BritishV8 Forum

After being devastated by the passing of so many friends and icons in the industry this year.
It has occurred to me that a good many of us must be in the upper age categories.
Who are the new innovators in our obsession?
Is youth attracted to our hobby?
Are we inadvertently excluding new blood into the BV8  fold?
Or is it destined to pass as our pioneers are doing.
It would be interesting to work out our median age group.
I'll go first...I'm 54  born in 1960... not ancient but I've got more miles under my belt than I have left.

Cheers
Fred

I'm right there with you Fred at 55. My kids want to do swaps when the time comes for them.

Calvin

Hey Juniors, I expect the median age to be higher than you.  I am a 1948 model when flatheads still were in production.  We have many that exceed me in birthdays.   I also know a few that are in the 265 Bowtie and 221 CID Blue Oval  era.  
How about Purple Haze?   Also have the CD mentioned by Dan.  It does tend to make the pedal light.

71, born in 1943...(but hey, I don't feel that old) I have a son in his 40's...despite continuous efforts on my part he never got into British cars...he is a Jeep and mud guy.

I'll post for Harvey Leichti (he does not do internet) Harvey is 80 this year and still does most of the work on his V6 mgb. He was on his way to the Ft. Meigs show last Sunday but had a bad coil and had to be towed back.

73 here. Some good days yet to come, for sure, but my best days are behind me, I suppose. My 19 year old grandson's daily driver is a '78 Spitfire.  I guess I did have some influence.

Mike,

Give Harvey my regards - I miss him at our get togethers.

I'm 60.

I'm one of the "youngins" at 49.  50 in August of this year (1964).  But, I try to act 1/2 my age.

As for who'll be the next generation... our kids will.  My older son (18) would swap a modular 5.0 into his 06 mustang if he could afford one & my younger son, who'll be getting his learners permit this summer, is already looking at modified pick-up trucks.  My wife, who's been known to refer to herself as a "garage widow", says I gave them my disease.

Guess I'm the baby so far, 43.  My daughter sort of cares but not really.  If you giver her a car she would take it and might say thank you, but if she had to earn it all bets are off.

I'm 59, will turn 60 in December. I make a conscious effort to not act my age. I can still out work most of the young ones too. No kids for me and I don't see a lot of younger people interested in our hobby.

Interesting question on if we are inadvertently excluding new blood. Don't have any answers but would be interested in the discussion. I'm hoping it isnt as bad as some of us think it is.

I think it all depends how you define the hobby.  If you define it as "improving British sports cars", I don't think we are excluding the younger generation.  Rather, I think we are simply irrelevant.  MG's, Triumphs, Sunbeams and the like are unknown to them.  And the brands they'd recognize are beyond reach for most.

Now, if we define the hobby as hot rodding old cars, the hobby is alive and well.  Not as common maybe as it was in the 50's or 60's, but still going strong.  At my sons' school I know of at least 2 60's pickups, 3 Chevelles, 3-4 older Mustangs, a Fairlane, a 260z and at least a dozen or two ricers* that the kids have as driving projects in various states.  They are doing what we did with our cars at their age.  And, a lot of those kids will do more ambitious projects later in life as their means allow... And, some of the kids that don't have the opportunity now but who see the cool cars and projects are already bitten by the bug and they too will take on projects later in life.  

So, which hobby are we talking about?  And, which one matters?

*Note, a lot of ricers count as old cars by the way.  One of my boys was talking about the antique car one of his friends got.  When I asked him what it was, he told me in an excited voice "it's a 240SX.  It even has antique tags!". Hard to believe the 1st 240SX's are already 25 yrs old!

Just rolled over sixty-seven years on the odometer a couple of months ago, but stil young enough to still be learning a few things the hard way.....age does not always bring wisdom. :-)  Still hoipeful of a few good years.  Our youngest son is into things mechanical, motorcycles and old trucks, but distracted right now raising 4 children ages 3-12.   Our oldest son thinks of cars as equipment needed to get from point A to point B.
The older you get, the more important it is not to act your age.

Mike and I are Sagitarrians , no no , Mike is an Arkleyologist same year  tho 43,,now Jack is only 38,,,,,, he's had a tough life so give him a break LOL
Dave

That Facebook thing said my Soul Age is 22

I turned 57 in February, an amazing thing considering some of the events in my life. My daughter loves to autocross the Spitfire with me, but I don't think she will ever build a car. Her boyfriend is anxious to learn auto mechanics and has a deep appreciation for cool cars, lots of promise there.

re: *Note, a lot of ricers count as old cars by the way. One of my boys was talking about the antique car one of his friends got. When I asked him what it was, he told me in an excited voice "it's a 240SX. It even has antique tags!". Hard to believe the 1st 240SX's are already 25 yrs old!


I had a first generation, first year Nissan 240SX...a 1989 model. I traded in my 1978 Datsun 280Z on it.

Maybe I was just used to the 280Z....but the 240SX sucked big time in my eyes.

I drove it for 9 months...I could not get rid of it fast enough.... and traded it in on a first generation, first year Nissan 300ZX (a 1990 model).

I still drive a 300ZX....a 1996 model.

Born in Sheffield, Yorks in 1947 – you do the math!
My son has no inclination to get into any auto related project – his thumbs are permanently glued to his Xbox and I-phone
Typical of the new generation, he just wants to gas and go and for me to help with any problems – but I did convince him to perform regular oil changes in his vehicles.
It appears that today's youth really don't have the interest in cars like the older generations had....... sad really, they don't know what they're missing!

I feel old, but I guess I'm a young guy at 41.  I have several good friends in their 20's doing some nice custom work on their Mustangs.  I pretty much hate rice burners with fart can mufflers, but at least those guys are doing something with their cars.  It really is impressive seeing what some kids can do with their laptops and modern cars.  I'd be lost.

Following up on Grahams comments, analyzing 1983 vs.2008... 15-20 percent less 16-24 year old potential drivers have a drivers license...we have a 19 year old great grand daughter who still does not drive...in my opinion, too many distractions and in some cases a lack of initiative is causing this...

Quote....too many distractions and in some cases a lack of initiative is causing this...

....and discouraging high insurance rates .

Very soon to be 64.

Quote:
....too many distractions and in some cases a lack of initiative is causing this...

 ....and discouraging high insurance rates .

They don't care about the cost.  Don't you know they thing you will be paying?!  

I drag my kid out to help and have her do stuff.  When it ain't super easy she will whine "I can't".  I hate that saying!

I had a friend (he moved back to Connecticut) that I used to kick around ideas with. Like we do here. He would mull it over and say "That's do-able".   Now, that's a good attitude!

Im only 65 years young
 not much interest from my 3 sons in these lbcs, photos of the boys is from the mid eighties
Maybe my 5 year old grandson will take an interest

What percent of kids in your school (way back when most of us were in school) built hot rods or did serious modifications to their cars.  I'd venture to say not more than 5-8%. What I see is a couple point reduction - maybe 3-5% now.  Guess I'm fortunate my boys fall in that range .

Good point, Rob.  In most cases, the past was NOT the way we remember it.