Toon Town

[go z racer, go]

As the time grows nearer to the start of the much anticipated annual MSA extravaganza, I get this feeling like I'm unappreciated.

I own an early 71 with the original "great pumpkin" paint scheme, that would hardly warrant a second glance. I mean it's lowered, and handles like a go kart from Hell, but no one except my local Honda owners can appreciate the time and pain staking research invested I have invested in my Z,

I favor road racing, so all my efforts are primarily focused on tuning the suspension and brake upgrades. For the most part, you cant see it. I can't picture myself dropping mirrors under my car for the public to take notice when I park. I can hardly tolerate mounting my "Club" on the steering wheel. So, I didn't make it a point to insist my undercarriage parts be chromed, or finished in (fake) "carbon-fiber weave." What I'm trying to say is, I do not "show" my Z at events. Even if I were to enter Daisy Mae (my Z's name, it's a long story) those Armoral loving Judges wouldn't even so much as slap a Jack-antena-Ball on it. They only seem to recognize a cars value when there're parked, you know, the cars that arrive via a trailer, boasting a zero to negative read on the odometer, the ones with children that panic if they so much come within an arms reach of their parents "Show Car" as if it were electicly charged, the ones with the unmistakable "Toon Town" look. I have a hunch these are the very same people who dress their dogs with a cute sweaters right before they step out to walk them.

Someone, please fill me in here? I'm not an art critic by any measure, but I can probably figure out which car will win a parking lot contest. I don't need a self appointed Judge with an eye for Mother's Stage one hundred and forty something wax to confirm what everyone who arrived at an event without aid of an eye-dog, or a white cane (or an NFL referee) figured out in five minutes.

Don't get me wrong though, I do enjoy gazing at the show cars, and I'm always impressed by clever or, witty modifications. Some are truly unique works of art reflecting their respective owners courage to drive his, or hers, "Parade Float In Heat" through their own neighborhoods, and are elevated far beyond my simplistic imagination; and what you should do with your 401K.

Still with me? Now, should anyone ever approach me, and ask me what I think a beautiful car looks like, I'd tell them this; "Any motor vehicle, exploding through disfigured asphalt, in a state of controlled chaos, with the confidence of Ron Jeremy strolling through an Asian nudist colony, while inflicting shame to Honda owners, is nothing, if not breath taking."

BTW, for those of you who consider yourselves (proud) Show Car Guys, and feel that I have somehow crossed a line, (I never used that four letter word , RUST), I apologize. In fact, I couldn't care less if anyone were to ever come up to me and tell me I have the best looking urethane bushings in town. I just felt like writing something to elicit a smile from my fellow Z'er.

On the bright side, you can all line up and poke fun at my ugly car at the up coming MSA event , that is of course, after you have successfully sterilized your parked novelties for public viewing.

[kmack]

Jerry,

Rest assured that the "I spend more time waxing my Trailer Queen than taking a bath" Purists, would end up eating cones if the rules of the show insisted that the cars be driven on a road course to evaluate their road-worthy ability!

Anytime my local club holds a car show and we get to vote for viewer's choice, I always - ALWAYS - vote for a car that has at least a little road grime on it! Cars are meant to be driven, not stored away in an oversized closet and taken out in the sunshine on special occasions.

"Controlled chaos on asphalt" I love it!

Drive 'em the way they were intended to drive, I say.

[jcdozier]

I, too, am the owner of a "great pumpkin" 240-Z (1971 Type-1). I almost passed on it because if the color, (and the automatic transmission) but I had been looking for six months and was weary of the search. Over time the color has grown less objectionable, (or perhaps that's the onset of senility). My sons still occasionally tell me the color looks like something one finds in a baby's diaper, but they still drive it when their ride is in the shop.

This is another 240-Z that won't get a second look at the car shows, but then I didn't buy it to show it - I bought it to drive. Except for the Mallory electronic distributor and Promaster coil, almost none of my "upgrades" are visible, (ok, I painted the 4WD calipers red and they can be seen through the slots in the wheels). It does have the slot "mag" wheels and a small rear-hatch spoiler, and since it is third on the list for the 2-car garage, it also has louvers on the hatch to save the carpet from sun damage.

I have considered a color change, but to do that right the car has to be disassembled. More than the bucks involved, the time without the ride has been the reason I haven't done that. Maybe I should get another 240 for a ride while this one is "down" for the color change?

[Rev.Victor Webb]

Rev here, I agree with you on this, that is why I like the Porsche and Mercedes clubs ( the official ones). They require that the cars be driven to be entered and yes, my idea of beauty is a car that is recognizable at a glance and shows use. Too many of the new cars all look alike. Another thing is the graphics, too many of the newer cars look like they should be hanging in a art gallery for bad art (or good child art). The true beauty (I think) is best shown as the car is driving down the road. One last thing, as long as you like the car and you do it your way, who cares about what someone else thinks. Beauty is all a point of view.

[go z racer, go]

After reading your response to my less than favorable profile on Car Show Guys, to say I'm relieved would be a gross understatement. I was preparing for the worse. I banged out this pulp on my lap top early in morning while at work. I'm a FF and had just returned from one of those 911 wake up calls that leave you thinking way too much. Writing pulp, or doing anything else that can redirect my thoughts long enough to fall asleep again, helps.

Well, to make a long story longer, I did not proofread this particular post; as my head cleared a bit, fatigue set in. However, today I reviewed my post and it seemed a bit abrasive; not my usual "tongue and cheek " style.

So, I assume you will not appear at my home as an angry mob, waving medieval torches with barking dogs, and cast stones through my windows, while branding me as Satan? No? Not even a good ole toilet paper hit?

You guys are great!