I really hope this thread doesn't turn ugly like the thread on the other site did. Bonehead, one thing I like about this site being named Rat Rods Rule is that some snobs feel that they are just too cool to ever think of visiting or registering here. I think it keeps away some of the people that would just serve to cause trouble and degrade other folks.
I've noticed at KB that some members clearly dislike rat rods and prounounce so in their posts and sig lines. It makes me wonder why they even bother to post there. It seems that the "cool" thing to do these days is call your car "traditional" no matter what it looks like and how it's styled. Like Don stated earlier in his post, some of the cars being passed off and touted as traditional are obviously rats. It all depends on who you are as to how your car will be accepted in some circles. I'll even venture a guess that there will be cars at VLV that fall under their category of "not allowed in" just because the car belongs to a club member or other popular person or friend of a friend. I don't have a real problem with them making rules for their own show. I think it's their right to do so, especially if the reason is to maintain order at the show. Along with the popularity of the rat rod, there seems to be an element of people that treat the cars more as a "fashion accessory" than a hot rod. To them it's all about the "scene", and the look, the clothes, and the tattoos. To this group of people, it's just the latest lifestyle trend. I think that in part, this is what has brought a lot of heat on to the term rat rod and the rat rods themselves. I think the other problem that rodders have with the rat rods is the "I'm rattier than you" cars that are built strictly for shock value and can barely roll off of a trailer under their own power. I do find it ironic in a sence that the traditionalists and even the rat rodders to some degree have seemed to become what they despised.
In my opinion, both of the above mentioned element types will eventually move on with the next big trend and the rat rods will continue to stay the course. I say this because of the cost of building a highly finished car is just becoming increasingly more expensive and out of reach for the average rodder. That being said, I believe that there will always be rat rods. They may just not be as popular in the mainstream as they are today which is fine by me.
As far as categorizing some of the cars between traditional and rat, I think that the lines have blurred. I know some owners of ratty cars become indignant at the mere thought of their car being referred to as a rat when in reality, that's what it is. Me I don't really care what my car is called. It's not traditional but I like the look of a traditional car so I try to keep it styled along those lines while adding home made parts and touches to keep it interesting. Is it a rat? I don't know. Lots of people at the cruise night call it one. Am I offended? Not at all. The hard core traditional guys would call it a street rod. Note that for the sake of arguement, I'm referring to my coupe here and not my other cars. The reality is, like so many other cars on RRR, it really doesn't fit into a finely defined category. I like that about the cars here. They are just built and styled how the owners want them to be built and styled and that's the way it should be.
I've gotten off on a tangent but I'll conclude by saying that I think the future of rat rodding is safe, albeit maybe not with the popularity in some groups as it has at this point. I think the true hot rodder that is in it for the love of the machine will keep the movement alive well into the future.
