Hi mate, most but not all clubs are like that. My suggestion is to visit your local clubs and try see whether you click with some people for meetups etc. Don’t expect the club to do runs, just do stuff between yourselves.
For example I’m in the West Midlands and I visited all clubs around the area and further. I meet up regularly with some mates at the caffeine and machine, with others we sim race together, with others we do trackdays and with some close mates we plan overseas trips etc. Use clubs as a meeting place to get to know people that you have common interests - that’s my suggestion.
I’ve belonged to several bike and car and other clubs. Some are just as you describe, some are taken over by pompous rivet counting zealots who destroy them and some are absolutely wonderful and supply years of comradeship. You do have to make a big effort to break into an established group sometimes.
I’m saddened you did not feel welcome at your area meetings, but in my limited experience one only gets out what one puts into a club. Being run by volunteers, not unaturally they soon become friends, that should never be to the exclusion of newcomers, but that saddly is sometimes the case.
My experiece with Great Western Roadsters was quicky welcoming, friendly and helpful, though my work commitments make it almost impossible to attend anything on a Wednesday. Since moving to London 12 months ago I have for that same reason not been able to attend any gatherings with the North Thames group yet, but it is not for want of e-mail communications.
Not heard of anyone buying a car with a view to the benefit of a social side before, but each to their own, maybe the next car you buy you will check out the owners club inadvance, I am sure they will be welcoming and if not you will have saved your self a purchase.
Must admit it would never occur to me to sell my dear old Madge and certainly not because I felt unwelcome at an owners club, the smiles per mile driving her are simply priceless.
We were at Elvington too and have been to a couple of mid-week drives at which we felt very welcome and we are far from gregarious. We’ve not been to any of the monthly pub meetings as we’ve never got round to it but in the back of my mind - as someone who doesn’t find such occasions easy - is the fear of not being brought into the fold. This is probably unfounded as people went out of their way to welcome us when we went to to drives and did so very skilfully, warmly and with genuine interest in us. All I can say is that I get a lot out of the Club through the Forum (I maintain my RF myself so often need to consult others) and from the excellent magazine. I would like to think that those who choose to get involved with running the Club will recognise that part of the role is to make the effort to welcome those who look like they need welcoming at the gatherings, in the manner that I have experienced. Perhaps give it another year? I know it is difficult and I find such things very uncomfortable, but I can’t imagine you’d be out in the cold for long if you went up to a group and introduced yourself.
I have the same issue at my local squash club where I just can’t get ‘lift-off velocity’ and a circle of regulars to play with.
The answer, as far as I can see, is to focus on the activities themselves and let the social aspect develop from that. This can take years and probably depends on which part of the country you’re from. In parts of the North and Northern Ireland it will be quicker. In the South it will be slower, especially London and Home Counties where people are generally a far harder nut to crack.
This is sad Steve, and it can happen with all types of clubs that have been long established. But all those members had to assimilate at sometime. Just be patient and you’ll gradually get there. If you come down Devon way, let us know and perhaps you could join us at one of our gatherings sometime. Barry
But equally it is in our nature to be tribal, technology or not. Late author and raconteur Simon Raven once said that “The whole point of a club is to keep people out.” Once we humans have formed our little tribes, we don’t want them disrupted with newcomers…
Hmm. The Vintage Motor Cycle Club has had the occasional issue with unfriendly local sections. That can be down to a focus on a certain era of bike. Truly Vintage, Post Vintage, Post War, etc. You would think that everyone being MX5 enthusiasts would not have the same problem. Though could be the NA v the rest diehards
Luckily my local VMCC tolerate me on my Italian lightweights, though most are on British big twins. The appreciation of keeping older machines on the road and the skills required is shared.
My nearest MX5 meet is much further away and I confess that just socialising without regular technical or presentations from members or guests doesn’t float my boat.
I really should dig the 97 1.8 out and attend one but it is currently covered in dust from building work - sacrilege!
