shin2chin
Part of things
Making curse word cars slightly better
Posts: 820
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To be honest I've encountered much worse people with my 924, mainly purists who can't tolerate anything other than standard. The 924oc had some people who are purist, but also had a bunch of modified cars, and the community and the forum was pretty cool. Likewise, TIPEC seemed quite open to modified cars. The Porsche Club GB people on the other hand... All past tense, given I sold my 924 3 years ago. Yes as with all single marque clubs, there were some very helpful and welcoming individuals and others which have been described very accurately in these pages. I'd never bothered joining clubs before I had my 924 and after a year decided never to again.
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1977 PORSCHE 2.0na 924 1974 VW Beetle 1600
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Think the closest to "scene" I've been was Series Land Rovers and dropping in to the big shows with a trade stall. Broadly knowledge/enthisiastic individuals with a passion for the brand...but there will always be that small pool of pompous folk who delight in patronising people with their "superior" knowledge.
Plus sides, as all have noted is that huge knowledge base and equal spares support...but equally "scene" styles will shift even within a given marque. Would say if you like a scene car,buy it, drive it, enjoy it...don't buy the car to be "scene".
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2014 - Audi A6 Avant 3.0Tdi Quattro 1958 - Chevrolet Apache Panel Truck 1959 - Plymouth Custom Suburban 1952 - Chevrolet 2dr Hardtop 1985 - Ford Econoline E350 Quadravan 2009 - Ovlov V70 2.5T 1970 - Cortina Mk2 Estate 2007 - Fiat Ducato LWB 120Multijet 2014 - Honda Civic 2.2 CTDi ES
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elfman
Part of things
Posts: 394
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The only time I got close to having a scene car was when I had a mini, at the time the scene suggested that cooper-lookalikes were what you needed, but I had a clubman estate, just because no one else wanted them. Alot has changed since then, and a far as personality clashes go, even my small local mini club managed to vanish up its own exit thanks to a minor fall-out between 2 members. Ive never really owned a car with 'scene' being at the top of my list, its just about owning an old car simply for the sake of it, I don't have an old car now but if I did the car I want is still very much an 'owners club' backed car, not a scene car. What I noticed about the RR shows was, its a scene without being 'scene', in as much as its all about doing your own thing, most scenes are about being sheep. I could not agree more I see that many others on here have had similar experiences with certain makes of car. (some right clowns on a lot of the Mini owners sites for example) I found it doesn't take long to find out who the real experts are in these on line owners clubs and who are the dipsticks who think they know about everything...( you know the type ?) comment on every post but simply have no Idea, just like to hear there own voice in print so to speak. I have found RR very helpful, you still get the odd dibdob but that's life. But generally RR have been great and come back to me with some really helpful advice and probably saved me a lot of money and time. Its also important to seek advice off people who know about the general subject of car building, for example if your building a car to race speak to racers does not matter what car they raced they will have some fantastic advice, same goes for Custom car builders or people who rebuild classics.. also goes for Welding, Spaying, Wiring, engine building talk to the people who can not the ones who "think" they can, or famously say " I have a mate who " it means they have no idea. So by all means get and own a "Scene Car" and join the clubs as its a good place for parts and advice OFF SOME... but take a lot with a big pinch of salt. Plus remember its your car and what ever you want to do with it, it matters to you and no one else.
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tdk
Part of things
Posts: 958
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I went to an Audi owners club meeting once. I honestly wanted to kill myself afterwards. I was so depressed by it. I don't get the scene thing. I am more interested in cars of a different type to mine, than more of the same, and tedious chat about paint codes in a pub carpark with middle aged men in jeans and trainers (see above). This is why RR is so cool, lots of cool stuff I have not heard of, or seen before.
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brc76
RR Helper
Posts: 1,107
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I am 50/50 on replying here, as it's all been covered I think.
I only do RR these days for various reasons, but the beginning of it was that there was a lot of everything here. That and the attitude of the people. So everyone needs a virtual pat on the back, you guys make it pretty much the only place I frequent, unless I needed specific technical answers on something that googling takes me to.
In the past I have been members of the Alfa Romeo OC, various VW clubs and for a short time the MBOC. All of these were in the UK.
I stopped the AROC membership, and going to the shows. I found the reception frosty and the attitude of people when they realized I dailied an Alfasud, then a 15 year old car, and not a "proper" classic Alfa. Flip side was the local chapter that I found to be fun and inviting.
VW, ugh. Wrong year wing mirror on my notchback that I restored myself, tut tut tut. Modified, engine, gearbox put me into one camp. I always felt there were two warring factions in VW clubs. My split screen was a rare-ish spec and unmodified almost polar opposite of the Notchback and people wouldn't talk to me anymore. Weirdos.
I met more thieves, Bodgers, scumbags and "elitists" in the vw clubs than anywhere else. That said, I also met some genuine good friends through VWs that thinking about it, were the sort of core that a club needed, but vw clubs seemed to alienate.
