Originally intended to document my experience of DeLorean ownership, focus is often radical and strange, boring and obtuse.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Tuesday Night DeLorean Fun

Here I explain the length of the cross-stitched solenoid diaphram dooeys. Really.

Last night I rushed home in our 48C degree* weather, skipped dinner, threw a lawn chair into the DeLorean and high-tailed it over to Canadian Tire where, every Tuesday night, there is a car show.

It's not really a car show, but rather a large gathering of collectible cars. "Food" wagons prepare all sorts of greasy things for consumption and a sound system cranks out oldies while owners exchange thoughts on the loves of their lives.

Although there are some old, exotic and rare cars each week, like this Austin Healey, many of them are staples at car shows everywhere. The DeLorean, a rare car to begin with, is even more rare in Canada, and always attracts a lot of attention. Sometimes it's people who have never seen one before, and sometimes it's people who were fans of the Back To The Future movies.

I am always prepared to answer many questions about the car, its history, Back To The Future, and even John DeLorean. People ask the same questions over and over again and I feel really great when I can educate these car-lovers about this stainless piece of history.

Yes, stainless. Not aluminum as a few people thought. Yes, Ireland. Not built in Nova Scotia as a few people thought. And yes, DeLorean. Not Bricklin as one older fellow asked.

Admirers admiring the DeLorean at the show.For two hours I fielded questions and opened the doors so that excited attendees could take photographs using everything from professional-type cameras to cellphone cameras. In between questions like "Is this really the car from the Back To The Future movies?" I sat in my lawn chair and ate a congealed blob of grease which enveloped a small hamburger. It couldn't have tasted better. On a side-note, I did not see any Ham.

Our trip home was just as entertaining. Travelling in the opposite direction was a van driven by a dude so enthralled with the DeLorean that he stuck his head entirely out his window and, bug-eyed, yelled "Hoooooooly Shiiiiiiiiiit!"

Laughing with pure joy, Suz and I pulled into a gas station, filled up, then drove to the exit and waited to make a left turn. In the distance I could see the van approaching us again. He had pulled a U-turn and was heading back, determined to have another look. Not even the red light could stop him. He weaved through the intersection and pulled into the gas station with eyes bulging. He was so juiced up about the encounter that I couldn't resist answering a couple of questions before the blocked driver behind him honked. We both cringed. I took the opportunity to drive off, very happy that I made his day.

Continuing the drive home, we received numerous thumbs up and shouts of "Yaaa!" as we effortlessly united boys across the city.

*temperature with humidex.

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13 Comments:

Blogger Jerry Bowley said...

You know the best part? It's that you're such a cool guy... not the usual jerk that holds himself above the people who wish they had that car.

Good on ya, brother!

12:42:00 PM

 
Blogger Rainypete said...

I tend to stay away from proper car shows as the people there are exactly what Joe is referring to. Maybe these informal Tuesday deals are exactly what I need. Now I just have to keep my Hyundai running long enough to be a collectible and I'm in!

2:20:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Cuppojoe... thank you! At first I thought, "Oh no! He's being sarcastic! How will I win back his love?"

BTW, the punishment for sarcasm is condescendingly bombarding you with car facts until you want to punch me in the solarplexes.

2:38:00 PM

 
Blogger Ellie Creek Ellis said...

you just LOVE all the attention driving the your delorean....your FIRST true love! (does suz know?)

2:58:00 PM

 
Blogger Andrew McAllister said...

Hey, thanks a bunch for droppin' by To Love, Honor and Dismay and chipping in with a comment. It must be fun to hang out at Crappy Tire with the car, but Dude -- next time you're by my site, bring the car too :o)

Being from NB, my first thought is the apparent outward similarity with the Bricklin. How would you compare the two?

4:55:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Andrew, the similarities between the two are amazing - no matter how different the cars actually are.

-Both (obviously) have ultra-cool gull-wing doors.
-Both are two-seater sports cars.
-Both were primarily designed as safety vehicles.
-Both had quality control issues.
-Both companies failed after a short period.

Nut-shelled for your brief reading enjoyment.

5:14:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

If you haven't already, check out this link to my Bricklin post, here.

5:15:00 PM

 
Blogger Louisiana said...

hello...oh you are Suz are just so sweet..see i would have sure packed all the kids and gone to see your awesome car...oh my kids would love it...can you imagine the number of pics Joe would take?...it sounds like a wonderful evening, greasy hamburger and all...your end of the world is staring to sound great more and more..not only do they have some pretty nice people, like you guys but so many fun things to do..Our canadian tire doesn't do fun things like that...sure, some malls do put them on but it's only not often...

you guys are cooking, that is way too hot to be anywhere. for that temperature i deserve sand, beach and the wonderful sounds of the waves...stay cool..

and hello to Suz...she sounds like such a fun girl and of course she must be amazingly wonderful since you are obviously so in love with her...ahh, love, isn't it nice, :)

11:42:00 PM

 
Blogger Vengelyne said...

Whoa... your car's like a celebrity. And the best part is, you're not cocky or arrogant about it.

4:37:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

DANGIT. What is going on? The harder I try to be a total sphincter, the more you guys say I'm not. What am I doing wrong here? ;)

11:18:00 AM

 
Blogger pirategirl said...

Wow. You're so cool.

2:27:00 PM

 
Blogger Jod{i} said...

Love the car shows! ANd gosh darn dang it...you found out the truth...!
Shhhhhhh dont tell anyone...

:)

2:34:00 PM

 
Blogger Monogram Queen said...

Sounds like you had a good time!

10:58:00 AM

 

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