Younger member
Comments
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Notamerc wrote:Brad I don't disagree with you. But I personally think dealings between members are just that. The HET Club is in the business of promoting and preserving the Hudson Marquee. Remember lessons we learned in the sandbox about playing fair? Some members don’t. That is not the responsibility of the HET Club. I had a squirrel crap in the feeder in my back yard and I thought to myself "You don't poop where you eat". I have had members in my chapter drop out because of deals gone sour between them and other members. It had nothing to do with the club. That’s unfortunate. All I can say is the club is the source and will continue to be. How do we attract younger members if we treat each others with disrespect? Steve
I think that Brad's point is that if a club is a vehicle by which people perpetrate fraud, then that organization does bear some responsibility. An example that comes to mind is Hemmings Motor News. If you try pulling a scam in their publication, or don't remedy a problem to a customer's satisfation, they'll ban you. Why should a club be any different?0 -
royer wrote:You don't need 10 grand for a Hudson. My Jet was under 5K, Bill A had a 48 or 49 with 30,000 miles on it for around 6K, and I think Paul had an AMC Hudson for a reasonable price listed here recently. Don't forget Brad's $2600 '54 Hornet that had all the discussion here on the board.
While the examples you listed, were good ones, only two of those cars are realistic vehicles that could be fixed reasonably. The 54 Hornet that Brad got needs thousands of dollars of welding to get it to a point where you could even think about restoring it. Why would you want to take part in a hobby where the risks and costs are so high, and when someone wants to defraud another, nothing gets done about it.
No wonder the kids would rather work on sport compact cars, buy spinners for their civics, and install loud stereos. You don't have to worry about a rear perimeter frame being rusted out, or finding hard to find chrome. Everything you need for your honda can be found on eBay, or even at pep boys.
Seems the older folks are the ones that complain about this and wonder what the problem is, whereas the problem is really how they allowed the whole scheme of things to unfold. They're the ones that essentially drove away the younger crowd, and now they're trying to fix it all, too little too late.0 -
royer wrote:You don't need 10 grand for a Hudson. My Jet was under 5K, Bill A had a 48 or 49 with 30,000 miles on it for around 6K, and I think Paul had an AMC Hudson for a reasonable price listed here recently. Don't forget Brad's $2600 '54 Hornet that had all the discussion here on the board.
And my 54 Hornet can be had for $2600
Brad0 -
The possible cost of repairs is also a problem, as are parts. I remembered something else, there is another myth that people my age think: It's old, so it's slow. A while back someone drove a Chevy Impala SS coupe to school, looked it was from the 70s. Someone commented on it must be slow and brake down all the time, since it's old. I tried explaining that it's not...and by fast, I don't mean they wanted 80+, I mean they wanted 45+. Enough to drive it around and not feel like your going to get run over. And then we go back to, it's old, so it's stick, and for some reason they feel stick=evil. (It was an automatic btw)
In event in towns, fairs and the like, maybe have some kind of show, showing the speed, the handeling, and transmission options. Showing that old does NOT = slow and old does NOT = manual might help some. But be sure to have the manual ones there as well...I'd rather drive a manual in a fun car, so hopefully I'm not the only one.0 -
Costs/prices of parts and maybe even certain cars can be kept down but it can't be done by one person you need the economies of scale that only a collective organization can deliver. Of course there has to be the will within an organization to do so.
This is also a hobby that you cannot launch into as a younger member without some level of automotive education. The organization can serve an educational role as it does fit in with the goal of Hudson preservation. To touch upon jjcom's point an effort to educate the younger car-interested crowd might include a campaign to dispell misconceptions or myths about speed and safety of an old car. A Hudson does better in modern traffic than the majority of it's contemporaries from the early '50's.0 -
Gee,what a nice gesture for someone to take the time & effort to say so many nice things about so many nice people. Hudson Kid is a perfect example of what makes this club unbeatable & hopefully take it into the next century.---Cliff Minard.0
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at the moment i am not a member of the australian het club but am considering membership somewhere along the line. why not? i say. raising the profile of clubs and presenting a side appealing to younger people is a point that needs looking at in my opinion. as an aussie that grew up in a rural area i find it hard to imagine kids not driving a car "just because its a stick", driving a manual is just what we do. rice burners with auto boxes are my idea of boring, a car from another era is far more interesting. who hasnt seen a hyundai with a bunch of plastic a loud exhaust and a stereo? last week as i filled my pacemaker some girls walked past and commented on my car, so i think the appeal is there in the hudsons themselves, just get them out there and seen! all my friends that have been for a ride in mine love it! hot rod culture is taking off so this has got to help the cause too.... sure im rambling a bit but im trying to cover a lot of points thru a growing thread so thanks for bearing with me. oh yeah im 24 years old0
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This message board thread and the results of the attached poll may be of interest:
http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40800 -
That just says the age of who is on the forum. I'll bet money it doesn't accurately represent the actual age demographic of HET itself.0
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blaiser wrote:And my 54 Hornet can be had for $2600
Brad
Brad,
If I was on your side of the country, I would consider your Hornet. However, I won't consider it because of the cost of shipping. The annoying thing with the old car hobby is that the amount of money spent to the car haulers and UPS.