MBOC? Don't modify your car, seemed to be the ethos.
Will I ever join a club again? No.
Would I own a scene car again? Maybe, spares availability is a big plus. As said before, getting what you need in short order makes actually using your car much nicer.
I think this conversation needs to be a distinction between clubs and cars.
I want to re-thank everyone here for making a place people actually want to be. Don't discriminate, include everyone of all abilities, skills, finances, thoughts and beliefs.
Maybe we are a "scene" afterall?
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I will add something else to this discussion: I served as a Committee Member for the local Mini Club for about 5 years. It was, for want of a better phrase, a thankless task.
There were a few (and the emphasis here is a FEW) club members (non-committee members) who would gladly help out with numerous things but the rest of them? No. They wanted everything done for them, and I mean EVERYTHING. I organised a trip for 30-odd people to Ireland, including booking ferries, campsites, payments, chasing people for payments, the lot. Of those 30 people only 1 of them said thank you. It was a kick in the teeth for all my blood sweat and tears I'd put in.
Club members are a fickle bunch. I, like many have made friends for life from my previous club. However, the rest of them? Apart from the ones who simply paid their membership fees and then never turned up to a meet, I honestly can barely remember them. When I was the Membership Secretary and we had a new member come to a meet I always did my best to greet them, show me their car and introduce them to the other guys - some stayed, some we never saw again. We even sent a questionnaire to each club member asking them for feedback and what they wanted from their club. About 5% replied. Weird bunch.
Also, I found that clubs can be a horrible place for couples - numerous couples were split up by other club members "handling the goods" as it were.
Would I join another club? Probably not.
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Also, by extension, club forums and their all too common keyboard warriors are a breeding ground for negativity, condescension and elitism that puts people off attending shows/meets in the first place. This initial virtual introduction to a 'scene' can make new members/outsiders question whether they want to waste valuable seconds of their life meeting these people in real life.
I find clubs fit the same rule as meeting other parents. Just because we both have children (or the same car) it doesn't mean that a) we have any common interests or beliefs or b) that we are guaranteed to be best mates. Or mates at all for that matter.
Humbug, I'm not the biggest 'people person' ...
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I've not had anything considered "Scene" as such, but I've had a fair few imports.
Delica - Owners club was gold, all the members were really helpful and friendly. Soarer - Owners club was good, guy who ran the club although knowledgable and usually friendly, could be pretty spicey. I think he'd just had enough of people calling him expecting advice for free. As you would. He ran a breakers/garage for these cars and I get the impression people were taking the curse word.
Elgrand - Owners club is straight cancer. No longer a member. I've even met other people who have bought Elgrands and they've told me the same thing.
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Last Edit: Dec 9, 2020 16:41:46 GMT by Soopahfly
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Think the closest to "scene" I've been was Series Land Rovers and dropping in to the big shows with a trade stall. Broadly knowledge/enthisiastic individuals with a passion for the brand...but there will always be that small pool of pompous folk who delight in patronising people with their "superior" knowledge. Plus sides, as all have noted is that huge knowledge base and equal spares support...but equally "scene" styles will shift even within a given marque. Would say if you like a scene car,buy it, drive it, enjoy it...don't buy the car to be "scene". Get this a lot at the 4x4 snd vintage autojumbles, most people are up for a laugh and a fun day out, made quite a few ‘friends ‘ if that’s what you can call someone you see once a year, frequently from another country Then we have the Range Rover register idiot who was pompously trying to impress me with his knowledge of classic rear lights, and telling me there were only two types, despite us having three different ones on our stall 🤔
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tdk
Part of things
Posts: 958
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Dec 10, 2020 11:58:08 GMT
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I dunno if this is the right place for this - but I hate it when people try and show you stuff on their phones. "Hang on - I've got a pic", scroll, scroll, scroll... "ha! thats me and Dave with his modded Astra D", scroll, scroll.... meets are the worst for this. It should be about new people, faces, noise and chat, not looking at sodding screens.
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Last Edit: Dec 10, 2020 11:58:33 GMT by tdk
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Dec 10, 2020 12:24:54 GMT
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Also, I found that clubs can be a horrible place for couples - numerous couples were split up by other club members "handling the goods" as it were. Are you sure that's an actual car club you're talking about and not some <ah-hem> other sort of club that also features parked cars?
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Dec 10, 2020 14:18:24 GMT
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Also, I found that clubs can be a horrible place for couples - numerous couples were split up by other club members "handling the goods" as it were. Are you sure that's an actual car club you're talking about and not some <ah-hem> other sort of club that also features parked cars? Couples are NOT split by car clubs. They split because they are not happy together. It may well be that it was someone at a club they ‘go off’ with, for want of a better phrase. But that’s not ‘the club’ it’s them. If they didn’t find that person there, they would find them somewhere else.
