Running boards

[bobt]

I own two model T's and enjoy driving them. I go to car shows but have no desire to show my cars. my T's are usually the oldest car at the event and I get a lot of questions. The problem is that when a group gathers around someone will always put their feet on my running boards. YES, I know what a running board is . Am I being wrong for taking offence at this? I would NEVER touch another persons car let alone put my feet on it. Comments? Thanks

[Scott_Conger]

No, you're not wrong.

We simply have a population of people who are 2 generations removed from anyone having any sense of decorum or respect for anyone or anything. That leaves you to deal with it: accept it or teach them what respect entails. If you chose the latter, prepare to be sued.

[TRDxB2]

...........................

[Keith Daniels]

I know you shouldn't need to, but maybe 3 little magnets with about a 6'" high rod, one at each end and one in the middle and a ribbon tied between them, on each running board? If that doesn't give them the hint, there's no hope.

One of my pet peeves is something similar, it's people in restaurants letting their kids stand on the seats, and worse yet adults that should know better with their feet on the seats!

[RajoRacer]

I like your sign Frank !

[John kuehn]

If I was to take an antique or classic car to a show I would as others I’ve seen do at the ones I’ve seen do.
If you can’t be by your car all the time post a sign with your phone number asking to please call to ask or check out your car. But please ask before you touch.

That’s a better way to do it I think than post a do not touch at all.
There will always be tire kickers and people interested in some way. What I cannot stand is the “self appointed experts” telling what detail isn’t quite right or the wrong color and so on.
These are folks that turn more than a few people off.

[Rich Eagle]

You are not wrong at all to feel that way. I thought the same for many years. I pulled my freshly painted Dulux car into a show only to have our local expert wipe the dust off it with his dust rag. It left lasting swirls in the new fresh gloss.
After 50 some years, my attitude has changed. I could only tell so many people how much time I put into the cars and how their carelessness was taking away some of the beauty of it. They just kept coming. The cars have many battle wounds in them now. Most of them I put in myself washing and making repairs. The interest and enthusiasm folks have when they see the cars is worth the few smudges and scratches they acquire these days. Most folks are more than considerate around here. Some cars are 40-year-old restorations but still look pretty good.
I won't try to change your worries as it is natural after all the work that went into your car. My hope is you will have better luck or can adjust to the inevitable without too much grief. Showing the cars is the best hope we can have for the future of the hobby.
Rich

[modeltspaz]

A few years ago, my car was used in the filming of the movie "Water for Elephants." I knew going into it what I should expect. I've heard all the horror stories, and living in the greater Los Angeles area, there are plenty involving the rentals of vintage cars for motion picture production.

I scheduled a vacation day on the day I was to report to the studio for filming. I had been warned that if my car was in nice condition, I should be there when the filming took place.

Filming commenced, and things went smoothly. Then the director called "Half hour break everybody!" Just then, every extra on set grabbed everything they could to use as a seat. This included my running boards and, that's right, the seats in my car!

I hurried over to my car and informed all the new occupants of my Ford that it was, in fact, NOT a new ride at Knotts Berry Farm! One of them actually asked me, "Oh, is this YOUR car?" Good thing I listened to the advice I'd been given.

[Scott_Conger]

My dad was one of the "Host Cars" for a golf tournament, using his Hack. For that unpaid voluntary effort he was rewarded with a guy who sat sideways in the rear seat and put his spiked shoe on the seat, shredding it. Not a word. Got out ignored dad and left dad to discover his "surprise".

[Been Here Before]

Your car not appreciated...part of the amusement for others?

So any one here use rentals?

Yeh, it's a rental, not my car - who cares how I use it.

Reminds me of a Joe Walsh song..."Life is Good."

"I have a mansion, forget the price
Ain't never been there, they tell me it's nice
I live in hotels, tear out the walls
I have accountants pay for it all..."

[George Mills]

Load up the running boards with 'stuff'...

yes, you have every right to say 'get off'!