For the next WTN try rewording your ad to something like this -
1954 Hudson Hornet Special 2 door Brougham. Model 6D. 308 engine with a 262 head. Dual range hydramatic transmission. New water pump, new wiring harness, newer green interior, newer brake lines and brakes. Right door, glass and hinges just replaced. Right floor pan recently replaced. Has some frame issues, needs restoration. Runs and shifts good. $2600.00.
I feel this ad would be more effective than your recent ones, you would be highlighting the positives, while disclosing that there are frame issues and it needs restoration. There's no need to bring up the bad blood between you and the previous owner. Customers will stay away when there is negativity in an ad. In addition, members of the "ol' boys club" will offer you obnoxiously low offers because they know you are disgusted with this car. They want to catch you at a moment of weakness and get the car for practically nothing. Keep your ads positive and you will find a buyer for your car.
Good luck with selling your Hornet,
Matt0 -
hudsonkid wrote:While the examples you listed, were good ones, only two of those cars are realistic vehicles that could be fixed reasonably.
Other than Brad's Hornet, what one couldn't be fixed reasonably?0 -
If you want to start attracting younger members, you might want to start adding some awards to your meets that attract younger people's interest. People's Choice, Farthest Driven, etc. are great, and needed to keep us older folks motivated, but has anyone thought of "Best Engineered", "Best Paintjob", "Loudest/Clearest Stereo"? Watch "PIMP MY RIDE", and you'll get a good idea of what youngesters want. You may not agree with their thinking, but your Parents hated Elvis too!0
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royer wrote:Other than Brad's Hornet, what one couldn't be fixed reasonably?
Ahh... might want to reread that quote you pulled from my original post. Looks like we are on the same page, but maybe you thought I was saying that either Bill's coupe or that Paul's hash were beyond repair or cost prohibitive. Not true, by any means, but looks like we agree on Brad's car.0 -
I did not mean for this to become a thread concentrating on my 54 Hornet. I was using my situation to highlight what I feel should be considered when attempting to attract new and younger members.
The Club wide overtones of my situation, from its start to its much overdue and eventual resolution, would have to be deemed a turnoff to prospective or current members young and old alike.
In continuing this thread may I suggest that we return to the spirit of Steve's original post. Brad0 -
How 'bout a next of kin list?
As I said earlier, a lot of widows end up selling their Hudson to another collector who already has a garage full of Hudsons. If us members supply HET with name of a next of kin who might be interested in Hudsons, the HET Club could send a year's membership to that person after the original member dies. That may encourage the new member to decide to buy the widow's Hudson and become a lifelong member of HET, which will keep the membership levels even, instead of dropping.0 -
Thats a good idea...why not try and promote to the sons/daughters, grandsons/daughters, etc of current club members, before they die? That would give them something to do with their parents/grandparents. I know that would have been something I would have wanted to do with my grandpa. Get them interested in cars young. I remember awhile back there was a fire day, and they took the little kids out for rides in the fire trucks. Maybe something similar could be done here...have times where people can go tour town in a Hudson. At the same time, this would help disspell the myth of the cars being slow, or uncomfortable, etc.0
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How about trying to widen the interest by giving rides (espec with the recent movie). I make my car, gas & time available to our local primary (junior?) school when they have a fundraising function & the schools fundraising committee sell tickets to the kids (& their folks) for 2 or 3 bucks/person. The school makes money, the kids enjoy riding in an old car (in my case the Rumble Seat of a '28 Essex Coupe) & hopefully develop an interest. The byproduct is that I have a lot of fun & feel good.
