I would be more than willing to share my love for cars and motorcycles. I guess time will tell, by I doubt it. Point is,......the idea that we as old timers / boomers are somehow "failing" to pass on the torch is BS. The real problem is that the new generation is simply not interested. And frankly, I don't care.