Car Portal » Collector Car Clubs

Giving Back to the Community

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:46:25 +0000

People are always looking for ways to give back to the communities that they are in, and one of the most giving types of organizations tends to be the collectors' car clubs. These are the groups that often go around working with places such as Toys for Tots, and other charity organizations for Christmas drives as well as numerous other events that are designed to help raise money for various charities.

Many car clubs organize charity drives. These are great ways for members to get out and enjoy each other's company while driving around and showing off their cars and raising money for charity at the same time. Different clubs are involved with different charities and some are involved with none at all. There are even some clubs that are very heavily involved and encourage members to do as much as possible for the benefit of the charity of their choice.

Deciding how much you are comfortable doing for the charity is very important. If you do not enjoy doing extensive work for charities, it is a good idea to check with the car club before joining to see if they are involved. Also, ensure that you know exactly what is expected of you so that there are no surprises and you can plan accordingly. Most people are more than happy to help give back to their community, especially if they know in advance what is expected of them.

If you are creating a new car club, the choice is up to you to decide what should be expected from members. Most clubs have at least one charity run a year that they allow members to sign up for, and additionally they usually make the event a voluntary occurrence. There are very few car clubs that require members to participate in the charity work that they do simply because not everyone agrees with all charities.

If you enjoy the idea of helping out different charities then a car club can be a great place to start, especially since most do offer some form of fundraiser. Working with those that you enjoy spending time with, looking at great cars and driving around the car of your dreams is certainly a great way to raise money and with a bit of luck you can do fairly well at it as well. The entire situation is usually a great winning scenario and leaves car clubs with a really great impression on people.

This is especially important in those areas where a lot of people have bad impressions about car clubs. Many tend to compare car clubs to gangs and other community problems, despite the fact that they are vastly different. Working with charities can help cast your club in a good light and make everyone happy that they are able to help give back a bit to the community.

If your club does not currently do anything for charity, you should consider it; this is a great way to help out. Spending just a single day a year can be a huge help for those that are struggling so much, and since the money raised is from donations of other people it does not hurt anything and can be a lot of fun if the activities are organized well. So work with your car club and organize a great way that you can help support a local charity.

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Collectors Car Clubs of the Past

admin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 13:59:26 +0000

Wondering about some of the changes that have occurred with car clubs in the last few years? There are numerous, after all as lives go on and technology improves people change as well. What was once fulfilling and satisfying barely meets anyone's needs now and the car clubs have all been forced to adapt and adjust as well. This means that the clubs that in the past were the top of the line have also had to adjust in order to meet the needs of members.

Those clubs that did not evolve have all subsided and closed, while new clubs appeared. In the past, many people felt that a car club was only useful for an occasional organized drive and of course participating in only local car shows with. This would generally be a monthly activity that took place for a few hours and usually just involved the members of the club. Today's clubs still take drives, however they tend to occur on a weekly basis now, and are completely voluntary. Additionally the drives are usually very short, or else cover the course of an entire weekend and members are encouraged to bring their entire family along for the adventure.

Additional changes that have occurred include membership fees and acceptance. In the past, most clubs accepted almost everyone who applied and there were few if any that charged membership. Now there are very few that accept everyone who applies and the majority charge at least a small membership fee to help defer some of the costs that the club has. From organizing events to even making some charitable donations many car clubs have a few bills that must be covered somehow. In the past, the clubs were not very well organized. People would simply meet together, possibly wear a jacket that was identical to other members and have a small sticker that they placed on their car. Times have changed and membership often means so much more now.

Car clubs of the past typically involved only men. Women were almost never around cars, after all in the old days the woman's place was in the kitchen cooking or taking care of children, never out in the garage with the men. Today's car clubs have women who are members and car enthusiasts themselves. The numbers of women who are members have grown dramatically in recent years and continues to grow even more. There are even some clubs that limit membership to only women to help encourage and foster the love that women have for cars.

