owners clubs

[retrogeezer]

jeez Mash, who's the girl in your avatar?? She's gorgeous!

[Mr Lobster]

I guess most clubs are not what the once were what with the advent of the internet. It depends how they have adapted to the change as to how they are now. I'm a member of the Renault CCC and thats not a bad club at all. Forums a bit quiet but it doesn't suffer the cliqueyness of some clubs and is useful for help and suchlike.

 

 

I want to take my Opel to Billing in July and as the VODC are organising it I've been about to use the forum and register my interest to show it (and maybe camp the whole weekend) and the local club is handy for the monthly newsletter with the event guide plus i can display my car on there stands if i wish.

 

Incidentally Trig, if you go to Billing give us a shout as I'm camping there all weekend as well. Have to say that its a cracking show is Billing - decent variety of cars (as long as you like Vauxhall / Opel) and pretty laid back. Nice venue as well.

[Cavcraft]

I remember the owner of a Peugeot 206 (or could've been some other French hatchback) forum crashed his car, so he set up a 'donation fund' for members to chip in to pay for the repairs, I think his argument being that he set up the forum, so the members owed him something. I don't know whether he got any money, maybe he did. I've stumbled across a lot of cheap stuff on forums, people who just don't really care if they're scene taxed, and want rid.

When I owned a Whizzkid, I found the owner's club impenetrable, even when I wanted to buy some parts. Had no idea how much they would've cost, as I never got that far. Hurray for ebay.

 

I think that was the 106OC. The lad in question was a grade one bellend and (I'm happy to report) an internet acquiantence of mine knobbed his bird. The mileage we had out of that was unreal

[CIH]

I've been in a couple of clubs. I was in the Manta OC and there was a right old rucus when they changed the forum software and some old posts got lost. Currently (Nissan) SXOC but I'm not all that active with my '12 off the road.

 

The thing that tickles me most though is that no matter how small the event there are always at least twenty Mini and twelve Triumph clubs there, each trying to outdo each other with the spendour of the fencing they can erect round their stand.

 

I can recall attending some of the cheshire shows and they'd have the MR2 Owner's Club opposite the MR2 Driver's Club. Presumebaly the former don't drive and the latter don't own their cars. They could have been the same cars and they just swappd them over at night....

 

I guess most clubs are not what the once were what with the advent of the internet. It depends how they have adapted to the change as to how they are now. I'm a member of the Renault CCC and thats not a bad club at all. Forums a bit quiet but it doesn't suffer the cliqueyness of some clubs and is useful for help and suchlike.

 

 

I want to take my Opel to Billing in July and as the VODC are organising it I've been about to use the forum and register my interest to show it (and maybe camp the whole weekend) and the local club is handy for the monthly newsletter with the event guide plus i can display my car on there stands if i wish.

 

Incidentally Trig, if you go to Billing give us a shout as I'm camping there all weekend as well. Have to say that its a cracking show is Billing - decent variety of cars (as long as you like Vauxhall / Opel) and pretty laid back. Nice venue as well.

 

I did billing for a couple of years with the Mantas in puddleduck field, and one or two Japanese events with the S12. I really like billing. I have some sweet memories, mostly late night piss-head stuff. The smell of grass and Boots brand sun cream reminds me of billing lol.

Only picture I've got to hand is an old shot of my S12 by the lake at the entrance;

 

[Negative Creep]

I used to love being on the AX Owner's Club; as you can imagine it was full of young lads and good laughs were had all round. Never got into the SXOC as I found it somewhat cliquey. Datsun one is handy although they do have some odd posting and forum rules. On the whole I can't really be bothered with single make forums now, I'm on the MR2 OC but have only made a few posts and haven't stumped up the £11 to become a full member

[pogweasel]

About time I trotted this out again.

[imothepixie]

there are not enough hand-painted 2CVs around anymore.

 

Waves!

[eddyramrod]

About time I trotted this out again.

 

"Pristeen" "Mk3 Cortina's" "Concourse"

 

Proof if proof were needed that English as a language is on its deathbed...

[autofive]

check out the membership sec's address on google street view

[messerschmitt owner]

You see, I would never join a club like that Cortina one - heads up bottoms - not for me!

 

My schmitt is never going to be concours - it's going to be tatty and ratty - but with a patina of age not nitromors and wire brushes!

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I don't think the black and silver 'plates on that Cortina are original, needs to be cast out of the club to be honest.

[Mat.T]

Dolomite Club isn't bad at all, lots of friendly people excellent for spares and advise. £26 a year is a bit much so I only rejoin every other year. I joined the classic camper club when I first got my hiace, but i think I'm about 40years to young for that one. I didnt renew

[autofive]

check out the membership sec's address on google street view

 

What are we looking at, the gnomes?

 

There's no Cortinas there.

