When I was a kid the car to have was a 55-57 Chevy, because they were plentiful, cheap to buy, and both easy and cheap to modify. The kids who cared more about speed/performance than looks often drove around in primered cars. When the budget is limited you have to compromise somewhere. In the late 60's the VW Beatle became the car to have, because they were plentiful, cheap to buy, and could be modded to outrun your old man's '55 Chevy, without breaking the bank. Primer remained common on kids cars where performance on a budget was the primary goal. Today Beatles and old Chevy's are no longer plentiful or cheap, so the kids have found the most logical replacement, the car that is most plentiful, and cheapest to buy and modify, and right now that car happens to be the Civic and to a lesser extent some of the other imports from Japan. Driving around a rusted out, dented up POS is one thing, but driving a straight and clean car that is fast as stink, and wearing primer, should not be a point of shame. For the serious kids it's just a matter of a limited budget and performance based priorities, and it's been that way since my *father* was a kid. Back then kids hot rodded T-bucket roadstes, because they were plentiful, cheap to by and modify, and made as much sense to them as the Civics do to the kids today.

There have always been kids who would put big tires and primer on a rusted out POS and try to pass it off as a hard core hot rod, and to be totally honest about it, I have a hard time looking down on them just because they are poor and can't afford to build their car the way they'd really prefer.

At least half the cars on the road in this area quailfy fully as a POS, but most people are driving the best car they can afford, and keeping it up to the best of their ability. If I judged people by the cars they drove I'd have very few friends.

All the kids who are interested in cars need is a little direction. At one time we all needed a little direciton and help. The way our SCCA region has prospered due to our welcoming and guiding the kids is absolutely conclusive, and animosity (like we see here on a regular basis) just drives new blood away from our favored sports and hobbies. Some of the regions these guys are in will suffer, sooner or later, due to their attitudes; It's just a matter of time. Thankfully MGR is (now) well ahead of the curve.


Firefighter770, I'm not sure you do always have to pay for what you get. The best things in life are free.