A major problem I've noticed at club events and showS in general is the
'cleque-iness' of the events, and the lack of catagories.
What young kid with his 'coll to him and his friends' daily driver...
wants to park next to a <1k miles a year $20K restored creamy puff.
There are a lot of people out there (members and non) that don't bother going
to events because the feel they are looked down on by the rest
of the members.
I know of quite a few Spits, Healeys B's, etc running around in my
area (Annapolis/Baltimore/DC area) that won't go because they feel
they haven't got a chance at any type of recognition at all or are made to
feel embarrassed by letting others scrutenize the pride and joys.
Just because some of us can spend $6K-$30K to 'play with a car,
a lot of owners... I MEAN A LOT OF owners, can bearly maintain their
$2K total investment car. These ar ethe people we need to give real credit to.
They are the TRUE lovers these cars. Not the 'egos' represented at most shows.
...granted there are many exceptions on both sides of this fence.
I can understand it. With trailer queens and 'less than1K miles a year' cars
on the field, how could they compete and/or not feel like they are at the low
end of the totum pole. These are their daily drivers and in most cases
the only car they can even afford to drive.
If we don't get the younger people involved in the sport/hobby, in 10-20 years
who will there be to even want to buy YOUR gem when you're too old to
even be able to get in or out of one anymore.
Clubs need to make a serious effort to get 'the commoner' to bring their
cars to the show.
Create classes such as
* dirtiest engine compartment
* most rust
* highest mileage
* I can't beleive that even runs
* Ugliest paint
* Youngest owner/driver
* Lowest cost$ (proveable)
Or create events and/or subdivide classes for judging
such as restored and unrestored.
Within the unrestored or 'beatup' catagory
ditribute awards for different reasons.
I truely fear if we do not promote the 'average daily driver' at
events. You'll slowly see most clubs fall apart as the years go by
and is already evident by the participation at some events.
Paul Tegler
OBie - 1973 BGT - Daily Driver
http://www.teglerizer.com/mgstuff/ob_description.htm
Rat - 1980 Spitfire w/ O/D - in re-hab
http://www.teglerizer.com/triumphstuff/spit80.htm
Punkin' - 1978 Spitfire - in Superb Shape!
http://www.teglerizer.com/triumphstuff/spit78.htm
Greene - 1972 Round Wheel arch MG Midget in the works
email: wizardz@toad.net http://www.teglerizer.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Curtis Carlson <carlson@navtech.com>
To: spridgets@autox.team.net <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 11:50 AM
Subject: Club Apathy (relatively long)
Friends:
Lately, our local AH Club has been suffering from some apathy which is
showing itself in diminishing participation in club activities. Our end of
the year drive resulted in only 6 cars out of a possible 150 members. This
last weekend, we held our last Gymkhana and only 4 cars showed up and two of
them were over an hour late!
Do any of you have any ideas about sparking new interest in club activities?
Have any of you ever fought with this before? Either successfully or
unsuccessfully? I'd be interested in ALL ideas, even the ones which didn't
work. We've wrapped up the driving events for the year now and Gerty will
go into storage soon, but we still have our annual business meeting coming
up and planning for the next year is just around the corner. I'm worried
that we won't get any volunteers to commit to hosting events for the
upcoming year.
Some ideas I'm considering include:
Door prizes for club activities and give-aways
Themed activities (4th of July, Boxing Day, Thanksgiving,)
One event which I'd like to host myself for the coming year is a nice summer
drive which would treat some kids in the local Shriners hospital to a ride
in a convertible. I have to contact the hospital about that. But we'd need
a minimum commitment of drivers for that one.
What are some of the events in your clubs which result in the most
participation and the best response?
Thanks for listening!
Curt ('n Gert) Soon to be president
Curtis Carlson
'66 Austin Healey Sprite MkIII ("Gerty") HAN8L-63423
'72 MG Midget MkIII ("unnamed")
________________________
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Navigation Technologies 612.931.3937 (fax)
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Edina, MN 55436 carlson@navtech.com
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