NWSVX: New touring club ideas

[WestCoastSVX]

As we approach the 5 year anniversary of Northwest SVX, it is beginning to look like the club in it's existing incarnation is running its course.

It's great that we have over 100 members signed up on a list and they get emails about upcoming events. But when most never attend an event, and most events have attendence that can be counted on one or two hands, it makes it hard to put too much effort into them.

If the same 4 or 5 people are all that is going to show up to most events, we can continue to casually get together without all the trimmings of a "club". And certainly post here whenever we plan on getting together to invite others. No big planned tour routes, no web site, no lists.

It's no one's fault, the SVX is just too small a marque to support a club, at least at a local level where folks can actually get together several times a year. The successful local car clubs out there have hundreds or even thousands of potential cars to draw from even at a city level. If only .5% of the Mustangs in Seattle joined a club, there would still be hundreds of members and at least 50 cars at any given event.

I want to follow through with our commitment to celebrate a full 5 years of Northwest SVX and end with a bang with a big blow-out banquet in January (the more encouragement and attendence commitment, the bigger it can be).

But after that, I personally would still love to pursue the goal of being involved in some sort of enthusiast car club where I can put some of the ideas I've had into action.

Since I have a SVX, and want that to be my "club car", I thought I'd ask around here for ideas. I'm sure at least a few other fellow SVX owners might be interested as well.

Comment on the below ideas (and the above statements, if you wish), or add some of your own.

These would all have a Northwest focus, with borders loosely defined. Most events would be based in the Puget Sound area, at least to start.

Subaru club. It could be all-Subaru (tried in the past), or more defined to avoid problems of varying interests (off-roaders and tuners all in their cliques). An idea I've had before was calling it "Touring Subarus" and defining the group as any Subaru owners interested in scenic cruising. Thinking that would include SVXes, some Legacy GT's, the mature WRX/Sti crowd, XT's, and a occasional miscellaneous models.

Giugiaro club. I've heard of this one years ago mentioned as a meet, would be pretty interesting but doubt it would work. Would face the same problem as the SVX, most of the models are either rare, or the owners don't think of their car as anything special. And while the designer is the same, the makes and models vary greatly from economy to exotic - can imagine lots of brand rivalry and cliques.

Come as you are touring club. Just start planning events and advertise to all enthusiasts sites/shows. Would be interesting to see what shows up.

[ensteele]

I have to agree with you. I have been dissapointed in the attendance of some of our meets. It is difficult to put much effort into meets with attendance like it has been. It is just as hard to plan for 4 or 6 as 20 to 30. Another poblem that we have is that there is so much in our area to do. It is hard to focus on just one item and that may be part of it. Who knows, but we shall see where it goes from here.

[STORMINORMAN]

If my SVX wasn't DOWN (Hint, hint! Earl: please get me the wiring info on the switch so I can put my car back together!) I would have been there yesterday...

I know it is really frustrating to try and get people from an entire region to not just belong but to also participate on a regular basis. Perhaps our area of interest is just too specialized (just too few potential members, much less too few active ones!) for the kinds of activities previously planned.

It is truly a shame because I have totally enjoyed each and every event I have ever attended, even when I got the award for "Dirtiest SVX"!

Cheers!

[ensteele]

Sorry Norm. What info did you need? I guess I forgot.

[KVRXS]

Hi guys,
Sorry to hear that NWSVX is experiencing difficulties. Your assessment of the situation is; unfortunately, correct. There just aren't enough of us SVXers to go around. I am sure that the other Japanese Luxury/Sports cars of the 90's are experiencing the same thing. If anything, we are probably hanging in there better than many of the single model clubs with limited production and a ten year end of manufacture date. A testimony to the beauty of the SVX, undoubtedly.
All of your proposals sound great. My vote would go to the "All tourers"; however, for these reasons.
1.To increase attendence.
2.To diversify attendees
3.To share our love of the SVX with other enthusiasts .
Subaru is my favorite Marque, the SVX is my favorite Subaru, but auto enthusiasm transends all. My only criteria is that it have at least one wheel. Even this simple criteria is open for modification, or better said, innovation. Touring the beautiful roads of the Northwest is the best way that I can think of to enjoy our cars. I guess we could be exclusive and say that if you can't keep up, then you can't come. Being that we cruise at the speed limit that excludes, hmmm...
One more thought. The tours could be shared with any marque, but the maintenence meets probably should be limited to Subarus only, or maybe, just SVXes as they always have been.
Hey, whatever decision is made; except the disbanding of the club, works for me.
See you at Dabob.

Mark

[ensteele]

We can discuss this more at Dabob. I hate to see this club come to an end, and I think we can still have some great meets even if they are under a different situation.