New Model A club Members

[old1928fordguy]

All of the suggestions here are OK but I believe both clubs and many local cubs are missing the big picture.National meets and regional meets are very unfriendly to the public.We want new people to get interested but when they go to the location of the meets to see whats up, look at the cars etc.they are many times told this event is only for registered members and are snubbed .This is the opposite of the Street Rod people who advertise to the public and invite them to attend and actually make money in many cases by charging admission.The public comes away from the rod meets after checking out 2000 cars excited to get right to work on their own projects.This is how you create interest in a hobby.Many times even the paid registered members cant even get to see the fine point cars. How does this get people interested in showing and building fine point cars.Street Rodders are not worried about new members because they encourage public participation.Many more Model As would not become street rods if we encouraged the public to restore them. if the public looked restorations as much fun as street rodding we would have new members.If Joe Blow has a Model A stashed away he can rod it or restore he will do what is the most fun and hang out with the people which treat him well and encourage him and welcome him. Open the doors of the meets to EVERYONE and they will come!!!!! Respecfully Phil Turner, Denver, Colorado

 

[Deluxe Delivery Don]

I feel the same way Phil .Point well said. Don

 

[Don/WI]

I agree also. The general public should be invited to view the vehicles at Model "A" meets, both local and National. They should also be invited to participate in the swap meets for the National meets. This might also bring out some treasures that otherwise may never be found. Don/WI

 

[Ron/IA]

I agree with what has been stated thus far, but there is another method to bring the public in for viewing Model A's; which doesn't seem to fit the national or regional venues. Have a show that only displays the cars.

Our club came upon this by accident, more or less. While there are venues where A's are displayed, they are not always done so for the purpose of getting new people interested in the hobby. The venue I am referring to is our Iowa Model A Day show held in Amana, IA.

Our first year was originally planned just to have another club member event during the summer, but to invite other A owners from surrounding clubs and states to participate also. But that first year we quickly realized the show could be much more. We were blessed with picture perfect weather, and had over 1200-spectators (this was a one-day event, estimated by the visitor's bureau administrator). There were many people asking questions, one being; "How do you get into the hobby?"

This year the club put up a booth in the same area as the cars were displayed, and manned it with club members who were able to answer anyone's questions. We also had a interior/upholstery demonstration, and some Model A parts vendors. We also displayed cars that showed what a before and after restoration would look like.

Next year we are stepping up our advertising to not only increase exihibitor participation, but to increase the spectators as well; with the thought in mind to get that spectator thinking about being a Model A owner/restorer. As stated above, there are A owners who's car is just sitting in the garage/barn waiting to be restored.

My personal opinion is, because of the way the current national show structure is done; that the clubs can do a better job of getting new Model A hobbyist into preserving and restoring Model A's.

Does anyone else have thought along this line?

 

[WTSHNN]

The past couple of years, the Joliet Region of MARC has been helping out at an Antique Wings and Wheels tour in Lansing IL, home of an original Kahn designed Ford hanger at the airport.

One of the biggest things we do is take people for free Model A rides around the airport. I forget the numbers but there are routinely like 500 or 600 riders, from the public. (before people scream about liability, I assure you, it was discussed and researched quite a bit before we started doing it).

-Tim

 

[Ken Ehrenhofer]

These are good positive comments and ideas, Please keep them coming. The national boards are concerned about the public as a "High risk" due to insurance liability issues. As mentioned Street rod groups have thousands of people show up (public) at events and they do not seem to have an issue with it.
Thanks for all the positive input in this thread,
Ken

 

[old1928fordguy]

One of the criteria for National Meet venues could be a large area for a PUBLIC display,or car show , or tire kicking etc. The National Meets should always be about the cars, the rest is just a sideline. Phil

 

[Tom Endy]

The Orange County Model A Ford Club (Southern California) puts on an annual pancake breakfast every year that the public is invited to. Mark Schwing, who is running for election to the MAFCA board, is the current club president and for a number of years has been the chairman of the pancake event.

The event is held annually in the spring at Hart Park in the City of Orange and serves 1200 to 1400 breakfasts. Over 350 Model A Fords are usually in attendence and the event is boasted to be the largest gathering of Model A's in the state of California on a single day. Model A clubs and the general public from the surrounding area come to partake and view the cars.

The home page of the Orange County Model A Ford Club web site (www.ocmafc.org) shows a photo of the many Model A's in the parking lot of the park, which also serves as a flood channel during a downpour. Further into the web site menu is a photo gallery of cars and people in attendance during previous years.

