What do people want from an Austin Seven club these days?

[Roland Alcock]

Ruairidh asked the same question on FB earlier to,which I responded this.

I’m very nearly 70. My own requirements are, in order,
Promoting driving the cars,
Friendly, sociable, welcoming members,
Good technical support and advice,
Club runs out,
Weekends and weeks away, but not too far,
Social gatherings.
Good communication from the club to the membership.

As many of our members are long retired, mid week outings will be convenient, whereas those who are still in harness will feel a little left out.

I appreciate that other members enjoy displaying their cars at shows (I don’t)
Also other members may prefer camping (I hate!) to hotels and longer distance touring (I don’t have the stamina these days).

I agree that much more young blood is needed to secure the future of our clubs.

—————

Further to that FB post , because of geographical distance to HA7C (I am editor) and BA7C (too far) some of my friends with other classics meet once a week with our cars for a lunch. It gives a discipline to exercise the cars.

Roly

[Martin Prior]

I'm sitting down reading this after twelve hours of Ruby motoring, going to Great Witley for the Batho Trophy Scatter Rally. That indicates the sort of club I join: VSCC and PWA7C. I had to join the Hereford because Derek Choppen told me to! This forum is in a class of its own, sad owners of other, lesser machines, are always amazed by what can be discovered and discussed in the Austin Seven world. Martin Prior lives not far away, but I only knowof him from the forum. I'm sorry he's had insurance problems for kids/grandchildren. We've found the specialist policies greatly easier for everyone, and seeing youngsters trialling and nav rallying shows that competition insurance is easily available, as long as it's a specialist insurer.

Hi Steve. 

The point that I was trying to make, based on enquiries that come up here and on Facebook, is that it seems to be much more difficult for 17-year-old drivers to get insurance than it was when my kids started driving ten or so years ago.  Even then, RH wouldn't touch them until they were 18 or 19 and for the first year or two we had to go through an independent broker who was also an enthusiast.  This question comes up fairly often, so if you know of an insurer that will take on very young drivers.................

If you're local, please give me a bell!

[Peter Naulls]

52, living in Inverness.

In an ideal world local monthly meetings in a pub offering a variety of social events, talks, treasure hunts, picnics and the odd visit to another club member's house /garage /workshop. (Realistically I'd have to move town for most of this to happen).

Also important are the odd static rally, day trip, weekend away, good magazine or e-newsletter (Scottish A7C provide all this very well).

Most important are friendly, welcoming, encouraging members who are prepared to include my family in all the activities (Scottish A7C are excellent in this regard). Cliques are a big turn-off as I have found with another classic car club.

My first experience of a club was the 750 North Herts centre where, as an 11 year-old I was warmly welcomed and invited - along with my parents - to some fantastic events. In my teenage years members gave me tools, taught me skills and included me in the organisation of events even though I was clueless!. It made me feel as though I belonged.

[Viteran]

Hi Ruairdhn
We almost managed to meet up in Glasgow but better luck next time.
I am 70 and still getting used to it.
I used to go to a local car club but working 12 hour ( and sometimes 24 hour) days made it difficult
Now retired I am reluctant to travel long distances at night  although I usually meet at a local social club weekly
Ideally Iwould rather meet during the day although that would not suit people who are not retired .
I find that the A 7 forum supplies a lot of my information ( and sometimes entertainment) and is a lot more approachable than other clubs related to my other vehicles .
when I first played with A7’s at 16 there was basically no info available. My present Ruby I have had for 30 years and when I rebuilt the engine still difficult to get info. Work got in the way and it should almost be back on the road once I fine! Tune the brakes.
Rubyman ( Graham) I will be at the NEC on the Friday and  I would like to meet up especially someone with engineering get experience either there or in sheffield or Doncaster please contact me if you wish to do so ( I am not an an Engineer although my son is)
Mike Costigan. - I go to Fosters about once a week ( they make good scones) and I have “ met”. Any of the Austin’s there
Sorry the reply got a little long
Ian
( sunny Donny)

The backplates you show are similar to the ones I have but I see the recess is deeper which would give the drum and stud clearances I need. I hope that 6 enthusiasts can pre order the aluminium sets from Tony  , if not by end of year I will maybe modify mine.

with reference to  mike costigigan I usually go to  Fosters at least once a week ( they do good scones)  and have “ met “ the Austin’s before please be

[JonE]

I'm 64. This forum is fantastic, but I don't feel the need to join a club. 

Being completely unemotional and budgetary about it all, you get great value from being member of A club because that includes the Association magazine (and other occasional publications)... as part of your local club subs which gives you regional magazine, access to a local network and v.specialist help for things like re-registering a car. You also get cheaper insurance being a club member.

I've looked through quite a few local club mags recently as whilst I am "with" my geographically-closest organisation, I don't gain much from the magazine which I think contains a lot of material which could be dealt within the sub-groups of a large club. However, I realise that many regional clubs use the same model and it comes down to the editorship as to the split of the accounts of social activity (i.e. a car-club equivalent of Hello magazine or Tatler - reports of who and where and what type of coffee...) and genuinely 'useful' information to someone trying to learn more about running an Austin 7.