People also tend to demand more now than they ever did from memberships and clubs and to help adapt many have worked out deals with businesses and services that are useful to the car owner, which allows members to receive a discount. This is something that car clubs in the past never worried about, yet most clubs offer some form of benefit. The benefits that each club offers varies greatly, and even the amount of the discounts that each club has available varies from club to club depending on the deal worked out but you can usually find something that is beneficial to you.

You can only imagine how car clubs of today will compare to those of tomorrow. At this point in time collector's car clubs have changed so dramatically that they are so vastly different and likely more changes are in store as the clubs continue to adapt to life. People always love cars, after all the power and thrill of creating a car from the ground up or even restoring an old and tarnished car into the masterpiece that car enthusiast's love is always thrilling and likely will not disappear anytime in the future. In addition, working on cars is a great way for families to bond and it creates the need for people to get together and learn, show off their cars and admire the work of others. Car clubs have thus far stood the test of time and will continue to do so in the future.

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Kids in Car Clubs

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 19:39:02 +0000

As the number of car clubs all across the world continues to grow and expand there is also a huge increase in the number of children who are interested in joining. Yet is it really a good place for children to be? Many people worry that children are exposed to the dangerous aspects of cars much too soon, but can a car club be a good idea for children?

The purpose of many car clubs is to help educate members and provide members with a place where they can interact with other members and show off their cars. Often, there are a few children in each club, but most of the membership is adults. In order to really gain the best benefits most parents look for clubs that are mostly adults, so that the child is able to learn as much as possible from the adults that are members.

With a good car club, it can be a great learning experience for children to interact with. Allowing them to work with various adults who are also quite knowledgeable about cars is a great way to allow your child to learn about cars in a safe environment. The experiencing that your child gains in a good club can be a lifelong learning experience and can really help take a child that is shy, and allow them to bloom into a self-assured adult.

Many parents even look to car clubs as a great activity for their daughters as well. The number of girls who are able to really interact with cars is growing much higher than previously but finding a good club where your daughter feels completely comfortable may take a bit of time. Not all clubs are as welcome to the idea of children as others, and of course there are clubs that are not geared towards women at all but instead focus most activities on men.

Finding a good club for your child can be a very frustrating experience, but if you are willing to do a bit of research, you can generally find a great club. It is important to realize that most clubs will not allow children to be full members though. The majority of clubs will only allow children to be associate members; this is generally quite acceptable to most parents and children as long as they understand that most associate members are not able to vote in elections.

As long as you are willing to make the effort to find a good car club, it can be a great learning experience for your child. Working with others on learning about cars and other great experiences associated with cars including car shows and proper maintenance can be a great experience and can really help a child who is interested in cars learn even more.

Overall car clubs make a great option for children, especially those who are close to driving age, or who are already driving age. It can be a good way to help children learn appropriate safety measures as well as proper maintenance for their car. In addition, if your child is interested in classic or kit cars, a good collectors club can be a huge source of inspiration as they learn to build their own car or work to restore their own car.

While children generally are not able to reap all of the benefits that an adult can, most children are quite excited with the option of being involved in a good car club and will generally welcome the opportunity with open arms. Just always ensure that there is adequate supervision during the meetings to ensure that your child is safe. Make sure as well that your child has a way to contact you and that the club officers are aware of the age of your child to ensure that there are no problems with safety concerns. With proper precautions, a good car club is the perfect place for a child to learn and develop their interest in cars.

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Holding Elections, Casting Nominations and other Administrative Issues

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:06:54 +0000

Deciding how to handle elections and other similar issues for your collector's car club can seem like a nightmare at times, but if you work on organizing these events ahead of time, it really is not so bad. It is also very important to ensure that you have all of the policies and guidelines for elections noted down in the clubs bylaws to ensure that everyone is well aware of the process.

When you are deciding to start electing officer it is very important to decide what officers you want or need. Most clubs at a minimum have a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Some clubs may have additional officers as well, but this is the general list of officers. Additionally, if your club is very small then you can omit the Vice President; however, this is typically a matter of personal preference and the choice of the club itself. There are no strict and hard fast rules that must be followed.

