Culture Shock

[SHANE666]

Something i was reading at work yesterday, and found this readers comments very interesting. Made me proud of the car i have and the culture i represent....

"What is it about the modifying culture that makes it so resilient? Everytime that i go out driving I will always pass at least one heavily modified car. I head into my local cruising location and every where I look there are guys and girls driving cars that must have put the owner into some serious financial trouble to build. This sight warms my very heart. To see people out there who still choose to make their car something unique - something that they can be proud of.

But the sad reality is that these people are targets of society. We've allseen the endless TV campaigns and watched the current affairs shows the class all modifiers as sub-human pond scum. And all of us have heard of or been a victim of police crackdowns and the dreaded defect notice. Just last week I heard of police barricading the Newcastle strip in order to defect every vehicle they could.

And yet despite all of this the culture flourishes. Not just on the streets but also in car shows, the thousands of cars imported from Japan every year and the ever expanding and increasingly talented drift series.

So to all the people out there who have a modified car, or are going to modify their car - congratulate yourself. Every time you drive on the roads or go to an event you are showing the public that you dont care what their perceptions are - the passion that you have for the culture is bigger. And the next time you hand over those hard earned dollars for the next upgrade: smile, because to find something you enjoy this much is a quality that most people spend their whole life looking for"

Just thought i would share that with the SAU community. I think it's a well-written response, and again, further pushes us to be proud of what we have and who we are.

Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers.

[dezz]

Well said and well written. Good stuff

[br3ndan]

I feel like driving my skyline now.

[GTR-N1]

No argument at that...

It's just sad to see guys who have lost their motivation & drive to go on.

Skylines Vs drugs. Which gives you a better thrill ?

Modifications Vs sleeping in. Which gives you a better sense of purpose ?

GOD Vs $$. Which gives you better security ???

[ITZTRU]

No argument at that...

It's just sad to see guys who have lost their motivation & drive to go on.

Skylines Vs drugs. Which gives you a better thrill ?

Modifications Vs sleeping in. Which gives you a better sense of purpose ?

GOD Vs $. Which gives you better security ???

This is exactly the kind of answer i give to those (including my mum who used to get upset when I spend hundreds of dollars on pointless items such as nismo carbon b pillars or thousands of dollars on Bride seats...) when they ask: "How can you spend so much money on that car of yours?" I simply respond with: "It's what makes me happy. It's what I enjoy doing...it's just unfortunate that my hobby costs me so much. But there are WORSE things I could be spending my money on..."

[SHANE666]

wow, thanks for the replies guys.

i feel exactly the same way.

its my outlet.

i get crap at work for it, until i showed them this response in the magazine.

but dammit, it makes me so happy.

[tommis85]

Yes that's very well written and I can think of plenty of people who have poked fun at my passion for the car over the years.

Edited July 5, 2008 by tommis85

[GTS4WD]

Thats awesome!

Its very well writen.

Im glad that there are people out there that apreciate and sympathise for us.

We need more of this form of publicity on things like A Current Affair, Today Tonight etc.

Out of curiosity.. where did you get the article from?

[skylineboy84]

ITZTRU, i will have to use that one on my olds are always on my case about my car dad says i should sell it, and now im thinking about selling but to buy another skyline

This is exactly the kind of answer i give to those (including my mum who used to get upset when I spend hundreds of dollars on pointless items such as nismo carbon b pillars or thousands of dollars on Bride seats...) when they ask: "How can you spend so much money on that car of yours?" I simply respond with: "It's what makes me happy. It's what I enjoy doing...it's just unfortunate that my hobby costs me so much. But there are WORSE things I could be spending my money on..."

[Yo-Yo]

I loved saying that to my parents when I would get big boxes of car parts delivered to me

[babyskyline]

I just got the missus to read this and she still doesnt agree with all the money i spend on my skyline lol

oh well...wont stop me from doing it

[Boof]

Well written article..My mum used to prefer me spending money on my car instead of spending it on drugs or worse things!! My father didn't quite agree with it but meh all good!!!

Keep it up i say, eventually the pressure will ease off when the public gets the full story of how "bad" we really are as import drivers!!

[PM-R33]

I remember reading that article, was very well written and as others have said, at the end of the day everyone works their ass off for a pay cheque week by week for their entire life. There is no point dying with ten million dollars in your bank account and never spending the money to enjoy life. If there is something in your life that makes you truely happy, why not spend the money that you have worked hard for to make yourself happy and enjoy your life? At the end of the day what more do we have, but to live our lives and hopefully be happy.

Edited July 5, 2008 by PM-R33

[yup21t]

i think some members of parliment who keep pushing for crack downs on so called "car hoons" but allow junkies to to feed there habbit's instead of there kids should read that.

[madbung]

Persecution and harassment does have an effect..Have a look at the M.C club culture of today, most of the oldest clubs didn't begin as outlaw-renegade outfits. Persecution forced some underground which in turn attracts a harder criminal element...then over time...you get the drift.

You think they'd learn a little from history, the more they push the more resistance they'll come up against.

[SHANE666]

Hey Cris,

the response was from a reader, and appeared in AutoSalon Issue 62 (2007? i think)