I’m feeling thankful today, for a number of things:
1. New Contributors: I put out a ” Help Wanted” sign recently, and I’ve been almost overwhelmed by the response. The direct result is a number of new excellent Contributors: Jeremiah Birnbaum, Roger Carr (coming soon), David Fogel, GGH06, Walter Rorhl, mcc.pj (coming soon), and David Skinner. They join several other Contributors that had started recently before: Carlo Di Tullio, Mr. Edward Mann, Brendan Saur, and Juan Agostin Romero Melchior. If I’ve missed any recently new/active Contributors, speak up. And thanks to the occasional/one time Contributors too.
They’re all off to an excellent start, and it’s always refreshing to hear new voices here. Thank you all for throwing your hats in the CC ring!
2. Our Existing Corps of Writers/Editors: I never fail to be impressed with what the gang comes up with. Thank you Jim(s), Ed(s), Tom, Jason, Laurence, David, Tony, Robert, and Kevin, for keeping CC rolling. And a special thanks to those of you that made it to Iowa.
3. The CC Commentariat: The level and spirit of commenting here is what really sets CC apart, and makes hanging out here such an endlessly enjoyable and learning experience. We manage to stick to the cars, our experiences, and anything else relevant, and manage to stay away from politics and other divisive issues. We can have civil debates, and keep from making personal attacks. And I can count on you to let others know when they’re crossing the lines. It’s clear that you all want to preserve the quality of commenting, and I’m with you 100%.
I do occasionally remove/edit comments that are personal attacks, or otherwise not in the spirit of the site. And I write to repeat offenders. I’m not interested in becoming a banning-fiend or control freak, and you’re welcome to critique the content, but in a constructive spirit. If there is a serious issue, please write me at the Contact Form.
4. CC Readers: Many of you may not comment, but I know you’re out there. Thanks just for being there.
5. CC Donors: A few of you have chosen to make a donation to help keep the wheels rolling here; thank you.
6. Stephanie: For talking me out of giving up a few times along the way, and for giving me a pass on not doing the dishes as often as I used to (among other things).
7. For having left TTAC: And I want to give my support to Steve Lang, who quit today over another stupid and divisive post by the Executive Editor. You won’t regret it, Steve.
7. Misc: All the other things that have made creating this community of like-minded car nuts possible, but I can’t think of right now.
Thank You!
For whatever reason, I was expecting something a bit more Jimmy Fallon-ish when I saw the headline. But the heartfelt sentiment is good, and thank you for doing this.
As for the TTAC article…
You are most welcome Paul.
Thank you Paul, and thank you to all of the contributors and commentators for this site. Reading the articles and comments here on CC is something that I look forward to every day (as I have time). It is like a vacation for the mind in my otherwise hectic work day, and it keeps me grounded to my roots as a car guy. Keep it up everyone, and I’ll keep contributing more as well, as I have time to write.
I’ve become an everyday reader, over the last year, though I almost never comment. Thank you for moderately reducing my efficiency…but also affording so many connections to cars that I remember fondly, or lustfully, or with loathing… And Paul, in particular, thank you for the Corvair design article. (I remember thinking something was odd the first time I’d seen a BMW 2000cs, and now I understand.) Although I get to see Packard 250s(?) at the grocery store sometimes, I don’t have my own workspace, and haven’t really worked on a car in 20 years. But I still want a C2 Corvette just as badly…
I’m an occasional reader of TTAC, mainly to see if Murilee has something to say about junkyards or Lemons. To me, the most reliable sources of interesting automotive reading are CC, Bring a Trailer, Ate up with Motor, and Dean’s Garage. I cut out Jalopnik a while ago, mainly because I think Gawker Media is terrible.
I think the writers and commenters here appreciate that the evolution of the auto industry and its producers since WW2 is a complicated story. CC keeps the view on the cars, and what makes them good or bad. And sometimes it looks for people who deserve credit (DeLorean, Beltz, Bruno Sacco) or blame (Hank Deuce, Dieter Zetsche, Roger Smith). The impact of regulation, labor relations, market forces, etc., is there, but you can still ask, “who or what handled that constraint well?” Just as you can ask, “what year Cadillac is the best?”
I wish I had more ideas, or time, to contribute. One article I’d like to write is how the reason that the Mercedes W112 coupé looks so nice is liberal quotation of the 1959 Chrysler 300. But that’s pretty much the whole story, and I’ve never seen that Chrysler in person.
Bertel wasn’t the first TTACer to piss off Subaru. He doesn’t act like someone I’d like to work for myself.
