Cars We Love & Who We Are #70

Likely the only car event of its kind in the nation, the second annual Collectible Car Fair for Kids and Teens kicked off on Sunday September 21^st in Park Ridge, New Jersey. Once again students 18 and under could get up close and personal with automotive history from behind the wheel of landmark vintage cars spanning the 20^th century.

One-of-a-Kind Car Show for Kids

Guaranteed, the likes of this handsome white time machine had not traveled this suburban street in close to 100 years. Chugging proudly down the tree lined lane it serenaded the surrounding neighborhood with a deep throated rumbling mechanical chorus common in an earlier century. This 1908 Brass Era Pope/Hartford automobile made a striking entry onto the show field to take its place next to a 1903 Curved Dash Oldsmobile. Much like the Dawn Parade at the Amelia Island Concours, the crisp early morning light showcased an eclectic array of milestone vintage cars as they arrived.

To spark interest in a younger generation in advance of the show, local school systems were lobbied. The effort succeeded in generating the opportunity to deliver a presentation to middle school students on the significance and excitement of vintage automobiles. The effort’s intent resided in motivating children to take advantage of the coming event to experience historic vehicles first hand. In so doing they could better appreciate the character, beauty, and excitement of the iconic vehicles that revolutionized individual lives and forever changed global culture in the 20^th century. The effort proved successful.

In addition to the Oldsmobile and Pope/Hartford, the curated field of 30 milestone cars included a 1915 Ford Model T, 1929 Ford Model A, 1934 Packard, 1943 Willys Jeep, 1956 Cadillac Coupe deVille, 1957 MGA, 1963 Porsche 356, 1965 Ford Mustang, 1967 VW Beetle, 1970 Pontiac GTO, 1982 Ferrari 308GTSi, 1983 DeLorean, 1988 BMW E30M, and 1996 Dodge Viper.

Offering far more than a passive viewing experience, the event provided children who registered in advance the opportunity to learn the basics of judging classic cars. The class, conducted on-site the morning of the show, was taught by experienced concours judge and past Director of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club, Bob Austin. Students, benefiting from Austin’s decades as an automotive industry icon, worked with techniques for assessing automobiles revered as generational standouts that propelled design and engineering into the future. With class work completed, students immediately would put their freshly acquired knowledge to work by judging the cars on display.

A primary interactive feature of the show and considered by many as the secret sauce for facilitating student involvement, the “Fun Hunt for Car Facts” challenged all comers with an information scavenger hunt. Centered on car specific questions, this 20-question quiz encouraged children to interact with the classic cars on display and the car owners.

The presence of Mr. Jeff Mason, President of the non-profit Piston Foundation offered special benefit for high school age attendees and parents. Mr. Mason was there to discuss scholarship opportunities and apprenticeship programs in fields related to classic car restoration. The Piston Foundations stated mission is to bring more people into the collector car industry and help them build rewarding, successful careers.

By 8:30 am the show field had taken shape with cars arranged around a central array consisting of the Oldsmobile, Pope/Hartford, Model T, Cadillac Coupe deVille and 1956 Continental MkII. The site offered excellent spacing for students to view, photograph and sit in all vehicles. And a wealth of viewing, photographing and sitting would take place.

By 9:00 am the judging class participants had taken their seats. 9:30 am saw the service window of the Pop Empanada food truck rattle open freeing mouth watering smells to perfume the air. 10:00 am show time, the display field came alive. For me, a most rewarding experience presented itself when a child approached with an adult in tow. Yes adult in tow, I mean that and not the other way around. Each adult, a parent, would introduce themselves and explain that their child had attended my presentation and insisted on being here. Parents expressed delight at the opportunity to share an experience driven by their child’s curiosity. And curiosity of young minds fueled the high energy character of the event. Fertile imaginations inspired by new experiences seized opportunities to create adventures of their own.

With the show running from 10 am to 2 pm, 11:00 am found the children darting about the show field like bees in a flower patch.Newly minted judges with clip boards circled individual cars as they studiously carried out their judging responsibilities. Mostly grouped in twos or threes, children clutching pens and answer sheets crisscrossed the open field in an honest quest to discover answers. By day’s end Over 50 students got all 20 questions right to earn the Collectible Car Fair “Genius” badge.

At 11:00 am with the energy of the crowd setting a nice vibe, it seemed a good time for the national anthem. The previous week I had attended a car show and with the singing of the national anthem, I commented to myself that this rendition certainly ranked as one of the finer recordings I had heard. It was then that I glanced at the A-V tent and saw that a young woman was delivering the anthem live. She was great. After that show a town official asked if I would like her to sing at the Collectible Car Fair. Absolutely! A week later, on the show field poised with the microphone in her hand, the A-V tech informed her that no music was available to accompany her. Her response, “All good, I’ll do it a cappella.” She nailed it. A big shout out goes to songstress Viana Harley, a student at Park Ridge High School.

