I went to a few car events lately

[oceangal]

One was the Super Chevy show which was a lot of fun - awesome cars - not many vettes but awesome Chevelles and camaros not to mention some old pick up trucks etc. Great Show and a fun time.

The next event was Tuesday night - I went to the local vette cruise night. I got there at the start time and there were a few newer vettes and one man setting up. I introduced myself to him and he knew me from an email. No one else around and he seemed busy so I went inside and grabbed a bite to eat. I went back out and there were I dunno maybe 30 cars or so, only about 6 C'3's. I went up to the desk and thumbed through some stuff. I didn't see much about the club itself and their website doesn't list anything really current.

Anyway I walked around and looked at the C3's to get ideas etc. I said hi to a few folks and they said hi back and that was about it. I tend to be a bit shy in a situation where I don't know anyone and I guess I was expecting someone at the table or the cars to sort of initation conversation as clearly i was interested in the cars. Maybe I just caught them on an off night. This was a rare Tuesday that was kid free so its not like I can go a lot and unfortunately Steve from CAC couldn't make it. I bet if he was there it would have been a whole different experience.

Last night was a general car cruise night and that was more fun as I went with someone and tons of cars. I think there were more C3's there than at the local vette cruise night. I put a note on my steering wheel saying "Just bought - a work in progress" as there were some nice cars there. For sure I will have to get there earlier next time as cars had already left by 6:30.

The super chevy show seems like a fun event to enter a car that isn't original paint etc for competition. I am guessing there are other shows too for those who don't meet the NCRS standards. I would like to see a NCRS show - I didn't see anything coming up soon - did I miss a local judging event here in Mass? I would love to attend more shows and if anyone has ideas where the best site is for vette shows/competitions I am all ears.

As an update the neighbor gave me $700 in cash and will pay 1000 more in two weeks. The good news is that this helps me with a new paint job and interior on a faster schedule that I had originally planned. I had planned on doing the interior next year and the exterior the following year. I for sure can do the paint job this winter and the interior maybe in the spring at the latest.

So.....I am curious...how many of you are in your local vette club and how do you welcome newcomers that clearly show interest in your cars? There were a lot of couples and I didn't park in the designated sort of staging area with my car as I wasn't sure of the rules...I wonder if I was viewed a wannabe or a woman looking for a guy with a vette to date or something. ha! little do they know!

As I was driving home last night with the tops off and the temp was 72 and the stars were out...it hit me...what am I going to do all winter long??? Darn driving the '01 Neon all the time is going to be a major downer.

 

[srs244]

oceangal
i have had been active in the local "car" scene down here in south florida for a long while (not to blow my own horn, but i was honored this year to receive the "carol pullen memorial award" which is presented by the ft lauderdale mustang club to an individual that they believe represented himself (Or herself), the car club community and their own club in community and charitable service to the local area), and can only tell you my own experiences. it is tough on a "newcomer" to integrate into the "crowd" at a cruise in unless you make an effort to do so. it's my opinion that by setting up a chair and camping out with your car, (put the chair in the same area as the cars parked on either side of you), you have the natural ice breaker, YOUR CAR!! everyone loves to talk cars at these types of events, the problem with a cruise in is that for the most part folks "cruise in" to park and get something to eat so most of the owners don't hang around.

in our area, we are lucky that we have virtually the entire year to show off, lol! the summer here is the slowest because the heat becomes oppressive in a show field (unless it can be held in a park or grassy area off the tarmac). that said, for the most part you see pretty much the same folks at most of the events (it really is a pretty close group, the car club community) and after you show up more than once, you will start to recognize folks and be recognized yourself. it doesn't take long for conversations to strike up and friendships to form. if possible, try to park "around" other vettes (but not necessarily right next to them). that allows for some comraderie and by having to kind of talk across the guys next to you, everyone kind of gets drawn into the conversation.

