I come and read here a lot but seldom(if ever) post on this forum and I suppose some of you will flame me for this one. Over the last month or so of this thread I had to laugh and shake my head in disgust over some of the things written and it's shown me just how far out of touch some people are.
One glaring problem I've seen here is the attitude towards younger car people and modern technology. Several times here people have posted how the younger generation is not interested in old cars, history, etc. This could not be further from the truth! The cars are still out there, owned by someone, and the population (and potential member pool) has never been bigger. I'm in my early 50s which probably makes me one of the younger ones here. I've been into old cars, tractors, hit and miss engines and history in general most of my life. I own a couple prewar cars and was a past member of the CLC. I talk to younger people all the time who are very much into the same things I am and very enthusiastic about it. So why don't they join your clubs? Short answer: It's YOU! The members who've run these clubs since the 60s are still trying to run them like it's the 60s. The general attitude that young people aren't interested shows, and it keeps people away. Why do you think they aren't interested? Is it because they can't yet afford a show quality car like yours? Is it because they don't buy the reprint manuals off your swap meet table or because they don't sign up for your Tuesday afternoon, $100 per plate luncheon. Maybe it's just because you've done nothing to get them interested.
With technology, there's no information that can't be acquired within seconds on a smart phone or computer. I had to laugh at those complaining that they aren't getting a printed membership list anymore. Seriously, who today wants their mailbox and end table cluttered up with expensive printed books, manuals and newsletters that can be accessed immediately, anywhere, anytime online? The thought that you have to be in a club and go to meetings to get information and find cars and parts today is a joke. Parts and information that used to take years of searching for can now be located in seconds on the internet, I don't need to take half a day, travel to a meeting and buy dinner to find out from another club member that their Nephews sons friend's cousin "might" know where to find the part I need. Younger people work and have children, they can't do weekday events, they can't travel two states away and spend thousands for a club event and they tire quickly from the older members talking down their cars that may not meet the "standards" or worse yet, blowing off a young person with a really good car as if they don't deserve it or maybe shouldn't be able to afford it at that stage in life. Nothing irritates me more than an older person looking at a proud younger persons project car and making comments like "They ruined that one", or "If you can't afford to restore it right then you shouldn't have it at all." All of those scenarios have happened to me at different times in my life and yes, it turned me off to organized clubs and the hobby in general. At least those young ones are involved, working on and learning about the cars and as they get older and have more time and money they'll get better cars and make them right...unless of course the older crowd frustrates them and they quit the hobby.
I can and do, go to car related events nearly every weekend and hang out with like minded people from children to those in their 90s and 99% of those events and people have no affiliation with a "club". The enthusiasm for cars, both antique and new is still strong, it's just approached in a modern way. Clubs and their members have failed to keep up, technology, online social networking and the attitude that anyone younger isn't interested has left them behind to die a slow death. I don't write any of this to be mean, it's just an uncomfortable reality. If you still can't figure out why no one see's the need to pay dues to be in your "club", well...it's that out of touch mentality that's the root of the problem, not the cars or the people.
