According To You: Signs You Are Taking The Hobby Too Seriously

Classic Industries

Last week we asked the Hagerty Community about the signs that might suggest someone is getting too wrapped in the car and truck hobby. It’s fine to be dedicated to a pursuit, but perhaps there’s a limit to all that seriousness?

So that was the question posed to you, and your answers might raise a few eyebrows. Perhaps you didn’t consider these reasons, and maybe you even disagree with a few. We are all good with that, and we absolutely encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments section. Let’s get right into it:

Trophy Collectors

2022 Bonneville Car Show hotrod group
Brandan Gillogly

David C: For me it’s when you care more about winning car show trophies than getting out in your car(s) and driving something you enjoy.

The Devil’s In The Details

Brush painted and authentic to the condition of the car.Matthew Anderson

David A: For me, it’s excessive cleaning/detailing. Of course, “excessive” is up for interpretation.

I like to drive my cars and try and keep them reasonably clean and presentable, but I don’t obsess about it. Spending hours detailing cars does not peg my fun meter. I’d rather spend time driving them and treat the cleaning part as a necessary evil, a “cost” to pay for enjoying them on the road or the track.

I have a good car guy friend who also loves driving his very nice collection of 8 or 9 cars, but he’ll spend hours at his garage each weekend detailing them. Naturally, all of his cars look pristine all the time. I give him a hard time about it and call it OCD, he calls it his “therapy.” I guess if that’s what pegs his fun meter who am I to argue?

hyperv6: Note when I got into cars where I owned and detailed I was 235 pounds. I lost weight and got down to where I should be weight wise. To me it benefited my health. I call it “Autoarobics.”

Sure, I could have gone to the gym but I would rather work out working on my car.

Being Judgmental

GTO Judge logo emblem detail
Mecum

DUB6: A sign that I think I see in others (not myself, I hope!) is the tendency to judge other’s tastes and opinions and attempt to tell them what they should do with their vehicles. Some people just take a holier-than-thou approach because, I presume, one is not doing things the way these lecturers would prefer. This hobby is very close to being art in lots of ways, and art is an expression of the artist’s taste and preferences. Like a piece of art or don’t, but when you tell the artist how they did it wrong, you’re over a line and taking your views too seriously. Likewise when you criticize someone’s choice of vehicle and what they do with it, based on your own tastes and experiences.

hyperv6: When it comes to the car hobby we all need to be open-minded but also we are still entitled to opinions.

The key to all this is not to take other opinions to heart. Accept the compliments and ignore the criticism. One of the cars I own is one that has taken a beating for more than 25 years of its existence. I bought my Fiero when it was new and I was a celebrity. 6 years later I was the village idiot for 20 years. Today the opinions and compliments are back.

I was never in this for public opinion. If you are into cars in general you need to have a thick skin as you are going to get good or bad no matter what you own or do with it. Especially in the field of public opinion like the web.

Tim: Many of the opinions come from others who are jealous of what we have.

Not Driving Your Cars

Ferrari Daytona museum piece 3
Museo Ferrari

TG: I would tend to say not driving them is a sign, but I also get that showing cars is as much of a hobby as driving cars…even if it’s not my hobby.

What I would say is if you aren’t showing your car and you are not driving it, you might be taking the hobby too seriously. My neighbor is a perfect example of this: over-restoring a car to the point he was afraid to drive it. He ended up selling it at a significant loss and without a lot of drive time.

Jay: TG,

Thank you for saying something nice about the people who own and maintain cars for show. I’ll never understand why there is so much hate for the people who pursue that hobby. Hey, some people like to race their cars, some like to take them on long drives, some like to attend car club events, others just enjoy working on them, and some like to prepare and enter them in concours. Why is one considered as “too serious” while the others are OK?

I can’t imagine why anyone would want to play golf, but if that’s someone’s thing, I respect their right to do it. Why can’t the owners of show cars get the same treatment?

