Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Even although I run the MorrisMarinaEcosse car club, I sometimes wonder if its worth it. Years ago it was almost a necessity to join a club in order to get spares but with ebay and gumtree and the like its not so necessary now. Its good going to car shows when you are all together as a club but thats about it. Its hardly worth while having the odd get together at night because there are not many of us. Some I wont see until the first show next year. But we plod on regardless for how much longer I dont know. As a club our membership is so spread out there is not much we can do. Any ideas anyone. Are you a member of a club or do you enter car shows as individual entries or do you not go to shows.
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The Clan Chieftain

Jason · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 623 Location: Todmorden, Lancs.

my local club is Rochdale vintage and collectors car club, we have meetings on the first Tuesday in every month, on Tuesday night they were taking orders for the clubs Christmas dinner in December.......67 meals were ordered Shocked

its a good club and they do quite a few road runs through the summer and they do one show at Heywood park, normally in June.

I'm also a member of the Alvis owner club, but there events are so far away, I haven't been to any of their events.
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"people with money buy a Rolls Royce, people with taste buy an Alvis".

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

My local club has had to put a limit on members, we meet once a month, the 6 summer months are at a different place each time for a meal and we use our old cars. The 6 winter months are held at the same place and we have a variety of Speakers. There are also a lot of local shows and events we meet at.
I am also in the Rover P6 Club which also has events, but more importantly, has an insurance accepted agreed valuation scheme. The peace of mind that this alone gives is worth the subscription, with out the excellent cameraderie and help from its the members.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22790 Location: UK

I'm only in the VSCC nowadays, I go to some of the local monthly meets (as they're held only 1/4 mile away Smile

), and a few club-organised events as a spectator, but otherwise don't do much with the club. This might change once the suitably-old Dodge is on the road.

Years ago I'd join a club to tap into the knowledge available, and use it to source parts (as well as contributing the odd article for the mags), but with the advent of t'internet my need to be in a club has lessened compared to say in the 1980s or 1990s.

I do sometimes wonder whether it's worth renewing the VSCC subs each year, not being a competitor in the races/trials/hillclimbs and navigational rallies they hold, but in the main the members are a good bunch, and their forum is quite interesting too. I think I'd feel a bit of a fraud if I turned up at the pub meet without being a paid-up member, although it doesn't seem to worry many of those that turn up.

RJ
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clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

I wish we had as many members and held monthly meetings.It would be more interesting. I suppose that is the worst of being a one make club.
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The Clan Chieftain

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

My local branch of the Riley Motor Club often attracts 20+ to its monthly meetings, especially during the summer months when we have a 'Drive and Dine' evening. We also have area rallies and weekends away in addition to national events; all much more enjoyable (in my opinion) than static shows - I'm not one for polishing.
I reckon you get out what you put in so I'm much more involved in the club than most members; I edit its magazine and web site, I'm its archivist and also a director of the club and of its spares operation (they're both limited companies).
I doubt I'd get so much enjoyment from owning a Riley by not being a member of the club, through it I've made good friends all over the world.

V8 Nutter · Joined: 27 Aug 2012 Posts: 602

I was a founder member of the American Auto Club U.K. I was the club secretary for 5 years back inthe late 80's. Over the years the club has constantly changed, but you can be sure of one thing the organisers can never please all of the members all of the time. We have our own area meet every month that has really become a social event just to meet and chat. Most of us only take our American cars to the meets in the summer. Being a club member does have advantages when it comes to spares, insurance and advice

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

I am open to advice. The most we had at a show during the summer was 5 and 2 of them were Pilgrim Bulldog kit cars. So really we only had 3 marinas on show. Hopefully we can attract new members or get some more of our members to turn out. The problem is that there are not many marinas out there.
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The Clan Chieftain

Peter_L · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:52 pm Post subject:

Hi Marina. Maybe you answered your own question when you commented that there are not many Marinas.

Maybe open the doors a little more, after all much of the Marina's features have a long history.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22790 Location: UK

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

I originally was a member of the BMC/BL car club but what a clannish lot they were. A lot of them split as well. We have lost a few members through illness and others selling their cars on ebay. The cars sold on ebay all went down south. 4 years ago we had 18 at Selkirk but there were a good few came up from the north of England as visitors but fuel costs have hit that on the head. Might as well soldier on and hope it picks up.Our website is due renewal next year and its about £200 for renewal so what will happen there I dont know. It still gets plenty of hits every month but is not benefitting us much. Sad

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The Clan Chieftain

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:22 pm Post subject:

Have you a link for your website? I just wonder if you could do something that would meet your needs with a blog format which is effectively free.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

There is a link at the bottom of my postings.
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The Clan Chieftain

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4241 Location: South Cheshire

I have been helping out the Morris Register... its the only club that I am currently a member of. I'm not on the committee and frankly have no desire to be, I take my hats off to those that do; the legislation and financial regulation alone can be a nightmare, let alone trying to satisfy the needs of 2000 members.

One of the plus sides of the club is the historic information it holds on cars, as its been complied since the 60's if its a pre war Morris there will almost certainly be some documentation , I can imagine for smaller marques this wont be the case and it would be a shame to see this lost.

Dave