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elfman
Part of things
Posts: 394
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Dec 10, 2020 14:25:57 GMT
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Also, I found that clubs can be a horrible place for couples - numerous couples were split up by other club members "handling the goods" as it were. Any idea of the names of the clubs ? I willing to swap for a good engine or gear box....lol ....wink wink. (Joking of course)
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Dec 10, 2020 14:48:45 GMT
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Just reading through this thread again made me think about how nice it was years ago when my dad and I were frequenting the Maxi Club. Whether it was a club gathering or a stand at a car show, everyoneone was just happy to see a gathering of cars and the people that went with them. It didnt matter if you had a low mileage show car, a freshley restored minter, a modified car, a standard daily or a scruffy bitsa, there was no sence of anyone thinking their car was any better than anyone elses, or that their knowledge wasnt worth adding to. My mini got the odd 'youve ruined that', but that comment came from someone connected to presenting the 'best modified maxi' trophy, so go figure. There was a sense at the BL shows that it was one big club and everyone seemed to know someone from another club, and I wasnt ever aware of any problems, everyone was very much 'on the level'. At a general car show you might never talk to that other marque club next door, but that wasnt because you didnt want to, it was just because you day was always taken up with your own stuff. After having that sort of sence of community it felt quite different going to mini shows, but it was a very different type of show, more like the VW shows. I think theres a good chance this thread is going too far down the negative route and mabie getting a bit too far away from what the OP intended.
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Dec 10, 2020 15:14:05 GMT
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Are you sure that's an actual car club you're talking about and not some <ah-hem> other sort of club that also features parked cars? Couples are NOT split by car clubs. They split because they are not happy together. It may well be that it was someone at a club they ‘go off’ with, for want of a better phrase. But that’s not ‘the club’ it’s them. If they didn’t find that person there, they would find them somewhere else. Very true. Probably a bit extreme to mention it. Happened a hell of a lot in my old club though - was probably easier to just get someone with the same interests . I guess they were just a bunch of unhappy so and sos On the plus side it probably made lots of people happier eventually...
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Last Edit: Dec 10, 2020 15:15:05 GMT by mrbounce
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Dec 10, 2020 17:51:16 GMT
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You get the ‘rivetcounters’ as they're called in Land Rover circles in most clubs/shows/whatever My response is still ‘ I didn’t build it for you, go and phone someone who gives a *€$%’
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TessierAshpool
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 507
Club RR Member Number: 168
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Dec 10, 2020 18:55:45 GMT
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I think theres a good chance this thread is going too far down the negative route and mabie getting a bit too far away from what the OP intended. Don't worry too much, I deliberately framed the initial post to be a bit vague to see where it went. I guess it's a good thing it's not a VW I'm on about! 🤣
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Dec 10, 2020 19:32:57 GMT
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Virtually all comments reflect a common thread which is rather sad as most enthusiasts want the ambience of the involvement, the shows, the spares availability, like minded friends to chat cars with but my only real time experience of a British marque club was layers of people involved with a club but at different levels, ideas and what they want from it. The richer members of this club at pub meets sat on the top table judging people not the reason why they were there. Then an anorak level organising outdoor events within the restrictions set by themselves. A younger enthusiastic element who had the get up and go enthusiasm but stifled by anorak section. Finally myself owning an actual running edition without frills stood in the dark talking to the only other member interested in retro modifying. Persevered for a few meetings, spoke to a single lady and her son about their car and heard top table hierachy whispering shes on the pull / er excuse me this is a car club meeting not grab a granny at the Royal Oak on Tuesday night. Walked away still with my retro enthusiasm intact, sold the car a week later and was totally ignored by the club members i met out and about for years later. If thats what scene is and maybe its not I'm happier going to odd show and chat to strangers and leave it at that.
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Started out with nothing and have most of it left.
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Dec 10, 2020 19:50:33 GMT
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You get the ‘rivetcounters’ as they're called in Land Rover circles in most clubs/shows/whatever My response is still ‘ I didn’t build it for you, go and phone someone who gives a *€$%’ Wow they’d be busy, counting rivets on a Landy 😀
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Dec 10, 2020 19:52:04 GMT
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I own several, that fall into very different scenes.
Just an unfortunate byproduct of them being good / landmark cars, I guess.
I've given the club thing a honest try, I was even involved in starting a couple.
But I now realize its just not for me.
I don't enjoy the meetings, and the shows could have been fun if you could trust the people to leave your car alone ( I even had people open doors and get in without asking )
Plus the inevitable " you've ruined that" crowd...
Basically you spend a day guarding your car from disrespectful careless people, which is exhausting.
So I don't join any club, unless they offer tracktime.
Not that active with online forums anymore either ( I got severely burned out on that from being a mod for a number of years ), I'm down to about 2 or 3 forums that I regularly check into and post on .
I still enjoy the cars as much as I ever did, but now with less interference from others...
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