[alfa] the new guys

[Jon Pike <jhpike@xxxxxxx>]

> Don writes:
> << Younger drivers
> have more accidents.  We were young once too.  I know how I drove when I 
> was 25.  I know
> how I drive now.  We, old farts, destroyed cars when we were young. >>
> __________
> Speak for yourself Don.  Some of us have never destroyed a car, much less 
> destroyed a clutch before its time.  Of course that probably puts me in the 
> category of "never been young" although I could dig up some references to the 
> contrary.  I do agree with you that I am a better driver now than when I was 25. To 
> paraphrase Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry "You've almost wrecked six cars or 
> was it only five.  In all the confusion I'm not sure myself so you've got to be 
> asking yourself one question:  Are you really that good, or just lucky?"  
> Brian Ancelin
> 71 spider
> Denton, TX
> (definitely lucky)
[soapbox]
Man.. this kinda turned into a firestorm, and I'm not even caught up 
with my Digest backlog..

I agree with a wider, flexable view... that there are lots of 
possibilites in being in a club (if you think "glass half full" rather 
than the opposite),  and that newcomers/younger folk should be made very 
welcome, because of many already stated reasons.

Do some think otherwise? Yes.  Might they change their opinion if they 
see interested, dedicated "youngsters" Probably most of them.  After 
all, it's about the cars.. and the driving, fixing, polishing, etc that 
you like to do with them. 
And Ben.. I do have to say,  that when I read your comments on your site 
about how you've been involved in something like 20 accidents by your 
19th bday..  I have to admidt I thought the same as the comment about 
"there goes another Alfa".  Before you get ruffled by that, think how it 
looks from the outside!

You gotta admidt, effectively saying "Hi, I'm Jon, and I wreck lots of 
cars! I now own one of your rare, beloved, and not replaceable classics, 
and am going to drive it around.  Nice to meet you!!" is possibly not 
the optimum message to create group trust in a new custodian of our 
precious marque..  ;-)  (smiley face, tounge in cheek, all that jazz)

And I have to say,  the work and effort you spent on the car,  was way 
beyond what I was expecting from an intro like that..  So see,  first 
impressions are not always the best..  and we need to give people slack 
and opportunity to show their true colors. 
[/soapbox]

Uh, Alfa's rule!!  (alfa content)

Jon
77 Spider
Irvine CA
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