TG: I think most of the gripe with show cars is it essentially takes that car out of circulation for those of us who want cool old cars as drivers, and I think a lot of us drivers get frustrated seeing the best examples, and in some cases almost all examples, of old cars getting drawn into the vortex of the show world never to be seen on the streets again. Not saying it’s not a valid hobby, but that’s the gripe.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Frank S: Not taking a car out because there is a chance of rain. Someone in our club commented that they wouldn’t be going to a show because there was a 40% chance of rain (it got cloudy and sprinkled on us for about five minutes, not much more than a heavy mist!). I jokingly told him he shouldn’t have used water-based paint. He said the car hadn’t been rained on in 20 years. Do you wash it? Then it gets wet. Just a dirty look after that…

Sajeev Mehta: I once heard a friend at a local car show say, “Cars don’t melt in the rain.” He is right, and I saw him at our usual Sunday gathering spot, when we were part of a handful of dedicated participants. I took the video to check out my freshly waxed paint job, and right as rain, the car did not melt!

Losing Balance

Whitmire grandson 3 yrs old
“My grandson loves the Mustang. He thinks it’s a racecar.”Courtesy Bill Whitmire

norm1200: For me, it would be when one puts the hobby ahead of more substantial things such as family, your health, your job, etc. The car scene can be as addictive and controlling as any immoral habit. To help avoid this, I need the quality of balance in my life. Having said that, I’ve made a living by working in the automotive world and owe a great deal to it.

And I’m still thoroughly entrenched in this hobby. Life, more than other’s opinions, will tell whether I’ve gone too far…or not far enough? I’d like to think I’m objective and open enough to listen to others or at least until they start telling me how to live. Well I’ve certainly gotten too serious when all of this should be, um, for fun!

AACA in the USA: While it seems clear that a “hobby” should not take the preeminent place in one’s life, some seem to fall prey to doing just that. Enjoying cars whether building, restoring, maintaining, racing, or showing is fine as long as we just remember they are just cars. It’s fine to strive for a goal but it should be tempered with reason. Most all the folks I’ve met through car-related activities have been worthwhile in one way or another. That has been the benefit for me. The friendships are the real prize in all this. Enjoy the “hobby” while keeping it just that, a hobby.

Wyatt: I think just having the thought “am I taking this too seriously?” is probably enough to indicate that one is taking it too seriously. I suffer from this far too often, often leading me to wonder what would help me enjoy the hobby more, or sometimes, enjoy the hobby again at all.

There are a lot of aspects and factors involved in trying to participate in and enjoy the car hobby. And I know I’ve already taken some of those so seriously as to have strayed (transgressed?) deeply from hobby to lifestyle, or perhaps to philosophy and tenet, where ritual and knowledge and personal experience and deep desire fuel the true believer. Are all others dilettantes and posers? Or maybe they’re just the ones that actually get that it’s a hobby and don’t take it so seriously? Or maybe holding the hobby to a “true believer” degree of scrutiny and embodiment of one’s values just enhances hobby for some of us.

This response alone is probably an indicator I’m taking it too seriously, and I just might be okay with that.

Tinkerah: I think it can be judged very simply: only if it jeopardizes one’s, or one’s family’s health or finances is it too serious. Up to that point, live it up!

Nothing

Roadkill Nights 2021 fox body mustang burnout
Cameron Neveu

Paul: After reading today’s headlines there is nothing that can be taken too seriously. Especially cars. Have fun and take a nice drive today.

Bruce: I am happy just to admire others’ passions. Mine is building a diverse and inclusive driving collection: Sixties 2CV Fourgonnette and RAF Land Rover Lightweight, Jag XKR, ‘49 Lincoln convert, Nieman Marcus Blackwood, etc. You get to see just about everything at Cars & Caffeine.

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Comments

    The rain thing takes some consideration.

    Number of people do not take their cars out in the rain knowing it is going to rain for many different reasons.

    Leaking roofs and tops. The added cleaning especially street rods with chrome suspensions. Tires not suited to rain, The fact many events don’t happen in the rain. No wipers etc.

