Lotus 7 Club - is it worth it?

[pikeyboy]

Personally I'm not a member, having been a member of owners clubs in the past I've decided that if I want to stand in a field with a load of beared people I'll take my dogs not my cat.

[anonymous-user]

130g said:

I have no problem with people who don't fancy the kind of things that the club provide, each to his own. But whats wrong is that you obviously like to participate in the events that the club organize (or at least some of them), but do not have the decency to support it. I know it sounds like something your parents would say, but imagine if everyone did like you, then there would be no one left to arrange these kinds of things.

Is attending an event not supporting it then?
Or do I have to show my gratitude by paying in to a fund that contributed nothing to the event in question?
How exactly does "the club" support pub meets for example, other than allowing them to be promulgated on Blatchat, which as already mentioned can and is be superceded by the likes of Facebook.
You're also assuming I've never planned or organised anything for Sevens and on that front you'd be 100% incorrect in your assumption.

[anonymous-user]

And annuver fing....
Are club members permitted to wave at non-club members should they pass one another whilst on the road?

[anonymous-user]

Risky said:

Being a member of the L7 Club makes you part of a like minded community.

Wrong. Having the car makes me part of a like-minded community. The club is merely a product of that community, not the other way around.

Risky said:

The ability to mix with others who are willing share advice, offer practical help, loan of tools, parts and equipment.

I do that anyway.
Goodwood Brekfast Club anyone? Sunday Service? Poole Quay? Ace Cafe?

Risky said:

There are many events where the Event Support Vehicle or Event shelters are present to provide a focal point, shelter, seats tables, hot drinks, BBQ etc. There are discounts, bulk buys, Get to know your 7 events. Special reduced prices for national events run by others. Magazine, Christmas meals, track days, Sprint Championship, Blatchat. The list goes on.
If you want any of these things, pay your subscription and enjoy. If you don't want them then don't bother, but don't expect to get any of these things for free.

Agreed on the ESV, and despite everything I wouldn't dare to make use of it unless I'd paid my dues. Ditto track days and sprints.
Christmas meal? Paid full list price in 2012. Blatchat isn't free? Indeed, makes you wonder how Pistonheads survives!

[Irish]

I only use 5% of what is on offer and still feel it is value.

Blatchat is a great resource - some great people on PH but BC is where I go if I have a Caterham problem.

Worth it for Low Flying and the Calendar alone.

At 36 I am the younger end of the spectrum but the club is what you make it and expect this to become a life long memberhship - dipping in and out with the ebb and flow for Caterham ownership.

It is not for everyone - but it should not be knocked. It really seems to thrive in the regions - linking owners together from up hill and down dale.

[Smollet]

Seems to me that most of the contributors here are either current or past members of the L7C. Pistonheads itself might be alive but the Caterham side of it at times is lifeless and would remain so if it wasn't for the knocking of the L7C and its awful members.

[one eyed mick]

A club is only as good as it's members instead of pissing each other off get to gether and make a good one!!! MoPO

[coppice]

Crossflow Kid said:

Agreed on the ESV, and despite everything I wouldn't dare to make use of it unless I'd paid my dues. Ditto track days and sprints.
Christmas meal? Paid full list price in 2012. Blatchat isn't free? Indeed, makes you wonder how Pistonheads survives!

FFS if you don't like it then don't bloody well join- nobody will lose any sleep. As has been said the ownership of a Seven makes you part of a community- some like to join the Club , others don't.Others still just like to moan about it..

[Smollet]

Calm down dear. It's only a car club

[anonymous-user]

coppice said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Agreed on the ESV, and despite everything I wouldn't dare to make use of it unless I'd paid my dues. Ditto track days and sprints.
Christmas meal? Paid full list price in 2012. Blatchat isn't free? Indeed, makes you wonder how Pistonheads survives!

FFS if you don't like it then don't bloody well join- nobody will lose any sleep. As has been said the ownership of a Seven makes you part of a community- some like to join the Club , others don't.Others still just like to moan about it..

FFS I was only defending a point of view having been branded something of a thief.
Ye gods, with a STFU attitude like yours you must fit right in on BC.

[anonymous-user]

Smollet said:

the Caterham side of it at times is lifeless

That's because PH has it's own sub-sections for:
iTunes and other PC advice,
Employment law.
Coffee machines.
Lego.
What was on BBC3 last night.
And not forgetting......
Bikes (of the pushing variety)

[Smollet]

And Landrovers

[Toaster]

Smollet said:

And Landrovers

Hmmm the affinity between a Landrover and Caterham is much closer then many may imagine as they share the same crumple zone philosophy in that its provided by the car in front (or behind) :-)

[sjmmarsh]

I'm bored now. I only paid for the 5 minute argument!

[Dorchester]

Jeesh, the mentality of some of you current Caterham owners really takes some believing! I always found 99.9999% of Caterham owners to be pleasant, sociable and reasonable. Obviously that's an opinion I am going to have to now change but think myself lucky in the meantime that I havn't run into such infantile owners to date that have been commenting on here!
The Lotus 7 club is what it is and there are many owners out there who appear to be quite happy with it. If you don't like it then leave it alone and don't join it. On the other hand, if you are a member and have a problem then inform the people (unpaid volunteers AFAIK) that can make the decision to change it (or not).
No, you do not have to be a member to attend meetings and suchlike but you are not going to be much company slating off the bods that are. (Actually there are a few local meetings held where the organiser isn't a L7C member and I've never felt there was any resentment there).
The club's not for me but the like-minded people that I have met through club contact have formed my recent life and I love them and the car to bits :-)

[Gingerbread Man]

Topics about shall I, or sharn't I join the L7C always turn into a big argument. So do topics about which 7 is best. I've seen a few comments about how the Caterham lot are argumentative.

[viper blue]

Look, it is just a car club, so if joining makes you feel then go for it.
Personally, I couldn't give a

[rubystone]

Toaster said:

Smollet said:

And Landrovers

Hmmm the affinity between a Landrover and Caterham is much closer then many may imagine as they share the same crumple zone philosophy in that its provided by the car in front (or behind) :-)

I see that you don't own a Caterham then. If you did you'd know all about the safety in a frontal or behind. It's the side impact that you have to be careful with and there are ways to improve that.

[rubystone]

Crossflow Kid said:

Blatchat isn't free? Indeed, makes you wonder how Pistonheads survives!

It's owned by Haymarket publications. Google them if you aren't aware of who they are

[rubystone]

Crossflow Kid said:

[
Oh right. So the club reimburses AR's ad the like for their time? Thought not.
Whereas your bus scenario has genuine, physical running costs, what's the actual cost of someone saying "this pub, this day, this time" on the Internet?

You know that ARs do receive expenses, so stop being disingenuous. Frankly I think that if you really do attend L7Club events without being a member of the club, you are taking the piss. The cost of laynig on thise events is borne by the members through subscriptions. As for area meetings - that's not the same - the ARs don't receive any funding from the club for those.