Younger member

Unknown

older member of the vic HET club came over today and spent the whole day helping me dismantle the spare Tp engine with a view to rebuild.He talked me through the whole process,taught me more in 4 hours than ive learned in 2 years by myself,refused any payment apart from a cup of tea,and offered to come back if i got stuck.

Now thats club spirit! i hope that when im an old codger,i can be as generous and helpful to younger members.

Huddy42

We older guys are like that skip.LOL



What we did here in new South Wales Australia was to combine Ramber (AMC) vehicles in our club as club cars, we found that all the younger guys like the later models and if we did not include them, then they would go join another car club that caters for more modern cars, now what we are finding is that a lot of owners (my self included) with vintage models are also buying Ramblers, one point is like today, we held our christmas in July luncheon and all the guys drove their Ramblers, they do not have to worry so much about leaving them in the car park of the bowling club as they would if they were in their vintage cars, we ended up with 42 people turn up to our lunch with approx 12 cars, these cars still get plenty of attention as would the older cars, but, our members feel safer leaving them in the car park on this type of outing, knowing that nothing can be stolen or damaged.I certainly don't like leaving my 1942 Hudson Brougham in a club car park. I doubt if any memember would have driven their older cars to todays outing, but, we are still getting our cars out there and seen by the general public.



When we hold our normal club runs to a car show or general picnic days outing most all will drive their vintage cars

DavidC

Although our club membership is in my name (I'm 43), the real Hudsonite in my family is my 14 yr old boy. He fell in love with Old Doc Hudson from the Pixar movie. He loves everything American, and especially anything 50s. And the fact that the Hudson dominated early Nascar didn't hurt either. We are working together on a 53 4 door sedan. He is not bothered by extra doors or hard tops. He loves the car, not only for what it was, but now for what it is; a rare touch of automotive class. Millions of kids out there have Doc Hudson toys. They're already infatuated. Fathers/mothers, uncles, and clubs can capitalize on this newfound love. Jack Miller is touring with his race car. Daytona Beach has museum displays. There's tons of sights to see in Michigan and Indiana.



I agree with the comments about garaged cream puffs; won't help at all. We plan on driving ours everywhere. We need to embrace new technology that makes them more driveable and enjoyable in the modern era.





There's room for the purists as well. After all, when I bought my first Mustang in the 80s, I still loved to attend car shows displaying perfectly restored beauties from the 60s. But restomods will play well to a new crowd.



This is a very enthusiastic group. I can't believe how helpful everyone has been. And this forum typically has 90 or more folks logged in. So there's a good basis for an emergence of a new generation.



Money and parts availability is a big hindrance. Perhaps each chapter can consider reproducing certain key components to make restoration less of a challenge, and then share the parts. Groups of restorers could co-own a car, share in the resto costs, and then share the car as a club car. I've heard of California hotrod clubs doing just that. Even young guys can afford that kind of restoration.



My son wears his Hornet T-shirt everywhere, and proudly explains what exactly a Hornet is each time a person asks. I'm sure he'll have even more to say when cruising in one in a few years.



Kids dig old cars.



Dave

TOM-WA-

Notamerc wrote:

My name is Steve. I am Senior Western Director of the Hudson Essex Terraplane Club. I have volunteered to head up a small group of dedicated members to try and figure out what it takes to attract and keep YOUNGER members involved in the National HET Club. This is a big job. What is the average age of the HET Club member? What does a younger member need/want from the HET Club and how does the HET Club provide it? If you could help me and would like to be on committee please email me at Notamerc@yahoo.com. I am looking for the youngest paid National Member. Thanks for your Help. Rust is Gold! Steve

OK HERE IS MY 2 CENTS WORTH..



Why do we hold our NATIONAL MEETINGS on Monday thru Friday.. Thats when alot of people are at work.. We should be looking at a meet that either starts or ends with a Saturday Sunday..



Also do we promote our Annual Meets or for that matter our larger Local Meets to the general public??



Are there Newspaper adds in the Local Papers announcing these events? How about posters and flyers to display at places where Car people go like parts places, repair shops etc.? Is there anything going out to the General Public in Spokane?





In todays world if you want to Grow and prosper you gotta appeal to the Public...If not a club an organization or a business will grow OLD and simple disapear



Sorry for the Krapy spelling it's not my forte'







REGARDS





TOM

[Deleted User]

Some thoughts about raising the younger folks' interest:

At a church anniversary celebration, I offered short rides in my '37 T. some of the teen-agers decided it was "cool."

There is almost no publicity for the local AACA or NHRA shows, and no follow-up news articles. The AACA show had a "cars and their parts" program for the young folks. For the kids, the high points of the program were blowing the siren on a firetruck, and expressing youthful horror at a hearse.

My point is that the young interest is raised by "hands on" experience with the vehicles, and a show of interest in the kids.

I apologize if I have repeated too much of what was said above.

BN

Snailslayer

Im 29 years old and a 6 month old HET member. working on aquiring my first Hudson. I agree with most comments said thus far about how to appeal to a younger generation to keep this or any club/hobby genre going.



As with any hobby, I also think it just takes exposure of the cars to the public and enthusiam from the people who enjoy them to spark an interest in others, no matter what age. Its easier to spark an interest in a generation that grew up with these cars as they may already have an emotional tie to the make/ model but you can easily create an emotional attachment to the Hudson brand, or old cars in general by giving rides, letting people sit or crawl around or perhaps even drive it. remember what you first drove around the yard when you couldnt reach the pedals? What your dads old work truck was? Or what grandpa let you take to the prom (or whatever you guys older than 40 had? LOL



Its that hands on stuff (mentioned previosly) that create a memory, and bond, and gets people excited and enthused to buy a driver, or even a project because they get a taste of what a warm fuzzy a (never) finished project can bring them. But they are not going to go knocking on doors or digging in sheds to find them, but the may approach you at a carwash, a show, a restaurant or whatever.



Heck, how many times have you walked by your classic in garage all winter or a couple of years and when you bring it out in the spring, it surprises even you how you forgot how fun they are to toodle around in and you have 1 or 2 or 4 of them in your garage. I know I need exposure of driving my classic car to get and keep me enthused to work on it and spend money. And having people to troubleshoot with and talk to also helps immensely to keep a PMA. The general public is no different. Drive em if you got em



My .02



Brad