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What is it about driving our older rides?

Up here we don't have the freeway issue
I'm 50 miles from any freeway
we have far less population here in the sticks
I don't have too many of the reg. inner-shitty drivers issues...

I do get crowds in parking lots :poke:
or outside the parts store, someone is always interested
I'm usually polite, you don't see classic cars that much here...
It's far more the nice 4x4's & lots of cool Jeeps etc., more than classics...

IMO people tailgate always, no matter what I drive
it's crazy, everyone is in a damn hurry
or on their damn phones or texting, putting on make up eating etc.
more noticeable especially when towing a trailer, it's crazy...

The little kids love these older cars
seems more than the parents
(the generation behind US/me, I think they think it's a gas guzzler
& a waste, they like their Jap Crap, Camary, Yota PU or some SUV, the older ones
seems are in their Caddys, just shake their head, wonder why ?, think I'm stupid
)

When driving a classic like my 68 RR,
now back to it's org. bright Surf Turquoise Metallic
wasn't as bad when it was Ultra flat Black for a decade :poke:
it was much more stealthy, not in your face as much...

(it's worse especially when I had an open trailer, racecar in tow)

IMO seems some people like to stay along side of you
& get a longer/better look, wave or thumbs up etc.
especially when driving classic cars...
You really need to be eyes for both cars,
they aren't paying the attention they need to the road ahead...

I drive really defensively in all my cars/trucks,
no matter if it's a classic or my DD
 
Up here we don't have the freeway issue
I'm 50 miles from any freeway
we have far less population here in the sticks
I don't have too many of the reg. inner-shitty drivers issues...

I do get crowds in parking lots :poke:
or outside the parts store, someone is always interested
I'm usually polite, you don't see classic cars that much here...
It's far more the nice 4x4's & lots of cool Jeeps etc., more than classics...

IMO people tailgate always, no matter what I drive
it's crazy, everyone is in a damn hurry
or on their damn phones or texting, putting on make up eating etc.
more noticeable especially when towing a trailer, it's crazy...

The little kids love these older cars
seems more than the parents
(the generation behind US/me, I think they think it's a gas guzzler
& a waste, they like their Jap Crap, Camary, Yota PU or some SUV, the older ones
seems are in their Caddys, just shake their head, wonder why ?, think I'm stupid
)

When driving a classic like my 68 RR,
now back to it's org. bright Surf Turquoise Metallic
wasn't as bad when it was Ultra flat Black for a decade :poke:
it was much more stealthy, not in your face as much...

(it's worse especially when I had an open trailer, racecar in tow)

IMO seems some people like to stay along side of you
& get a longer/better look, wave or thumbs up etc.
especially when driving classic cars...
You really need to be eyes for both cars,
they aren't paying the attention they need to the road ahead...

I drive really defensively in all my cars/trucks,
no matter if it's a classic or my DD
Same here, pretty much.
This one has never been on an interstate, intentionally so - and we're 45 minutes
from the nearest one anyways. Right now, she's a little too loud, a little too many RPM's
with the gearing, etc. to cruise at 70+ anyways.
Four lanes and country roads get me where I want to go these days anyways and I enjoy
them a lot more - takes some of that rush and hurry out of me driving those.
I did that boogy for over 30 years (over 35k miles per year, no less) and don't miss it a bit.

Yes, these cars draw attention but to date, knock wood, I've not had any truly bad experiences.
A few times on the road someone will get a little too close for comfort, but once I give them
acknowledgement of their attention, they usually disperse - typically by passing me by.

I'm a tad paranoid when driving the GTX, so the couple times someone has blatantly been
following me in order to speak when I got where I was going were led away from home or
any other place I didn't want them to associate with the car - just in case.

One's senses are heightened when driving these cars, by nature. Driving a bazillion miles at
warp factor 8 over decades has already sharpened defensive driving for me, so that's nothing new -
but I do think you're better able to see trouble coming when behind the wheel of these cars, too.
 
Just stating the facts from my personal experience. I've been driving my Mopars for years and 90% of the time the tailgaters and those who could care a less are young women drivers. (Guess I won't be a Supreme Court Justice).
I have taught my 3 children (now adults) when they see a classic car on the streets you give them space and respect. And be careful, some of them can be mean as hell.
 
People can be morons!

One of the reasons I moved out of the city and into the boondocks.
I make an effort to roll on back roads.

Having to deal with Yoder goats is a problem where I live.
Try coming over a bluff at 55MPH and finding yourself right behind a flat black buggy going 10MPH.
 
Reading these threads makes me thankful to be a small town country boy, what's traffic??? I put a lot of miles on it and do pass through the occasional cities but only get an occasional jackass rice burner pulling up on me with his Fart can and sticker covered windows... last one got humiliated:thumbsup:. Hoping a supercharger is in the near future so I can further educate the youth:lol:.

