AMOC Membership

[F1 NDW]

yeti said:

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.

It's an excellent idea Yeti. I’ve been in a few clubs over the years and they all snap your hand off for an article in their rag. I am sure yours would be very interesting. I enjoy your tales of bingo with Johnny foreigner and the write up on how you’ve found the DB9 mods so far. Just get joined up and submit it.

[lady topaz]

I have very mixed views re my short lived AMOC membership. I was given a years subscription when I had my 1st V8V roadster. I had hoped it would be like the TVRCC.

I was with TVR for 5 years during which I actively promoted the local club, touting members, exhibiting at the Bromley Pageant, going to Cornwall with the local guys as well as joining in with the Cotswolds members.

My car featured on the cover of 'SPRINT' (one of the best mags around imho). It also featured on a two page spread. I was asked to do a regular column as a lady TVR owner, and Derek Smith, the editor at the time asked me to interview Penny Mallory for an article. Total involvement and a great time with great people.

Arriving at my 1st AMOC meet for Area 7, my car at that time was the only Gaydon car in the car park and the air of indifference was palpable. Not from Winston, the RO who was very inviting, but the rest left me feeling I was trying to break into an exclusive club.

It just wasn't comfortable, which led me to try and get local Astoneers to meet from PH at a fairly local venue.

We haven't had many meets but when we do we get 20 plus cars and everyone is very friendly. No attitude at all. Same as on here really.

If AMOC did start to embrace the new generation, I would happily embrace it. Like Tony Hall and Lewis (yeti) I too am going to support them at this years Bromley Pageant, it would be good if AMOC could begin to accept us as the future of the marque. Different era's but no less passionate about the cars.

Di

[LordBretSinclair]

Thanks for your views Di, you've been quiet of late. I trust you are well and shoulder all healed.

As I posted earlier in the thread a new Chairman of AMOC has just been voted in with a promise to "shake things up", let's hope things improve.

ATB, LBS

[AMDBSNick]

silverspeed said:

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.

Sadly most of my drive would be on the M1

[lady topaz]

LordBretSinclair said:

Thanks for your views Di, you've been quiet of late. I trust you are well and shoulder all healed.

As I posted earlier in the thread a new Chairman of AMOC has just been voted in with a promise to "shake things up", let's hope things improve.

ATB, LBS

Hi Tim

Yes, shoulder healed, but still stiff, thanks for asking.

Old age setting in!

Tis a shame where the same marque has two corners, someone does need to build bridges, and maybe the new 'face' can go some way to achieve this, though I feel some of the old school are too entrenched in their views.

Its funny, when I was last at NP there was an elderly gent complete with magnificent whiskers collecting his DB7. He was treated like royalty. Figurative cap doffing and subservience. Yes sir, no sir, whilst I was left playing with my iPad in the corner.

Hey ho, tis the way of the world.

Di

[don4l]

yeti said:

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.

I really don't think that you would be told that it isn't quite in the spirit of the marque. Quite the opposite!

AM Quarterly (an A4 publication) would love to print the story of your car. They would give it three pages... so that is about 2000 words plus photos.

Don
--

[yeti]

Donal, I'll get my subs paid (4 months late) and take it from there.

Happy to write something about it once it's done, so much to say in 2000 words though... Sure I'll think of something

[RichB]

quench said:

...to be honest, I find the AMOC forum overrun with snobbish fanboys. I like sites where members are open to civilized debate and display enthusiasm and respect for performance cars in general, not sites dominated by defensive, hoity-toity characters waiting to shoot down any perceived Aston criticism.

You obviously don't frequent the same AMOC forum that I do, you never read posts by Russell et al?

[RichB]

tonyhall38 said:

...too many old farts running the club...

That may have just changed ex-submarine commander at the helm now.

[RichB]

burntout said:

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...

Having had another one of my cars featured in a car club magazine and on the cover I suggest that what you have to do for a start is write the article, make it interesting and submit it. Then chase it up and be available for the photography.

[RichB]

GTDB7 said:

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

The Grill 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.

There are several different club badges, tax disc badges, bubble badges etc. so you don't need to have a badge on the grill of you car if you chose not to.

[F1 NDW]

RichB said:

hat may have just changed ex-submarine commander at the helm now.

Oh really? Two types of boats then, Submarines and targets!

[Wobbly]

When I first started looking to buy a Aston over a year ago, I looked on the AMOC forum, to see what info I could find, and gain as much knowledge as possible, I asked a few questions, made a few comments but very little going on there. It felt such a closed shop.

I then found the AM section on here, I read, and learnt so much, the banter is great. I may not be the most prolific poster, but I check in daily, and when I have asked a question, I have had great response.

I don't see why I should pay to join a club, when I get more out of Pistonheads for free. It's not I'm anti car clubs, I have been a member of Mercedes Benz Club for a number of years, but at this time, do not feel the need to join AMOC.

[tonyhall38]

RichB said:

tonyhall38 said:

...too many old farts running the club...

That may have just changed ex-submarine commander at the helm now.

bet he still farts though.....lol

[Steve*B]

robgt]ockman said:

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

Hope you've cleaned your wheel arches Rob??

Great write up and no doubt the edition will be cherished, well, forever!

Pass on my best to George (Fay's other half) at the next meeting....tell him cousin Steve said hi!

[verminator]

DI,
Are you saying he shouldn't be treated like royalty because he is 'only' picking
up a lowly DB7? Perhaps they know something you dont, like maybe he's a very
old customer with a garage full of DB5's. If you want to be treated like royalty
Di, the answer is simple, grow a beard.

[XlBilbo]

I haven't joined AMOC for pretty much the same reasons that have already been mooted on here.
Bloxham cars are between the 'elite' cars and the Gaydon cars and are probably the cheapest of the Aston breed at the present time, so I was particularly surprised when a salesman at Stratstone, Wilmslow was very enthusiastic about my DB7i6 when I was last there.
However, just my twopenneth, but I can see no real reason to join.
I am nowhere near a local meet, (S Cumbria) and I resent the fact that technical threads are hidden on the forum, so that I can't decide whether they are worth the - quite considerable - expense of joining.

Also, I have upset the moderators on more than a few occasions so I may have my joining fee returned!!!

Edited by XlBilbo on Thursday 26th April 11:52

[RichB]

XlBilbo said:

...I resent the fact that technical threads are hidden on the forum...

The dichotomy being that it is by definition the AMOC members' web site. The idea is that the general sections are open to non-members to seek car buying advice but other areas are members only and rightly so in my opinion. Why should they make such a resource fully available to non-members?

p.s. That's a rhetorical question, I know your position but I am placing an alternative view.

[Jockman]

I seem to recall somebody on the AMOC forum called Marcos who is a bit of a nutter

[yeti]

Jockman said:

I seem to recall somebody on the AMOC forum called Marcos who is a bit of a nutter

Yeah... though as I said, I just eneded up talking to myself on there! The DB7 section was great, loads going on, good chats and banter. DB9 bit was very quiet.

I think the AMOC forum suffers from to much segregation. I agree segregate NP from Bloxham and those from Gaydon, but there's no need for all the model-specific subsections. A lot of the questions apply to all cars, espcially with Gaydon models.

If you try and post something in 'General' or 'Gaydon', Webby has it out of there faster than you can point and laugh at men in skirts.