Specialists -self appointed experts - idiots
Discussion
Is there anything more annoying than a condescending arrogant expert?!!
They will remain nameless but I went to a race meet and was talking to a guy who's dad had set up a resto/race company for a prominent marque.
Because they have some pretty tasty metal they feel they are some kind of absolute authority about the brand. As in you know f
k all and they are the utter Svengali.
There's a few set ups in the classic car world that have managed to project this snobby aura of superiority. Even more cringe worthy is the fan boys who prostrate themselves to these types.
I prefer sincerity and humbleness..
Mod edit: please do not bypass the swear filter.
They will remain nameless but I went to a race meet and was talking to a guy who's dad had set up a resto/race company for a prominent marque.
Because they have some pretty tasty metal they feel they are some kind of absolute authority about the brand. As in you know f
k all and they are the utter Svengali. There's a few set ups in the classic car world that have managed to project this snobby aura of superiority. Even more cringe worthy is the fan boys who prostrate themselves to these types.
I prefer sincerity and humbleness..
Mod edit: please do not bypass the swear filter.
I used to work for a renowned classic car specialist/racer.
He was very knowledgeable to be fair, but his downfall was he thought he knew more than anyone else. He just said that everyone else was an idiot who didn't know what they were doing.
Proper arse he was. I think it may be a prerequisite in order to be a "specialist"..
He was very knowledgeable to be fair, but his downfall was he thought he knew more than anyone else. He just said that everyone else was an idiot who didn't know what they were doing.
Proper arse he was. I think it may be a prerequisite in order to be a "specialist"..
Hell yes!
Usually in the form of a long winded load of flowery waffle giving a potted history of the marque for a classic they have for sale, as a preamble to giving details of the specific car.
It's nearly always all wrong.
Like this that I've just copied:
"The Century received a complete redesign in April 1997 and is still this very shape today in 2019 at £85,000".
It was discontinued in 2016 and the latest model is a completely new and very different car, and costs £180,000.
Usually in the form of a long winded load of flowery waffle giving a potted history of the marque for a classic they have for sale, as a preamble to giving details of the specific car.
It's nearly always all wrong.
Like this that I've just copied:
"The Century received a complete redesign in April 1997 and is still this very shape today in 2019 at £85,000".
It was discontinued in 2016 and the latest model is a completely new and very different car, and costs £180,000.
Edited by 21st Century Man on Wednesday 28th October 22:07
There are "experts" and "ex-spurts" if you get my drift. I had someone standing next to my Lynx XKSS one day together with his bunch of friends. He was regaling them with the tales of his youth when he had had a similar E-type and had so much fun. He couldn't even tell the difference between and E-type and an XKSS. But, in club worlds I do meet some very knowledgeable people who, like myself, have spent 30 years or more in learning the ins and outs of their respective marks. One can never know it all, and we learn more every day, but at least we have a far greater know-how than some of the people you are describing. And I know a few, believe me.
Breadvan72 said:
The other type of expert is the Mini-Clarkson at a petrol station who will come up and tell you many incorrect things about the classic car that you are in the process of fueling, despite never even having sat in a car of that type.
I remember reading about Rowan Atkinson testing the new Phantom when it came out in the noughties.He pulled into a petrol station when he saw a vintage Ghost or suchlike fuelling up. Being a chipper fellow Rowan said “that’s a lovely car you have their sir”!
The owner looked at him like he had trodden in him and spatted “well yours isn’t”!!!
This is pure noveau riche vs old money. Off topic but worth a mention IMPHO!
W11PEL said:
Breadvan72 said:
The other type of expert is the Mini-Clarkson at a petrol station who will come up and tell you many incorrect things about the classic car that you are in the process of fueling, despite never even having sat in a car of that type.
I remember reading about Rowan Atkinson testing the new Phantom when it came out in the noughties.He pulled into a petrol station when he saw a vintage Ghost or suchlike fuelling up. Being a chipper fellow Rowan said “that’s a lovely car you have their sir”!
The owner looked at him like he had trodden in him and spatted “well yours isn’t”!!! No gushing adoration here.
This is pure noveau riche vs old money. Off topic but worth a mention IMPHO!
Footnote I think Atkinson is superb. His Johnny English/Bean stuff not a bit of me but his Not the Nine O Clock and Blackadder work is magnificent!
Of course, these types emerge in just about every “Hobby” I have encountered, not just cars.
I have come across a few over the years, normally I just ignore them muttering tt under my breath, occasionally audibly as well.
If I know more than them on their given subject which occasionally I have, then sometimes it’s fun to wind them up,,,,,,,,,,, the resulting explosion of venom emitted from the “expert” amusing, mostly, and more so these days as I get older, I can’t be arsed.
