Stafford Show

[Joel]

Regarding the raffle ticket issue; rather than the slightly awkward situation of checking for valid membership on how ever many hundred people you give tickets to, would it not be easier to ask the winner(s) (3 people max?) to present their valid membership cards on collection of the prize?

[Guest smegheadsteve]

HI all.

Stafford on Saturday was my first event,and can sort of understand the point some people are trying to make,but I don't feel it was anybodys fault.

It is a bit daunting not knowing anybody,so I just barged into the gazebo and introduced myself and got a raffle ticket and bought a mug.

The people I spoke to where very friendy,Steve,I think(red top.not hair,his engine!)and Ian(has he got a beard?)

I think the problem is you need to go to lots of events to get to know people,which unfortunately not all of us can.

When I was walking around,I didn't know who was a rhocar member or who was a passer by.It is hard for some of us to talk to strangers,but thats life,it's nothing to do with the rhocar members!

Anway,I had a good day saturday.

Did I win the raffle?

Talking of feeling left out,give me a shout on the wirral,that's a lonely place for robin hood owners!!!

Steve.

[gaz0571]

i believe it is daunting when you turn up and dont really know anyone as said if you just approach us and strike up a conversation im sure youll be very welcome we dont know everyone .you will always get clicks of people as they will prob feel more comfortable with there local area lads,i do occasionaly pop in the big top,but most of my lads just set up camp and stay in our own little group thats always the case but as said pop over to any group we dont bite.as for the raffle just yell you would like a ticket and im sure you will get one we dont know all the faces to give tickets to,i think you have to bite the bullet and try to get to a couple of local meets or runs you will soon be smiling and chatting with others if you do.

[Guest jetskijase]

hi all

Ipersonally had a great weekend, and met at least a dozen more new faces, the gazebo was full and i probably wouldnt go and plonk my seat in the middle and say hi, but thats just the way bit is, its a huge full tent.

 

We also ended up having a fire pit, which i thought was good as it's where i met lots of people, chris, darren,nick,jade ( my heat sheild!) and even paul simon!!! etc etc, the point was is was a never ending expanding circle,( maybe a purchase thought for rhocar as i dont have a support car to bring to other shows????) and when the gazebo was full there was still somewhere to socialise.

 

During the day, it might be a good idea for area "staff" to where something with a name on it, even just a name badge etc, and anyone else who would like to where there login name etc. it is one of the questions i ask all the time when talking to someone, like Lee, about the engine!!!

 

I dont think thee clicks, i think they are just groups of friends, and i reckon nearly all of the groups are always willing to chat to you.

 

Cheers

Jase

[philshelton]

when you get such a large mixed group of people like we do at shows as said before you will get small groups be it areas or just people who have become friends. I think you will find all the committe and area secs very approchable as for tee shirts I for one do not like the idea of walking round with a tee shirt saying area sec thats just how i feel gaz I know has had one made and good for him if he wants to wear one. One point that I would like to make is that the stand gazebo could ahve deen intimidating with the number of people round it sitting may be we as members need to leave more space to the front of the gazebo and sit more to one side like it was at stoneleigh. may be we could have a sign and some paper and pen on area sec cars so new members can leave a note if they wish. What we must not do is over organize things and end up with members only areas etc. other wise next thing we will be sitting in the big top at night going my names ............... and im a hoddie holic

[speedtripledan]

Im sorry to have to agree with the 1st post,

at newark i parked my car right in front of the tent as i was 1st there before the tent even went up, i,m a very foward person and will talk to anyone but i came a way with the impression that it is a very tight knit circle that was inpenatrable despite trying...worse at stoneleigh

the most freindly there were the mev rockets and i didn,t even have one!

I spoke to the south yorks crowd who are more than chatty but i have met a few times so the ice was broken...

The barkstone track day again very freindly

In the end i was bored out of my wits as i attended on my own to both shows and as such i won,t be making any effort in the future. I will just turn up buy some bits and go there is nothing more annoying than being ignored whilst tryng to intergrate with a new group. despite the " come and have a chat and a brew" statement i stood there like a lemon until i forced the issue that i wanted a mug didn,t even get a brew in it

 

That aside the forum is good and most of the people i,ve meet have been ok. and the organization seems good i just think there is an established brother hood of old timers that is closed to outsiders.

