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In every day life you will find things you are competing for but not necessarily realize the consequence of your actions. Whether it is competing for that last can of spam on the store shelf or for a new position in that dreaded job you are working. There are always 2 approaches to decide the fate of your decision. Do you take the last can of Spam and leave the other person to fend for some .08 cent Top Ramen? Or do you hesitate and give them the opportunity for a killer nights meal? If you were like me you'd let them grab at it first. I know that there are other things I can hunt down to ease my hunger, but for others that may not be true. And no it's not because I'm a nice guy but actually because I can't stand Spam. Well this is really no different then the day in the life of a Mini Trucker', Import Racer or Customizer. The only difference is that we tare into one another to get the edge in competition. We put others down whether in reality they kick our ass or not. It's reality that nobody likes to be runner up to anyone else. I think this is where we as custom enthusiasts are hurting our "sport" or "life" which ever it may be to you. People out there are so sprung on the fact that they didn't get a trophy or get a picture in the magazine that it frustrates them and makes them someone that I personally wouldn't want to hang around. Why can't we just enjoy what we are doing? Enjoy the fact that YOUR ideas went into your ride. Enjoy the fact that you can kick back and pound a couple beers with friends and meet new people. I have a theory why this is not possible. First of all, I speak from experience on this matter, but shortly changed my views cause I realized that it was the only way I was going to actually enjoy my life in this scene. Now it's obvious that most people out there would like to see their ride in a magazine. Why? Well not only to show all of your accomplishments but to also have a name in the scene. You want to be someone that people envied and wanted to meet. The magazine was your stepping stone to being the popular kid in school so to speak. This rule also applies to the shows. You want to be the one walking to the stage picking up your "Best of" awards or first place trophy. You wanted people to be able to lean over to their buddy and say "so that's who drives that phat ass truck!" When this didn't happen you felt that your ride was much better and that the judging was rigged or the judging was all politics. When you didn't see your ride in a show shot for a magazine you figured that just because you didn't know the photographer he chose not to shoot your ride.
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I like to think of these type of reactions as "bullshit" thinking. People that think this way have nothing but attitudes. Why would you want to hang around someone who bitched and moaned about this or that all the time? Personally I like giving these people a hard time. Poke fun at them and let them realize how dumb they are acting. "Cheer up buck-a-roo!! Get that beast in the shop and go gettem' next time!" That usually ticks them off but everyone else gets a laugh. The point I'm getting at is this..... There are a lot of people out there that you may not think give you props where it is due but a lot of times they are envious but just won't let you know it. Who cares what everyone else thinks! Who cares if you get in the magazines! Who cares if you win a show! BUILD YOUR RIDE FOR YOU!!!!! Whether you have a shop work your ideas, or you complete those ideas on your own. It is YOUR ride, YOUR money and YOUR opinion on if it's the shit! So, next time you go to a run kick back with your friends and don't sweat the opinions.Garrick ArendsEditorGarrick@StreetSceneMag.com
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