AMOC Membership

[burntout]

yeti said:

What about a feature on Burntout's car, from getting damaged to the unique stealth machine it became.

For me this would be the icing on the cake part of owning my car!!! Would love to see a spread in a magazine with some amazing photos of my car!!

Thats a cool idea Yeti, a regular feature on some nicely modded Astons...

[Niki M]

I am a member of Area 7 & would have to say I've enjoyed being a member to date. Always meet somebody new at our monthly gatherings and get a good turn out at events. The same can also be said about the trip to Brooklands in January which wasn't an AMOC event.

To the point about the late posting last Sunday, that was me. I did it on my way out the door but it raises an interesting point. This event was on AMOC website calendar for a while and a login is not required to see it. However, it would appear that when it comes to events, this forum is attracts more readers (proven by the fact that a couple of people mentioned to me they would like to see Yeti's car after all the work that's been done on it) so there is clearly a balance to strike.

Perhaps there should be a rule that says if there is an event in any area, it also gets posted to this forum. If people are non-members, it's also a good way to get people signed up if they so choose.

The other comment I would make is the website itself - in my opinion, it really doesn't leap off the page at you. I also understand that it is not the most flexible to use if you're an area rep when trying to get things loaded on there.

Finally, re Tony Hall's comment, it is really disappointing to hear that support for the Hever Castle event appears to be less than forthcoming.

[897sma]

I've "attempted" to join on three or four occasions over the past two years of owning Astons but it is such a chore. I have to download the form, in uneditable PDF format. Print it out, go back to your website to see which type of membership i need, write out my details, realise i don't know my chassis number, so can't fully complete. Then sometime a few weeks later remember the half completed form and dig out my log book for the chassis no. Can't find the original form in the pile of jumble that passes for my desk so start again.

Get an envelope and stamp for completed form, put in car so I can post when I'm next at a post box - which turns out to never when I am in this car, only when I'm in the other cars. Form and envelope turn into a scruffy scrap of rubbish under my seat (along with that birthday card my OH asked me post some months ago) so need to do all over.

Why can't I join instantly online, have my own profile page where I can post pictures add comments about my cars etc like here on PH.

It's not about the money or value for money, I would want to join the AMOC as i am an AMO and proud of it, but I'm a middle aged man so can't be arsed with anything that takes that much effort if I don't "NEED" it.

[redkite]

897sma said:

I've "attempted" to join on three or four occasions over the past two years of owning Astons but it is such a chore. I have to download the form, in uneditable PDF format. Print it out, go back to your website to see which type of membership i need, write out my details, realise i don't know my chassis number, so can't fully complete. Then sometime a few weeks later remember the half completed form and dig out my log book for the chassis no. Can't find the original form in the pile of jumble that passes for my desk so start again.

Get an envelope and stamp for completed form, put in car so I can post when I'm next at a post box - which turns out to never when I am in this car, only when I'm in the other cars. Form and envelope turn into a scruffy scrap of rubbish under my seat (along with that birthday card my OH asked me post some months ago) so need to do all over.

Why can't I join instantly online, have my own profile page where I can post pictures add comments about my cars etc like here on PH.

It's not about the money or value for money, I would want to join the AMOC as i am an AMO and proud of it, but I'm a middle aged man so can't be arsed with anything that takes that much effort if I don't "NEED" it.

Exactly the same as me when i got my first aston 2 months ago. I always used the PCGB forum before and never looked at PH but realise now how good it is.

[don4l]

The club is great value for me.

I enjoy the magazines. John Fenwick does a great job.

I'm off to Spain with 23 other Astons in the near future.

Last year I did two track days at Goodwood.

I also go to some of the monthly meets. At a guess, about 75% of the cars at the monthly meets in both Surrey and NE Hampshire are Gaydon cars.

However, not all is well with the club. Some of the bickering on the AMOC forum and in AM News is very unseemly, and does not reflect well on the club at all. The recent arguement about the Centenary was a case in point. Last year's rows about the racing programme were also conducted with too much agression. This behaviour does not encourage new members.