Now with the event in full swing, I watched a bevy of students drawn to the Model T. Sitting tall and proud children fired questions at Glenn, the knowledgeable owner. They found the need for a hand crank start especially fascinating and the squeeze bulb horn proved irresistible. My Corvette drew admirers but my favorite asked if he could sit in it. Once in, he gripped the wheel with both hands and made the best “I am doing 100 mph and loving it” face. Interestingly a major source of comment in the Corvette was the dashboard mounted location of the rearview mirror.

Whether a VW Beetle, Porsche 911, Chevrolet Greenbrier or Corvair Corsa, the rear engine air cooled configuration drew significant attention. Actual more attention grabbing than the engine in the rear, was that lifting the hood revealed no engine in the front.

The 1958 Isetta with it unusual front opening driver’s door, the DeLorean with its gullwing doors and Doc Brown connection, and the Mini because of its, well, Mini-ness all drew much attention for their quirkiness. Plum Crazy drew rave reviews from those for whom color mattered.

As the day moved on the tabulation of the results from our battery of rookie judges came in with admirable results. They performedextremely well considering the stiff challenge presented by the very broad field of cars they faced. Apparently Chief Judge Bob Austin had a bright class with whom to work. At that point all of the young judges received a certificate of accomplishment before Bob announced the judging tally.

Group 1 – The Early Years

1^st – 1956 Continental MK II

2^nd – 1915 Ford Model T

3^rd – 1956 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

Group 2 – The Swinging 60s

1^st – 1956 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa

2^nd – 1965 Mustang

3^rd – 1961 Corvette

Group 3 – Cars that Defined the Driver

1^st – BMW 850CSi

2^nd – 1996 Dodge Viper

3^rd – 1988 BMW E30M

With all attendees now gone and a hot sun still high in the sky, car owners and event volunteers convened one last time before slowly gathering themselves in preparation to depart. All there shared smiles and stories derived from the day’s events. All agreed that it was worth it.

Interactive classic car events such as the “Collectible Car Fair for Kids and Teens” represent the extension of a critical lifeline to a future clearly in question. Will tomorrow enjoy a healthy collector car experience? Will our passion transfer to our progeny? The answer resides in what we do today to invite and entice the future to share our joy.

Unfortunately, I have found that some collector car gatherings are a sedentary affair with too many guys my age circled like covered wagons in lawn chairs and shooing kids away from the cars. At this point in time such a defensive mindset serves to “protect” the future from embracing what we love. We as car enthusiasts derive our passion from experiencing our cars. To quote Dr. Fred Simeone, “The greatest gift of the Industrial Age is the automobile.” It is imperative that we share our passion with the generations to come. Unfortunately, many among us view that thought with trepidation.

Possessing a rightful concern that kids will damage a treasured car can inspire a certain protective instinct. Having worked the big new car shows such as the New York Auto Show, I know the damage inflicted by bad kids with evil intent. That unsupervised environment differs profoundly from the local events most of us populate. Experience from Collectible Car Fairs 1 and 2 has shown kids to be respectful and appreciative. Do they need to be monitored? Yes. They may not know how to interact with a classic car. That is certainly something we as car enthusiasts can share in a friendly manner. For my 2 Collectible Car Fairs and the Autism event described in the last Drivin News story (Classic Autos and Autism, A Shared Journey to Betterment) I have brought the 1961 Corvette that I have had since 1967. After 50 years of ownership, I conducted a major restoration. It has been featured in Hemmings publication Muscle Machines. I am very protective. I have also realized my greatest gift as an automobile enthusiast is to employ my car as a vehicle (Double meaning intended) to engage those who will carry on my passion when their turn arrives.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS BELOW

Images Courtesy of Burton Hall and Keli Dougherty

Conversations With People We Value #58

You never know what good a new day will bring. On that day it came in the form of an email. Sent by my friend and fellow car guy Ira, it explained that he had recommended me to a facility that served the needs of young adults on the autism spectrum. Why me? Because they wanted to do a dedicated classic car event as an enhancement to their program for treating the needs of their clients. He included the organization’s contact information. I called.

Classic cars have always been recognized as a source of worth, pride, pleasure, excitement and entertainment. Could they, as well, be a source of healing? We were about to find out.

Classic Autos and Autism: Sharing a Journey to Betterment

Photos: Courtesy of Kayleigh Gorman, Good Talking People, LLC

Three months after Ira’s email arrived, a 1915 Ford Model T rolled into the tree rimmed parking area of the “Good Talking People” care facility in Teaneck, NJ. Soon the early Ford would be followed by a 1986 Porsche 911, a 1976 VW bus, a 1967 Austin Healey 3000 and eight other classic cars, the event and the idea behind it had come to life. Good Talking People Owner/Director Arlene Rubin and Office Manager Kayleigh Gorman welcomed the car owners as the vehicles came to rest.

This Wednesday evening represented a new twist in the facility’s ongoing effort to promote comfort in social situations. At these monthly socials young adults on the spectrum can enjoy the opportunity to come together with their community of peers and practice their social skills. Arlene says, “They look forward to seeing the people that they have developed relationships with. It’s a comfortable place for them to be able to just be them.” Historically these events have included bowling, trivia night, dancing, costume parties, karaoke, crafts, etc.