I'm certain the 6 speed helps too, I cruise the freeway at 80 mph so there's few creeping up on me and I'm not in anybody's way.
 
I sometimes wonder if my old Mopar is magnetic attracting traffic around me closer, especially from the rear. It's routine for people in their friggin SUV's, mini-vans, and pepper grinders, to ride up my ***! It matters not if I'm going 5-10-or more over the speed limit. And I see this with my buddy's in their old rides when we're going to car shows or cruising.
Just WTF is it?
Do others think we don't belong on the road? Or they think our vintage cars are not able to keep up with their ******* Nissan's, Toyota's, or Kia's? Or maybe they think we're only joyriding, and as such, we should pull over to let them pass, since they must be more important. I have a friend of a friend have his cherry '69 Runner totaled soon after he got his new motor in. The woman that T-boned him running, her red light, said "didn't you see me"? Tell ya, I have no clue just how pissed I might be if some reckless schmuck ruins my car..

As someone that drives 80 miles a day in a 73 car for many years now, including cross country, let me suggest that it's not that your older car is attracting them.
People have become victims of the Volvo Syndrome and drive badly all the time.
I would only suggest that you are more sensitive to tailgating and bad driving in general when in that car.
That's my theory, anyway.
I've found that if I "adjust" my rear view mirror during daylight many times the driver behind me will notice me looking at them a back off.
Not always.
One of the positives is people tend to give me the right of way, let me in front of them when the interstate is backed up with a wreck and no road rage so far.
When we are sitting in a tie up people some times even ask me what the car is.


I've only been in one wreck since driving an antique care exclusivity.
The motor cycle cop leading a funeral procession stopped us quickly at an intersection.
The fellow beside me was hit hard in the rear.
I received a glancing blow and had to repair my left quarter.
I always make a point to watch people behind me when braking.
In my deference, I was off schedule and distracted that day.
It all happened so fast.
 
I moved some 20 years ago buying some land from the in-laws, former gen famers, and it was nice and remote. Now there's 10 new subdivisions and counting new ones popping and the 5 mile ride to the nearest town is nuts on a state highway. Used to be able to go the back route all farms, but now there's half dozen new sub's there and two more under construction. Well I'm getting older and more mellow than I used to be...most of the time.
 
67F346EA-6FB3-4C0E-B166-272A5F924EB8.jpeg
No freeways? WTH. When I go to car culture gigs in the Los Angeles area, I drive like the rest of the knuckleheads to survive. You show timid and you’re done. Ask anyone here who has followed me on the 405. Go from Van Nuys to the Bobs in Burbank and you need to have a car that runs with the rest. I do. Hell, we only have 5 lanes in each direction.
 
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View attachment 699923 No freeways? WTH. When I go to car culture gigs in the Los Angeles area, I drive like the rest of the knuckleheads to survive. You show timid and you’re done. Ask anyone here who has followed me on the 405. Go from Van Nuys to the Bobs in Burbank and you need to have a car that runs with the rest. I do. Hell, we only have 5 lanes in each direction.
I get in the center lane and drive about 4-5 over the speed limit, mostly on cruise control , in my ram, to hell w/ them if they don't like it.
IN MY 68 FASTBACK I still drive a little over the speed limit, but have the power to get away from anybody if need be---
The first time I took it out , a pick up waited till I got a little close and pulled out in front of me, good thing we weren`t going the same way---------guess what he was driving , a ford.
A black ford dually has made me take evasive action twice on a country road near my house. I don't know if he`s that stupid to not realize he`s over line , or doing it on purpose. The next time I see him coming, I`m going to stop in the middle of my lane and get out and stand in front of my truck w/ a sawed off shot gun, or a pistol-------------
 
I think that we're more conscience of our surroundings when driving our Baby. They are the same idiots when we're driving our daily vehicles, you just don't pay as much attention to them. Try riding a motorcycle! Be vigilant, defensive.
Getting rear-ended by one of these nuts would be a real problem since the gas tank is in the rear. Also, I try to keep plenty of distance from people if I can. Drum brakes aren't quite as responsive as disc brakes!
 
I drive mine just like my other vehicles, everywhere & very carefully.
I think people are generally more polite when I'm in the Charger BUT!, I have seen a lot of show-offs, jerks & idiots from whatever vehicle I'm in. I think there's something in the water...
FDBA4023-9164-4C8B-A22C-5C9C05F9E0E2.jpeg
 
I hope to never encounter a wreck with another vehicle, especially if they are at fault, in my Roadrunner.
I would have to show the utmost restraint, and I would prefer not to be tested.
Other than saying that, I enjoy driving my Roadrunner when I do, haven't had any real problems with other drivers, other than with the occasional person that I think is too close to the rear of my car.
I definitely don't white knuckle drive, because that wouldn't be any fun.
 