 

the lack of 'concours' houses

[oldford]

Car clubs can be bloody dangerous. Last year I nearly had my tent burnt down by a can of petrol that had somehow mysteriously come into contact with a barbecue. I don't quite know the full facts or the people responsible, because I was asleep at the time, what I do remember is seeing a bright flash through my closed eyelids and the sides of the tent getting a bit warm and the following morning a trail of burnt grass leading to an empty petrol can.

 

You don't get that on the internet.

 

That was actually a very good weekend, turn up in a field, meet new people and have a good laugh.

[Angrydicky]

 

What are we looking at, the gnomes?

 

There's no Cortinas there.

 

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 19,,0,2.42 ?

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

It's this house

[fotorabia]

Forum Vs.official club...a certain small Vauxhall club had the condition on their site which meant if you werent a paid member..u couldnt access the spare parts part of the forum..so two Kiwis plus one other complained due to it being pointless us joining cos it was UK based..and this was after they asked me to contribute a naff story of us driving the Viva around NZ..and i was to receive nowt for it..needless to say..i havent been back to that site eva again..

[Tonka]

Car Clubs will only survive the popularity of the internet forum if members still enjoy the social side and actually get behind the wheel and go to shows, it all depends on the cars and the type of owners/enthusiasts they attract.

 

Having been on the Committee of the Jago Owners Club for 6 years now I've watched other club's numbers dwindle at major events, we had nearly 50% of our membership turn up for the Club's 25th Anniversary at Stoneleigh in '09 but that's because we don't take ourselves seriously, all vehicles are welcome from rolling chassis to concours cars (if you get caught polishing you will know about it) and we actively encourage families to come along and camp for the weekend.

 

With the Stagea Club it's more about the forum as an information exchange because the cars are rare over here and pooled knowledge is a good thing, though we still get a good turn out at major events.

 

After 30 years of doing clubs on every level I've seen all those characters who are in it for the power and the glory and the locusts who buy up all the cheap bits, drain everybody's knowledge and then sell the car on because they are bored.........

 

In my experience a forum set up and run by one person will always suffer as it's seen as their baby rather then being there for the common good and their opinion can sometimes be forced upoon the "visitors" and if a club gets too large it will fragment into the haves and have nots and snobbery will rule.

 

In the kit car world it's worse because even though pretty much everything is made out of cast-off donor bits, a ladder frame chassis and a lump of GRP depending on what it is supposed to be dictates the attitude of the "proud" owner, owners of Ferrari MR2's with massive wheel spacers or hoards of identical 7-a-likes look down upon those of us with utlity-style vehicles, they seem to forget what they are driving isn't the real deal either.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

"Pristeen" "Mk3 Cortina's" "Concourse"

 

Proof if proof were needed that English as a language is on its deathbed...

 

Wouldn't it be fun to buy a MK3 Cortina, rip out the interior and replace it with tiled floor, a moving walkway, build tiny branches of WHSmith and Tie Rack in the back and then turn up to one of their meets protesting that it's 100% concourse?

 

It probably wouldn't be, plus it would cost a lot of money.

[Mash]

jeez Mash, who's the girl in your avatar?? She's gorgeous!

 

 

OT but she came off Blenheim Gang - just a random set of girls with pink cars. Course she's probably as old as my mum by now...

[dieselnutjob]

I went to one CPUK pub meet last year.

The food was excellent and they had a talk by Chris Rothwell (I think it was) who was the navigator for Bert Shankland in the East Africa rallies in Peugeot 404s.

It was maybe the best talk I've ever heard, completely riveting.

I wish I had more time for this stuff.

[Guest]

I am a member of the VOC and IPTOC. I have commented on the extreme mental lethargy of many of the posters on the forum of the former. That said, there are a number of legendary folk amongst the grit and chaff, and I'll concur that Mike Brace was treated appallingly in the fall out that occurred a few years back. Mike's son Dai is also a top bloke and runs the 120 Register. In good hands then. I've been to one VOC meet in the Amazon.It was near Bristol and quite dull. The best bit was going into Hotwells to see my mate afterwards. I got to see Paul H as well, which is never a bad thing. They do have a Northern get together but I fear a never ending row of 120s would send me to sleep.

 

Verily, the IPTOC. A tiny club in comparison but I happen to know the technical contact well. He was invaluable when keeping my pre Lotus on the road and sold me a great number of parts very cheaply because he knew I was brassic. Should any of you come across a Piazza, joining the IPTOC would be one of your better moves, trust me.

[Richard]

Are you supposed to be a paid-up member of the VOC to use the forum?

[pbottomley]

Forum Vs.official club...a certain small Vauxhall club had the condition on their site which meant if you werent a paid member..u couldnt access the spare parts part of the forum..so two Kiwis plus one other complained due to it being pointless us joining cos it was UK based..and this was after they asked me to contribute a naff story of us driving the Viva around NZ..and i was to receive nowt for it..needless to say..i havent been back to that site eva again..

