Car Clubs! What are they doing right and what are they doing wrong?

[noflac52]

I've been talking to a few people lately about the subject of car clubs and some say they won't join one for any reason because they have had bad experiences and there are others who think they are great.

So the question is what things that the clubs do would attract you to join a club and what are the things that turn you off even thinking about it?

[GT-spec15]

A club for modern cars or classics?

Very different animals.

[flappist]

Unfortunately clubs of all types tend to attract "little hitlers" into positions of power who are in it for personal gain rather than the good of the members.

The usual course is:

Enthusiastic people start it for the good of the members.
Very flexible and anything goes.
"hitlers" find the new club, join and manipulate the members to gain power.
Restrictions are imposed and cliques form.
Cliques spend more time fighting each other than actually doing whatever the club was formed for.
Membership dwindles until only the hard core "hitlers" are left.
Club collapses and "hitlers" look for a new club to ruin.

It is no different from kids sports through car clubs all the way up to political parties........

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by flappist

Unfortunately clubs of all types tend to attract "little hitlers" into positions of power who are in it for personal gain rather than the good of the members.

The usual course is:

Enthusiastic people start it for the good of the members.
Very flexible and anything goes.
"hitlers" find the new club, join and manipulate the members to gain power.
Restrictions are imposed and cliques form.
Cliques spend more time fighting each other than actually doing whatever the club was formed for.
Membership dwindles until only the hard core "hitlers" are left.
Club collapses and "hitlers" look for a new club to ruin.

It is no different from kids sports through car clubs all the way up to political parties........

I'm sorry to hear that you have had bad experience with clubs but on the other hand I have had great experiences, the hitlers you talk about can be dealt with appropriately.

Cheers.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by flappist

Unfortunately clubs of all types tend to attract "little hitlers" into positions of power who are in it for personal gain rather than the good of the members.

The usual course is:

Enthusiastic people start it for the good of the members.
Very flexible and anything goes.
"hitlers" find the new club, join and manipulate the members to gain power.
Restrictions are imposed and cliques form.
Cliques spend more time fighting each other than actually doing whatever the club was formed for.
Membership dwindles until only the hard core "hitlers" are left.
Club collapses and "hitlers" look for a new club to ruin.

It is no different from kids sports through car clubs all the way up to political parties........

This pretty much sums up all four car club experiences I have had over the years, all clubs we're based around X Series Falcons.

[GT-spec15]

Rather bleak view!

I have been involved with numerous car clubs to some degree, and most have been fantastic operations with enthusiastic memberships.

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by noflac52

I've been talking to a few people lately about the subject of car clubs and some say they won't join one for any reason because they have had bad experiences and there are others who think they are great.

So the question is what things that the clubs do would attract you to join a club and what are the things that turn you off even thinking about it?

When they say bad experiences, did they mean coming across other members who are somewhat rude and impolite?

[Trevor 57]

Our car club is fantastic, their rules are easy, but workable.

No meetings to attend
The 'executive' decide on the events we attend
We have to attend a minimum of 4 events to stay in the club,
The events are easy to attend, 4 out of 10 isn't too harsh IMHO.
The people are good, some younger than us, some older than us
Our club only allows people cars already registered to join
The club is for cars with iron bumpers only, so pretty much pre-1980's or there abouts.

[onfire]

Of the few experiences I had around them about 10 years ago, I didn't enjoy it.

As flappist called them.. it felt like " little Hitlers " putting a label on a car scene that was naturally organic and unstructured. Then pronouncing themselves as some sort of authority figure over what was really a social network.

All in all, it felt like some people living out a Bikie fantasy, including instigating rivalries with different cliques or anyone who dare establish their own group.

[jpblue1000]

have been associated with the same club, AHSDC, for 40+years, was born into it as the firts sone of founding members. consistantly has had 200+ members mixed between social and competition. weve had national events anually where we have 100+ attendants from around the country. my family had grown up with the club, starting to compete when we were 12 years old in Motorkanahs and 14 on the track.
I call many of the members great lifetime friends.
From my perspective it's a great club and has lasted well.