Here on the PH Aston section you never see such impoliteness. The general atmosphere is much more welcoming.

So, although AMOC is generally very friendly and welcoming, the public facing bits (forum and magazine) do not reflect this as well as they should.


Don
--

[897sma]

Just done the application again, don't know my engine number as requsted on the form, also not going to get my partner to sign her bit on the form as my family member because she never will as I'll keep forgetting to ask, thought I'd be a rebel and send it anyway.

Wonder if it'll make to the post box this time?

[annebothamley]

Hi

This is Anne-Marie, Tims sidekick both as AMOC Assistant Area 1 Rep and at work, for my sins! Just wanted to say thanks for all the feedback, all of which is helpful and informative and as for Jock, I can just imagine a semi naked pinup on Page 3 of the quarterly magazine - not sure how the more mature members hearts would hold out! Our next Area 1 meeting is at The Onslow Arms, Clandon on Wednesday, 9th May from 7.30pm onwards. It would be great to see as many of you as can make it. I will bring some membership applications with me and you can complete there and then and I will even post for you. I think it is a great idea to get Burnouts car and Yeti's in the quarterly magazine and in this respect I am about to make a few phone calls. It is time that old and new really joined together but we need to get the Gaydon car owners more involved in the Club.

[krisdelta]

I don't think I've particularly considered membership, simply because there is a very active and friendly group here on PH. I think if there are some clear benefits or reason to join AMOC and a way to get involved simply - I'd certainly do so. Any group where I can be considered a youngster has got to be good

If Jockman is the page 3 pin-up. I am however, out.

Cheers

Kris

[AMDBSNick]

Have just checked Area 3 calender. Don't get me wrong as I love to meet new guys and gals with common interests but nearly every event for me is an hour away. So set off circa 6.30 for the nearest ones, sit down and have a chat with some smashing folk, leave at 9.30, home for around 10.30. I suppose the issue for me is I like a drink with my food and that is no go. Hence the informal get together in London the other day was perfect. Not an AM in site (no issue here as PH rules dictate we post pics of our cars) but plenty of good chat around a common theme and a few beers. Oh and a glass of wine or two. Perhaps I'm just a piss head

[oblio]

I was a member for 2 years but then let it lapse. I didnt find it value for money plus myself and my wife attended one meet and parked up with other cars and did not see or meet one member whilst there! So we had a look around and left tbh...

Loved being in the TVR club when I owned a Griff though

[yeti]

annebothamley said:

Hi
Our next Area 1 meeting is at The Onslow Arms, Clandon on Wednesday, 9th May from 7.30pm onwards. It would be great to see as many of you as can make it. I will bring some membership applications with me and you can complete there and then and I will even post for you.

That all sounds perfect, thank you Could I be really cheeky and ask you to remind us, just by bringing this thread back to life, a couple of days before. I would love to attend, though I won't have my car I'm afraid, it'll be at Bamford Rose getting the new exhaust system fitted!

I'll try and encourage the Marcos to start, not turning up in anything foreign!

[krisdelta]

yeti said:

That all sounds perfect, thank you Could I be really cheeky and ask you to remind us, just by bringing this thread back to life, a couple of days before. I would love to attend, though I won't have my car I'm afraid, it'll be at Bamford Rose getting the new exhaust system fitted!

I'll try and encourage the Marcos to start, not turning up in anything foreign!

I can always pick you up / drop you to a suitable local train station Lewis, I am Guildford based

[Jockman]

krisdelta said:

If Jockman is the page 3 pin-up. I am however, out.

My services could be arranged for a small fee

I'm actually thinking of organising a PH AM Forum Calendar later this year so I shall guage the mood later on.

As for AMOC - I would highly recommend that those who haven't tried it do so. Tim and his team put an enormous amount of effort into Area 1, and I'm always on the lookout in the area write-ups for the activities of Tony Hall or Rob & Molly.

