One Make Car Clubs - all you need to know
Discussion
My bro called. Did I want to take his '69 Cooper S to a meeting at Bealieu? He'd booked it but was unable to go.
Of course I did.
Batting down the M3 early on a Sunday - and having a whale of a time - I came upon a crocodile of classic Mini Coopers and Cooper Ss; about twenty of them. I eased back to find they were doing a steady fifty. I drew alongside the last car and was greeted rapturously by the young couple inside. At the next car my greeting was enthusiastic; the third car, pleased; the fourth car, warm. By the middle the reaction was neutral. From there forward it was increasingly hostile. The guy in the lead car, whose crocodile this was, was purple with rage, gesticultaing and, although I couldn't hear him, yelling his head off.
Fifty, huh? Watch this. Into third, floor the throttle and away. Fifty, my arse.
The original Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally. Some Police forces used them as interceptors.
I decided it was a metaphor for One Make Car Clubs. Like so many things in life it's all about power and control and very little to do with the nominal subject.
Of course I did.
Batting down the M3 early on a Sunday - and having a whale of a time - I came upon a crocodile of classic Mini Coopers and Cooper Ss; about twenty of them. I eased back to find they were doing a steady fifty. I drew alongside the last car and was greeted rapturously by the young couple inside. At the next car my greeting was enthusiastic; the third car, pleased; the fourth car, warm. By the middle the reaction was neutral. From there forward it was increasingly hostile. The guy in the lead car, whose crocodile this was, was purple with rage, gesticultaing and, although I couldn't hear him, yelling his head off.
Fifty, huh? Watch this. Into third, floor the throttle and away. Fifty, my arse.
The original Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally. Some Police forces used them as interceptors.
I decided it was a metaphor for One Make Car Clubs. Like so many things in life it's all about power and control and very little to do with the nominal subject.
So basically, the guy leading the pack was 'Mr Mini Cooper club' and didn't like you getting ahead of him.
Club's can be interesting, but in my experience, attract a lot of idiots.
My days of meeting up in pub car parks staring at garishly pained Ford Focuses are well behind me.
Club's can be interesting, but in my experience, attract a lot of idiots.
My days of meeting up in pub car parks staring at garishly pained Ford Focuses are well behind me.
Edited by mnkiboy on Thursday 27th March 12:57
I was on the management committee of a one make club at one time when an elderly member who ran a little car business died and left all his car stuff to his one employee. Some members of the club including the chairman decided the stuff was theirs and asked for it to be surrendered. The chap was understandably reluctant. At a committee of management meeting the chairman asked for an off-the-record discussion and then proposed to break into the guy's house and take it.
There were many votes against and he was dissauded. The compromise was to suggest to the chap that if he didn't give up the stuff his business would suffer. This got through on a majority.
Not me I hasten to add, but then I didn't last long on the committee.
There were many votes against and he was dissauded. The compromise was to suggest to the chap that if he didn't give up the stuff his business would suffer. This got through on a majority.
Not me I hasten to add, but then I didn't last long on the committee.
DickyC said:
I was on the management committee of a one make club at one time when an elderly member who ran a little car business died and left all his car stuff to his one employee. Some members of the club including the chairman decided the stuff was theirs and asked for it to be surrendered. The chap was understandably reluctant. At a committee of management meeting the chairman asked for an off-the-record discussion and then proposed to break into the guy's house and take it.
There were many votes against and he was dissauded. The compromise was to suggest to the chap that if he didn't give up the stuff his business would suffer. This got through on a majority.
Not me I hasten to add, but then I didn't last long on the committee.
Sorry? What stuff are we talking about?There were many votes against and he was dissauded. The compromise was to suggest to the chap that if he didn't give up the stuff his business would suffer. This got through on a majority.
Not me I hasten to add, but then I didn't last long on the committee.
A lad I know got into classic Minis and started his own project. He decided to go to a club meeting. It was the first and last one he attended. He described the people there as "distinctly odd".
Incidentally he managed to run his car for about 10 years without joining in the club scene.
Incidentally he managed to run his car for about 10 years without joining in the club scene.
DKS said:
So you judge an entire group of Mini enthusiasts because some didn't instantly adore and admire your car, and the lead guy didn't appreciate your diving? That's totally fair.
No, no, no. Not one group of Mini enthusiasts, ALL one make car clubs.I know it's the broad brush approach but it saves a lot of bothersome detail.
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