JP

[TC200six]

Clique is the perfect word. When club members form one big clique, that's when you know the club has gone bad.

For example, my father stopped attending regular events held by a Cleveland-based classic/vintage car club 10 years ago when the elderly members that dominated the club were too tight knit towards one another and weren't very nice to those who didn't fit in with them that well.

Their conversations weren't what you would call automotive, and they would always arrange their chairs in a circle, keeping others out, while they would talk about seniors stuff, like gramophones, etc.

However I've been attending events with him held by another club and they are a completely different kettle of fish.

This was over 10 years ago, though. Hopefully things have changed a bit.

[onfire]

First I think you need to establish the difference between :

A) " car club ", IE: see jpblue1000's post.

and

B) Late teen / early 20-Something year old's mimicking the original Fast and Furious movie.

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by onfire

and

B) Late teen / early 20-Something year old's mimicking the original Fast and Furious movie.

Then there's those types of groups too. Just a bunch of wannabe enthusiasts with their Mitsubishi Mirages with wide bodykits and fart cannons shouting "sick man" whenever they see an R33 go by.

[xisled]

Originally Posted by onfire

First I think you need to establish the difference between :

A) " car club ", IE: see jpblue1000's post.

and

B) Late teen / early 20-Something year old's mimicking the original Fast and Furious movie.

For B this is the style they want the car to be, just because they dont drive around in a 30 plus year old car does not make them any less of an enthusisat.

Originally Posted by TC200six

Then there's those types of groups too. Just a bunch of wannabe enthusiasts with their Mitsubishi Mirages with wide bodykits and fart cannons shouting "sick man" whenever they see an R33 go by.

It is people like this that kill the clubs.

They think just because they have different taste and like different cars, they are not true enthusiasts and will always treat them like an outsider.

One thing to remember is not everyone has the same taste, and just because you own a Mirage with a body kit and exhaust cannon does not make you any less of an enthusiast. Not everyone likes old cars.

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by xisled

It is people like this that kill the clubs.

They think just because they have different taste and like different cars, they are not true enthusiasts and will always treat them like an outsider.

One thing to remember is not everyone has the same taste, and just because you own a Mirage with a body kit and exhaust cannon does not make you any less of an enthusiast. Not everyone likes old cars.

Was this an attack at me or what? I just stated my opinion of certain people I've come across. If a group of people like a certain type of car, such as imports they have their own club. I don't come along and tell them they can't like a certain car thus ruin a club.

[onfire]

Originally Posted by xisled

For B this is the style they want the car to be, just because they dont drive around in a 30 plus year old car does not make them any less of an enthusisat.

You're right. But the clubs I'm referring to, don't exactly discriminate. And there's a lot around like this.

They're open to anything. Vehicles ranging from brand new cars, 30+year old cars, plenty of Commodores, JDM and so on.

And they are all enthusiasts and originally it's an association of like minded individuals regardless of brand or badge.

What it quickly becomes is a bunch of young men posing as a " car club " doing a lot of standing around next to their cars trying to intimidate other young men posing as " car clubs "

That's the difference between a car club and a " car club "

[Yellow_Festiva]

It really depends on the era of car to be honest.

I was a member of 1 club at the age of 22 after buying a 40's era car to 'do up'. Club was good to me, I was the youngest bloke there by a long shot and enjoyed the meetings (although somewhat boring) and the few events I went on.

Sold the car when reality kicked in that I had no time to work on cars and bought a running, registered Mk1 Sprite.

Joined their club, again, one of the youngest members at 23 and went to several meetings and events. Was good because I actually had a running car, but again, missed the fact that there weren't many youngins around - most of them my age were the son / daughter of members.