Most clubs opt to make it public knowledge exactly when election time is, and they also tend to encourage all members to appear. This is generally when the club will offer prizes and raffles as well for those who attend the meetings that determine the officers for the next year. These is not always effective, but it is generally very helpful in encouraging additional members to attend meetings.

Another consideration that you need is to decide when club officers will take office. Many clubs have members taking office around the first of the year, but hold elections in the fall time before the holidays are a major concern. However, other clubs have decided to do elections and instatement of new officers in the summer and fall to completely avoid the holiday hassles. Look to the input of your members if you are completely unsure about when to hold the elections, but always be sure that elections are held at the same time each year for easy remembering.

It is also a wise decision to have some guidelines about who is allowed to serve as an officer. This is usually just based on the minimum age of 18, as well as a period of required membership before someone is eligible to hold an office. The exact requirements that you stipulate can depend on your circumstances and you may choose to add additional requirements as well depending on the needs of your club.

Look to other clubs that are similar if you need some ideas about exactly what you do and do not need. You may discover if your club is very large that only 3-4 officers cannot handle all of the tasks for the club without severely cutting into their family time. If this occurs, it may be necessary to create additional officers as they are needed to ensure that everyone is able to do their job effectively without cutting into other priorities that they have.

It is also important to ensure you make arrangements in the event that someone is not able to fulfill their office for any reason. Determine what will be in place to fill the emptied position, will someone be appointed, or will the members of the club hold a special election to fill the position. Having all of this information readily available is important to ensure that everything is open and everyone is aware of their rights and responsibilities.

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Giving Car Club Memberships as a Gift

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:19:55 +0000

Holidays and birthdays are all just some of the times when giving a gift is the tradition. Yet what can you really give to someone who already has almost everything? If the person you are trying to shop for enjoys cars, you have the option of giving them a membership to a collector's car club. These are great, especially for those who are interested in cars, and particularly for those who have a suitable car.

Of course, this is a gift that may take a bit of effort. After all, you would not want to give a membership to a club they already belong to. Additionally, you would not want to give a gift to a club that is essentially useless to the person. An example would be giving Uncle Fred a membership to the Ferrari collectors club when the closest car he has ever owned was a Buick.

Additionally, it would be a wise decision to avoid car clubs that require members to vote on membership. The person you are giving the membership to may not want someone voting on them without their knowledge. This might upset the person greatly. If you are looking for just a general membership type car club you should be able to avoid this problem and still purchase a membership that is for a general style club.

If you are careful about selecting the club, you can also find some specialty clubs that allow general membership. This would allow you to still give the car club membership as a gift. If you ask the club officers who handle membership, you may be able to even get a certificate that would make a great present to announce the membership. If the club does not offer something to be used when it is given as a gift, you could usually purchase something from a store, or even design the certificate yourself on the computer.

As a creative gift a car club membership is a great option since they are not something that is always considered a gift. Another great benefit to car club memberships is they are usually very helpful for people who already have almost everything you can possibly think of. Aside from being a creative gift, they are also very adjustable because you can purchase either a single membership or a family membership.

The majority of people really enjoy receiving a car club membership. This is a very affordable option and with a wide range of clubs available, you can find the club that will be perfect for the person you are shopping for. Additional things that accompany a gift membership beautifully are some of the clubs merchandise such as the sweatshirts, a t-shirt or even a hat. It is very important that before you purchase the membership you ensure that there are no specific time requirements that are expected from members. If you make a mistake and purchase a membership for a gift that is given to someone who does not have time to fulfill the membership requirements you could be looking at a potential problem, rather than the perfect gift that you had in mind.

Creative and unique gifts are sometimes hard to come up with, picking out something as great as a collector's car club membership shows that you put a lot of time and thought into your gift and is sure to be a winner no matter what the occasion. For Christmas, birthdays or even anniversaries it is an ideal present for any car lover in the family.

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Should You Buy a Car Through a Car Club?

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:19:54 +0000

People are always looking for ways to save money and this quest to save money extends even to classic and collectible cars. This makes it seem completely plausible that looking at a good car club to find a great deal on a car. Many car clubs have places where members are able to advertise their cars that they are offering for sale. This can allow you to quickly and easily skim over the ads and see what is available.