Dave Y (New Zealand)0 -
During planning for the Madison national I tried to get HET to actively give rides to the general public figuring once some attending non-members got a taste of the Hudson mystique they'd join at the national. I was told that apparently the club had been sued over something at a previous national and they were too nervous about anything that might get the club sued by someone attending so they told me "we could give rides or advertise that we give rides." However they said if individual Hudson owners want to do so of their own initative that was fine. I think we should try to do that at meets whenever possible to kids that show interest. Then maybe the kid's dad will buy a restorable Hudson and pick it up as a father-son project and of course join the club in the process.0
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One of the really BIG problems I see with the Hudson owners, both old AND young, is they don't take their cars out to anything but a HET chapter meet and/or a National meet. How many actually bring them out to cruise nights, mixed-make shows, and get them exposed beyond their little circle of Hudsonites??? Going to a show and it's judged??? What's it going to hurt to get judged? You are not at a Hudson meet, and not all clubs run their shows as non-judged. In fact, most shows have a NON-judged "class" so you don't HAVE to be judged, if judging just goes against all you live and breathe.
It's going to be impossible to get younger people (and the appropriate exposure) if the cars don't get out. Visibility is everything! You can't generate enthusiasm for the Hudsons if there is no exposure. You want new blood in the Hudson family? You're going to have to drive your cars! Talk them up! Give someone a ride! Go to a show or a cruise outside of your Chapter group and enjoy your car! Someone wants to modify a Hudson? More power to them! Someone wants to restore a Hudson? More power to them, too!
I get out and enjoy my Terraplane and my Mopars! I don't depend on the local clubs, and I go where I want with them, enjoy them, and talk them up. People aren't going to know about Hudsons if they don't see them. Two movies with Hudsons do not constitute "exposure" (Cars & Driving Miss Daisy).0 -
66patrick66 wrote: »One of the really BIG problems I see with the Hudson owners, both old AND young, is they don't take their cars out to anything but a HET chapter meet and/or a National meet. How many actually bring them out to cruise nights, mixed-make shows, and get them exposed beyond their little circle of Hudsonites???
Boy you really hit a nerve with me there! I couldn't agree more. My experience has been that if it ain't free and nearby, Hudson owners won't attend, and if it is free and nearby, they probably still won't. Many are not even aware of the car shows/cruise nights/events in their own communities. Every time those of us who care about this manage to get a couple of Hudsons out to a show, the reaction is great. :cool:0 -
When I was our Chapter newsletter editor, I had a list of EVERY car event in Oklahoma for the upcoming two months in advance, and it was very comprehensive.
Now, with the new editor, if it is not Chapter related or somehow relating to HET, she won't even mention it.
I really don't bother with the Chapter much anymore.0 -
I am taking the '50C8 to every car show I can. It went recently to the Hagley Museum car show in Delaware and I had a lot of interest. One guy about 20 something came up and said, Wow I have heard of Hudsons but had never seen one this is really something!0
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My experience is that if you take your Hudson to a HET meet, people will tell you what's wrong with it. At a non-Hudson meet, they tell you how wonderful it is.0
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Sam, you are dead on the money there, friend!!!0
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I have been a member for (2) years, and at 30 years old am probably one of the younger members. I grew up around Hudsons, and am a third generation HET member. To Hudsonkids point, most of my friends that I have introduced to Hudsons would love a coupe or vert, but have no interest in a sedan. Also, my friends who are into project / toy cars, seem to have a budget of a few thousand dollars, which doesn't go too far in the Hudson world.
In addition, the younger generations are looking for a stronger on-line presence. I have been on a bunch of e-mails lists and on-line groups for other auto makes, some of which I would get over 100 posts a day for. This forum is great, but the HET club site leaves much to be desired. When I first started looking got Hudson sites, I was disappointed overall with what I found. There are a few really great ones, but I can count them on one hand. On-line classifieds would also be great. It's fine for HET members to look in the back of the WTN and pick through the adds, but it can't match a good on-line classifieds page. I always used these types of classifed sites to estimate costs and availability of potential projects. This might also help show newcomers that cars and parts really are available and reasonable.
Welcome the modifieds, or at least be open minded to them. My dad is a purist. Everytime I mention a mod I'm considering to him, he usually says something like "It's worked that way for '50 years..." He's right, but if it makes me feel better to have an alternator, maybe I'll drive it farther or more often. The point is, he hears me out, I hear him out, and then I do what I want. He has been know to sway me by providing a sound argument and educating me on older technology that I don't know well.
I have yet to make it to a local HET event. I have 3 kids, a demanding job, and a house to maintain. Unfortunately, the Hudson gets the least of my attention.
my $.02
Matt0 -
Sam and some of the others are right. If you want expsoure you have to drive them. I drove my Wasp to work about 90% of the time this summer. It sits in front of my office by the street. I probably have half a dozen people a day walk over or drive in and look at it. It's also a great conversation piece with clients. At any of the cruises or car shows I went to, at least two or three people would ask if that's the Hudson they see all the time in Plymouth.