I solved that sort of problem in a different way though...lol

My first car was fully original, but well beat...ran OK...did lots of outings, used the running boards as a seat myself, but then did take the other running board and added an accordion luggage keeper full open and while I had full thoughts of doing that one up right from the outset, they came out with the Historic Preservation category the year I got it...entered at next AACA show, it came home with the plaque...sort of stayed in the 'as found' condition through the decades because I then felt guilty about having it redone up.

They proliferate!

The nest was a 1915 Roadster that had amazingly low miles as shown by the inner lack of wear and tear and the previous 40 years had actual provenance as a garage queen with less than a mile on it each year! Too nice to add the luggage kit...had more fun for a bit with the 'hey mister, too bad those things between the body and running board are bent creased!' but went bonkers when folks thought is was a jungle gym at shows and gatherings. At one show I had turned my back for a moment and found an entire family posing in and on the car for pictures. I went 'boink' and then felt guilty...the gal explained that she knew the car, it was her fathers when she was little, and she wanted to get some family pictures of her kids in and around the car now all these years later as I had bought it from his estate. I was not around to ask. Yeah, that doesn't make it right, but I felt like crap over being Mr. Grinch! That car is still in the original as bought condition now 30 years ago but I got around the worry that comes with the really nice part because up until now I had to pick and chose which car I went out in.

I then bought a 'Johnny Cash' bitsy with a brand new depot hack body on it. All of the touch up paint is that Rustoleum refrigerator epoxy-enamel paint, the demountable fellows are Rustoleum 'smoke'...no one get to sit IN the Hack. but the running boards as benches no longer bothers me...lol...bug 'em down every now and then, mask them off, hit them with a fresh can at like 8 bucks a can...good to go...lol

The conundrum comes in that my son wound up with the '15 in his garage, still wonder how he had pulled it off...and he keeps saying we should go out to events together, the Hack next to the '15. Actually don't know how I'd feel about that but since I think this 'loan' was proactive...I can only hope the YO factor is on him...lol

[BobShirleyAtlantaTx]

Have not got a clue who the lady was, but she made herself at home.

[John kuehn]

If we want the Model T hobby to grow and survive we can’t make our cars ‘sacred objects’ to look at 10 feet away and that’s as close as you can get. If you want to do that then don’t go to car shows or parades and expect people not to be interested in them. They may or may not want to get in them or touch and expect them. You need to be there when you show your car and let them know they can but just take care when they do. It’s that simple. If you want to walk down and check other cars just put your sign out to call you so they can inspect your car closely. Maybe the car shows need to post a sign about being respectful and respect other people’s property. That might work as far as car shows go. People for the most part are in a casual setting when they attend shows or it’s at least what most think.

[1925 Touring]

I believe the problem the OP is trying to bring to light is not a scratch, but just simply having respect for other people's cars.
It shouldn't be necessary, but I guess you could put up a "do not stand on car/ please be respectful to my car" sign.


*off topic, that looks like the Big Boy (train) in the picture above. That's the only operational Big Boy left. I think that it goes on tour around the country. It came to Rochelle Il. and I got to see it. Amazing piece of machinery.

[Rich Eagle]

Just some of the incidents we have encountered.
Kids sliding down the fenders of a Model A. 1965.
We stopped at Old Faithful Lodge to sit for a while and watch the T from a distance. A bus load of foreign tourists stopped and each one, or couple, took turns climbing in for pictures in the car. 1909 Touring.
Coming back to the hotel, we found a fellow going through our trunk and picking up coils with curiosity.
I thought I might be in jeopardy from asking what looked like gang members not to touch the cars. They apologized and said, "They didn't know". I was pleasantly surprised and relieved.
I mentioned to a small child not to touch the cars, he might get all greasy.
None of these incidents resulted in any noticeable damage. We do have fender scratches in the Bus fenders after 3000 passengers in 18 years. I wouldn't trade it for the fun of driving them.
But do what you need to, to feel good about showing your car.
Rich