Next spring (2011) the Orange County Model A Ford Club will host the 50th anniversary of the event. Model A'ers and the general public are invited and encouraged to attend.

Tom Endy

 

[RTC1930]

Count me in as another agree. I have yet go to an official "model A" meet so I can't speak for the restrictions that exist but was REAL suprised to read that if its true. I can't imagine thats true for all the meets.

I was actually motivated to finally get working on my car by a friend who is into hotrods and brought me to a few shows err "hot rod parties". There was no shortage of original cars at these shows and many were getting more attention then the rods. And they all seemed to support doing the car how "you" want it and if that means keeping it original, thats cool too. Seems like many of the shows in the last 2 or 3 years in this area has had more spectators then cars and I dont recall it being that way before then. All of these people buy food, shirts, ask questions and actually breathe life into the show. I realize the A meets are a different animal with the judging and all but would think the public should be allowed in. Hopefully i'll get my chance to see it next year when the east coast meet is in my area.

Bob NJ

 

[zzlegend]

The Orange County Model A Ford Club (Southern California) puts on an annual pancake breakfast every year that the public is invited to. Mark Schwing, who is running for election to the MAFCA board, is the current club president and for a number of years has been the chairman of the pancake event.

The event is held annually in the spring at Hart Park in the City of Orange and serves 1200 to 1400 breakfasts. Over 350 Model A Fords are usually in attendence and the event is boasted to be the largest gathering of Model A's in the state of California on a single day. Model A clubs and the general public from the surrounding area come to partake and view the cars.

The home page of the Orange County Model A Ford Club web site (www.ocmafc.org) shows a photo of the many Model A's in the parking lot of the park, which also serves as a flood channel during a downpour. Further into the web site menu is a photo gallery of cars and people in attendance during previous years.

Next spring (2011) the Orange County Model A Ford Club will host the 50th anniversary of the event. Model A'ers and the general public are invited and encouraged to attend.

Tom Endy

Tom. Thanks for posting this. I always hear or read about it and have never made it down there. I hear that it is a great get together and a whole lot of A's. One of the best. Perhaps in 2011 i can attend. Mark.

 

[Big D]

This sounds alot like Bike Shows have become... Everyone enjoys seeing a custom built bike with everything perfect, but many people also don't think that "trailer Queens" show be judged with normal rides.. I do think someone (if they wanted to) could come up with a way for the public to see A meet.. Maybe have judging on day 1 and 2 and then Day 3 and 4 open to public. That way the people who don't want their perfect trailer show piece touched could lock them away or leave early. I personally have given more than one ride in my car and only ask that kids not step on fender when getting in the rubblie...
Just my $.05 cents.. to each his own.

D

 

[Dan Baron]

I've never been to a nat. meet. You mean they don't allow the public to view fine point cars? Boy am I glad I don't have a a fine point car. I go to shows to show and meet people....Not to hide my car from the public....

 

[Bruce Adams]

Gee, Don't most clubs like for civilians to look at the cars during tours and shows?

 

[Scott NY]

The fine point cars are not hidden it is just that they only come out on the day of fine point judging. The evening of the fine point judging there is usually a reception of some sort so people can view the cars. Then the next day is ths mandatory tour which all of these cars have to particpate in. The problem with this is that sometimes they are allowed to do a shorter tour route, and then most return to their trailers to be put away.

 

[Gary Karr]

As a board member of the Pacific A's Region of MARC, formed to host the 2011 MARC National Meet in San Diego next June 27, I am taking note to all of these threads. All are good comments. We have planned to have our fine point judging indoors in a large 41K square foot Grand Hall at the Town & Country Resort. After judging, we will open the room up to guests wanting to see the fine point cars and talk to the owners. We will have our grand tour on Thursday with fine point cars participating. We also have some special displays planned for public viewing of past Henry Award Model A's. We will have exclusive use of a large outdoor parking lot as well as indoor parking structure for Model A's. There is also a huge parking lot connected to that for our ourtdoor swap meet area. Stay tuned. It's going to be a blast!

 

[cradlescyth]

I attend several cruise night events locally. Every once in a while you
see a Model A- not very often. FWIW I think it would be great to have a Model A cruise night once or twice a month.
The ones I go to let the public in free and I do not see why this could not be done for Model A's
The thought "that more you get the public interested the more Model A's you save."

 

[Tom Endy]

At the last two MAFCA nationals few if any of the attendees, let alone the general public, were able to view the fine pont cars after the judging was complete.

