[Fot] VTR & FoT

[Greg & Alison Blake]

Hey.  There are a few of us out here still in our 30's, at least for a
couple more years.  The challenge for me seems to be completing my car
before I turn 40.
 
I know this was battered about some time ago, but I agree with Bob that
locking in a hard cut off date for "Vintage" is designed obsolescence. 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: fot-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:fot-bounces at autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Kramer, Robert
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 5:43 PM
To: John Macartney; N197TR4 at cs.com
Cc: fot at autox.team.net; bdischer at blakedischer.com
Subject: Re: [Fot] VTR & FoT
 
I was born in 1956. My interest in Triumphs starts with the TR6 model I
saw as a teen and led to my exposure to the earlier cars, eventually
racing a TR3, 4 and 4A. The local clubs are the not so secret solution
to our future. We need to support the TR7/TR8 late Spitfire contingents
in our local clubs and we can still grow the marque. This is one of the
problems we have with vintage racing. By cutting off in 1967 or even
1972 we cut off the younger generation, you know the 40 year olds. 
 
  _____  

From: fot-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:fot-bounces at autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of John Macartney
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 2:40 PM
To: N197TR4 at cs.com
Cc: fot at autox.team.net; bdischer at blakedischer.com
Subject: Re: [Fot] VTR & FoT
 
Andy Mace wrote:
This does raise an interesting possibility, were FoT members so
inclined: perhaps we could become some sort of "Special Chapter" or
"Affiliate" of VTR? 
 
I take a very 'broad church view' on issues like this, essentially
summarised as follows:
 
1. It doesn't really matter how you use your Triumph (or Standard) and
because of that, there should be room in your local or national club to
accommodate your usage preference.
2. The vehicle parc is getting smaller each year and current owners are
getting older. This largely explains the diminution of club memberships
3. A surprisingly large number of cars will outlive their enthusiast
custodians and will need to have 'a home'
4. Clubs (national or local) need to recognise this - and its my
perception in the UK that clubs don't adequately do this
5. There will come a time when the vehicle parc and custodian base is so
small that clubs as they currently stand will probably not be viable as
heretofore. This begs the question
6. What plans are national clubs making to address that inevitable
eventuality?
7. No-one can confidently expect to substantially 'grow club
membership.' The vast majority of cars that will survive are already
known. Barn-Finds will become ever more infrequent
 
With regard to point 6, my perception of the evidence as it relates to
the UK (and probably elsewhere too?) is "nothing at all." Additionally,
for as long as clubs and others continue to provide 'free' technical
information on "How to .....?" projects via the internet, clubs will
continue to diminish in size.
 
Rant off
 
Jonmac
 
 
 
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