Thoughts

Hienkel429

Hey decided to post this separately in order to get more ideas / feedback,

As a sort-of-young-person (36)  I think there are some reasons for young people not getting involved in cars.  

#1 Urbanization and folks are getting married later.  Many of my peers live in urban areas that don't have storage areas or even parking!  Plus only a few of my friends growing up are married (originally NY metro).  People are starting their lives later so hobbies take longer.

#2 Lack of experience / know-how.  Many folks my age grew up with ultra reliable cars that did not take much maintenance.  Thankfully my father owned a service station in the late 60's into the 70's so I got much of the experience (since we were broke) and tools to work on cars of this era but there are big gaps in my knowledge which is a problem.  So generations not used to working on their own cars, with their own tools, understanding the systems involved present a barrier to people picking up this hobby. 

#3 Financials.  Many folks in their 30s and probably younger have invested heavily into their education leaving scant funds for an expensive hobby.  Other things come first like paying for a house, children, and paying down debts.  In fact I pay for working on my car with handyman work I do on the side and it was the way I earned enough money to pay for the car.  

So.... I'm all gloom and doom.... but I have some ideas. 

1.  Be open and friendly.  This the club has in spades and is why I am working on a Hudson and not a Karmann Ghia or VW Thing.  My kids (6 & 8) have run around and struck up conversations at meets with no worries by me or my wife.  Everyone is very friendly and offering advice or help.  

My one idea would be what I have seen in other hobbies. BUILD PARTIES.  Imagine having 6-7 families over at one house to tear into one car at a time.  6-7 people on sanders on a body, or plumbing a car.  Community building.  Experience and equipment sharing.   So you'd have families coming together, progress on cars, lower expenses than doing it yourself, and getting it done faster.  Plus we all get to share experience in real time while making friends and building community!  If this sort of critical mass could be met you'd have thriving clubs.  

Just my $0.02  

- Ray  

J Lombard

great thoughts Ray

J

Lklemm1

Ray your right about the younger generation getting involved in this hobby. More kids now don't even care to drive. I work for Eastwood at the retail location and don't see many younger people buying the restoration products. We do seminars for people on many different topics to get them into this hobby with less fear and more knowledge. 

    On the Build Party idea, this would be something I would like to be a part of and would love to have help with my truck. This would also to your point help others gain more knowledge and helpful tips.

    Thanks for starting this Ray.......... Love to see the club and this hobby keep growing. 

PaulButler

Interesting comments indeed Ray ; I also like the idea of a "Build Party".

Years ago when I was more involved in the "Old Car" scene I always had any number of people who , if you needed help, would rock up and provide it with no thought of payment etc.

Although beers were always available if required

Lee ODell

Even one person to help is a big encouragement to get something accomplished. Helps to keep project momentum and enthusiasm in motion. A few more helpers increases the sense of accomplishment for all involved.

LanceB

The thought of a build party is great, get more people involved in the hobby, not just the good old guys.  Got my son involved working on my truck, thought I burnt him out with the sanding until he asked if we could do one for him.

Now he and a bunch of his friends are working on their cars and none of them are 'tuners'

hudshornet

I like the build party idea. It's hard to find the time to have an old car hobby now (not to mention the money). However I still love working on them and can't wait to have a Hudson again.

SuperDave

Get the kids involved?

Something I have done in the past is to give my old car magazines to the local high school  auto shops classes. Just bundle them up and drop them at the office.

 I have given some thought ( but no action) to volunteering to do some in person instruction to the classes on the function of the old ignition and carburetion systems in our "old' cars.  Procrastination is a disease!

tombia

Great idea,  . Our local car club takes cars to the local comm. college to show the kids. They enjoy them, but you never see them at any car functions    I have 4 grandsons between 18 and 34 and they are too busy either going to college or supporting families to fool with cars. I will say tho, that most of the younger people I see around here that either have an old car or truck are duds and not that well employed.

Park_W

All good ideas.  That said, on the money issue I do note that many of these young families manage to pay for BMWs and Lexuses (Lexi?)

hudshornet

As far as paying for nice cars, it's not that they have the cash for them they can swing the payments and it is easier to justify a "new safe car" to the family then a project. This generation is choked with an extremely high student debt to income ratio and things will probably get worse before they get better. We live pretty frugally and I work a pretty good job however my truck has 325k on it and my wife's Tahoe has 192k. Inflation is up and I spend more on food now then I did eight years ago. Since I was 14 I have always had a project car up until about four years ago when I lost my space to have one and sold my Hudson at a loss. Another issue that young families deal with is the ubiquitous nature of neighborhoods with HOA's and the restrictions they place on ones property. To live in a nice, safe, affordable neighborhood you will almost always have an HOA, which further complicates the process. Saying all that I do believe that there are still a lot of young people who love cars and will keep the hobby alive. I think the cars movie has helped the Hudson world Inhave found more people at least know about the marque then when I started. On top of that the popularity sure has made the prices increase since I purchased my first hornet years ago.