Just stating the facts from my personal experience. I've been driving my Mopars for years and 90% of the time the tailgaters and those who could care a less are young women drivers. (Guess I won't be a Supreme Court Justice).
I have taught my 3 children (now adults) when they see a classic car on the streets you give them space and respect. And be careful, some of them can be mean as hell.
You nailed it, RESPECT, is all it takes to survive. We all know what happens when they won't. And yes, run for Supreme Court.
 
Up here we don't have the freeway issue
I'm 50 miles from any freeway
we have far less population here in the sticks
I don't have too many of the reg. inner-shitty drivers issues...

I do get crowds in parking lots :poke:
or outside the parts store, someone is always interested
I'm usually polite, you don't see classic cars that much here...
It's far more the nice 4x4's & lots of cool Jeeps etc., more than classics...

IMO people tailgate always, no matter what I drive
it's crazy, everyone is in a damn hurry
or on their damn phones or texting, putting on make up eating etc.
more noticeable especially when towing a trailer, it's crazy...

The little kids love these older cars
seems more than the parents
(the generation behind US/me, I think they think it's a gas guzzler
& a waste, they like their Jap Crap, Camary, Yota PU or some SUV, the older ones
seems are in their Caddys, just shake their head, wonder why ?, think I'm stupid
)

When driving a classic like my 68 RR,
now back to it's org. bright Surf Turquoise Metallic
wasn't as bad when it was Ultra flat Black for a decade :poke:
it was much more stealthy, not in your face as much...

(it's worse especially when I had an open trailer, racecar in tow)

IMO seems some people like to stay along side of you
& get a longer/better look, wave or thumbs up etc.
especially when driving classic cars...
You really need to be eyes for both cars,
they aren't paying the attention they need to the road ahead...

I drive really defensively in all my cars/trucks,
no matter if it's a classic or my DD
I also have a RR, a '69. Spent a lot of time camping at Pinecrest Lake, Niagra Creek...etc. I hate it when they pace my RR in my blind spot on the freeway, and then they frantically try to get a return thumbs up after THAT distraction. I got too much money/labor into risking that BS in heavy traffic. They can go to a car show anytime.
Sr Road Runner 9 2017.jpg
Will I EVER get the F!@#$ outa here ? ?
 
This was my view last Sunday on the 1 1/2 hour ride to the Southland Dragway reunion. Weather was beautiful! Car ran great, but man o man I have got to get that QA1 K-member and front suspension system installed!
20191124_111203.jpg
 
Last week when I was on some back roads burning rubber in my Charger, I merged onto a main road to lead back home. A white Ford Explorer gained on me as I slowed down to match the speed of the other cars. In California, the Highway Patrol uses these SUVs for traffic enforcement. Most are black and white, some are just plain white.
I thought it was a cop that saw me smoking the tires back on the side roads.
I kept my speed but the Ford jumped in behind me. I couldn't clearly see the driver but it was a woman and the front of the Ford had no push bar. I zig zagged through and around a few slow drivers and the Ford matched my moves. About a mile or so later, we were stopped at a light side by side. I looked over. It was Not a Police car. It was a woman but she kept looking straight ahead. She wasn't interested in the car, she wasn't interested in me. I think she may have thought since I had a flashy car that I would be an aggressive driver, one that could clear a path for both of us.
 
Reminds me of a time riding with my oldest daughter and this schmuck behind was seriously tailgating. As the road went from two to four lane I asked my daughter to allow the car to pass on the right...she had no idea what I had in mind. Windows were open as it was a warm day...as the younger guy drove along side I caught his attention and asked if he was in a rush or late for something. He said he wasn't and obviously real surprised at the odd conversation. I said this is my daughter driving and as you might guess I love her a lot; was thinking you were gonna drive over the rear of the car following us so close, she was already driving over the speed limit. My kid wanted to crawl under the seat, embarrassed as hell! In hindsight this was a dumb thing to do; but ya know when it's your kid ya get more defensive. I taught my daughters to drive and to never tailgate for the obvious reasons, and allow around 5 miles above the limit when road is clear as 90% of the people do it anyway. Unlike my oldest having a few speeding tickets that's changed her habits, my youngest is rarely one to exceed the limit that kinda gets me antsy sometimes but, that's her choice and respect it. On long trips (she lives in FL so we've made a few back and forths) she prefers I drive as she knows we'll make better time. I never friggin tailgate as it pisses me off no end when it's done to me. I'll admit in my younger days I did a few stunts with these idiots that made me an idiot that again in retrospect was very unwise.
 
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