Anyway, Steve I hope there will be a venue where you can continue your superb writing – your incite into the auctioning game is immeasurable.
Are any of these people getting paid to manage that website?
I mean when an everyday person is running his/her mouth anonymously from the comfort of their home, you get all kinds of behavior. But people doing something as their primary occupation and getting paid for it one expects more.
Paul – I am one of those that have never commented. But I will today: Thank You! This is the first or second site I always hit to relax and unwind every day. You take me back to my childhood and help me forget the day’s BS. Welcome to all the new team members!
Paul, again, thanks for allowing me, a teenaged transportation geek with NO writing credentials, to contribute to CC.
I’m sorry I haven’t been able to do much lately, but I have some interesting pieces in the mental article creator including a comparison between the 1st gen Neon and the Chevy Vega (I have actually found a first gen Neon near me, I really want it, but I have yet to photograph it. I just need some Vega pics from you). I will begin when I get the photos.
Also, thanks for not letting politics and/or religion get away from the main topic of cars. It makes the site less “distracting”, if you will.
Mr. Edward Mann.
The Vega vs. Neon comparison sounds interesting. I look forward to reading it!
There is so much in common with the two (advanced OHC motors, great handling, equally great styling (in my mind), rust problems, cheap interiors, unreliable motors, etc) that this comparison just begged to be done.
These reasons are also why I call the Neon “The Vega Of The 1990’s”.
This is certainly one of my favorite websites as well. Kudos to Paul and everyone else that contributes and keeps it running. I wish I had time to write more myself because I really enjoy it, but when I get any free time, my car restoration comes first right now.
On that note, I check-in here daily, but I’m late to the party commenting on this because I was travelling all day Saturday to a swapmeet far from home. I finally scored a set of factory ’78 Cordoba wheels, which will look great on one of my Chryslers.
Paul, as a reader from the very first post here I’d like to say thank YOU, for all the time and effort that you’ve put in. My day wouldn’t be anywhere near as good without my dose of CC in the morning!
Paul,
I remember, upon your exit from TTAC, sending you a mail suggesting, hopefully, that you would consider doing a CC-oriented site (as this was, despite reading the industry-related information, the first feature that I always looked for on TTAC.)
Your kind answer then, as I recall it, was that you were considering doing this, but were not sure it would be a success. I hope that this question has now been definitively answered with “roaring”.
I very much enjoy the content here, and am happy to see much of the old commenteriat reassembled here too. It would be nice if, as folks like Stephen cleave off from TTAC, if you could incorporate the nicer, gentler, parts into CC.
As I found myself visiting TTAC less, and less, (not knowing exactly why), I was happy to have CC as an alternative … when TTAC started running spammy JavaScript manipulating hijack redirects affecting my iPhone & iPad (and, after a couple of complaints, weeks, and promises) didn’t seem willing or able to resolve the issue), I deleted the bookmark. So I am doubly happy that I still can get my fill of car-themes, and interesting comments.
So, as are you, I too am thankful for CC and wish it continued success.
This site continues to help me to learn more about obscure automobiles I never knew existed, as well as to shore up my car-identifying skills on the CC Clues (it’s been a while since I’ve come out on top of one of those). Beyond that, it inspires me to go out into my own community with my camera and look for old cars myself. In fact, I’m going to go out right now. Thanks for continuing to provide the best old car site on the web.
Paul, thanks for putting this site up. I still have your email inviting me over here. Thanks for that too.
I can’t follow or comment on many sites, and increasingly see myself moving here, OPC, and BAT.
Thank you all for those wonderful words, and thank Paul most of all for making this place a reality.
Paul and I had discussed working together in the recent past. At the time, we had moderately different visions on what a site would be about.
I wanted a site that was more broadly focused on the used car industry. While Paul was aiming for a site that offered more story telling and historical relevance.
I am glad that Paul’s vision ruled that day. Curbside Classic is very much like a sunny vacation resort that you visit every year and meet your old friends. As time goes by, the umbrellas becomes a little old and the decor may become a little dated. But you just can’t help feeling like you’re at the best spot on Earth whenever you go there and see all the familiar faces that make a vacation wonderful.
Keep your audience the way it is Paul. You and your fellow writers have made Curbside Classic a welcoming place. In time the purity of CC will attract enough of an audience to make it an ongoing financial success. I have absolutely no doubt about it.
In the meantime share the stories and enjoy the fellowship.
All the best!
Thanks; and same to you!