 

Well as I am the forum admin and webmaster of said Viva Owners Club I better say a few things, if you were expecting to be paid for a story then you misunderstand the nature of a classic car club... Its a club not a "for profit" magazine... its run by volunteers at their own costs and time... asking for stories about what owners of cars have been up to is standard stuff fella... I don't think that is any different to any other classic club to that extent?

 

 

 

On a more general note, one of the big differences I find between so called official owners clubs and free forums (not so unlike this one) is that the one make clubs can be by their very nature anal and anorak like, which is very off putting to some. Clubs and forums that don't focus upon one make specifically tend to be more friendly, open to discuss differences and generally inspiring. A great examples of these could be the VODC (Vauxhall Opel Drvivers Club), Autoshite, etc.

 

Invariably people have bad experiences with one club or another and that's life, I just get on with life do what's suits me and accept sometimes things are not always what I expected.

 

Right time to get back to car porn... I am off to the eBay tatt thread for a quick hand shake....

[Guest]

Are you supposed to be a paid-up member of the VOC to use the forum?

 

They may have changed it since 2006 but AFAIK you don't have to have your dues paid to get on the forum. I was online and posting before I coughed up. Nowadays I'm only really a member because it gets me cheaper insurance. And the 480 didn't cost anything to add bar a £12 admin charge. They do have some weird rule regarding number of posts and PM options though - if you want someone contacting blob us a message.

[fotorabia]

Forum Vs.official club...a certain small Vauxhall club had the condition on their site which meant if you werent a paid member..u couldnt access the spare parts part of the forum..so two Kiwis plus one other complained due to it being pointless us joining cos it was UK based..and this was after they asked me to contribute a naff story of us driving the Viva around NZ..and i was to receive nowt for it..needless to say..i havent been back to that site eva again..

 

Well as I am the forum admin and webmaster of said Viva Owners Club I better say a few things, if you were expecting to be paid for a story then you misunderstand the nature of a classic car club... Its a club not a "for profit" magazine... its run by volunteers at their own costs and time... asking for stories about what owners of cars have been up to is standard stuff fella... I don't think that is any different to any other classic club to that extent?

 

 

 

On a more general note, one of the big differences I find between so called official owners clubs and free forums (not so unlike this one) is that the one make clubs can be by their very nature anal and anorak like, which is very off putting to some. Clubs and forums that don't focus upon one make specifically tend to be more friendly, open to discuss differences and generally inspiring. A great examples of these could be the VODC (Vauxhall Opel Drvivers Club), Autoshite, etc.

 

Invariably people have bad experiences with one club or another and that's life, I just get on with life do what's suits me and accept sometimes things are not always what I expected.

 

Right time to get back to car porn... I am off to the eBay tatt thread for a quick hand shake....

 

Then i should have been afforded all the same rights as a paid up member..that was the argument..solely..it was never resolved..hence why i ended up feelin stink..i did enjoy the forum..in fact one guy ended up getting a front suspension system thru my advice..but becos i then couldnt sign back into the forum..it looked suss..i know it wasnt now..u did explain that PH and i appreciated it..but..no diplomacy...i left the table..

[pbottomley]

Then i should have been afforded all the same rights as a paid up member..that was the argument..solely..it was never resolved

 

and as I don't make the rules of the club (committee does that) it was never going to be resolved, as they are lazy (i am not on the committee just a webmaster and that's the limit of my responsibility, for which i also pay £21 !)

 

.. sorry mate chalk it up i did move on and anyway people here rather golly nice

[fotorabia]

\My problem is..im not a team player..im useless at group activities..i wont even play cards lol..but btwn U n I on this i know its cool PB..plus the current Viva is a tad boring..nothing goes wrong with her..so i got nowt to ask advice on..

[pbottomley]

You have a viva that doesnt go wrong !!! FFS thats got to be a fluke if ever there was.....Lucky barstard

[oldford]

I'm a signed and paid up member to the East Anglian Practical Classics Club, I do wonder if it's really worth it but you never know if they might come in handy.

 

I want to take my Opel to Billing in July and as the VODC are organising it I've been about to use the forum and register my interest to show it (and maybe camp the whole weekend) and the local club is handy for the monthly newsletter with the event guide plus i can display my car on there stands if i wish.

 

What's the EAPC like. I was talking to a work colleugue about it, apparently he is one of the founding members of the club, membership number 2, he said. I was told that there is newsletter every month, AKA the Monthly Newsletter.

 

I'm pretty sure that he is in a Vauxhall club as well, as he goes to Billing every year for a Vauxhall car show. I am thinking of going this year, though I might get lynched as a Ford driver.