One of the biggest benefits from buying from a car club like this is if you are already a member you have probably already seen the car extensively and have a very good idea about the overall condition of the vehicle rather than taking a chance on what is under the hood. Many people purchase a car on the hope and prayers that there is nothing wrong with it. By buying a car, that you are already familiar with you can avoid many of the hassles that car shopping brings with it.

Additionally, buying a car from a car club can allow you to pick out something at a great deal. Many car club members simply what the money back that they have invested into the vehicle. This can allow you to pick up a vehicle at a great deal and allows the previous owner to get money so they can move onto the next car project they have been planning. This can really allow you to find some really fabulous deals without having to do huge amounts of haggling.

Buying a car from a car club is another good way to ensure that you helping to support the club as well. Many clubs ask that a small donation of the sale price be given so that it can benefit whichever charity the group is associated with. This can allow you to even donate money to a charity inadvertently. It is important to realize that not all car clubs have this requirement. Some only charge a small fee for the seller to advertise, some charge nothing at all. Each club has their own rules in regard to this and determining how the club operates in terms of sales is going to require asking the president or other club member's questions.

As you can imagine those who are looking for a great deal are likely to be very happy with the great deals that are possible from the car clubs. Finding that great deal on a perfect car really is possible. Yet it is very important to remember it is still ultimately about making a profit. You still need to do your homework to determine how much the vehicle is worth. If for some reason, you are looking to purchase a kit car or restored classic you may need to take additional time to determine the true value.

Realize that not all appraisals for vehicles will take into account exactly what the vehicle offers. This includes components such as turbo chargers, custom bumpers and even newer engines. These are components that would require a special appraisal to really determine the true value of the vehicle. If you are willing to put a bit of work into the process it is still possible to find that great deal, but still come to the situation knowledgeable.

If you are quite uncertain, what type of car you are interested in buying you should check out some of the car shows. Many times these shows that are sponsored by car clubs will have several cars with for sale signs. This can allow you to really look around and see everything that is available and make a wise decision. Of course, not all cars at a show are going to be for sale, and not even all of the shows are going to have any vehicles for sale but if nothing else this gives you a great opportunity to learn how the vehicles should look and give you a bit of detailed information on determining the value.

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Should Your Car Club Have a Website?

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:54:20 +0000

The internet has created a push towards technology and this has created a need for many people to venture to the internet that normally would never have used the internet before. This includes many clubs and organizations that are typically quite small and only offer a few benefits to users. With the use of the internet though, it is possible to talk and communicate with members like you never have before. So deciding whether to use the internet to create a website for your club is not always a simple decision.

With the number of web companies that sell web space for as little as a few dollars a month and domain names typically only costing $10 or so roughly a year they are not very expensive to maintain once the initial site is built. However, the costs to actually build the site can be quite large. If you know how to create your own website then you are looking at the costs dramatically lowering.

If you are trying to decide whether a website is really a good investment consider the location of all of your members. Consider as well that if you offer a website you could send out ezines, which are generally much cheaper to provide to members than standard printed and mailed newsletters. By offering ezines, you are reducing your monthly expenses, reducing the hassle of having to drive to the printer, and removing the problems with postage and ensuring addresses are correct.

A well laid out website should offer some general information about the club, an area where members can see events that are coming up in the near future and also a place where people can post information about shows they hear about as well as advertising for vehicles or parts they are selling. Anything additional that you offer can just be an added benefit for members.

Many clubs use the website to allow perspective members to find out about events, membership requirements and other details about the club. There can also be an area that will allow you to put up a forum. This is a great way to allow members to really talk and connect to each other when they are looking for ways to ask questions quickly of other members. A forum is especially great for posting information about various specials or sales that businesses are offering that may be useful to club members as well.

Overall, most clubs find that using a website is very helpful for them. If you can overcome the initial costs, you are likely to find that creating a good and functional website is a great investment. It can often be a huge time saver when it comes to communicating with members, as well as working with people who are interested in membership. No longer would you need to spend long amounts of time on the phone, instead you could simply direct inquiries to the website and then assist people who needed further assistance.

