The internet ruins just about everything. I know Al Gore meant well when he created it, but I am sure even he is face palming right about now. These days everyone is doing it for the vine, posing for the camera, selfie-ing, and pretty much just trying too hard. Cars are at the top of that list. People do up cars for personal reasons, but lets be real, it always feels good when someone appreciates it. But that last factor has now become the main reason. People have becoming famous in the fore front of their minds. Drift cars with instagram handles on them for photographers to tag them, cars with super rare parts that don’t match just for wow factor, cliche trends mashed together just to get in the latest e-magazine.
If you find yourself changing the look of your car every “season” then you might be part of the problem. Close the internet and take a breath.
fantasticvoyagesunlimited.com 
I agree with this 100%
If you’re going for an impartial assessment of the situation, I think you’re drawing a little too much from your own perspective. Let’s have a look:
“Drift cars with Instagram handles…”
Social media is freedom of the press. It’s a voice for everyone. It’s also a way for us little guys to gain a leg up on convention in promoting ourselves and our accomplishments, so that interested people can more easily find us and what we do. Would you rather we live in a world of anonymity, where personalities and accomplishments are simply not shared? Would you rather the big brands of the world continue to enjoy that privileged exclusively?
“Super rare parts that don’t match just for wow factor.”
I’m more of a function-before-form guy, but even I get this one. Building cars in the way you cite isn’t about “parts that don’t match just for the wow factor.” It’s about creating something that still looks good, even while pushed outside conventional limits. And sometimes, the best expression of creativity is found in maintaining a surprising (sometimes shocking) appeal while pushing those limits pretty damn far. I’m sure you’ve seen a fashion exhibition, automotive or architectural concept, or a Warhol.
But let’s be REALLY real for a moment. When was the last time any of us did anything strictly for ourselves? Didn’t talk about it, show it, or share it with anyone. Do you write this blog anonymously, never promoting it through social media? Are those links in your header navigation not all about you, placed there strictly for others to see?
All of our actions can seem trivial and insignificant and foolish to those who don’t share our perspectives, or who don’t realize how doing what we do brings us joy and a sense of accomplishment. Instead of judging others from your perspective (and looking MORE foolish in the process), try to understand that everyone else is just living their lives the way you live yours, but from their perspective. Forgive their “foolishness,” if it upsets you, but don’t attack it. Because, from a distant enough perspective in space and time, we’re ALL trivial and insignificant. And living our lives the way we want is all we have.
And please think about switching up your font/background opacity. Gray-on-gray is tough to read.
Nailed. Golf clap, Munnell.
If you’re going for an impartial assessment of the situation, I think you’re drawing a little too much from your own perspective. Let’s have a look:
“Drift cars with Instagram handles…”
Social media is freedom of the press. It’s a voice for everyone. It’s also a way for us little guys to gain a leg up on convention in promoting ourselves and our accomplishments, so that interested people can more easily find us and what we do. Would you rather we live in a world of anonymity, where personalities and accomplishments are simply not shared? Would you rather the big brands of the world continue to enjoy that privileged exclusively?
“Super rare parts that don’t match just for wow factor.”
I’m more of a function-before-form guy, but even I get this one. Building cars in the way you cite isn’t about “parts that don’t match just for the wow factor.” It’s about creating something that still looks good, even while pushed outside conventional limits. And sometimes, the best expression of creativity is found in maintaining a surprising (sometimes shocking) appeal while pushing those limits pretty damn far. I’m sure you’ve seen a fashion exhibition, automotive or architectural concept, or a Warhol.
But let’s be REALLY real for a moment. When was the last time any of us did anything strictly for ourselves? Didn’t talk about it, show it, or share it with anyone. Do you write this blog anonymously, never promoting it through social media? Are those links in your header navigation not all about you, placed there strictly for others to see?
All of our actions can seem trivial and insignificant and foolish to those who don’t share our perspectives, or who don’t realize how doing what we do brings us joy and a sense of accomplishment. Instead of judging others from your perspective (and looking MORE foolish in the process), try to understand that everyone else is just living their lives the way you live yours, but from their perspective. Forgive their “foolishness,” if it upsets you, but don’t attack it. Because, from a distant enough perspective in space and time, we’re ALL trivial and insignificant. And living our lives the way we want is all we have.
And please think about switching up your font/background opacity. Gray-on-gray is tough to read
You people are really really barking up the WRONG tree. Othniel, aka, OB…is a TRUE OG car man. Luke, you just wrote a diatribe about how car people are car people blah blah blah.
What you fail to understand is that OB KNOWS cars very well. He works on his own cars, he fixes, drives, breaks, and fixes again. He’s willing to go that extra mile to have a nice looking car but he isn’t afraid to drive it. Hell, he’s even driven the Nürburgring…can’t say that, can you Luke?
You’re responding back to a man who has seen it all and done it all and decided to make a comment about all the fan boiz, posers, wannabe’s, and people who actually sometimes make it worse for the real gear heads. You, Luke, went off forever and a day about things that OB has already been through.
The man is sick of seeing people pining for glory and they only find that glory RARELY happens so they get out of the game.
Quit your yapping, go have a Coke and a smile.