Liked the Sprite club very much, sold the car due to going OS for an indefinite length of time and I only sold the car to have minimal 'strings' back in Sydney if I ever decided to stay away long term.

The Sprite club had a very basic email based forum of sorts and I vividy still remember one of the oldest, most 'respected' senior members (the guy who had the most 'correct' Bugeye that was insured for 30K) openly calling me the son of an unmarried mother on the forum due to the fact I put 'huge' 14x5 inch wheels (that I custom made to resemble factory steel wheels) on my very worked / modified car...... That 1 memory really tainted the whole experience... meh, that guy is pushing up daisies now.......

I look forward to joining another club, and I hope to as soon as I have a larger garage to get into cars again. I would certainly keep out of any politics if it didn't impact me directly.

[BHDOGS]

yup flappist is on the money thats pretty much what happens to every ford car club in s.a from the original mfc to pro street and whatever ford clubs are around now usually douche bags ruining it for the rest of us.

[Bearman]

I've only ever been involved with one club, still am. Gone 8 years now and it's been a great experience. It has lead to the formation of long term friendships and good times surrounding the cars. Folks come and go, as their lives change or evolve and some have been around forever.

Like any club it can get a bit cliquey from time to time depending upon the personality dynamic but that's just the nature of a large group. I'd like to think we're not like that but that may not be everyone's experience. Feedback I have heard is that newcommers feel welcome and most become active and involved with the club.

We've been going for 20 years now so we must be doing something right.

[ebv8]

I have been in 5 clubs and they have their good points and bad points so far. i joined a performance club that talked up track days and driving events but in 3 years they only did show and shines so i left, joined a sporting car club and they were great, moved house joined another sporting club and they are great and now i'm in 2 clubs so best of both worlds, get to drive my historic on the road and race it at club level.
clubs are really cheap to join so join more than 1 and if you find 1 doesn't suit your style just leave it. It also helps if you join with a mate so at least you have someone to talk to when you first join if your not that outgoing.
both my clubs cost me $80 all up for the year
or you could join a forum based club like Mighty Car Mods or so-on they do some good meets and events.

[noflac52]

I am a member of two clubs atm and both are of the more social type, Meaning that they are not motor sport based but more of a show and shine and social outing type of club. In the past I have been a member of motorsport clubs because of my racing background and they all seemed to work because there was a definite focus for everyone who was involved.

One of the clubs that I am in atm works really well and has done since the early eighties. The thing is though its not a car club but a motorcycle (actually its a social club) club called Ulysses. It has only two requirements 1 that you are over forty and 2 that you have an interest in motorcycles. Its very simple and has over thirty thousand members in Oz and overseas.

The other club is a car club and doesn't work as well for a lot of the reasons everyone has mentioned before.
I think that once the element of fun gets superseded by rules and regulations the clubs start to get themselves into trouble and people go looking for a better time somewhere else.

I am a ford fan but I don't think one make clubs are the way to go because you may miss out on a lot of nice people and good times because they don't drive the right vehicle. As they say variety is the spice of life.

[pottery beige]

clubs may or may not contain traces of spankers... my spanker free policy dictates I have nothing to do with any club just in case...

[DJR-351]

Keep away from them there all bastards! this morning this bunch of hoons rolled up in the marina car park and told the marina manager to go get me of my boat and move me Cruiser, they wanted to do some sort of gay photo shoot or something.....

I mean wtf!!!! you can hardly notice it!!!!........anyhow, i thought I’d better move it as there a dodgy looking bunch, wouldn’t trust them as far as i can spit!.....

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

Keep away from them there all bastards! this morning this bunch of hoons rolled up in the marina car park and told the marina manager to go get me of my boat and move me Cruiser, they wanted to do some sort of gay photo shoot or something.....

I mean wtf!!!! you can hardly notice it!!!!........anyhow, i thought I’d better move it as there a dodgy looking bunch, wouldn’t trust them as far as i can spit!.....

image
image

yes yes , you were wise to move your vehicle, they look like a bunch of meatheads and thus shouldnt be trusted !