If you don't find it useful in its events, publications or access to Lockton discounts, then you know what to do.

The Farbacks won't be around forever

[robgt]

[quote=Jockman]
I'm always on the lookout in the area write-ups for the activities of Tony Hall or Rob & Molly.

quote]

Our Area 5 rep, Fay Langton, has just posted a new write up today as it happens so you will find us mentioned in despatches again

[LordBretSinclair]

The AMOC is like any other club - you'll get out of it what you put in.

Instead of querying why there aren't articles on certain cars, why not write said article yourself and submit it for publication??

[verminator]

You lot imagine how I feel. I am betwixed and btween you both. A bit of a whipper snapper and young upstart in our local AMOC lot and a bit old hat for you Gaydon boys. One of the things I notice about
the AMOC lot is, they are very pleasant chaps al be it a bit posh and all that, but they dont actually
drive any where as a club. They meet at a pub or show somewhere, but in my other clubs (Harley&tvr)
we meet somewhere then drive together to a pub or whatever. As they say ' it's the journey not the destination' Also, AMOC is to much money for what you get. My other clubs offer everything AMOC
offers for half the price.

[yeti]

LordBretSinclair said:

The AMOC is like any other club - you'll get out of it what you put in.

Instead of querying why there aren't articles on certain cars, why not write said article yourself and submit it for publication??

Good point Tim. Though spending hours writing something only to be told its not quite in the spirit of the marque is a bit of a waste of time.

Perhaps if I substituted pictures of my car for those of a DB6 outside a country house with some elderly people stood around it holding a trophy it'd get in

I'll speak to Tim and Anne-Marie about it and see what the parameters are, i.e. word limit, but would quite fancy doing that when my car is finished.

[LordBretSinclair]

I can only speak as I find.

In the past I have written articles on Area 20 trips to France and an Area 20 "Garden Party". Both were published in the AMOC Quarterly magazine.

To be fair though, the fact that I'm the Area webmaster may have swayed any decisions on publication.

I'm sure an article on turning your car "up to 11" would be well received.

[silverspeed]

AMDBSNick said:

Have just checked Area 3 calender. Don't get me wrong as I love to meet new guys and gals with common interests but nearly every event for me is an hour away. So set off circa 6.30 for the nearest ones, sit down and have a chat with some smashing folk, leave at 9.30, home for around 10.30. I suppose the issue for me is I like a drink with my food and that is no go. Hence the informal get together in London the other day was perfect. Not an AM in site (no issue here as PH rules dictate we post pics of our cars) but plenty of good chat around a common theme and a few beers. Oh and a glass of wine or two. Perhaps I'm just a piss head

For me the drive there and back to meet like minded people, especially on a nice Summer evening , is all part of the experience. In addition to meeting some great people we can look at some fabulous cars at some really nice venues.

[GTDB7]

For a lot of non-AMOC members their initial look or view of the club is the forum.

I also feel the moderating over there is a little OTT at times, often with little explanation, but then that happens here too.

I myself am not a member, I almost mailed the form a few years ago but decided not to.

We already get a great deal on insurance and frankly the members pack does nothing for me at all. I wouldn't be wanting to bolt an AMOC badge to my GT's grille either.

Perhaps a more modern design implemented into the Tax Disc holder would suit the more modern cars and their owners.

The Grille Badge is a little old hat and reminds me of my old man's cars from the 60's and 70's, something Gaydon owners would like to avoid I imagine.


My local area meet is about 1hr 30mins drive away in the next county!!! so that's not gonna' happen.

I organise my own meet although it's open to any make/model of high end sports / GT / Supercar.

We do get some Aston's and it is surprising how many Aston Owners have no idea who else in the locality also own's one.

My goal with our local meet is to try and weed them all out and get them involved.

Perhaps the AMOC could have an internal division, where you have the "Old Boy" side and the "Young Boy" side.

This way newsletters and forum authority can better reflect each divisions interests and expectations.

Each having their own separate events, but coming together once or twice a year for national events.