You’re a lot younger than me, and I know you’re going to have a great post-TTAC future. This is my path; and I’ve embraced it.
I didn’t properly read bullet 7. A real shame, I looked forward every Tuesday to read about the Monday mileage champions (among the many SL great stories).
So Mr Lang, where can I continue to read you? I don’t do Jalopnik, and won’t go back there.
Paul has my email in his files.
Paul is right, you’ve got a bright future out there. All the best.
Yes, Steve, keep us posted as to where we can read your articles. I will be going straight to YouTube* for Alex Dykes’s (I too thought the original headline was in regard to him) great new car reviews; they are what I went to TTAC for in the first place. Deleting the bookmark – something I should have done months ago – gave me a great deal of pleasure. BS can continue to spew his homophobia and misogyny (and make no mistake, that is what it is) and deliberate provocations to the online nut contingent until someone pulls the plug. Anyone of common decency who continues to write there should think again.
*Edited to add I need to reconsider – it is TTAC’s YouTube site.
I decided to go have a look. Honestly, I didn’t find it offensive, so much as it was weak sauce. Mr. Schmitt was doing his best to liven up a boring story. But his best isn’t all that good, and his idea of what’s funny, well, isn’t.
Personally, I think that Mr. Lang made a prudent move, for the sake of his own reputation. If this produces a PR backlash that causes a loss of advertisers, then Vertical Scope may feel compelled to act.
(And if Alex Dykes is smart, he’ll find himself a new home so that he doesn’t run the risk of losing access to press cars.)
Ultimately, it’s not just the article in question that damages TTAC’s reputation, but the general tone under Bertel’s management. Along with the occasional homophobia and racism, and regular misogyny, the site authors have cultivated a very “us vs. them” atmosphere. Articles about luxury cars demean their owners as flashy idiots, while truck driver’s are poser bros… crossovers and SUVs are only driven by moron housewives who can’t drive… on and on.The commentariat are only spurred on by this type of writing, and share their equally ugly views all too often. This happens on every car site to some extent, but it has become the trademark of TTAC. Not to mention all the political articles on civil liberties, even gun laws, that do nothing but polarize the readership. It’s really tiresome. There are obviously some excellent writers and articles that come out of TTAC (Steve will be deeply missed), but the overall vibe is total garbage.
PS- not that anyone cares, I was banned as well (without warning) for linking to Steve’s resignation article in the TTAC comments.
Steve quit? Circling the drain…hopefully the owners will step in soon.
And a big thank-you to you Paul! We love what you’ve started here.
With all due respect Pch101 (and there is a great deal – your sane and informed responses to the nutters at TTAC during the fall election were especially appreciated), reading the words used in the headline alone in the “mainstream press” (and I understand this is a car blog but even so they know it’s wrong – note their own rules for posters) in 2013 is astoundingly offensive. Substitute the K word or the N word and imagine the response. If you’re not a member of the community most impacted, try to put yourself in their/our place.
I fully understand your reluctance to take seriously Mr. Schmitt’s writing which is poorly/lazily researched and badly written. But banal as it may seem, this type of thing also does damage, as many posters here personally note. The site indicates Mr. Schmitt is a former rock journalist. Given the homophobia and misogyny rampant in that community back in his day, it may be more understandable (but no less excusable) that he’s insensitive to the evolving ethos on these concerns today.
Paul, as others have said, thanks to you for running such an awesome community dedicated to the love of old/esoteric/interesting vehicles.
If there’s ever a West Coast CC get together, I’ll try to make it down from the Seattle area.
As someone who actually suffers withdrawal symptoms if I don’t get my daily dose of CC, despite the fact that I’ve almost never commented, allow me to add my voice to the chorus and say a heartfelt Thank You to Paul for starting up this amazing site and to all the contributors and commenters who make it such a vibrant and interesting place to visit.
We do have a few curbside classics down here where I live (Sri Lanka) although considering the size of the country and import restrictions etc we don’t see anything very interesting often. Still there are a few gems here and there and I will try to snap them up and share them over on the Cohort…
Once again guys, thanks for making CC the awesome place that it is!
I just saw this article and I couldn’t agree more Paul. CC is beyond the best car blog going. Every single article is read from top to bottom, and is always interesting. Thanks to you and all the contributors, don’t change a thing.
I de-bookmarked TTAC over that whole spectacle, and Bertel’s continued jabs at the commenters and Steve in subsequent articles, while banning anyone from discussing it. It’s just an uncomfortable environment over there now.