while i am sure i am in the minority, i have NEVER been a member of a corvette only club in any area i have lived in. in my opinion for the most part (at least in my area) they have too many new and newer corvettes owned and driven by people who have them to be seen and nothing much more. (remember i live in the land of the BOCA RATON BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. LMAO!!) the club i help found with a group of folks who had become disenchanted with a previous organization (this is the way most of the clubs come into existence) several years ago is a completely open club with vehicles that range from motorcycles to pt cruisers. we have several C3 vettes, 2 C5's, a 71 BB el camino, a restored (and modified) 71 chevy longbed pickup, a flamed out toyota scion, and just about everything you can think of in between. about half of our members are "regulars" on the local car show circuit from time to time (we are a fairly small club with 50 family members and we intend to keep it that way). we try to support those shows that benefit a local charity so we feel that our registration fee and 50/50 donations go to a good cause.

by being a "repeat" attender at local shows and cruise-ins, , you will strike up friendships with others with similar interests. it just takes a bit of time.

BTW if you would like to see our club website, we are the cruisers of south florida and can be found at www.cruisersofsouthflorida.com

 

[oceangal]

Thank you for the ideas - I checked out your site and it looks like you all do some fun things. I can relate to the Boca thing, my folks lived in Deerfield Beach for several years and have just moved up to Port St Lucie.
I am going to the corvettes for cancer fundraiser and look forward to meeting the Kemps and other CAC folks :-D
Since I am child free on Wednesday nights I will try and make it a practice to attend the Wed cruises. I told my folks I was going to a Corvette Cruise night and he asked me what ship line we were going on ! hehe. He thought I was going on a cruise!

 

[GS Diva]

Lori,

srs244 pretty much nailed it! You'll be fine and will be one of the Corvette crowd before you know it! We look forward to seeing you next week in Nashua.

Elaine

 

[kiwi vet]

Hey Oceangal

I do understand what youre saying, when I first joined the local corvette club and went to the first meeting (happen to be an AGM - oh joy) I was horrified at the cool reception offerred. I'm not shy (in case you all didn't realise) but found it very awkward & uncomfortable.

The only person who talked to me was a NCRS "wannabe", who firstly told me how many vette's he had and how perfect they were, how much he knew about vette's, then of course how much money they were worth!. He then asked a few questions about mine, scoffed as soon as he realised my vette wasn't "Original" and walked off. I was gob smacked!

I left in horror, and commented to my wife, that these people were nothing but a bunch of stuck up a..holes. However a few weeks later,I was talking to one of the parts suppliers down country about this, he (un be-known to me) then contacted the local Club President (about 300 miles away), who in turn contacted me,to firstly appologize and then just chewed the fat, one on one. I was blown away that he would do this, and as a result have re-evaluated my thoughts on this club. Am actually looking forward to the first run with them.

I have been an active comittee member of various clubs prior to this, we actually created commitee positions, to specifically welcome new members, reason being, it's all to easy for the regulars to become clicky little groups within the club, making it difficult for new members. It's not intentional, after all we were all new once, but it just sort of happens!

The point behind all this waffle, is dont read a book by it's cover and keep trying. Srs244 is right, eventually the car/you/they will break the ice, and there is lots of fun to be had meeting and socialising with like minded people.
Car club events and socialising with those members, have been some of the most memorable events in my life, so it's worth perservering!

Good Luck, and you go girl!

 

[MoeJr]

Glad to see you're enjoying your Corvette, Oceangal. Are you gonna repaint the car the same as it is now or custom?

 

[oceangal]

Glad to see you're enjoying your Corvette, Oceangal. Are you gonna repaint the car the same as it is now or custom?

Well I am thinking of going custom. I hadn't thought of changing the color til I saw Pimp my ride for the first time last week- if you saw it it was the one where they did the Chevelle - the black and green combo was awesome and got me thinking.
If I had an older vette, I would stick to the original colors. The two tone is nice and not a ton of silver/clarets were made so I will keep a two tone scheme.Its still in the thought process phase - but right now that is the direction I am leaning towards.