Hi Steeve, sorry to hear, I myself am chatty, same thing, first meet great plenty of chat, next meet was ok…ish, then the third time the lovely chatty engaging lady who ran the club was away, her husband who came across off with his emails and chat was running the night, it was terrible, it was likely as much they have been in the club for years and I was a wet behind the ears not stock mk1 owner, it was awful, at one point they asked people to run test route drives, a thick book of the routes that could not be lent to anyone no matter what, I offered to back it up online, either on a club meet night or take a few at a time, this was refused out of hand, within the next 5 minutes his mate was allowed to take the whole book home… I have not been back to the club meet since.
I’'m sorry for Your experience, what a shame. You just have to keep trying, people are like cars…sometimes a bit more choke is required, then full throttle and away!!
This is sad to read about. I was a member of the P&P area group and at our first pub social meet I made contact with the AC who then introduced us to the assembled as new members. I agree that there were long standing social groups within the main group, as is human nature, but we never felt excluded.
We sadly decided to sell our '98 NB in the summer because of a change in circumstances but have since been told by the local “AC” that I’m still very welcome to go to the social meetings. I encouraged the new owner of our car to “take our place” in the club, seeing that he’s in the same area.
There’s also many reasons for joining clubs , apart from organised social events . I attend another car club meeting most months but I am not remotely interested in a lot of normal car club fare - stuff like runs out (I’d only drive in convoy at gunpoint , for example ) . I belong to this club as a useful source of info on NDs and to get discounted tickets to race meetings . The saving on that alone pays for the membership, .
I would definitely agree here… DON’T SELL YOUR CAR just because the people at the meeting didn’t speak with you… why did you buy the car in the first place?.. probably because you like it… continue to like it, you don’t need other people other than each other to enjoy a MX5.
I’m on my 3 rd MX5, a few years gap between car 1 and 2 but since buying #2 I’ve been an owner for nearly 13 years… my partner and I have been to a few National and Spring Rallies in the last 13 years… we dont have any ‘friends’ from the club other than meeting the current owner of my very first MX5… I’ve often thought of going to an Area Meeting when I retired but then just I did retire Covid happened… it’s a 45 minute drive away to the pub they meet at… so I generally find an excuse not to go, sad really… but I WON’T be selling my car.
We have been abroad touring in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and have done numerous UK trips… the Outer hebrides being one of the last… we love it and we get many nice compliments and meet many like minded people… last summer in France a young guy was parked next to our car in the carpark… he was about 22 yrs old he had a Mk1… I’m 67 and have a Mk3… we had a wonderful 30 minute chat about mine and his and MX5’s in general (he had never seen a Mk3 in the ‘flesh’ before, they are that rare in France!!!)… a few day’s later we met another similar minded young French MX5 owner… proving the our ages and generation of MX5’s are not an issue.
No, don’t sell your MX5… there are plenty of ‘friends’ out there… enjoy the car, go places, explore, have a great time.
You sold the MX5 because of that? Isn’t that ‘cutting off your nose’? I love the MX5 for what it is, not for snooty or friendly club membership (I’ve had 3, all new, an NB, NC roadster, and now an ND 2.0 soft top). Didn’t your MX5 mean more to you?
If you think that was a bad experience, try joining the Alfa Romeo club, if you do not own a £70,000 “Bertie”, they turned their noses up at my 916 Spider as it is only 25 years old and not a real Alfa.
My experience so far of the various MX3 meetings I have been to is that the MX5 crowd are mainly normal and friendly and the car is nicer to drive - I have a1999 auto as I can no longer drive a manual, but that does not seem to matter - often the problem is the meeting place, if it is just a pub people wander off in their little groups, but if you can hold the meeting in a private room it is much easier to make friends and contribute.
That’s a big shame Steve. We have felt the same to be honest since we joined. Been to a few meets and shows and despite introducing ourselves we have spent most of the days walking around on our own. Longer standing members are quite rightly in there own little groups and probably meet up outside of any club events. As has been said this happens in other clubs and I have similar in another car club I am a member of (not related to our MX5). As I carry out most of the maintenance on our MX5 myself I have now resided to the fact that the club provides me with any technical information and assistance that I need, which is great. I will continue to be a member whilst I own our MX5, but your point is well said.
