MAGAZINE

These guys invented cool. It wasn't Fonzy or Milner or Kookie, or some other contrived, mainstream-digestible personality. (Although Milner was pretty level.) It was hot rod and custom guys who were cool just because they WERE. Now, they might have found success in any field because cool usually has an intelligence-personality factor built in that has something to do with the way we perceived them. Independence. Not other-directed. They could have made it in any field. Heck, some of our big shots in this hobby are handsome, charismatic souls who really could been winners in anything. But they chose hot rods and customs, and they are COOL. And grey-bearded now.

When a mag editor recently mentioned that advertising people had concluded in a demographic look that the mainstream population of rodders today had found cars because of a need for a community (social) life, we agree with them, but also agree with the editor that WE don't think WE are those guys. He is one who feels it in his soul and in his hands, and, even though a lot of our social lives are wrapped up in car stuff, the social came as a result of a common passion, rather than a pursuit of the social. If you find a modicum of good vibrations (success) somewhere, you stick around. And we do. But if the people around you were ruffin' you up, made it unpleasant, you'd split. Some Greybeards would turn to golf or something else that had the challenge, and SOCIAL connections they sought. A hop Up guy would probably leave, too....find people who felt better to be around.

But he'd still have a hot rod. They'd just never see it. He'd still be a car guy when he was alone, on the road, and in the garage. And he'd probably hang out with bowlers, or golfers, or chess players or whoever it was that wasn't screwin' with him. But his peace would continue to be found communing with IRON.

There are all kinds of Greybeards; the ones with all the trappings some people reject, and those who really get it.

And there are all kind of Greasers. We have to look around and consider the motivations of our peers .........maybe it was the tattoos, after all, that caught the guys eye! Maybe the cars are just an accessory.......................a bauble.......................like it is with some people in other groups. Everybody is not cool - or uncool - just because they've got the outfit.

e hopup verita