Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[clan chieftain]

If you are a member of a car club is it one make.
Morris marina ecosse is a one make club at the moment but we are struggling at shows now. Last year our average was 4 and the most we had was 6 at Moffat.
Some of our members dont have marinas any more. Do you think we should open up and accept other makes which would take away our one make status.It would mean changing the club name and flags unless some of you can come up with a suggestion.There are no other marina owners out there that we know of. Personally as club chairman I want to keep it one make but if our members want to change it at the AGM next month there is nothing I can do.....Any ideas.
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The Clan Chieftain

[Salopian]

I suppose one of your problems is you are really a localised one car model club which severely limits your potential membership.
At a guess there are probably only a thousand(?) or so cars left as unfortunately they are not considered so desirable as say an XK120 or MGB hence a very low survival rate. This means you may struggle.
There is another Marina club I think - are there really enough cars for 2 clubs and is a merger a sensible idea?
No doubt the usual club politics will be a problem whatever the solution but there seem to be enough general classic clubs already.
I'm a member of the VSCC which is non specific and the Alvis register which is and only covers the pre 1933 Alvis models. In view of the tiny numbers built the survival rate of the vintage Alvis is amazing. They built 151 SD 12/50s of which 53 still survive if this applied to your cars you'd be fighting members off!
Sorry if the above is not helpful - and having in the past chaired a few "difficult" AGMs try to sort out the result before the meeting if you know what I mean ----- sounds devious but sometimes essential to politic to preserve the patient.
Your website is very good BTW.
The very best of luck whatever you decide.
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Jonathan Butler
Alvis SD 12/50 1928 MG TD 1950

[clan chieftain]

We used to be a part of the Morris Marina Owners Club and I was the Branch Secretary for Scotland but all their events were in England and it was far too far to travel so we broke away in 2006 and formed our own club. We still have a membership of about 20 but many dont want to go to shows and you cannot make people go so I think we will just plod on and hope there are more owners out there.
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The Clan Chieftain

[colwyn500]

Larry, that is a fact that seems to affect the Austin Ten Drivers' Club and I suppose it can't be helped that there are most cars where there are most people.

I think that old friend/enemy,The Internet might be having an effect too. There is less need to rely on a club as a spares source or even, as I remember doing, using it to obtain or value cars through their magazine ads.

Like all things it's supply and demand, and forums like this are fulfilling some of the socialising needs that clubs cater for, even though it is only "virtual" socialising.

[Riley Blue]

Morris Marina Ecosse, not a one-make club but a single-model club and restricted to a single country too, it's a very limited potential membership you're catering for Larry.
I would suggest re-joining the Morris Marina Owners Club and being their Scottish Branch Secretary again, unless they've formed a Scottish branch in the meantime. Either that or accept you're never going to be 'big' in the classic car world. Coincidentally, in Classic Car Weekly this week is an feature 'How to start a classic car club'. Perhaps next week there'll be a follow-up, 'How to keep your classic car club going.'
Best of luck!

[clan chieftain]

Nice one.The marina owners club dont have anyone up here that I am aware of.
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The Clan Chieftain

[Phil - Nottingham]

I am a member of 1 one make club - the Rover Sports Register and 2 one model clubs - P4 Drivers Guild and the P5 Owners Club both of course also Rover!

All three are thriving (still)
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[Roger-hatchy]

I'm also a one member car club.



Bit lonely at times


I'll get my coat

[clan chieftain]

At least you can only argue with yourself
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The Clan Chieftain

[clan chieftain]

We decided at our AGM to invite other BMC and BL owners to join if they wish. The way things were we will be lucky to have 6 on a stand this year.
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The Clan Chieftain