At the Dallas national in 2008, the hotel needed what would have been the viewing area for another venue. The cars were put back in their trailers right after the judging was finished.

At the recent 2010 Vancouver meet the judging was done off-site due to the hotel not being big enough to accomodate a viewing area. If they were displayed somewhere off- site I was never aware of it.

On the other hand the parking lot was full of Model A's at both meets and attendees and the general public could view them all they wanted.

The maintenance tent at any Model A meet is a great place to watch Model A's that were driven there and are under going repairs and\or maintenance.

Tom Endy

 

[Pete]

All of the suggestions here are OK but I believe both clubs and many local cubs are missing the big picture.National meets and regional meets are very unfriendly to the public.We want new people to get interested but when they go to the location of the meets to see whats up, look at the cars etc.they are many times told this event is only for registered members and are snubbed .This is the opposite of the Street Rod people who advertise to the public and invite them to attend and actually make money in many cases by charging admission.The public comes away from the rod meets after checking out 2000 cars excited to get right to work on their own projects.This is how you create interest in a hobby.Many times even the paid registered members cant even get to see the fine point cars. How does this get people interested in showing and building fine point cars.Street Rodders are not worried about new members because they encourage public participation.Many more Model As would not become street rods if we encouraged the public to restore them. if the public looked restorations as much fun as street rodding we would have new members.If Joe Blow has a Model A stashed away he can rod it or restore he will do what is the most fun and hang out with the people which treat him well and encourage him and welcome him. Open the doors of the meets to EVERYONE and they will come!!!!! Respecfully Phil Turner, Denver, Colorado

Boy, you hit the nail on the head there..
I have been to quite a few regional and national meets..A lot of you have seen my car in person with the model A wheels on it and it looks stock from 6 feet away untill you bend over and look under the fenders...Most people at the big meets are very friendly till they see under my car and figure out it is a hot rod....Never mind it has a flathead B engine and the car looks stock from the outside...It is even all stock inside....Immediately I am an outcast and a boat rocker...The hobby/sport can never grow with people that think this way...
The public needs to be exposed to the hobby like the street rodders do it.

 

[henry494]

As a person who has shown Blue Ribbon cars at national meets since 1990, I have always been bothered by the lack of time given, if any, to the membership and public, to see the Blue Ribbon cars. I have always been an advocate of doing this. While we are a very small segment of the hobby, it seems the majority of the general membership I speak with are always going away from a meet with that disappointment. I don't know why vieing time is rarely given, and even then, I can't recall the public being invited.

I sure wish that EVERY national meet included extended time for the membership and public to view the show cars. Many good reasons have been posted in this thread why this is a good idea.

In regards to the 2008 Dallas meet, I understood that the membership was going to be given the evening to view the cars in the room where they had been judged. When we were told to move the crs out, it was a total surprise to me. Very quickly, a few friends and I decided to leave our cars out for the evening in the parking lot of the adjacent hotel, just a few hundred feet from the judging room. We tried to broadcast this to the crowds of people who were standing around the judging room exit. Quite a few people came over, but it was spontaneously organized. We had six cars on display. It was fun, as you can see by the photo. I'm sorry that this is the only photo I could locate, so I'll list the cars in attendance from the front by Dancing Dean Drenzek, to the back.

We also had them on display for a short while prior to the mandatory tour and judging, but this was only about an hour, and did not include Enrique's Phaeton. That's the second photo.

Enrique Klein's '29 Phaeton (Henry Award 2008)
Dave Lopes' '29 Fordor Unrestored
Dave Lopes '28 Phaeton (Henry Award 2000)
Marco Tahtaras' '30 Roadster (Henry Award 1996, Best of Show at Dallas))
Gary Karr's '29 Tudor (Henry Award 2003)
Ron Avakian's '29 Special Coupe (Henry Award 2008)

 

[Jack '29 Sport Coupe]

Great posts! Our chapter of MAFCA has several splinter groups of about eight or,
thereabouts who meet on various days of the month for informal luncheons
for a combination of socializing with each other as well as to promote the hobby
with the public. We answer questions, let the kids honk the horns, stand on the
running boards-----with our supervision. And.......sometimes reel in a fish or two
in the fascinating world of the "A." Restaurant owners appreciate our presence and
sometimes "toss us a bone" with a discount on our lunches and sometimes a free
lunch. I'm really surprised to hear that any of us would ever be rude to the public,
but I guess it happens.......as evidenced by some of these posts.

Jack