AMOC in the Armco
Discussion
VanquishRider said:
"If you never drive your ‘investment’ and prefer to spend time cleaning your tyres with a toothbrush, then this club may not be for you. If, however, you bought your car to drive and enjoy, you're welcome here."Phew, thank God, I do not own an "investment" but just a terribly depreciating old V8 Vantage S. I probably ought to open up my narrow mind and listen and get educated by experienced members of life what enjoyment of the latter is all about.
Dixy said:
I hear that there is trouble at Mill. I declined to re-join many years ago as the people running it seemed unable to grasp the concept that it is just a car club.
I declined to rejoin (after many years being a member) as Covid meant we couldn't attend any events, and the changes at AM itself mean I no longer feel a great "bond" (sorry) to the marque. Be surprised if I was alone.I take it their finances have seen a big hit? I would be sad to see the club fold, there are many members who work hard for it.
I first joined AMOC in 2000 when I bought a new DB7 Vantage. I turned up to my first event (a concours) and was told be quite a few people that it wasn't a "real" Aston. Part of the irony was that the Bloxham section of the club was to go on to be one of the most vibrant - mainly because they were happy to ignore the barbs and do their own thing.
However, it was a microcosm of the club that seems to have more factions than the People's Front of Judea. This extends to the top where the internecine fighting at the CoM level is hilarious (at least the bits of the spats I have heard of over the years). Some people take their membership far too seriously (you aren't a better person because you have an Aston) and others are determined to hold office at whatever cost (see current CoM fubar).
It's only an f'ing car club.
I rarely attend anymore or read the publications.I probably will cancel my DD at some point.
That said, I have made some great friends in the club - most of whom have now left.
However, it was a microcosm of the club that seems to have more factions than the People's Front of Judea. This extends to the top where the internecine fighting at the CoM level is hilarious (at least the bits of the spats I have heard of over the years). Some people take their membership far too seriously (you aren't a better person because you have an Aston) and others are determined to hold office at whatever cost (see current CoM fubar).
It's only an f'ing car club.
I rarely attend anymore or read the publications.I probably will cancel my DD at some point.
That said, I have made some great friends in the club - most of whom have now left.
I am a member, and have attended a couple of “visits” organised by the two local areas and I have to say I really enjoyed the visits and found them really well organised.
I have seen some emails about something going on in the “executive suite”, but frankly I’m not that interested in club politics so didn’t bother reading them - life is too short and there are far more important things to get stressed about.
I always think these types of thing need to hear ‘voice of the customer’ regularly to ensure they are delivering what the members want.
I have seen some emails about something going on in the “executive suite”, but frankly I’m not that interested in club politics so didn’t bother reading them - life is too short and there are far more important things to get stressed about.
I always think these types of thing need to hear ‘voice of the customer’ regularly to ensure they are delivering what the members want.
scampbird said:
Dixy said:
I hear that there is trouble at Mill. I declined to re-join many years ago as the people running it seemed unable to grasp the concept that it is just a car club.
I declined to rejoin (after many years being a member) as Covid meant we couldn't attend any events, and the changes at AM itself mean I no longer feel a great "bond" (sorry) to the marque. Be surprised if I was alone.I take it their finances have seen a big hit? I would be sad to see the club fold, there are many members who work hard for it.
oilit said:
I am a member, and have attended a couple of “visits” organised by the two local areas and I have to say I really enjoyed the visits and found them really well organised.
I have seen some emails about something going on in the “executive suite”, but frankly I’m not that interested in club politics so didn’t bother reading them - life is too short and there are far more important things to get stressed about.
I always think these types of thing need to hear ‘voice of the customer’ regularly to ensure they are delivering what the members want.
Great to hear this and yes, I totally agree.I have seen some emails about something going on in the “executive suite”, but frankly I’m not that interested in club politics so didn’t bother reading them - life is too short and there are far more important things to get stressed about.
I always think these types of thing need to hear ‘voice of the customer’ regularly to ensure they are delivering what the members want.
I was an AMOC member for a couple of years and attended a few events. Nice folk to meet, but never got involved with any club politics.
Since switching to a Porker in December (don’t stone me!), I joined the PCGB. Bigger club that seems to be run like a business with glossy monthly magazine (very dry and corporate) but I get a couple of emails from them each week. 90% seem to be about voting this, voting that, etc.
Can’t be bothered. Clubs should be about fun. Sadly it’s a universal issue with all clubs and societies from cars to village halls. I sometimes think the smaller the club, the more disproportionate the officialdom and undercurrent of bitterness in some circles at the top.
Why???
I really hope the AMOC continues as the heritage side has some unique archives and the local organisers and events were very good.
I’m sure I’ll be back behind an AM wing one day. Just seem to have dried up on AT
Since switching to a Porker in December (don’t stone me!), I joined the PCGB. Bigger club that seems to be run like a business with glossy monthly magazine (very dry and corporate) but I get a couple of emails from them each week. 90% seem to be about voting this, voting that, etc.
