It would seem that both clubs and much else has moved on a tad from the first club I joined back in the early 70`s, the Norton m/cycle club. We met in a pub, the one sheet newsletter was created and printed out on a Gestner, no cash changed hands, there was not much cash available back then... (-:
It has been interesting to observe the way that clubs and the expectations of the memberships has evolved in the passage of time. It would seem that the amount of money generated within clubs and the management thereof caused them to eventually be required to run along the lines of businesses, and in business where cash is involved, there is ever the chance of some going astray, and by the time the interweb came into existence, some things could not be hidden as simply as they might have been in the past, perhaps mirroring governments and life in general..?
Yup, it seems clubs required to be more business related given all that can be involved. On the other hand where would club minded people be without them. I have benefitted greatly from club membership over the years, in terms of mechanical information assisting understanding, and even cutting costs on parts, as well as the social side of things making friends along the way.
In time as with all things evolution played it`s part, the pub meets tended to included the occasional Sunday run, and by the late seventies in my part of the world as the classic car scene caused various clubs to gather together and create classic car shows in fields, and management thereof also included an increase in financial management.. etc.etc.etc... Club runs evolved to become the occasional long hotel weekend breaks, at Easter and perhaps September, allowing a wider scope for runs out into the countryside, using the distant from home hotel as a base to explore different parts of the UK over the weekend with fellow club members.
In time and as club memberships further matured, the weekend trips in the UK would extend to become lengthier trips in terms of time and cost extending into Europe, and beyond for a fortunate few... I would guess events and expectations extended as disposable income increased it would seem only natural that the events and costs thereof also increased, and when the easy money years arrived, potential in so many areas increased exponentially...?
These days that club memberships seem likely to represent the population in general, in terms of baby boomers perhaps being in the majority in the loosely related classic vehicle scene, perhaps best to enjoy what you can, while you can, and in your own way ...?
