In the spring of 2009, a few months after I had purchased my DeLorean, the weekly cruise in started up in a nearby town. The DeLorean was all cleaned up and ready to strut her stuff. My wife and I loaded up and off we went into the beautiful 74 degree sunlit evening. The weather was perfect and just as we entered the downtown area the sun was setting on the horizon casting a perfect lavendar/pink hue in the sky. I have never been one to crave attention, in fact I avoid it when I can, but there is something the draws me to unique and flashy things. I love oddities and outside the box thinking. The thing is that everything I love be it unique guns, flashy clothes, eye catching watches, also are the same things that attract attention...and I was about to find out that goes ten fold for Deloreans.
We rolled into the crowded downtown area which is closed off for the car show. You have to remember this is a pretty small town, and although a 1967 Camaro or 1958 Impala may garner a few looks, a mint condition DeLorean made this place look like a rave. As we rolled down the main street, people were stopping, pointing, yelling (Flux Capacitor was the first thing that was yelled to me). Since the speed limit was like 5mph, some of the crowd followed me which made things even more congested. I finally found a parking spot and once the picture takers cleared out I pulled in. As soon as I opened the door some weird guy greets me with "MARTY!" I had never in my life been subjected to this kind of attention. It was almost like I was some celebrity and then the questions from 4 or 5 people at once made me feel like a politician at a press conference. After a few minutes I had to get away and just started walking. At around the 15' distance marker, I remembered "Didn't I have a wife?" I looked back and I couldn't even see my car...only the 2 doors above people's heads. I thought to myself, sorry Debbi, you are on your own! Later, I reconnected with Debbi and we looked at cars for awhile, revisited the Delorean during slower periods and socialized a bit (which was hard for me but I came around). As it got late and the show drew to a close, the crowd died down and I thought it was time to call it a night. Even when packing up and there were but a few dozen people left at the entire meet I still had people taking pictures and wanting to see the car. We headed out to a nice place for dinner and back home...exhausted.
Now that may not seem like a good night to any of you, and to be honest it wasn't for me either. Not that it was a bad night, it was just a bit hectic for my tastes. It would not be until later on that I would realize what a special night that was. I was in my freaking dream car!!!! I rolled into a car show in the car I have wanted to own since I was a kid! The fact is that I have dreamed of that night for decades; Me, a beautiful woman(and my wife to boot), a picture perfect Saturday night in my dream car on a date. It actually was a dream come true, but was it just like the dream?
No,
People crowded me and made me a little uncomfortable. I didn't fight off 5 ninjas and impress my date and not once did I flex my bicep and split the stitching on my custom fitted sport coat (which was missing too in real life...I think I was wearing a T Shirt?). I guess what I'm saying is this night was full of real life. So everything not being like the dream made it more real and down to Earth. The fact is that so many complete strangers engaged me in conversation started a process that would eventually bring me out of my shell that I had lived in for so many years. I was finally somewhat social. For years...decades, it was so hard for me to express myself, let alone start up a conversation with a complete stranger. Now look at me, have any of you ever known me to keep my opinions to myself?
I can honestly say that this car has changed my life. ...and you just can't say that with a Toyota Camry.
The commercial had it wrong. A DeLorean doesn't allow you to "Live the Dream"....
It awakens you
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Originally Posted by opethmike