    I will go if it is just showers and I can get to the show clean. But like fishing I don’t sit in the rain. Just not fun. So if it is raining before I go I will stay home or take my truck.

    Some of these cars can be a handful or have issues in the rain., My Chevelle never went in the rain as it has a tunnel ram with a hole in the hood. I really did not want water on the engine. Also it was a hand full in the dry and wet roads would have been fun with the power it had with no power steering and no power brakes.

    Some cars should not be driven in the rain. High HP, hot rods can be a handful in the dry, it’s common sense. I don’t like trailer queens, yes they are pretty, but drive them.

    So, I don’t drive my car in the rain because of the increased risk that another driver will damage or destroy it. It has nothing to do with the rain itself causing the car to “melt.”

    And before you say, “Get a collector policy through Hagerty to protect it,” I tried. Turns out, no company will sell me a collector policy in my state unless I have the car stored in a private garage.

    I can’t afford a place with a private garage anywhere near my area.

    But even if I could, the time it would take to find another one in good shape that’s even for sale, and then build it the way mine is now, would be a dealbreaker. The sad fact is, if anything happens to my car now, that’s it for me. I’ll say goodbye to the hobby forever. It’s just gotten too expensive for me, even with a relatively accessible vehicle.

    That’s why I don’t drive it in the rain.

    When I first got my Chevelle in 2007, Hagerty at the time would only give me coverage if I stored it in a fully enclosed space, even at a $5000 value (it’s just an original 4 door 6 cylinder car). So I couldn’t use them since I didn’t have a garage. Some years later after moving, maybe 2012, I inquired again and by that time they had started covering cars even if you park them in the driveway. The rates are a little higher of course, but they did give me the coverage on some other antique trucks that I keep in the driveway. I have the guaranteed values lower than what they suggest, which may factor into it, but I’m OK with that. So, might be worth checking in with them again to see if that has changed for your location too. Hagerty insurance has been very cost effective for me.

    I have a ‘71 MG. Cost $6k to buy and &4k over the first year or two and then no major expenses for the past five years other than oil and a few bulbs. It has been a delight and I have a History Channel moment every time I downshift.

    You can choose how expensive you need to be.

    As for the rain, I avoid rain because I most enjoy riding with the top
    down and the underside of the monocoque is somewhat crunchy. A Jack would go right through the bottom if not carefully placed.

    And, as for the question of perfection, some want a concours level vehicle and others just want to enjoy the ride. I have a spot in front of a rear wheel well with a hole and crumbly edges. The B is Signal Red, which happens to be the exact same hue as red duct tape. Unless you are 12 inches from the car, the intervention is undetectable. Since I’m not going riding in the mud or salt, that’ll do.

    Let’s go for a drive!

    Thank you. I get grief for driving to a collectable car regularly from people in the hobby. People I meet in public never fail to stop, introduce themselves, and ask about the car or, better yet, tell me about one they, or someone they know owned. It’s a great opportunity to meet people.

    I do clean my Mustang a lot, I like it to look good all of the time. I do check the weather before I go out because the original owner and I have never driven it on a wet road and the underside is spotless, an area of the car I like to keep clean without having to clean it. Besides …it has a white convertible top original to the car so there’s that haha. I don’t mind a few drops of rain on it when out but anything more than a light sprinkle, it stays in the garage. Although it’s a 1994 with 14k miles, I do drive it for fun every chance I get and am currently averaging about 1100-1200 miles a year, up from the original owners 300 per year. The car is just one of a few hobbies for me so I enjoy it when I have the time.

    Not driving in the rain has nothing to do with the car getting wet, that’s such a misconception. I don’t drive in the rain because of other people. I have an old car, it doesn’t have modern tech, so if suddenly have to slam on the brakes because some idiot cut me off, I’m sliding and likely hitting that idiot. Other drivers are bad enough in good weather, the danger grows exponentially when it’s wet.