 

I thought it was just teenagers wearing "hoodies" that had there little gangs but it would seem middle age men with "hoods" also do the same

 

Good luck to you all when i can i will be selling up and getting something other than a hood

 

Dan

[ragey]

Ok so here I go

I am not a very out going person, I would go to the shows walking round but on many occasions not even talk to any one.

I would turn up in the 2b Park it up and again walk away, talk to the odd person but not really make myself known to the other members.

When you go the club tent there are always lots of people milling around, this is a good thing we are a big club.

But this can be a bit of putting it’s not the fault of the committee or the members it’s just how it is. The committee and the members who regularly turn up to the shows are going to get together they know each other well and that’s how it should be and in any club as big as ours little gangs gaggles what ever you like to call them are going to form, after all they are there to enjoy the day as well.

Last year I decided to take the plunge and go on a run.

The club was going to tan hill and I decided this would be the first run for me.

So on the forum I said I was going on the Saturday the club had gone on the Friday.

Its only 50 miles from were I live but it took me 7.5 hours to get there but that’s another story.

On arrival I said hello to a guy with a robin hood shirt with in minutes 2 other members had come to say hello.

When we went in to meet them all made us welcome, it is awkward at first and it takes time but the weekend was good.

The next show I new a few more people and so it went on meeting a few others at every show.

So this year again went to Newark and my mate who has a striker was having problems with his carbs, up steps Ian and helps him out

On the night all the members were very friendly towards me and my mate, then again on to tan hill again my mate came the hoodys again were very friendly to us both even though the striker carbs played up again.

So on to Stafford camping I had arranged to meet a few hoodys on the way people who I had never met, but as most will find we all have a common interest the cars and as grizzly said we were late setting of because were chatting too much

At the show this time I put my chairs near the club tent and said hello

People talked and made me feel welcome; on the night in stead of sitting near my tent we went and sat with the crowd. As we brought our chairs to the circle of chairs people moved and made space for us. Ian again kept an eye on us and made sure we got sum grub he could tell we were not sure what to do

My wife was feeling a bit out of it surrounded by men but again up came a lady member who talked to here and when we went in side of the big top 2 of the girls sat her down and made her feel welcome.

I know I have waffled on but this is my point

Some times you have to keep at it the club members and committee I have met have been friendly and helpful, they don’t see every one who want to say hello they are just like every one else, they maybe in conversation with others

So what I did was every time I went to a show I put on and still do my club shirt

This lets other members know you are part of the club as for the tent what about putting a table out side weather permitting with the club bits and bobs on maybe a board with information on and lots of pics of our clubs runs out and nights out, maybe membership forms on some of the cars around our stand .

I think this is a good club and people try very hard to make the shows go well it saddens me that Ian feels that way he is one of the friendliest lads I have met.

I think it’s up to us all to make new members welcome and not leave it up to a few its a good club lets keep it that way

Paul

[spg]

My two pennys worth.

 

I've attended and camped over at few shows over the years. And enjoyed them all thanks to the efforts of the committe in organising the club events. I think it's all about the size of the club. Best way I can put is, If you go to a small localish pub for the first time you'll soon get chatting to someone. Go to the in place on a weekend night then it's full of mates in groups, So a bit more efforts needed. Same with the show events loads turn up it's the place to be.

 

My first show ever was newark one of the biggest of the year, And very much the big pub. Grabbed some beers a folding chair made a bit of an effort then chatted away till late.

 

One way possible way to helpget the party started. Could the area secs could do a meet and greet type thing for thier local members.

 

Only an idea

 

To everyone involved with running the club please keep it the good work. You have my full support and praise.

 

Thanks

 

Steve

[Guest boggybogstar]

I think that mabye it time for a new events secretary so at the AGM at Stoneleigh one of you, smarter, better orginized, and more frendly then I am perceved to be should step up to the bar and take over.

 

I'm amazed by this thread .....

 

I got through the SVA in March this year and have done all the shows bar Stafford last weekend, which I really regret not going too but seeing as Mrs Toni was suffering a cold we decided not to go (450 mile round trip)

 

I have to say though that every show has been an excellent social event, some people exchange words and the converstaion only lasts a few minutes and others all night.

 

Speaking up for the commitee members, I have no complaints, at Detling these year they contacted me as a newbie and asked me to show my car on the stand, they have always made me and wifey welcome - and remembr that Ian actually attended one of the shows on the same day as a close family member passed away, the two Steves have also always been very welcome to me.

