Topic: Anyone know if this is a true story? American autoworkers trash Japanese car....

[andy750]

I am helping an academic friend verify a story for her media studies....basically there is an urban rumour that in the `80s, American auto union workers trashed a Japanese car (make?) to show their disgust at Japanese imports. However, there is no record of this ever having happened. Anyone know if its a true story (and I need proof! - link or article)??

Related story - Harley guys dragging/hanging Japanese bikes at Sturgis for similar reasons....true/false? need proof....

thanks
Andy

[Inigo Montoya]

Given the union attitudes in the 80's, I would not be surprised. I never saw, like you I only heard about it.

[Damfino]

Hey Andy, check out this article......

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DEED8103FF932A25750C0A96E948260

Okay, that doesn't work....

Go here and click the third one down...
"Movie Review - Who Killed Vincent Chin? - Review: New Directors ..."


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us%3AIE-ContextMenu&rlz=1I7GGLL_en&num=100&newwindow=1&q=American+auto+workers+trash+a+Japanese+car&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

In the second to last paragraph is this...  "In one shot, auto workers trash a Japanese car in much the way Mr. Ebens and Mr. Nitz trashed Mr. Chin."

[mystic_1]

Related story - Harley guys dragging/hanging Japanese bikes at Sturgis for similar reasons....true/false? need proof....

Sure, Hondas are burned/dropped/crushed at Harley parties all the time.  Found the following link in about 10 seconds via Google, I'm sure you'll find a plethora of others with little effort:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7782575@N02/sets/72157619682310396/

mystic_1

[Frankenkit]

jealousy will make people do strange things...

[1080]

I was at a party ( late 70's/early 80's ) where this Honda was drained of oil then ran at full throtle until it died. Everyone was thinking it was going to blow, but it didn't. Lasted around 20 minutes I think?

[Raul CB750K1]

I was at a party ( late 70's/early 80's ) where this Honda was drained of oil then ran at full throtle until it died. Everyone was thinking it was going to blow, but it didn't. Lasted around 20 minutes I think?

Hahahaha, that sure was a great fun spoiler. Everybody thinking the jap crap would blow, and it would last for 20 minutes!!!! Everybody after the first three minutes looking at their watches, looking at each other like asking "when is this thing going to blow?"

[Bob Wessner]

jealousy will make people do strange things...

More likely it was folks who thought their livelihood was being threatened. It did happen, but I can't find a particular, or documented item on the web. It has even happened more recently with the auto bailouts. They were isolated, but of course the media, as usual, blew them out of proportion. Same sort of thing is happening in the Appalachian coal mining areas where they engage in mountain top mining.

[Kevin D]

Where I live is solid Ford Country. A common bumpersticker is "I work for Ford, I drive a Ford". Thats about as hostile as it gets. At the plants, parking is segregated, with foreign brands at the far end of the lot.

Anyone know if its a true story?

I'll ask around tomorrow.