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

[Mike Costigan]

The PWA7C works well for me: a good magazine, a local area evening meeting (15 miles away) with a variety of activities - quiz night, beetle drive (with a difference!), talks and film shows, etc -  and numerous organised runs  (about thirty miles finishing at a pub for lunch), some mid-week to cater for the pensioners, and some weekends to encourage those still earning a crust. This was today's End-of-Season Run:

   

(Age 72, almost!)

[Martin Prior]

I turned 60 in March, but am still trying to decide what I'll do when I grow up.

I've owned and used Sevens since I was 14. I've been a member of the Bristol A7C for most of the last 45 years. I've benefited greatly from this, but I must admit that never been involved with, or contributed to Club activities. I went to several Beaulieu and BA7C Longleat rallies in the 'seventies, but after a few years felt that I'd seen it all before.

For at least 30 years I cited geography as my excuse. Hereford was 50 or 60 miles from the home territory of any A7 Club. However, even with the formation of the Hereford A7C some years ago, with a good many very nice people in it who I already knew, I still haven't got involved. It was perhaps disappointing to turn up to a monthly meeting to find that my RP was the only Seven in the car park. It was, admittedly, a cold, wet evening in November and perhaps I'm a bit too hardcore in my belief that our cars should be used. I've had the same experience with the A30/A35 OC.

I suppose that semi-formal meetings are just not my thing. I'd be far more likely to turn up (in an A7!) for a completely casual gathering at a local pub.

I guess, too, that as someone who drives a Seven hard, fast and furiously - if that's possible in an RP - as daily transport, the idea of a sedate run in convoy, pottering around country lanes, just doesn't appeal. OK, I admit that I've never been on a club run and really don't know what I'm talking about!

One thing that I certainly can't fault A7 people for is how friendly and welcoming they are to newcomers and young members. I've come across clubs where the attitude seems to be that if you haven't been a member for 50 years, you're THEM, not US.

My son and daughter, now 26 and 28, have driven Sevens, A30s and A35s since they were 17. Hopefully they'll have something to add to this conversation. It does seem to me that one of the biggest problems for the old car movement as a whole is that it's so difficult for young people to get insurance at the start of their driving careers and we're failing to catch them at that point. Is a 17-year-old in a Ruby really such a terrible risk?

Sorry, that's a bit light on helpful suggestions!

[Howard Wright]

Hi All

I've got to be careful here as I've just taken on the editor's role for the South Wales Club! I'm also a member of the Hereford club. I was in my 60's the last time I thought about it .....but I really only feel 40!

Ideally my club would be on my doorstep (Both South Wales and Hereford meet 50 miles away), Both would organise lots of runs, but only when I'm free of other commitments (that is often at short notice!). They would have lots of young members (I may be shouted down for this but the average age seems to be 70!). And everyone would be jumping over themselves to contribute to the club magazine  .

The ideal club would be filled with lots of friendly, A7 knowledgable and informative people.... which both my clubs most emphatically are!

Howard

[Duncan Grimmond]

I must agree that I'd rather be blasting (?) round the lanes in the car than talking about it in the pub/club.
That said, I have missed what appeared to be attractive evenings or afternoons owing to weather, dark and distance, not necessarily in that order.
My other car seems to attract owners who steadfastly refuse to form a club because of the general distaste for the BS which seems to be associated with formal clubs. We have random events open to all ranging from a blast round the North York Moors or the Cotswolds to far flung Continental trips including Gothland,Germany,Holland and the Pyrenees.

[andrew34ruby]

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.

[Martin Prior]

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.

Even if you don't take part in club activities, I'd strongly recommend joining one.  

The A7CA is, in effect, a worldwide club and we all benefit from indirect membership of that.

[Derek Sheldon]

I’m 68 and don’t feel it, well my brain doesn’t,sometimes my body puts up an argument. I enjoy working in the workshop and have several projects on the go. I like continental stuff and a few larger type runs . Not too bothered about club runs unless there is something interesting at the end of it.
Dislike static rallies, I feel that you can only look at the same cars a few times before you get like the proverbial Gold fish. 
Club nights are only as good as the people there, if they are boring , so will get bored. A good natter with a few like minded people can be good but you do need a controversial individual as well, usually me.
I like quizzes, not necessarily car orientated. I do an annual navigation quiz where by I provide a part map reference and a clue to find the rest of the reference, this seems to go down well as November’s quiz will be the third. Freely bag also goes down well. We do a treasure hunt in the summer, usually goes down well. We have a film night and if anybody wants to do a talk, on basically anything as long as it’s interesting to the majority , it’s entertained.
At the end of the day you need membership,our club now has been catering for 7-10-12-+ in the main but other cars are welcome.

[Biddlecombe]

I turned 60 in March, but am still trying to decide what I'll do when I grow up.

I've owned and used Sevens since I was 14.  I've been a member of the Bristol A7C for most of the last 45 years.  I've benefited greatly from this, but I must admit that never been involved with, or contributed to Club activities.  I went to several Beaulieu and BA7C Longleat rallies in the 'seventies, but after a few years felt that I'd seen it all before.

For at least 30 years I cited geography as my excuse.  Hereford was 50 or 60 miles from the home territory of any A7 Club.  However, even with the formation of the Hereford A7C some years ago, with a good many very nice people in it who I already knew, I still haven't got involved.  It was perhaps disappointing to turn up to a monthly meeting to find that my RP was the only Seven in the car park.  It was, admittedly, a cold, wet evening in November and perhaps I'm a bit too hardcore in my belief that our cars should be used.  I've had the same experience with the A30/A35 OC.

I suppose that semi-formal meetings are just not my thing.  I'd be far more likely to turn up (in an A7!) for a completely casual gathering at a local pub.

I guess, too, that as someone who drives a Seven hard, fast and furiously - if that's possible in an RP - as daily transport, the idea of a sedate run in convoy, pottering around country lanes, just doesn't appeal.  OK, I admit that I've never been on a club run and really don't know what I'm talking about!

One thing that I certainly can't fault A7 people for is how friendly and welcoming they are to newcomers and young members.  I've come across clubs where the attitude seems to be that if you haven't been a member for 50 years, you're THEM, not US.

My son and daughter, now 26 and 28, have driven Sevens, A30s and A35s since they were 17.  Hopefully they'll have something to add to this conversation.  It does seem to me that one of the biggest problems for the old car movement as a whole is that it's so difficult for young people to get insurance at the start of their driving careers and we're failing to catch them at that point.  Is a 17-year-old in a Ruby really such a terrible risk?

Sorry, that's a bit light on helpful suggestions!

With regard to young people's insurance. RH agreed to put my very inexperienced daughter aged 21 on with me as long as I accompanied for NO extra cost.

[Martin Prior]

With regard to young people's insurance. RH agreed to put my very inexperienced daughter aged 21 on with me as long as I accompanied for NO extra cost.

That's really the point that I'm making.  A decade ago, both of my children were driving classic cars independently as daily transport from the moment that they'd passed their tests aged seventeen.  The cost of insurance was rising, but was still obtainable and affordable.

[Steve kay]

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.