At the beginning of the year I heard there was an Ithaca College car club. I knew that it wouldn't be as cool as a bunch of MBCA people or a GTG, but I thought eh whatever it would probably be fun to go to a meeting anyway.

They had a meet back in October which I went to. Little did I realize what I was getting myself into.

This entire club was nothing but ricers. Hondas, Toyotas, Acuras, and a couple of riced up American cars. The guys all saw me pulling in so there was no way I could not make a turn around without making it awkward so I kept going. I pulled into an open spot and got out of my car.

I was completely out of place. At least when I went to Chad's get together it was like I showed up wearing a tux at a black tie affair and everyone was happy to see you. THIS was completely different, almost like showing up in jeans and a t-shirt.

Completely useless body kits, over basses sound systems, chrome, halogen lights, weird shifter knobs, crazy amounts of tint, chrome, lowering kits, mud flaps that had almost half an inch clearance from the road, chrome, slide out DVD players, weird engine improvements, fart can mufflers, ridiculous autozone rims.

I was stuck. I couldn't bail, so I went around and greeted the other guys. I ended up making a ton of friends and now have a bunch of ricey guys appreciating 80s era benzes

While I was walking around there were a handful of guys that had started to congregate around my 300D. So I walked over and said "Hey".

There were in complete awe of my car! They loved the bundts, the 300,000+ mileage, the engine, and the cherry interior! I was completely flattered by it. I told them all my goal was to bring it as close to factory spec as possible (relax guys I won't be pimpin' my ride anytime soon ).

When I was getting ready to leave I saw a stain under my car. I was worried it was from me so I got under my car and touch the stain to see if it was fresh.

This guy came up from behind me and asked, "You leaking something?"

I responded, "I'm not sure, it's dry and it's not from anything obvious."
"Let me take a look." He pushed his finger on it and gave it a lick. I was still looking under the car when he said to me
"Oh man yeah it's your exhaust gasket. Yeah man it's definitely your exhaust gasket."

Now i'm a bit hard of hearing in my left ear and I was listening to him so I was like, "What?"
"It's an exhaust gasket bro."
I almost said back to him what the hell are you talking about, but then I realized he's probably trying to be funny. I said back, "Oh no man the exhaust gasket is fine. I checked it after I replaced my blinker fluid."

He started laughing really hard for some reason (most likely the beer). I started benzy and drove off. Definitely a fun Saturday well spent.

Our GTGs are just much more fun.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

You went to the ricer side.

I pulled into a VW GTG once, although I didn't realise it at the time. I guess they most come together at a local restaurant once a week, quite a few of them 20 or 30. I don't know what they talk about maybe how great it was that Hitler created VW and their oil leaker plastic motors.

Anyway I pulled in and it clicked what I parked in the middle of, I made a probably very odvious move. I backed out and parked in the far corner of the lot next to a Jag that I guess had the same idea. They didn't say anything as I walked in but I didn't want my good car next to those things.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

been there, done that.



the VW group here in Sacramento is the same way... And I know a few of the members....

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

MIVW here is a good group.



No rice, most of the builds are proper "unpimp ze auto" builds - all function over form.

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-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

I got invited to a predominately VW meet once....I found that the trick is to bring something that is old, yet new, yet cool, yet totally not rice or sporty.







Definitely brings credence to the old saying "You can go fast but I can go anywhere."

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

At least I can still attend an MB or VW meet with pride..,

...the old Super Beetle could really turn heads when I lived in the Midwest...not so much so in Texas or Cali...impressive examples there!

I don't really mind the ricers...anyone who is into rides is okay in my book. And ricers eventually mature into street rodders or resto-enthusiasts!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Yeah actually that's how I see it too. I'm not snoobish by any means and I enjoying hearing the stories on how they added their toys to the cars and how they came upon them.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.