People with NO respect!

I've got an old unrestored Triumph that I take to the car shows. Sitting in the field of shiny jewels is my ratty old car. Some day, I'm going to make a "go ahead and touch it" sign or something like that for it.

I can't count the number of times I have watched people stop and study my car. Not the concours crowd, but real people. People who didn't know you really can just drive and enjoy something, without worrying about how pretty it is.

Anyone is welcome to climb in and see what it's like to view the world over an old wooden dash. I've had a number of people get out and start talking to me or their friends about the idea of getting something like my old Triumph because "gee, this seems like a lot of fun" and "I didn't know you could just drive one."

Other show folk tend to know me, and the car. So if I'm not around they are quick to open it up for people to look at and touch.

I've never had the car hurt this way, though I suppose eventually I may. The worse I've had is dirty foot prints on the seat from the little ones standing on it making voom voom noises while grinning over the steering wheel.

Unrestored show pieces are a neat world in their own right.

I’m a little confused by the comparisons that everyone is tossing around. They really don’t add up. Jason is asking for info about the culture that parents are installing in their kids and not thinking twice about it. Sounds like he has his tractor in an open area were people can walk by and view the tractors, equipment, etc. Most times this stuff is un-attended as they have always been for years. Just because no one is around the tractor doesn’t give anyone the right to just hop on it and start messing with all the goodies. Knowledge is power. Now you have junior up on the tractor and he figures out that if you turn this switch and push this button the tractor may start and if left in gear (and most are), watch out. Remember, these are 50, 60 70 + year old tractors. Not many safety features. Why? They relied on Common Sense.

Here’s some simple common sense rules to follow:
1. ASK the owner before touching property that isn’t yours.
2. Give short precise instructions of what NOT to touch.
3. Educate the person (kid or adult)
4. Then have the folks take pictures.

Everyone’s happy. But don’t skip 1 and go right to 2, 3 and 4.

you're right. in todays world, everyone is lawyer happy. and the sad part is that the parents who let their kids play like that at tractor shows wont care at all until their kid gets hurt.

and you better believe that, when my tractor goes to shows, the crank handle stays in the truck.

Thanks for letting me speak and remember, it just may be my blood sugar out of kilter.

My son and I do have a race car that we are pretty proud of and we do make the mall shows around the area in the winter months. Out of maybe 50 cars that will be at any of these shows, we are one of the few that allow kids and/or adults to sit in the car. We put the child in the car and watch what they do while in it, it is not unsupervised. We even take a digital picture and email to the people if they want. Everyone else will have rope barriers around their display to keep people away.

We did a show for the Make a Wish foundation and let me tell you it was most gratifying to see these kids with terminal illness's lined up waiting to get in the one and only car that would allow it. Sure, there were a few scratches when it was over, but a week of paint work wouldn't have put a stop to our letting people do something they may never have another opportunity to do.

Remember, these kids are the future of anything we do. If they have a bad experience (or uninteresting), when they are old enough to go on their own and take their kids, they probably won't show up at your show. I guess then you won't have to worry about it!

This was pretty long, so I suppose it's a nickle's worth.

We will almost always receive a thank you by return email. Most people are not as bad as we make them sound, just have to get them involved in some way.

I went to a bunch of county demo derbies this past week. Lots of nice kids. But there were also a lot that stood on the fence (where they weren't allowed & blocked other people's view) and they just love grabbing the light standards and shaking them for all they are worth (see if a light falls of the pole, or burns out, I donno why?) and one young 4 year old girl right in front of me must have been to her first demo derby, every heat she stood on the bench right in front of me, her parents held her for a good view.

I was both excirted for her to see her first demo, but pretty disappointed I didn't get to see much at all of the demo - kid sure had a big head!

Anyhow, there is a whole crop of good kids with great parents, but the ones with no upbringing or supervision seems to be growing. Don't get it?

It wouldn't be so bad, but parents should be resonsible for their kids - I guess the laws have changed, and lawyers rule the roost, grabbing as much money as they can for no reason. That is the scary part.

A tractor show shouldn't be a free-for-all unspervised day care - some parents seem to feel it is? I think folks are talking about two totally different situations here, can't compare apples to oranges.

--->Paul

However, I did have a thought or two for those that plan shows, go to shows, and such...

How about putting a few "not-so-restored" tractors on display (with friendly volunteers that are knowledgable about tractors) to explain and interpret what the tractor is, does, works, functions... If insurance would allow... the public could set on the "not-so-good" tractors without the fears of scratches and scrapes. I think that if two identical tractors were setting side-by-side, one a show tractor (maybe roped off) and one a hands-on-display the public would become "advocates" for the collectors and for agriculture. Personal involvement (as opposed to a sterile environment) can do wonders for relations with the public. Creating "Warm fuzzies" are a great way to win "friends for agriculture." And the Good Lord knows we need all the friends we can win!