Then they would say, "You don't see a Hudson very often". I'm in the Detroit area and there are lots of HET members with Hudsons to drive but you don't see them on the street. Get out and drive them. That's what they were made for.0 -
Interesting topic.Im the youngest guy in the victorian HET club by far,and have found them very welcoming and helpful.This is the best way to attract and keep new blood.
However,when i joined the local multi make vintage and classic car club,i was snubbed and ignored.the first of their runs i went on i had a clutch problem and was stranded as they all sailed straight past me,my efforts at being friendly were rebuffed,my girlfriend ,who is a committed feminist,was told by the club president that"all the ladies are out the back making supper,run along and help them will you?" This was mainly a generational thing,as i was a lot younger than them,but it will lead to their club dying out,as who wants to be part of something so unwelcoming.Now i am just a member of the HET,and very happy to be here.0 -
Interesting to re-read this thread some 4 years later.
Has anything changed or did we come up with any ideas that have been put into practice??0 -
I guess to most, at 65 I would be considered one of the "old boys." Fact of the matter is that I have only been building Hudson's for the past few years. I moved over from being a Chevy guy to pretty much being a full-time Hudson guy. However, I have been building cars for over half a century. What made me a Hudson guy. --Well, I bought a "cheap" 4-door (it was between a 46 brougham and a 52 sedan) so I could build a car and keep up with the "Hot Rod" group--I was the last one to hit a stop on a tour in the old 32 Chevy. The gentleman who sold me my car delivered it, provided a ton of cheap parts and has become one of my best friends. We have a small group of Hudson nutz locally but we hit a lot of multi market car shows and we are the bell of the ball every time we go. We even travel across state lines to meet with other Hudson folks and call them good friends. So, a lot of what was mentioned in the past is true about Hudson folks--problem is that we just do not get around that much. There in, to me, is the problem. We all need to hit more shows, help more people and have fun selling the dream.....0
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I got started with Hudsons by seeing pictures of stepdowns, reading the history of Hudson, and loving it. I think actually seeing a Hudson person would have gotten me started even sooner. What really got me hooked was how damn helpful people are in the HET forum and specifically Russell Chilton who helped me feel confident enough to fly to TX from MN to buy my Hornet. Help through the computer is nice, but I am also trying damn hard to learn enough to be able to maintain my own car. I would KILL to have a local mentor.
My thoughts on making HET even better:
Get Hudsons out there:
When brought my Hudson to a local cruise-in last Wednesday I was swarmed as soon as I got out of the car. I had half a dozen folks looking, asking questions, telling stories, and letting me know that there was a beater Hudson for sale by the local Kmart. When my family was pulling out of the show I was even stopped to talk some more with my window down. People WANT to see Hudsons. A couple of weeks ago I had my Hornet in a small local car show “Byron Good Neighbor Days†and while I was washing it in my driveway getting it ready a man stopped by and told me about a relative up north in MN with a Hudson Truck out in his field. I gave him my card and asked him to please pass on my name. I would love to find something restorable for someone else in the club. At the car show, during registration, the woman told me she has an aunt whose husband use to collect Hudsons. After he passed they are sitting in her son’s pole shed. I gave her my card and got her name. We are now friends on Facebook and I am trying to get myself invited to come and take a look at the cars. Once again, I would love to find something restorable for someone else in the club. I have many more stories just like these, from just the few months I have had it out this year. In short HUDSONs peek peoples interest, lead to other Hudsons, and help make connections. Of course, this does not work if the Hudsons never leave the garage.
Mentoring new members:
I don’t know jack about cars and I trust my local mechanics as far as I can throw them. I have tried a few, but even my favorite one that knows old cars could not conceive of why I would put a dual exhaust on a straight 6. His idea of a classic is dropping in a big block and tubing out the rear wheels. For me it is ONLY through my relationships with in the club that I got started and keep going. We need more people like Russell, Walt, and others willing to help mentor new members and rank armatures like myself.
Be open and active:
I have been part of AACA for two years, attended meetings, and tried to make friends. They have a nice magazine, but I will not be renewing. While most of them seem nice, I am the only one with kids, most are retired, they already have their closed circle of friends, most have not worked on their cars in years, nobody was interested in mentoring, and most of the cars only come out once in a blue moon.
So far, most of my exposure to other HET members has been here on the forum, but is has been great. Everyone is warm, friendly, and willing to help. I cannot wait to make my first HET meet to actually see some faces. THE HET COMMUNITY IS A KEY FACTOR THAT KEEPS ME FROM SELLING MY HORNET now that 9 months into Hudson ownership I am facing an unexpected engine rebuild when I had hoped to be fixing the interior (the interior is a mess & my wife is embarrassed by it. Can’t really blame her).
That got a lot longer than I expected.0
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