Fred,
Your comments are right on the mark. I attended a "show & shine" event a
few weeks ago in Lac du Bonnet, a small village about 25 km by road from
here. It was a bright, sunny day, and the cars were mostly of '50's to
'70's vintage, all pretty well "Detroit Iron" such as a couple of
Corvettes, a Mustang, '57 Chevvy, T-Bird, a couple of street rods...and
a competently restored 1921 Model T. The cars looked neat, the owners
were proud of them and it brought back a lot of memories.
I wish I could join you guys in Stouffvile, but the distance is simply
too great. Hope you have a great day and that the weather cooperates.
Chuck Vandergraaf
'52 +4, P.2473/V.345.ME
'87 Olds Custom Cruiser
'85 Chrysler LeBaron Turbo
Pinawa, Manitoba, R0E 1L0
Canada
vandergraaft@aecl.ca
>----------
>From: Fred Kuzyk[SMTP:msccc@sympatico.ca]
>Sent: July 30, 1997 5:01 PM
>To: morgans@Autox.Team.Net
>Subject: Remember When?
>
>Dear Listers,
>Remember the days when clubs were small (or there weren't any for your
>particular segment) and enthusiasts (sports car, British, racing,
>whatever) got together for some fun? Remember when someone would invite
>members, or friends, enthusiasts, guests to their home for a get
>together? The days before big events, trophies, registration fees, and
>"Fortune 500" budgets were needed to get people to come out & come
>together? The days before: glossy newsletters (you were lucky to have a
>sporadic, single page!), or the un-ceasing drive to increase membership,
>or "Members Only Please" Affairs (when "Membership" only included a
>rag-tag, informal hand-full of like minded individuals). The days before
>smog legislation worries, politics, fund-raising concerns, before
>several months notice was needed to get a gathering listed on some
>calendar somewhere, or inter-club competition raised concerns over
>"dillution" ("We can't support THAT, otherwise we'll get less of our
>people out for OUR members-only event next weekend"!)? Do you remember
>those simpler days? Gosh, we sure do! Maybe you can't turn back the
>clock, but in that spirit we'd like to extend an invitation to an "old
>time" BBQ in the Toronto area, open to all clubs, members, enthusiasts.
>There will be no judging, fees, or parts for sale, nor any "sign-up here
>to join", AND your British car doesn't have to be on the road to attend!
>The hosts are providing the BBQ beef. They ask that attendees provide a
>pot luck item as well, & BYOB.
> WHERE: A Farm in Stouffville (North of Toronto, Canada)
> WHEN: August 16, 2:30PM onwards
> Tech session at 4:30
> Eats at 6-6:30 (Beef supplied by host)
> Entertainment (Climax Jazz Band) at 8PM onwards
> REQUIREMENTS: Pot Luck item & BYOB. Please RSVP IN ADVANCE, so
>the
>hosts may calculate an adequate amount of beef! CALL: Peter & Heather
>McCowan to RSVP & receive directions at (905)888-1151.
>
>Recently, a couple of local enthusiasts organized a non-competitive,
>non-commercial event called Empire Day, with the backing of their club.
>A gathering at a Conservation Area, the only charge was the regular park
>entrance, it was a family type celebration of all things British. It
>included cars, boats, bikes, and had food & entertainment. This first
>time event transcended boundaries & struck a chord, as over 150 cars & a
>goodly number of British bikes were present! Perhaps there is enthusiasm
>for opportunities to just "party", without the "Brand X" or "Brand Y"
>designations! Some clubs & groups don't wish to interact. Like Greta
>Garbo "They want to be alone". Neither offering support or wanting any
>from outsiders. That's their choice & it should be respected. They
>represent whatever segment of the hobby & promote only those ends.
>Personally, I feel interaction, co-operation & unity are benficial -
>especially in these times. We're all in the same boat, we like old
>cars/British cars, whatever. An organization can serve its membership
>without excluding or ignoring the rest of the marques or segments that
>comprise the hobby. I'm disappointed with groups that solicit support
>for their money-making endeavours (which serve to keep themselves
>solvent) from others, yet shun the others the rest of the year. Anything
>offered by others is viewed as a threat to their "cash cow", or as a
>threat to the erosion of their membership base. If you are confident in
>your membership numbers & are satisfied with that level, perhaps you can
>view things differently. I refuse to stage money making events for our
>club. These days, I'm more inclined to support & promote charitable
>activities, as I feel these do more for placing our hobby in a good
>light with the community, than self-serving activities. Maybe smaller is
>not better, and maybe you can't go back to the "old days" - but you can
>try. I'd like to go back though, the cars, parts, and gasoline were a
>lot cheaper, and smog was only in LA! I welcome your comments on any of
>the above. My apologies if this isn't the right place for all this, but
>I'm a relative newbie to the list & net.
>
>Fred Kuzyk
>President, Morgan Sports Car Club Canada
>email: msccc@sympatico.ca
>'67 Morgan 4/4
>'69 Mustang 302 convertible
>'85 Mustang SVO
>
>
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