I realise that owners are getting older and that printed paper transmission is trusted and easy, but I think in the modern world we all have a duty to start to reduce such material, and I'm amazed that regional printed magazines are monthly when they could be better if slightly less frequent and interspersed with simple e-newsletters legible to anyone with an email address. Many clubs have the latter, and great they are too.

The local club sub-groups are very useful for the network provided, and I find that for me (50 but with young kids) they mostly result in rich, ongoing conversations, online and through occasional personal visits, with people who are on your wavelength about some such subject area. [I have found that my car generally doesn't appear to be going and so I never get to formal groups even if I was free. And when the car IS going, it inevitably gets replaced with another interesting orphan in need of resuscitation so the cycle restarts!]

[Reckless Rat]

I am 68 and have had my RP since the early 1980s. I used to be a regular member of the Sheffield group PWAC before retiring and moving permanently to France. I am a member of a local car club down here but don't participate much in their activities apart from entering their winter rally every year, and I'm not sure I'm going to bother next time. It's too much like hard work. I prefer to be a lone wolf and do my own thing. Parking up in a field for a day staring at over-restored metal is not my thing, although I do get involved in the occasional pre-war run out which involves a drive, a meal and a natter. I keep in touch with a few A7 friends back in Blighty and here in France but I don't feel the need to get involved in typical "club related" activities. That's just me - I'm basically anti-social.

[Charles P]

A interesting but perhaps fundamentally flawed question.
It's rather like asking people what they want in a film and then trying to make that film - it'll be a dog. Even worse, like trying to make a political party by aggregating what people say they want from one. Films and political parties only succeed if they stand for something, and that usually means not standing for some other values. Clubs likewise.

For my part I'd rather surgically remove a much loved part of my anatomy than spent the day parked in a field alongside a bunch of similar cars with a laminated card placed in the windscreen describing my car. However I appreciate that others get much pleasure from such things. I'm not that interested in formal "road runs" - I'm quite capable of driving somewhere myself but hear many lovely comments about events run in Scotland and Malcom Parker's tours. A competitive navigation rally, yes. A hillclimb yes but I care not if the competition is Austin 7s.

Maybe I'm too aligned with Groucho Marx's line about clubs.

Charles
mid 50's and clearly a misanthrope

[Robert Leigh]

I'm 64. This forum is fantastic, but I don't feel the need to join a club. Any club is likely to be too far away and I don't feel I'm missing anything. Is there a worldwide club? Or a UK club? If there is then maybe I should join. An evening meeting in a pub is no good as I'd want to consume beer! A 'run' doesn't appeal as it would always be too slow or too fast.
I enjoy going to localish events and it would be good to know more about when and where these are.

If you join a club you will have information about where and when your 'localish events' are taking place, and others further afield which may be of interest to you.

[Mike Costigan]

... I'm not that interested in formal "road runs" - I'm quite capable of driving somewhere myself ...
Charles
mid 50's and clearly a misanthrope

I can go along with this line of thought ... but interestingly yesterday's End-of-Season Run mentioned above comprised about thirty miles on roads less than thirty miles from my home, and yet almost totally roads unfamiliar to me. I thought I knew the area well, but seemingly not as well as I thought!

[Hedd_Jones]

I'm not currently a member of any Austin 7 club. I'm still in my third decade.

Same goes with my othet hobbies. Im not in any steam engine club either, other than the Road Locomotive Society which is more about history and research and not at all about events.

Mostly I enjoy the cars in isolation. I use them for days out. Picking the daughter up from school. Use when the modern is in the garage etc. Though I do take them to 'events', with one exception we take them to the sort of event that you can come and go as you please. There is a local 'Pride & Joy' event at a villiage hall on one evening a month throughout the summer months. Burger van. Bar. All sorts of stuff. Also we go to the odd 'breakfast meet'. Again not neccassarily organised for pre war tackle, but for all sorts.

I also usually take one car to the biggest steam rally we attend with the steamer. Not entered. I simply use it as transport to the shops etc as im there nearly a week. Having driven the steamer there. Its not the sort of thing you can go and fetch a pint of milk from the petrol station with.

So frankly. Im not a club member because they offer very little to me. I wouldnt really bother with any of the events. I know enough the get by without technical articles in magazines. And the internet is of great use when my knowledge is lacking, or I lack spares.

I think this is a trend. Its not just me. The rise in firstly discussion forums such as this, which is now being superseeded by social media means that younger people interested in things tend to go for the internet search first and foremost. Often Facebook is the go-to medium.

Im guessing your post and question is because many special interest clubs are reporti g similar issues. Older demographic. Young blood not interested. The world is changing. Im old.enough to still be into the discussion fora that started the move from clubs. The milenials that followed me dont seem to be interested in anything but social media. Even im behind the times. No instagram or twitter here.

The only thing that I would like to do more of is the sort of run Mike mentions above. Its very difficult to hear of them without being a club member. Trouble is even then you dont here what other clubs are doing. I was a member of the midlands club for 12 months. And did their Autum Leaves run as it tied in well with being based at the in laws. Two broken wheel studs finished the day early but it was great fun.

Clubs widely advertising these runs and making them open to non members would probably do no harm to membership numbers. Advertise them here or on the 2 or 3 popular Austin 7 facebook pages for best impact.