Can’t be bothered. Clubs should be about fun. Sadly it’s a universal issue with all clubs and societies from cars to village halls. I sometimes think the smaller the club, the more disproportionate the officialdom and undercurrent of bitterness in some circles at the top.
Why???
I really hope the AMOC continues as the heritage side has some unique archives and the local organisers and events were very good.
I’m sure I’ll be back behind an AM wing one day. Just seem to have dried up on AT
Oh, great. Reverse snobbery and class anxiety at its best. Red trousers, junior barristers, expensive holidays.
I am sure there must be a club for 3/4 length tracksuit bottoms, self-employed IT consultants, package holidays in Dubai types so they dont have to rub shoulders with more civilized people.
I am sure there must be a club for 3/4 length tracksuit bottoms, self-employed IT consultants, package holidays in Dubai types so they dont have to rub shoulders with more civilized people.
RMDB9 said:
Oh, great. Reverse snobbery and class anxiety at its best. Red trousers, junior barristers, expensive holidays.
I am sure there must be a club for 3/4 length tracksuit bottoms, self-employed IT consultants, package holidays in Dubai types so they dont have to rub shoulders with more civilized people.
TVR car club?? I am sure there must be a club for 3/4 length tracksuit bottoms, self-employed IT consultants, package holidays in Dubai types so they dont have to rub shoulders with more civilized people.
RMDB9 said:
Oh, great. Reverse snobbery and class anxiety at its best. Red trousers, junior barristers, expensive holidays.
I am sure there must be a club for 3/4 length tracksuit bottoms, self-employed IT consultants, package holidays in Dubai types so they dont have to rub shoulders with more civilized people.
I think you have hit the nail square on the head with a heavy hammer. Unfortunately the nail in question was the one on your thumb.I am sure there must be a club for 3/4 length tracksuit bottoms, self-employed IT consultants, package holidays in Dubai types so they dont have to rub shoulders with more civilized people.
I’ve been a member of the AMOC Region 10 (Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire) since 2008 and I have to say coming from Porsche ownership and being a member PCGB I found this region and generally most others from other AMOC regions I’ve had an opportunity to speak too are OK.
Our area rep has during lockdown done his absolute best trying to keep the region together by using Zoom calls instead of the usual face to face meetings. I have always found that you get out what you put onto clubs like this, it doesn’t matter if it’s a car club, camera club or any other type of club you unfortunately do get those that aspire to gain control or voice their opinions above others. You do however have a voice if you wish to use it by voting against issues you disagree with or put yourself forward to help run events (as I did in the early days of our Zoom meetings) etc.
I do however agree that right now from what I see there has been a little too much politics playing out at AMOC which needs to be eradicated!
Our area rep has during lockdown done his absolute best trying to keep the region together by using Zoom calls instead of the usual face to face meetings. I have always found that you get out what you put onto clubs like this, it doesn’t matter if it’s a car club, camera club or any other type of club you unfortunately do get those that aspire to gain control or voice their opinions above others. You do however have a voice if you wish to use it by voting against issues you disagree with or put yourself forward to help run events (as I did in the early days of our Zoom meetings) etc.
I do however agree that right now from what I see there has been a little too much politics playing out at AMOC which needs to be eradicated!
I have been an amoc member for years, and have been to some memorable meets, although my local area (13) ignore me completely - never ever heard from the rep at all.
What cheeses me off, apart from the continuing infighting at the top, is the way they treat my membership money (£105, cf £30 for the jag club I belong to too)
Not only do they get the£105, until I got wise they also got 10% of my insurance premia when I used the club recommended insurer (locton), so I was paying some £2500 pa for my astons thinking i was getting a club discount, whereas i was in fact paying over the odds so that amoc could get another £250 pa off me. But not for long !
Coming b@ck to spending this money, 23% goes to another org (amht) whether i want it to or not, then i subsidise the activities of the small number ofmembers that can go to the amoc fine dining dinners, and subsidise heavily those that want to go to le mans classic - staffing the amoc pitch etc cost the club some £35k over what they charged the attendees at last one. If i want to go along and watch a club event such as a concours, as a club member i have to pay £25 to park the car. Madness.
What cheeses me off, apart from the continuing infighting at the top, is the way they treat my membership money (£105, cf £30 for the jag club I belong to too)
Not only do they get the£105, until I got wise they also got 10% of my insurance premia when I used the club recommended insurer (locton), so I was paying some £2500 pa for my astons thinking i was getting a club discount, whereas i was in fact paying over the odds so that amoc could get another £250 pa off me. But not for long !
Coming b@ck to spending this money, 23% goes to another org (amht) whether i want it to or not, then i subsidise the activities of the small number ofmembers that can go to the amoc fine dining dinners, and subsidise heavily those that want to go to le mans classic - staffing the amoc pitch etc cost the club some £35k over what they charged the attendees at last one. If i want to go along and watch a club event such as a concours, as a club member i have to pay £25 to park the car. Madness.
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