The “Car Show” represented a unique activity in the ongoing effort to create engaging monthly social events. In this setting these young adults could engage with the classic cars and the owners in a social setting with familiar faces. In so doing they could develop the social skills necessary to improve their quality of life.

On this beautiful early evening in mid July a cluster of adults enveloped in a cloud of excited anticipation blended, hesitatingly at first, into the display of signature vehicles from the golden age of the automobile. The gathering’s predominantly male composition reflected the roughly 4 to 1 male to female ratio of the American autism population. According to the CDC, since 1970 the incidence of autism has increased from roughly 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 31 (Depending on the source these numbers vary significantly). As to why, many reasons come to the fore, not the least of which being a recent broader interpretation of what qualifies as autism as well as modified assessments and knowledge.

As the event came to life all the car owners chose to wait for the clients to initiate interest and then owners would gently enter into a social interaction. Much to the delight of Arlene, Kayleigh and the car owners the presence of the cars and the freedom to sit in each car generated a very positive dynamic that inspired even the less outgoing clients to engage.

As to the actual definition of autism, Arlene made clear that limitations in socialization skills towers as the defining criteria marker for autism. Arlene says, “You can have really very bright, strongly cognitive individuals who are very socially awkward. They don’t really read the room. They don’t really pick up on cues. They don’t understand the social world around them in the same way as others. Some very famous people that we view as highly intelligent believe they would have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as a child. Bill Gates being one.”

One great example of the conflicting cognitive versus social abilities of clients occurred with Peter, the owner of an especially nice 1986 Guards Red Porsche 911 Carrera and a knowledgeable car guy. One of the clients approached to view Peter’s Porsche. Peter invited the client to take a seat behind the wheel. “Oooohhh nooo,” the young man replied as he retreated from the interaction. A while later the young man returned to ask if he could, indeed, sit in the Porsche. Peter guided him behind the wheel while taking his place in the passenger seat. Peter in delightfully describing his shock says, “This young man spoke so knowledgeably about Porsches I was completely blown away. I never expected that.”

As the energy level of the event built fueled by clients asking questions and photographing cars and being photographed with cars and in cars, Arlene explained that autism cannot be cured or reversed; it is a lifelong neuro-developmental condition. Instead the therapeutic goal focuses on helping clients manage challenges, develop skills and improve their quality of life. She explained that Good Talking People provides therapy to assist in the development of pragmatic language, social communication and social learning. Here they teach strategies for understanding social rules, what is expected in social situations, ways to increase social comfort and how to communicate and connect with others.

This evening’s “Car Show” represented a unique activity in an ongoing effort to create monthly social events. These gatherings provide a safe environment where clients can interact in a social setting with familiar faces to develop the social skills necessary to improve their quality of life.

With the event in full swing, hoods opened, horns blew, engines started and clients seemed more comfortable in their own skin. One young man approached me, looked me in the eye, presented an outstretched hand and stated confidently, “My name is Micah.” We shook as I gave my name. Apparently satisfied with the exchange Micah smiled and moved on.

Car-centric activities engaged the clients throughout the evening till the summer sun sank to the horizon. Long shadows signaled that the time had arrived for the show to end. Illuminated in the golden glow of the sweet light cast by a setting sun, the eclectic collection of classic cars individually departed to the cheers of the clients as they gathered to wave goodbye to their new friends.

In reflecting on the success of the event Arlene said, “Our clients had a great time. When we spoke with the group directly after the event, they wanted to know if we could do it again the following week. There are some of them who I see for therapy; weeks later they were still talking about the classic car event.”

When asked if this event achieved her goals more effectively than other events, Arlene expressed the belief that indeed it did in the sense that it opened up a new experience for the clients. Arlene says, “When they came back inside after the event and, again, in later therapy sessions clients continued to ask questions about the classic car experience.” It clearly also promoted communication between clients. Both Arlene and Kayleigh witnessed clients asking questions among themselves. Arlene says, “They were discussing the different cars and having conversations among themselves about the cars.” The experience provided a focal point for them and it equipped them with a brand-new experience to explore. Arlene and her staff made it clear that the power of the event to make a difference extended well past the cars.

Both Arlene and Kayleigh praised the owners. Arlene said, “Your people were so patient. I watched and saw how some of them kind of stood back and observed. And when a client approached close enough to indicate interest that’s when the owner would slowly make his way over. He would casually go up and say, ‘Do you want to see it?’

If the client offered no questions but by his or her continued presence expressed interest, some of the gentlemen were so very intuitive they just started to talk about the car in a non-threatening way. When the owner started to talk, you could see the client listening. It was really beautiful to watch.” Kayleigh, who had organized the event said, “It was really wonderful for us to see. The owners were amazing.”

In reflecting on the total classic car event Arlene said, “This was just a brand new experience for them. It expanded their horizons. We at Good Talking People really believe in the healing power positive experiences possess. This was truly wonderful for them.” When asked if she would do it again Arlen answered without hesitation, “Absolutely!”

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