    But, there’s also nothing wrong with folks who don’t want to get it wet. For example, my car was also made before galvanized steel and rust protection was thing the manufacturer used, so water is definitely not your friend. I also don’t wash my car either, I wipe it down after each outing, that’s it.

    I don’t know why we have to shame people for not wanting to drive in the rain. If someone isn’t comfortable doing, no matter what the reason, then so be it. What’s the issue here?

    I wouldn’t say I’ve ever knowingly headed out with imminent rain in the forecast, but if it looks decent out, I head out, and if I get caught in the rain so be it.

    There’s a reason they were called Rustangs. Especially the rag tops. A million places for water to gather unseen and silently reduce the car to dust over time. So I keep my ‘66 out of the rain whenever possible not because I want to protect its glossy shine, but because I want to drive it, not sweep it, out of the garage.

    Owning cars is good for my brain.
    It may not be fair that I don’t drive or share them as often as I should, but I really enjoy the build. I’m not manufacture specific. I’ve built most current American makes and have found a 60 TR3 I’m building. I try to not have opinions about other folks cars or quality of work ( I only build drivers and when I get them out I thrash them.) we should all be happy we have people to share it with. BUT, I don’t want to go to car shows if the quality isn’t something to be recognized. I certainly do not deserve the right to judge anyone’s work.

    I love this article. It reads like I speak at most gatherings. I have an old car. I don’t have a “show” car. It’s worth more (whato that means to you) than just any old car because it’s pretty-much all original.

    I don’t judge people for what they bring to gatherings. If you want to show off your stock 2011 Corolla, who am I to say you’re wrong? I might not understand it but that’s the point—I’ll ask the owner to tell me about it. I also don’t get why someone in their 60s wants a Corvette to go with their Hawaiian shirt, jean shorts, and white New Balance. But who am I to judge? If it makes you happy, go for it.

    Show off your rusted ’72 Datsun pickup. Show off your ’24 Ford Maverick. But stay near your car so people like me can hear your story. THAT’s what it’s all about.

    I’ve been in this “ hobby” for about 50 years, and owned one of my cars over 40 years… so I’ve pretty much done it all.
    Sad to say, the car hobby for me has diminished: I own 4 “ hot rods”, and I just don’t “ use “ them like I used to. Shows get weird with people parking and “ holding spots” for people that either don’t show up or show up late…. I don’t drive as much because of terrible drivers increasing accidents more every day…. and I’m almost 70, and my body doesn’t like a lot of jarring from my cars. I still love the IDEA of this hobby, but it can become a little like the term” too much ice cream makes you sick” kinda thing.
    I do take a car out on errands every now and then, but I used to travel a lot: my 37 Ford over 40 years has over 150,000 miles…. but I’m not a fan of long trips in ANY kind of car these days.
    I guess age and time in ranks has taken a toll: all things fade, but I’m not ready to let my “ car addiction “ fade yet!

    I was at Spring Carlisle th the 1990’s when they had incorporated car show field. One year it rained. It seemed like the only pepole who stayed or showed up were the Tri-Five Chevys and Mercury Cougars. I had my daily driver ’73 Cogar there. I think the Cougar and Tri-Five people were glad to enjoy thier cars even if wet weather. Also, Around 10 years ago I was visiting a repair shop I worked at in the 80’s There was a customer picking up a late 30’s sedan delivery. The manager of the shop mentioned that it was going to rain soon and that customer might want to hurry home. The customer stated that cars were made to drive.

    Heard a guy explain he doesn’t put down the top on his convertible as it will get wrinkles if he does.
    Implying it will score lower when judged if it had them, so no.

    In general, if you are putting food on the table, paying bills on time, and doing normal family things, any extra amount of time and money put into the hobby, no matter if it showing, racing, or even just owning cool cars (and trucks) is fine. Temperament is important too – if you are getting upset because you didn’t get the Best XXX trophy, but you won a trophy, you have the wrong attitude. If you can’t say something nice about someone’s vehicle at a show, don’t say anything about it. Remember, not everyone has the means, ability, or desire to own a Concourse car.

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