 

I wasnt going to post on this thread but thought Id say something positive.

 

How about we all get back to car advice and light hearted banter !!

[Guest Ian Marr]

I think relating shows/club nights to a big weekend pub or a small mid-week boozer is spot on.

 

RHOCar is a fab car club - I end up attending for the crack rather than building the dam part finished car!

 

Ian and Carol get my vote for re-election next year....! You have given your heart n soul to develop the social side of the club and you should be proud of your work. As folks have said you can't please everybody and you do make the events a great new place to be for so many.

 

If any one is feeling left out let me know - you can come and give me hand finish my Hood anytime ...!

[philshelton]

I think relating shows/club nights to a big weekend pub or a small mid-week boozer is spot on.

 

 

 

Ian and Carol get my vote for re-election next year....! You have given your heart n soul to develop the social side of the club and you should be proud of your work. As folks have said you can't please everybody and you do make the events a great new place to be for so many.

here here keep up the good work Ian and Carol

We as members may not of helped the situation on the stand by not leaving enough room for the gazebo and space to the side for people to sit and chat maybe a bit more space should be left in future or even rope/ bunting type flags (steve?) to give space for members a prospective members to stand and chat with easy access to the tea and coffee and a more welcoming stand than a encircled gazebo forming a unwelcoming enviroment

[Guest Ian & Carole]

This isn't about how well "Ian & Carole" do what we do guys, its about making the club good.

 

I had a long phone conversation with Steve Johnston (Mr Chairman for those who don't know who he is) this morning about issues raised.

 

Has any one got any thought about an area of grass where the cars are displayed, about the size of 2 / 3 cars next to the display tent being roped off as a seating area, your seats though, where the tea, coffee and other stuff would be situated. If we did of course it would p***s down just to prove a point

 

I know on Sunday I got in the way of people getting into the gazebo with my injured leg being in the way, but I met and chatted to an awful lot of people and several new members joined us.

 

On Saturday night we would have filled two big tops and still it would have been crowded, so it can't be all bad????????can it ?

 

 

cheers Phil you beat me to it

[Guest sritony]

Well since everyone is having their say I’ll come in and since I am a complete newbie in general terms only been member less than a year! I was someone who approached kit car ownership thinking it would be easy and trouble free I now know differently and that’s one reason it went, but the support I got has been good and I had to rely on it having no knowledge at all of cars.

but

I have had mixed experiences like any group I could go on about the negative aspects and experiences I have had (which there are a few) but that said the simple fact is in general terms my car would of been sold beginning of last year if it wasn't cuz of this forum and the North East club.

 

I attended my first meeting and sat beside the NEseveners by mistake and not one person spoke to me for an hour I was about to walk out when Chris came up to me and introduced me to everyone in RHOcar and after a few days the electric problem was fixed and my car got fixed,

My alternator dropped off in a car park and I had people under the car ETC

I had offers of help when the alternator broke many thanks to Graham the first time it happened who came about a long way to help.

I have had loads of help from other members over the months people giving up thier free time to come help me ranging from jacking suspension up, servicing etc big thanks to Arthur, Brian, John Richardson and Keith for putting up with me.

 

I have met loads of people and gained alot of confidence just talking to random people about random stuff I have no idea what they are going on about half the time but hey I can nod well and look half intelligent.

 

Everyone above and more from the North East in general have treat me very nice and welcomed me in to the group. I mean Grizzly travelled all the way up just to help with my car!

 

I have done shows, track days, clocked up 1400 miles, and offers from everywhere to do this and that. I have some fantastic experiences to pictures, videos and next summer I will miss this greatly

[Andi]

Check this out

 

http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Into-the-Social-Circle-You-Desire

 

 

(ok maybe going out to a movie is ott)

[Guest mower man]

Hi just a quick comment, great show great people , great club, sorry I could'nt stay but I was nursing a severe case of gypy guts [not had abeer for nearly aweek!!!!!!! ]best to every one, regards mowerman ps I sat in the gazebo , stood about and talked to few guys , made a cup of coffee then went round the show came back to my car for some lunch ex pecting to be asked a few questions as I have at other shows etc _____ hardly a one if you guys don't talk to us how are we supposed to know what you want !??? OPEN UP I will talk to any one about any thing but need to be asked first , please don't knock something until you have been a little more active