For those who are looking for ways to ultimately save time, a website can be the perfect answer. Another great benefit that many clubs use is the ability to create an online store that can offer club merchandise for members to buy. The ability to maximize the potential of the internet for your needs and ability is huge; working with someone who is knowledgeable in designing websites can make your dream of organization and efficiency quite possible.

For less than $100, you can generally pay for a domain name and hosting. This is often the equivalent of two months newsletter expenses for most clubs and with the prices of web design services varying you are looking at finding something that fits within your budget no matter what it is. It is quite possible that once you have created the website you will wonder how the club ever functioned without it. So take the time to really look around and consider what else a good website can do for your club, I am sure you will find it well worth the time.

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How Car Clubs Can Help You Build a Car

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:58:43 +0000

Looking to build or restore a great new car? Then you are mostly likely going to need a bit of help with the process, most people certainly do and this is going to be no exception. It is very important to take all of the help that you can get in order to make the process of building or restoring your new car as easy as possible. As you venture in the process of building your vehicle be sure to use all of the benefits that are available to you to make the process as painless as possible

Your first goal should be looking around the car club membership for people who sell car parts. This can be a great way to get some nice discounts on parts that you are going to need which can make it much easier for you to save money. If you are needing large supplies of parts then working with a parts distributor is wise because all of those saved pennies add up. If you are only working on a single car, you may be able to find another member who will sell you the parts that you need at steep discounts. Ask around, you may be surprised at what you are able to find.

If you are going to need painting or even glasswork done for the vehicle, you also need to ask around. Once again, you may be able to get a discount from another member, or you may discover that the club has an agreement worked out with a company that would allow you to receive a discount if you show your membership card. Either way you can save even more money and spend more on the inside or other body work for the vehicle.

As you are working on your car, you are also likely going to need to help, most people have questions when they are building their first few cars and since it is such a large project it is not something that is done quickly. This will allow you plenty of opportunities to talk to other members and ask your questions. This is a great source of free information and can be a huge help when you are stuck. In addition, you can often find someone who is willing to come over and help you with something that is particularly tricky.

One area that people do not consider often is the fact that viewing the cars others have created is a great way to get ideas. After all, anytime you see a car that looks fabulous you are probably making a mental note of what the owner did to create that. Being a member of a car club allows you access on a regular basis to numerous fabulous cars that you can look at for some inspiration. Even if you see something that is only mildly inspiring you may discover that you are able to create an entire masterpiece based off a single idea that you see.

Look forward to car shows that your car club organizes as the perfect opportunity to unveil your incredible new car as well. This is a great opportunity to show it off and gather the opinions of others. Many people bring out their special car even when it is not completely finished so that people can see what it looks like, and offer advice and suggestions on how to complete it.

Remember, if you belong to a car club you are able to use all of the benefits to suit your needs. Often this just means picking the brains of members that are more experienced than you and other times it means using the discounts that have been arranged. With the help that is available, your dream car can become a reality and often for a much lower price that you would have ever thought. Do not be afraid to ask for help, after all the love of the car is what is important and everyone is pulling for you to succeed in your venture.

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Selling Your Car Through a Car Club

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:08:46 +0000

There are some times when selling your car through your collectors car club can be a great idea. But there are also times when it is not such a good idea. Determining if it is the best situation for your particular circumstances often varies depending upon how much you need for the vehicle. For example, those who are looking for an incredible deal of a great car tend to look at car clubs. But at the same time, they are also looking for a cheap deal. If you are looking to get top dollar from your car you may want to sell your car outside of the club to increase your profit.

Most clubs offer a website to members, and often these websites offer either an area for members to make announcements about things car related that they are selling, or a forum which would allow you to make an announcement. Typically, it is free to advertise your car through the car club, which can be a huge savings over advertising the vehicle in your local newspaper.

However, it is also important to realize that unless you are a member of a very large club, you are limiting yourself in terms of potential customers by only advertising to club members. Yet this can often be a great way to get a fast sell for your car, which can be a very important deciding factor when you are trying to determine the best option for selling your car.

