Michael,

Sorry you have had negative experiences at some of those events. I've had comments about how I'm destroying a "good" Volvo from both the Tbricks site and the old sbricks mailing list. On the whole though, when I explain to people that I took an old Volvo with a blown motor that would have gone to the wrecking yard and then resurrected it, people seem to open up.

Here in Oregon, I've generally had good experiences... especially at the IPD meets. (OK, they aren't VCOA =)) But the VCOA PNW meets are organized by Nick Choy, who is a radical in his own right and pushes tolerance on all. To be perfectly honest, I've had 10 times more negative comments about my grill, than putting a V8 in a Volvo.

take care,
simon