[The Monty]

Flappist, you and I, eye to eye are not words that are usually utilized in the same sentence. However, this time, there shall be an exception.

[2011G6E]

I'll give anyone one valuable piece of advice about being in a car or motorbike club...

Never, ever, ever put your hand up to nominate to be secretary...it's harder to get rid of than herpes...
Come the AGM, and hand go up nominating people for president, treasurer, magazine editor, dating officer, etc...but come time to nominate someone else to be secretary, everyone looks at the floor and stays quiet, and the poor sod who did it for the last year simply has to sigh and take one for the team and do it again.

I was that poor sod in a motorbike club for six years...until I finally point blank dug my heels in and refused to be nominated again. Someone finally decided to give it a go, thankfully...

[XBROO]

Yep I too have to agree with flappist on this one, my wife and I ran my car club for eight years. In the end we just had enough with the hitlers and drop back to being normal members. The hitlers decided to have a go and they didn't even last a year, and wanted out. The bloke who runs it now is doing well, but I just love sitting back now and only doing a few things a year with the club. Everyone tries to make us feel guilty and says the club hasn't been the same since we stopped running it. But I just say my life has got more time for my family now, and I'm not giving that up for anything. Now the cars don't get out as much but the kids get to go fishing, bike riding or whatever they want on weekends. As before there was always something to do for, or with the car club.

[madwag]

Im in a car club but its not registered
more of a gang of people who are vw enthusiasts
we have a fb page and we do cruises once a month and shows every other time
its great
the reason it formed was because of the little hitlers ruining things
Subsequently we are all now close mates and even go for drives with other breakaway clubs
plenty of hates out there so we made our own group so us goons can do our own thing and modify our cars the way we like
funny thing is when we attend shows with the club we left we bag more trophies than those fossils
Hahah
hopefully we don't get and rotten apples to spoil our bunch

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by madwag

Im in a car club but its not registered
more of a gang of people who are vw enthusiasts
we have a fb page and we do cruises once a month and shows every other time
its great
the reason it formed was because of the little hitlers ruining things
Subsequently we are all now close mates and even go for drives with other breakaway clubs
plenty of hates out there so we made our own group so us goons can do our own thing and modify our cars the way we like
funny thing is when we attend shows with the club we left we bag more trophies than those fossils
Hahah
hopefully we don't get and rotten apples to spoil our bunch

That sounds like a perfect club to me

I'm in somhing similar, we aren't registered and our rule on membership is if you have to ask if your a member then your probably not

Were not interested in formal meetings were not interested in club rego we don't give a frogs toss what category your car falls in its about your reason for being there

We go on cruizes, weekends away, help each other on our cars, no club executive, meetings are nothing more than a few beers with heads under the bonnet

This was started out of the back of a hitler club, but tat said I'm also a member of 2 formal clubs and that won't change any time soon

[Happyone]

I've only been a member of one car club here in Brisbane, so far, , still am (I think my membership is still current)

But for me. IMHO you shouldn't join them, unless you either have something to contribute by being part of the support team or your happy to go with the flow based on the fact that you are happy to leave it up to others to set the destiny, but most of all, it also has to hold something of value to you.

The later may be perfectly OK if you are either very time poor due to other commitments, or just not that way inclined to be a leader/organizer - after all no one is playing for sheep stations.

For me it's the later - I enjoy attending the odd meeting and social cruise once in awhile nothing more nothing less.......in other words, I'm far from being a regular, but still feel there's some value. If I want to manage something I go to work.

In saying all that though, a good club again IMHO needs to cater for all members not just a select few, otherwise whats the point. I guess that's the trick of balancing it all out.

I also think in reality, it's very easy to be judge and jury of some club management team structures, but you do have to be as tough as nails to take on such a task half the time.

JMHO