Doane Yawger: Sharing hobby with others is what it's all about

For the old car buff, a few New Year's resolutions are in order as 2012 inches into the history books and we look forward to the next 12 months.

New Year's resolutions don't have a great track record of being followed for very long but I'll try to be diligent in 2013; honestly, I will.

I especially want to treasure and build upon those relationships I have built up at car shows, club events and cruise nights in this area. It's the people who add the sparkle to our hobby, not paste wax or chrome cleaner.

Sure, the promise of seeing a gorgeous vintage vehicle is what draws me to the event in the first place, but it's the people who keep me there enjoying it even more. You can learn so much about old cars, how they are built, operated and maintained by asking their owners about them.

Sitting down with these people and solving all the world's problems, even for a few minutes, at a car show remains a worthy 2013 goal. I think I'll take it a little further, invite some of these folks to have breakfast or lunch with me to share our common hobby.

And I resolve to be even more tolerant of the varying tastes in the old car hobby, from 1920s farm vehicles to street rods, muscle cars, custom cars and showroom stock rides. I may not be enamored with a 1929 Ford one-ton stakebed truck, but I can appreciate the workmanship and clever features embodied in all these rolling treasures.

In the year ahead, I hope to actually ride in more of these old cars and trucks, to gain an even better perspective about them and just plain to have fun. Remember -- it's a hobby and is supposed to be fun; that's the bottom line. If it isn't, do something else.

I'm also resolving to attend as many swap meets, indoor and outdoor car shows, and the area's cruise nights as is humanly possible.

Furthermore, we should promote the hobby to others, as well, particularly younger generations who weren't around when 1950s cars or other prized treasures were common, everyday vehicles.

The next year should be a fun one for old car buffs and I resolve to pack in as much enjoyment as possible -- and share it with others.

Reporter Doane Yawger can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or dyawger@mercedsunstar.com.