Those who are members of your car club may have already seen your vehicle before. Additionally, you may have had a few people approach you in the past asking if you would be interested in selling. Generally, if you have had someone approach you in the past it is always a wise idea to ensure that they know you are selling if any way possible. This will allow them the opportunity to buy your vehicle if you are interested and can really speed up the sale process a lot of times.

If you car is in exceptional shape it is a very wise decision to always ensure that the car looks its best when you are driving it around. In addition, taking the car with you to club meetings with a For Sale sign in one of the windows can be another way of letting members know that you are selling. This is especially important if the vehicle is a specialty car that is not something that the general population would be interested in. You must be very careful how you choose to market though, even inside of your car club. If you seem desperate for any reason, people are going to try to get you to cut your price.

Make sure you avoid this impression by picking a price and try to avoid haggling over price as much as possible. Just be aware that if you do sell it to someone in your car club you have the benefit of probably being able to see it again. This can be an important consideration if you have come to think of the car as a family member, rather than just as a car. While the car may not still belong to you, it is usually possible to still see it and have a form of visitation per say rather than never seeing it again. Regardless of whether you choose to sell through your club or not, it can make a great place to start the advertising process since you are surrounded by others who are also interested in cars as well.

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Tips to Organize a Car Club

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:18:42 +0000

Collectors car clubs are everywhere and there are times when someone wants to organize and create a new club, or even restructure the current club that they are involved in. But how do you really handle this? What is the easiest way to reorganize everything? How can you possibly hold your sanity together and ensure that the club is maintained to the highest level while you are busy organizing things to ensure that everything runs smoothly together?

As you can imagine creating a new car club can be a huge hassle. Especially if you are venturing on the project alone. It is always best if you can seek out help and assistance from at least one friend or acquaintance who can help you with the initial organization. It is very important to work out the basic structure for the club initially. This includes deciding on the mission statement for the club, as well as your target membership.

For example, in determining target membership are you interested in only classic cars, or are you looking at any type of car? Perhaps mustang's only or even only sports cars. Most clubs have a specific model or type of car that they are most focused on. You need to ensure when you are organizing your club that you structure it around the particular car that you are focusing on. Many clubs offer additional activities that are specific to their cars, for example races are just one event that many clubs organize for members if they are focusing on sports or racecars.

Additional considerations need to be decided including how often to hold meetings, where to hold meetings, who is in charge during meetings and if there will be any membership dues required at the meetings. It is also important to decide how much to charge for membership fees and also look carefully at the benefits that you are planning to offer to members.

If you are just restructuring your club, you may be able to just take what is already in place and modify that to suit your needs. If you need additional help, you are always able to use the clubs officers to help you with the reorganization process. If you are a good organizer, it is usually possible to work out all of the minute details of the organization process in as little as a few weeks time.

It is also very important to decide if you are going to be creating a website for the club. If you decide to do a website then you are going to need to purchase a domain name as well as purchase web hosting space. You may be surprised at just how affordable the web space really is, however creating the site can be a rather expensive process. Generally speaking, it takes quite a while for a club to be able to afford to build the website because of the costs of a web designer. If someone is able to build the site for you, or you can build it yourself you may be able to save large amounts of money this way and free up the clubs money for other activities.

Your last major task is deciding how to advertise. Aside from the obvious of using the website to your benefit, you may discover that you need to advertise in magazines for cars that are in your category. For example, if you are looking to great a club based on sports cars you should advertise in sports car magazines. If you are creating a collector's club for antique cars then look for a good reputable antique car magazine. Additionally, you may be able to set up a booth at car shows to help advertise your club and gain a few members.

As you venture into the world of organizing or reorganizing your club you are going to notice that it is a very stressful period. However, by taking your time and carefully looking over all of the tasks that need to be done you may be surprised at how smoothly the process can be completed. Remember, a club is designed to be fun so make sure you are having some fun while doing the administrative tasks.

Continue Reading >> Tips to Organize a Car Club.