DuttonOwners

Dutton Kit Cars and their owners

I think that the DOC should do as most classic car clubs do and focus its efforts on preserving the Marque, members come and go all the time but the cars tend to remain. i dont think that the club should worry about organising social events for the members...the internet is better for doing that.

neither should it worry about flag waving and trying to attract new members, folks who buy a Dutton will join if the club offers something they want or need. And the "pool" of cars for members to buy is falling year on year, our potential membership is a falling number so why spend resources on finding them when we can be found so easily? If we offer something worth having they will join, but nice banners and flags wont do it. there is nothing wrong with a distinctive identity for the club but it would be better to see it as a worthwhile club to be a member of, rather than the club for supplying donor V5's for Mk's

In the 80's when the club was formed it was the only practical way of meeting other members, any parts could be ordered from the factory direct, or a quick trip to your local scrap yard would get you a wide choice of donor cars. Even lotus Cortina's if you wanted (no one wanted them.....horrendous unreliable engine) but you would struggle to find owners if you never went to shows.

These days the exact opposite is true. a quick google will find not only the club and associated web sites (here for example) but members.as well. However the available supply of parts is diminishing rapidly and alternatives need to be found. That is where the club could find its purpose and provide some thing worth joining for.

Views: 440

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of DuttonOwners to add comments!

Join DuttonOwners

Comment by Dave Adams on May 6, 2014 at 7:53

Daryl, i also have made strenuous and tireless unappreciated efforts for this club. And well you know it and I resent your implication that I have not. 

Your acting like a spoil child denied their sweets.

Comment by Dave Adams on May 6, 2014 at 7:42

Daryl grow up.....

I voted for you and change had I let Derek have his way and railroad thd voting there would had been no votes of any kind.

I stood up and made my point you tosed teddy out of the pram and things went Dereks way. Dont blame me for inability to say in public at the agm that which you are happy to say in forum posts.

It was put to me that the agm of last year was too long and was mostly a bitching session.  some members wanted it to be shorter and dealing with the issues at hand.  So I made efforts to move it along . Its as well I did we would still be there!

Comment by rob saul on May 4, 2014 at 11:09

What is an "active" member of the Dutton owners club ?

there are many ,many members of the DOC  who are just happy to be an owner and enjoy working on their car

without ever going online,going to a show or even contacting another member

Pity all the committee members of the oldest kit car club in the world who  hold court on here  don't operate more on the DOC site (well for 51 weeks of the year anyway) week before AGM and everyone is on there

club run by new faces with no agenda and not part of a clique or another group would be best for the club and all those members who aren't "active" but it wont happen

Many of the people who have joined ning in the last year/2 years wont have the full picture or know the background behind all this and the way everything is kept secret they never wii

Pity the "dead " wood wont speak out and put their side

Comment by Dave Taylor on May 3, 2014 at 21:45

Tonight bring it on, Most of the active members of the DOC are on here and most of the Committee are here too. Most of them just sitting in the background watching. 

So I'll probably get the usual stick for passing comment on the Sacred DOC. BUT Shame on you members of the Committee that have driven the club to the very edge of death, you know who you are. The Committee members who are trying their hardest to make the club work, with no resources.

Regional or not it won't affect me, as I'll still turn out and drive my Dutton with the other Northern Duttoneers.

We get recognized at the Classic car shows we attend, we get mentioned regularly in the Kit car press, and that's because we market ourselves well.

But we still want to be part of the oldest Kit Car club in the world, and to see it fall a part when it has the funds to make it great again.

Just get rid of the dead wood, tend what is left and it will grow again. The Cars are still out there, along with the members.

 

Comment by James Doulton on May 3, 2014 at 18:21

If we are chickens then who are the turkeys, Daryl? Will any of your cars be ready for Christmas?

Comment by Dave Adams on May 3, 2014 at 13:51

i would be sorting and driving my car, but i need a spare life to fit in everything at the moment......the Legerra needs a gearbox fitting, the fuel tank modifying still further. And whilst i am about it the exhaust will be altered.

Comment by Dave Adams on May 3, 2014 at 13:45

Martin the chicken and egg question is very easy to answer......the egg is first, only a chicken can come from a chicken egg, but it clearly wasn't a chicken that laid it, but something close....EZPZ.

Comment by Dave Adams on May 3, 2014 at 12:42

I think regionalisation will be death of the club....a small club splitting into smaller groups = the end.

Comment by Dave Taylor on May 3, 2014 at 11:11
Thanks Steve.
I have to agree with Martin as he seems to see the big picture on the future of the club.
Comment by James Doulton on May 3, 2014 at 9:50

I think that the club also needs to foster a pride in the marque so that the current owners value them and maintain them rather than breaking them for short term gain or expedience. I think that the howls of despair on here when someone suggests breaking their car is important to make people see their role less as 'absolute owners' but more like 'current owners'. Owning any kit car is not economic, anything that you do always costs more than it adds in value, it is an expensive hobby. The community, and therefore the club, needs to foster the hobby aspect so that owners continue to get pleasure from it. The support and enthusiasm from others is a key component of that, which is why I use this site so much.

© 2024   Created by Tim Walker (The Bodger).   Powered by

Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service