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Hi Charles,
The Bongtree Club is a wonderful example - love reason behind it being set up, the relaxed traditions it carries to this day and they fact that it gets a vote (but rarely uses it) at Association meetings, it is utterly fabulous!
p.s. I meant the "competitiveness" mentioned earlier, not "the Clubs" mentioned earlier - my fault
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Location: Auckland NZ
Car type: 36 Nippy, 31 RM, 38 Special, 24 Works Rep
Food for thought here, Charles why do you feel that the VSCC is so successful, it is a large club and caters for many tastes, which seem's to fly in the face of the negative comments regarding the existence of a large umbrella organisation. I am guessing that the club has sub committees with focus on the needs of the individual area of interest, why would a similar situation not work for the A7 world I wonder.
Black Art Enthusiast
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11-06-2020, 10:53 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-06-2020, 11:07 AM by Charles P.)
(11-06-2020, 10:21 AM)Ian Williams Wrote: Food for thought here, Charles why do you feel that the VSCC is so successful, it is a large club and caters for many tastes, which seem's to fly in the face of the negative comments regarding the existence of a large umbrella organisation. I am guessing that the club has sub committees with focus on the needs of the individual area of interest, why would a similar situation not work for the A7 world I wonder
I suspect that it's a mixture of a strong underlying belief & value set, some great events for both participants & spectators complemented by a brilliant magazine.
The beliefs and values are the aspect that cause most external comment from non members. They bind some people together and repel others. Frankly that's life and anyone who tries to pander to everyone usually fails to satisfy anyone.
(11-06-2020, 10:09 AM)Tony Betts Wrote: and love the badge, just enough patina.
tony.
The badge was my father in law's and adorned his Ulster when he raced with the 750MC in the early 60's.
Charles
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Location: Sherwood Forest
Car type: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
The fascinating thing is that the clubs have developed on a largely regional basis; looking at other marques it would seem to be more logical that we would have developed as a Chummy Club, a Ruby Club, and so on. It does rather suggest that most people want a social group rather than a specialist motoring group. And don't forget, a club is only as good as its members: the more you put in, the more you get out!
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Well said Ian W. A single A7 Club would probably have a larger membership than the (admirable) VSCC. Its area of interest would be more focused, being on one car, and its clout in old car matters, competition entries, legal matters etc would be enormous!
All clubs go through crises, for many reasons, (the VSCC at present). Most survive, and sometimes are healthier for it.
The PWA7C with its many branches is, in its way, a model for how a single club would work.
Nobody would be restricting any branch of A7 activities.
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Picking up on the point made by Terry in the last post, The Cambridge Club (not the Club with the greatest membership Ill admit, but perhaps one that punches a little above its weight) went through a decline in the 80s and (internally) we discussed approaching the PWA7C to becoming a centre of their Club. Absolutely no disrepect to such a fine Club, but we decided that our autonomy and 'local' flavour was the most important thing. Life moved on and we now have more members and enthusiasm than I think we have ever had.
As far as I am concerned, this is a +1 for the individuality that comes from the Club structure that has developed over the years. Im very much in the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' camp...
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11-06-2020, 01:58 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-06-2020, 02:00 PM by Ruairidh Dunford.)
Like all things, if you want change, you must stand up and affect it. People are more likely join or be part of a movement, if it is shown to be a good thing by virtue of being there and working.
Those wanting a national A7 Club should form one - Scotland did in 1971 and it is thriving.
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Location: Nottinghamshire. Robin Hood County
Car type: Austin Ruby Mk1 1935
If all clubs amalgamated together and formed one club for Austin Sevens. How long would it be before there would be some sort of disagreement of members resulting in a split of membership and a new club being formed. I think we are better off as we are with the umbrella of the Austin Seven Association.
John Mason.
Would you believe it "Her who must be obeyed" refers to my Ruby as the toy.
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11-06-2020, 02:56 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-06-2020, 02:58 PM by Ian Dunford.)
The A7CA is the perfect answer to all the above just as we hoped it would be.
At about the same time as we did form it however,I was sadly forced to resign from another motoring club altogether when my complaint of elitism to the editor resulted in a response in Latin
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May I refer the honourable gentleman to Charles' comment earlier about Monty Python getting there first...
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