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Track guy, Smack guy, Wash and wax guy…
Posted Monday, October 12th, 2009 in Group Discussions
“Car Enthusiast” can’t we just leave it there? Oh the peace the world would know if we all took two steps back and realize we all essentially have the same passion. The drive, the car, the experience. As with the current political climate it seems everything in our world is becoming more and more polarized. Perhaps it is the brand marketeers of the world. Those who have researched their demographic, done focus group after focus group and refined their product until it was perfect for person X. At some point person X becomes so sure he is right about his POV that he decides to hate on person Y. “I am right, you are wrong.” It’s just that simple. Soon we develop our clique of close mates and with those numbers comes power. Now, not only are we right, but we can fight about it. Enter the Blogosphere, the Internet Forum. Ah yes, I would like a few gallons of haterade with my evening surfing please. Why do we have to always be right? Is our way best, can there be compromise ? Good questions. Let’s discuss.
A few years back, a track day buddy (and ex-grand am professional driver) and I were attending a car show. It wasn’t really so much a show and shine as it was a “check out what I got” drive in for a few hundred cars. As we walked through the sea of shimmering paint, glinting alloy and general automotive nirvana we stumbled upon a pretty fair representation of Porsche 2.7 RS clones. The car was on Victaracer semi slicks and the gent who owned this visually stunning car was finishing up a detail before he walked away. Little did I know but the whole pitcher of haterade was near the tipping point the as tension was obviously mounting on the other side of the car I came around to see “tire wet” being applied. Ok, I could see how there was a bit of irony here, racing tyre, being greased up and all… kind of an oxymoron of sorts. However, rather than subtle amusement my “racer” friend went off on this poor fellow in a loud demeaning tone which then escalated into a bit of a fit which I then had to break up.
Ok, time out. Question: Do tires look good all gray and brown ? Answer: No. Question: Does tire wet on a race tyre actually endanger peoples lives? Well, I suppose yes, but that would assume that the ooze would never come off or dissipate. Clearly our much maligned friend wasn’t about to autocross or track this beauty.
Certainly in our community there is room for dialogue, but if you know nothing about warm tyre pressures, cam duration, or alignment will hate help you learn? NO. I have personally left forums before simply because a few “enlightened” car guys thought it was their job to inform (and at the same time demean if at all possible) all comers in the ways of “their ” car that they were so obsessed with. I know guys with some pretty impressive machinery that won’t go near a car show because they don’t want to get hate. I once had an E30 M3 with Racing Dynamics wheels, a pretty fun little car. I took it to a show once and actually had someone tell me “shame about those wheels.” I was like, “Wow, this from a guy that rolled up in a stock ride ht, stock wheeled E36 M3.” Then it hit me, in my mind I was doing the same thing. He was the “stocker”… you know, the guy that wants it stock or noway, and anything else is just wrong. I was the slam it and make it corner guy, with a “he must not really care about performance” hate message swimming around in my own mind. Being someone who has driven nearly every car in both stock and modified forms, I try to remain unbiased on the whole thing. However driving an EVO 10, though it isn’t something I can see myself driving personally, it certainly has appreciable feature. I fail to understand how someone who has likely NEVER EVEN driven the car can pronounce it “crap on a stick”. Does your car have more power? Maybe. Does it apply it better? Well, GREAT! We should all be so lucky, but let’s be friends.
Show us your P3ness!
Lastly I’ll touch on my favorite. The Hater that not only hasn’t driven the car or tried the product that he is about to hate on, he can’t even spell it correctly. OH MAN, I loves me a good forum post with some errors in a message where the antagonist is actually trying to tell you about your error, how wrong you are. Oh yeah, that’s good times… good times.
What can we do with all this hate? Well, next time you start thinking, “Oh here comes ricer boy with T4 strapped to his Civic, I am sure it detonates like a mo fo”, really look at that car. Is there something you can learn? Something you can actually appreciate? I have found that even with cars that made me laugh out loud, talk to the guy and nearly every time I have been surprised by the thoughtful, insight that has come of it.
I will open our Forum with this plea. If you have never been on a track and don’t understand why in some instances (even on the street) a slightly smaller wheel might actually be the best pick, think about it. Take a moment to ponder why the software in your car may not be best, but may be an equal or fine alternative. Take a moment to consider paint scheme, decals, et al, all are down to personal taste. Heck, one day you might even come back to that car you were about to hate on and say, “that looks hot, what was I thinking?”
There are more than a few paths to automotive bliss. At P3 we aim to cut out the guessing, and give you recommendations, but we also thrive on your input, the input of all car guys. So if you are a Euro tuner, Mopar freak, VIP style boy or Track whore… we know you would like to hang, roll, race and in the end just be brothers.
I’m going to bookmark this blogg on Digg to get more views for you.