[bird72]

I have driven both Birds this week during the day and noticed I was the only vintage car in my few drives I did. People act like I am driving something from another planet. It is getting stranger every year driving a classic. It is like you are the Lone Stranger now instead of one of the pack, like it used to be....

[Singleton]

Originally Posted by bird72

I have driven both Birds this week during the day and noticed I was the only vintage car in my few drives I did. People act like I am driving something from another planet. It is getting stranger every year driving a classic.

That's exactly right lol. Thirty years ago, driving around in my GTO, I would get the attention of mainly other gearheads. It was just another old car to most folks.
But flash forward to present day with the same car, and it's a completely different experience. Everyone notices now. People driving along side taking pictures and videos, giving thumbs up, starting conversations at redlights about their uncle that used to have a 442 just like it, asking to do burnouts or race etc. All of which is great, don't get me wrong, but it can get a little unnerving at times.
I just wish sometimes I could take a drive to enjoy the car and blend in with everyone else.

As far as cruising goes, I don't see it happening anymore like it used to be.
Rules and regulations slowly killed it back in the late 80's, early 90's. And kids of today simply have much more ways to occupy their time than we did, with all the online stuff, video games, facebook etc. Cruising would be boring to them.
Back in the early 80's, the local arcade was one of the cruise spots, which was the only means of video games. If you wanted to meet chicks you had to go out and find them, instead of sitting at home on your smart phone chatting with them on Tinder.

It's a different world now.

[Squidward]

Originally Posted by Singleton

That's exactly right lol. Thirty years ago, driving around in my GTO, I would get the attention of mainly other gearheads. It was just another old car to most folks.
But flash forward to present day with the same car, and it's a completely different experience. Everyone notices now. People driving along side taking pictures and videos, giving thumbs up, starting conversations at redlights about their uncle that used to have a 442 just like it, asking to do burnouts or race etc. All of which is great, don't get me wrong, but it can get a little unnerving at times.
I just wish sometimes I could take a drive to enjoy the car and blend in with everyone else.

As far as cruising goes, I don't see it happening anymore like it used to be.
Rules and regulations slowly killed it back in the late 80's, early 90's. And kids of today simply have much more ways to occupy their time than we did, with all the online stuff, video games, facebook etc. Cruising would be boring to them.
Back in the early 80's, the local arcade was one of the cruise spots, which was the only means of video games. If you wanted to meet chicks you had to go out and find them, instead of sitting at home on your smart phone chatting with them on Tinder.

It's a different world now.

Ah, the arcade! That seems to go hand in hand with the nostalgia from my youth!

We used to vacation at a lake along the Lake Michigan coast. There was an arcade with go-karts, mini golf, and video games along the lakeshore drive. I used to blow through the few bucks I had, but dreamed of the day I could be one of "those" guys with the long hair, wispy 'stache, and rumbly jacked up muscle car. Of course, tho, by the time I was old enough to drive, my family quit going up there. But I saw my first gen 1 FB on vacation up there, and it was a game changer for me.

Real cruising from back in the day had that "edge" to it, where you were behaving in a marginally legal manner. We drove with a little buzz, or maybe a friend or two with an open beer. Throw that in with the anticipation of a possible awkward hookup, and it was all the hormonal indulgence you needed. It all blended together so perfectly!

Cruise-Ins today with our old cars aren't the same. They are sedate, orderly, and void of danger. I enjoy them to some degree, but for different reasons. We are all responsible, financially sound, and have a lot to lose if we F up. Back when we were young we had no clue about future responsibility, and NOTHING to lose.

I think a lot of us still have that wild streak somewhere inside; we just learned how to keep the bear sleeping.

[Simple Man]

Originally Posted by Squidward

Ah, the arcade! That seems to go hand in hand with the nostalgia from my youth!

We used to vacation at a lake along the Lake Michigan coast. There was an arcade with go-karts, mini golf, and video games along the lakeshore drive. I used to blow through the few bucks I had, but dreamed of the day I could be one of "those" guys with the long hair, wispy 'stache, and rumbly jacked up muscle car. Of course, tho, by the time I was old enough to drive, my family quit going up there. But I saw my first gen 1 FB on vacation up there, and it was a game changer for me.

Real cruising from back in the day had that "edge" to it, where you were behaving in a marginally legal manner. We drove with a little buzz, or maybe a friend or two with an open beer. Throw that in with the anticipation of a possible awkward hookup, and it was all the hormonal indulgence you needed. It all blended together so perfectly!

Cruise-Ins today with our old cars aren't the same. They are sedate, orderly, and void of danger. I enjoy them to some degree, but for different reasons. We are all responsible, financially sound, and have a lot to lose if we F up. Back when we were young we had no clue about future responsibility, and NOTHING to lose.

I think a lot of us still have that wild streak somewhere inside; we just learned how to keep the bear sleeping.

The perfect explanation! Thank You.