This is one of the reasons that I took my 71 from a show car to an
autocross car. People don't drive show cars (majority) and these cars
aren't lawn ornaments. Our old club in Cleveland used to have some great
gymkana <sp> events but then everyone got so upset about getting thier
cars dirty, or god forbid scratching them that that all died. My dad and
I used to set the courses and the T register invited us to do a course for
a show once, and boy could those guys drive. I would be a lot more scared
about driving a T the way they did, but then again they remember why these
cars were built. To paraphrase an old mg add I saw once "For only 95
dollars more than the average american car you can drive an authentic
English GT...Still thinking average" I think this sums up why the cars
were built and I think we need to remeber that purpose. If you don't
remember the old ads for the cars (and I am too young to) go look at some
on ebay. Everyone needs to keep in mind why these cars were really built.
If we keep the spirit alive that will attract new people my age. I
remember once at a show when I lost my clutch slave cyl. Everyone with
the exception of one guy was astounded that I actually worked on my own
car and that I knew how to do the work. This was one of the last club
events I ever went to with that club. BTW I have never met anyone my age
who doesn't love the car's looks, but they are affraid of them because
they think that they aren't reliable.
James Nazarian
The 20 year old kid with a passion for MG
'71 B roadster
'74 BGT with no sills
'63 Buick 215 eyeing another rolling chassis
'?? BGT coming soon
On Tue, 19 Oct 1999, wizardz wrote:
> 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")
> ________________________
> Research Geographer 612.931.3936 (voice)
> Navigation Technologies 612.931.3937 (fax)
> 5780 Lincoln Dr Ste. 100 612.251.7492 (mobile)
> Edina, MN 55436 carlson@navtech.com
>
>
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