I have come across a few over the years, normally I just ignore them muttering t
t under my breath, occasionally audibly as well.If I know more than them on their given subject which occasionally I have, then sometimes it’s fun to wind them up,,,,,,,,,,, the resulting explosion of venom emitted from the “expert” amusing, mostly, and more so these days as I get older, I can’t be arsed.
Breadvan72 said:
The other type of expert is the Mini-Clarkson at a petrol station who will come up and tell you many incorrect things about the classic car that you are in the process of fueling, despite never even having sat in a car of that type.
..or more infuriantingly still, as a Lotus owner, the one who walks up (you know the one with the tartan flat cap, beige crimplene slacks and M&S slip ons) gives the all important knowing wink and then proudly pronounces, oh a Lotus I see... Lots.. Of.. Trouble......... Usually Serious! - as if he just thought of it.Lotobear said:
..or more infuriantingly still, as a Lotus owner, the one who walks up (you know the one with the tartan flat cap, beige crimplene slacks and M&S slip ons) gives the all important knowing wink and then proudly pronounces, oh a Lotus I see... Lots.. Of.. Trouble......... Usually Serious! - as if he just thought of it.
Yup. Him. Then when you pull in for fuel you get some clown who tells you -
“I used to have one of those”. You could roll up in an Alfa Monza or Blower Bentley and be told that this egg head who drives a 2003 Micra owned the Prince of Fartistan’s 1928 Tunisian Grand Prix winning car.
“Really?” Of course you did!
I know a Walter Mitty character who’s reality has got horribly and toe curlingly cross fertilised with fantasy. The biggest cow excrement spewer I have ever met!
He’s had Dino’s, Boxer’s, Corniche’s, Phantom’s, Brand new 930 Turbo’s, Merc SL’s etc etc.
Now a pensioner he has only a free travel pass and lives in rented accommodation!
“I used to have one of those”. You could roll up in an Alfa Monza or Blower Bentley and be told that this egg head who drives a 2003 Micra owned the Prince of Fartistan’s 1928 Tunisian Grand Prix winning car.
“Really?” Of course you did!
I know a Walter Mitty character who’s reality has got horribly and toe curlingly cross fertilised with fantasy. The biggest cow excrement spewer I have ever met!
He’s had Dino’s, Boxer’s, Corniche’s, Phantom’s, Brand new 930 Turbo’s, Merc SL’s etc etc.
Now a pensioner he has only a free travel pass and lives in rented accommodation!
W11PEL said:
Then when you pull in for fuel you get some clown who tells you -
“I used to have one of those”. You could roll up in an Alfa Monza or Blower Bentley and be told that this egg head who drives a 2003 Micra owned the Prince of Fartistan’s 1928 Tunisian Grand Prix winning car.
“Really?” Of course you did!
I know a Walter Mitty character who’s reality has got horribly and toe curlingly cross fertilised with fantasy. The biggest cow excrement spewer I have ever met!
He’s had Dino’s, Boxer’s, Corniche’s, Phantom’s, Brand new 930 Turbo’s, Merc SL’s etc etc.
Now a pensioner he has only a free travel pass and lives in rented accommodation!
That could be due to dementia. If it is he needs help, not insults.“I used to have one of those”. You could roll up in an Alfa Monza or Blower Bentley and be told that this egg head who drives a 2003 Micra owned the Prince of Fartistan’s 1928 Tunisian Grand Prix winning car.
“Really?” Of course you did!
I know a Walter Mitty character who’s reality has got horribly and toe curlingly cross fertilised with fantasy. The biggest cow excrement spewer I have ever met!
He’s had Dino’s, Boxer’s, Corniche’s, Phantom’s, Brand new 930 Turbo’s, Merc SL’s etc etc.
Now a pensioner he has only a free travel pass and lives in rented accommodation!
Good point, well said.
Every Jensen Interceptor has been owned by everybody, or more accurately by everybody's boss. This is however partly true, because they are the sort of cars that were always expensive to look after, and many of them quickly fell into disrepair after their first or second owner, and changed hands often in the 70s and 80s.
Every Jensen Interceptor has been owned by everybody, or more accurately by everybody's boss. This is however partly true, because they are the sort of cars that were always expensive to look after, and many of them quickly fell into disrepair after their first or second owner, and changed hands often in the 70s and 80s.
Pre internet I recall arguing with an “expert” who insisted my old “B” model Suzuki 250 was an “A” model !
The fact that I had completely rebuilt the bike and knew from experience that a great number of parts were non interchangeable could not persuade him.
You meet these blow hards in all walks of life though, they used to wind me up but now I just walk away, as the saying goes - you can’t fix stupid.
The fact that I had completely rebuilt the bike and knew from experience that a great number of parts were non interchangeable could not persuade him.
You meet these blow hards in all walks of life though, they used to wind me up but now I just walk away, as the saying goes - you can’t fix stupid.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff