What first attracted me

[WALNUT]

What first attracted me to the BKCC was that it catered for everyone, they had there track days runouts and meet ups. I still think its an excellent club, but this year other than a few dates, it seems as though its all track days. Im sure there are others that feel the same as me. So can someone start the ball rolling to fix a few more run out dates for the coming months.

                              Tony

[Denzle]

HiYa Tony,
                 Ive been out a couple of times now looking for somewhere that we can all meet and have a bit of fun and banter, but at the same time be allowed to drive our cars on a bit of tarmac like a cone test or something.

Its difficult to find because Im looking in an area between myself and Bristol so its equal distance for us all to travel.

You could say like a big car picnic for us all.   Will have another look in a couple of days time when I go for a drive around, see what I can come up with, but its like finding a needle in a haystack.

I will do my best to satisfy your needs........Denzle...

                                         

[Casino]

I don't think that we're missing out on Run-outs ( no less than last year ) in favour of track based events.

I think it may appear so as Krazyken is doing such a brilliant job in his role as Track Thingy and securing club discounts.

In the next two weeks I shall be posting details of a run-out up to Denzle's Car Show at Hampton Fairies,  Nr. Evesham which is on Sunday 3rd July.

Anyway Tony, you had ( I hope ) a nice run-out last Thursday.

Cheers,  Peter

[WALNUT]

I dont think were missing out to track days, and I know we could all go along to watch if we wanted to. but im sure we had more run out dates last year, even if some members never took up what was on offer.
   Looking forward to the Hampton show.

                                                               Tony

[Krazyken]

Tony

Just for you there will be 2 more non track day events posted up tonight, just make sure you get those hinges sorted.

On this point anyone is welcome to organise an event or run out, in fact the more the load of organisation is spread the easier and more enjoyable it will be for all.  If you have an idea for a run out or event that would appeal to club members feel free to put up a post to guage the interest then make the arrangements.

['The Gaffer']

Tony.

I have done a check of events from the 1st Jan 2011 inc up and coming events and the results are as follows Trackdays = 18 General run outs = 30

Anyone can get the ball rolling and post up and organise an event. That's what makes the club so unique 

I am also interested in setting up a second monthly club meet with a short run out on a weekday evening but my last thread on the subject did not attract any attention.

[WALNUT]

Im not bothered about the number of track days against run outs, the more of both the better. I was trying to say we had more run out dates last year. Unless you prove me wrong again LOL

                           Tony

[Denzle]

Im not bothered about the number of track days against run outs, the more of both the better. I was trying to say we had more run out dates last year. Unless you prove me wrong again LOL

                           Tony

Tony, If I can find the peice of tarmac, I will lay out a road with several zebra crossing on it.  Then while you are learning not to park on them, others can practice doing do-nuts....

             Denzle.......

[WALNUT]

LOL Denzle. you bring the paint, and I will bring the deep fat fryer.

                                                                                             Tony

[RMW50]

Tony,

Some time from June onwards, we will try and take you / Hairy Santa up on your offer to pitch our tent in the Bristol area, so when a suitable runout over a weekend comes up perhaps others can join in from a little further afield and make it a similar get together as Stoneleigh was - let me know what events are coming up June / July / August...

(I unfortunately cant do the Hampton show because we are at Goodwood that weekend)

Hopefully we can organise something and catch up soon, I feel the hankering for cottage pie coming on!

Rich

[WALNUT]

Hi Rich
          The offer still stands, but at the moment theres not much on, other than The Summer Classic car show  13/ 14 aug

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tony

[paintman]

Myself and Dixie (also Stupott when he had his MK) drive out somewhere most Sundays for breakfast and a blast. 

We found that very few people want to come out from the Bristol area to us so we tend to do our own thing.......usually across the Mendips.

If there is something on ie... a show or something we do that as a priority though.

Usually it is not arranged till sat evening ......so a bit spontaneous.

We found that there is only a handful of really active members who are up for anything.....I must agree with Wallnutt there seems to be more interest in Track days than a run out these days.

     Tony  (I know Dixie feels the same.)

[peetee]

Would like to join any Frome/Warminster/Trowbridge weekend run outs when I can (family permitting) but Sundays tend to be cycling club runs for me. (or events/races) Pete

['The Gaffer']

Hi Rich
          The offer still stands, but at the moment theres not much on, other than The Summer Classic car show  13/ 14 aug
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tony

The season has just started, I'm sure our members will have posted up some more events by then.

Myself and Dixie (also Stupott when he had his MK) drive out somewhere most Sundays for breakfast and a blast. 

We found that very few people want to come out from the Bristol area to us so we tend to do our own thing.......usually across the Mendips.

If there is something on ie... a show or something we do that as a priority though.

Usually it is not arranged till sat evening ......so a bit spontaneous.

We found that there is only a handful of really active members who are up for anything.....I must agree with Wallnutt there seems to be more interest in Track days than a run out these days.

     Tony  (I know Dixie feels the same.)

Which one of you would like to step up and be a run out organisor? Well anybody?

Sorry but I'm not picking up anything positive or constructive in this thread.

No one is being left out here but I'm not sure if this is a question of members not sharing run outs or do you think the club itself is not providing a never-ending list of things to do?

  It appears that track day banter is prominent at the moment simply because its well promoted and the club will only be as active as the people who want to participate in it - and that means taking an active role in its day to day running and activities.

Sorry if I sound harsh but simply stating negative facts doesn't help anyone really.

[Daley Down Under]

Phil,

This may not be helpful but I'm on a roll.  I'm up for a run-out and will organise one as long as everyone wears the national colours of Costa Rica 

Adrian

['The Gaffer']

Damn, I've just spent ages dusting off my evil kenevil stars and stripes outfit 

[Daley Down Under]

Not to worry - you'll be able to use it on the 4th July BPMC run

[Bulldog Bri]

Appolgise guys. I've been a little quite with any orginising here, did start to see if the ACKCC were interested in a joint run around the 26th June, but have not heard much back. I'll have another word with Matt see if there is any interest, though I know he did ask for a different destination for the joint run.

['The Gaffer']

Im not bothered about the number of track days against run outs, the more of both the better. I was trying to say we had more run out dates last year. Unless you prove me wrong again LOL

                           Tony

For statistics sake I had to do a countdown Tony and am sorry to say I have indeed proved you wrong - Things are not always as they seem   For 2010 - 2011. The results were Trackdays posted = 8 General events = 49

Its easy to see there is more of an emphasis on trackdays this year perhaps giving a false representation because of Kens new input, however considering its only May and the season has only got under way, with general event listings for this year already at 30, we are well on target to easily exceed last years figures with ease.

I reiterate though - In order for the emphasis to appear more balanced, we all have to contribute to the club in time and effort, and if that means anybody 'stepping up to the plate' to find and organise an event on their own, then so be it.
We will all benefit from this.

I also agree that there is a hard core element who are active, but this is in line with any club though. The theory is that as membership grows, so will the hard core. That said, its now plain to see that we all have different agenda's within the club so the active element will be more diversified as a result. So again, unless people promote their own preferences, other members will be blissfully unaware of what's going on behind the scenes that could be of interest to them.

We are building a great club here, and lets not forget its the members that make it what it is. Lets set a good example to others who may want to join the club by keeping the forum positive and the welcome friendly.

Just my 2 pennies guys

I realise that but was unable to delete it.

I did it first time without the quote ....... which would not make sense with the previous post.

I see what you mean Tony and have deleted the posts as they have no relevance to this thread.

[YellaBelly]

I think Phil has hit the nail on the head. There is always going to be hardcore in any club, whether it be for track action or not.

I must admit, I would love to attend as many as possible (having an unfinished car isn't helping) but also I find time and money are both in quite limited supply at the moment.

I know some guys have a gaggle of cars and money is not an object, but I'm afraid I don't fit into that category and I'm sure I'm not alone.

I think I want to concentrate on finishing the car and attending the 'major' events we have planned.

Not having  moan guys, it's just that I would love to support the club more at all the events but it ain't gonna happen unless someone passes me the winning numbers

JB

[Dixie]

Phil.

I think your idea of a 2nd club meet is a good one, perhaps we could find a cafe somewhere with ample parking and use it as a base. But as the majority of people in the club are Bristol based ( Name gives it away) I can understand if it is more North than Shepton/Frome.

This is a completely personal feeling, but I think having a club meet at 7pm on a Sunday evening does nothing to promote having a "Run out", but it does do a good job at getting some friends together for a chat and a pint and enjoy each others company, but last time I looked we were a "kit car club" not a drinking club.  But just because I can't make it on a Sunday evening shouldn't stop current members enjoying the current set up, looking at some of the threads it looks very popular.  Perhaps we need something in addition?

It is early in the season, which may explain low road going numbers, but we have something like 100 members, yet we seem to have the same 5 or 6 people willing to meet up, unless it's a trackday which has a very keen following and is well supported, probably due to the great job Ken does.  Personally track days are not for me, which is why I end up going out with Tony and Stu for a blast over the Mendips, Cheddar etc or even a trip to the coast(WSM) only 4 people turned up for that. There aren't many weekends that we don't do something, usually involving a big breakfast.  Only Snow has stopped us this year, oh yea and my broken diff.

So being positive what is the club good at.

Nice people, great well organised Forum, some very clever people/engineers with good idea's and a wealth of knowledge that can help everyone whether beginner or experienced car builder.  It has a very active trackday member base, which alot of people support and enjoy which is a positive thing. From my perspective a slightly negative side to the club is that the high membership figures do not seem to be as willing or able due to personal committments to actually get thier cars out and dirty and use them to drive around and enjoy the countryside, again it seems to be the same old 5 or 6 people.

Hope the club takes my comments positively and in the spirit that they are written.

Regards Mark (Dixie)

['The Gaffer']

Hope the club takes my comments positively and in the spirit that they are written.

Regards Mark (Dixie)

Absolutely Mark, I for one especially welcome your views. Anyone else's comments are more than welcome as well. This reply is a bit of a rambling as I'm quite busy and is in most a general reply to the club as well.

Phil.

I think your idea of a 2nd club meet is a good one, perhaps we could find a cafe somewhere with ample parking and use it as a base. But as the majority of people in the club are Bristol based (Name gives it away) I can understand if it is more North than Shepton/Frome.

This is a completely personal feeling, but I think having a club meet at 7pm on a Sunday evening does nothing to promote having a "Run out", but it does do a good job at getting some friends together for a chat and a pint and enjoy each others company, but last time I looked we were a "kit car club" not a drinking club.  But just because I can't make it on a Sunday evening shouldn't stop current members enjoying the current set up, looking at some of the threads it looks very popular.  Perhaps we need something in addition?

I couldn't agree more Mark, but whenever I have suggested a second meet in the past I have had no feedback at all. I believe that our cars are for driving rather than staring at them all evening with glass in hand, but the social side of the Sunday eve meets has proved to be quite a success for some, me included to a degree, that along with a shortish run to another pub on the night also appears popular.

The Sunday meet appeals to some but obviously not others who have commitments elsewhere or early starts on the Monday etc, so the thought of an additional meet should in theory be of interest to the others??.

I don't want to change the format of the Sunday meet as it does work, but I do have one or two reservations about the venues. I don't particularly like the Lock Keeper as a meeting place. Why?

A. Because the river stinks
B. Busy car park and some idiot backing into my kit car
C. Dark and dingy car park
D. They ran out of chips!!

The second venue on our short run out does nothing to inspire me either
A. Cramped out of sight parking
B. Limited outdoor seating
C. Bit of a lack of ambience really

I guess habit has just stuck here with nobody willing to propose a change. And just because I'm not keen on the venues doesn't automatically follow that everyone else is as well.

Personally, I think a recce is on the cards, maybe for somewhere more rural with better facilities for us?

I again propose a second monthly meet incorporating a good run out, maybe on a weekday eve?

Views anyone please?

It is early in the season, which may explain low road going numbers, but we have something like 100 members, yet we seem to have the same 5 or 6 people willing to meet up, unless it's a track day which has a very keen following and is well supported, probably due to the great job Ken does.

As it stands, we actually have 216 members, over 50 of which are donating club supporters. Some of the 216 members are inactive but the 50+ supporters must feel there is something about the club that is worthy of support and I don't think it's wholly the discount scheme. It would be interesting to do a survey to find out what people think, and it is to that end I will be doing a mail shot to everyone soon to find out. I am also planning another member cull soon to remove inactive members (If I didn't do these culls from time to time, we would have well over a 1000 members by now!!).

My own views on track days, as expressed in another post, are that they are actively promoted by Ken (and others from time to time) and this has the effect of enticing people out of the woodwork and tempting others to join the club via Google track day searches etc. Case in point, we had 17 members at Llandow track day with a couple more joining the club as a result and a lot of after event forum banter. The same applied to the recent sprint event.

Sometimes just giving a new event a go can change opinions, e.g. if I had asked Pete (Santa) a year ago whether he would like to do a track day, I probably would have been met by a blank expression and a resounding no. Now, if you could have seen his face grining like a Cheshire cat yesterday at Llandow and listening to how much fun he was having I think it would be fair to say he was pleased he joined in.

Yes I know not everyone's cars are suited to track days, but nothing stopping anyone organising an endurance run, treasure hunt, or something a little more adventurous.     

Other events like the French Boules event are equally of interest it seems. This event has been again organised by Ken and we have a fair bit of interest in it. This just goes to show what can happen if people suggest, organise, and implement an event, others will follow if it appeals to them. Again, I can't stress the importance of members being pro active on this front.

I notice that sometimes events are posted that get little or no response at all like Kevin's Hot Rod, American Car & Custom Bike Show, Castle Cary - 28th May 2011 post didn't get even get one reply - OK I didn't reply as I've no real interest and maybe that also suggests that the BKCC has no interest at all in hot rods? Thanks for posting anyway Kevin.

All that says is that we have to find out what really is of interest to our members, hopefully my up and coming mail shot / forum survey may address this to some degree.

If anyone has any questions / survey options they feel would be useful, please post up.

Personally track days are not for me, which is why I end up going out with Tony and Stu for a blast over the Mendips, Cheddar etc or even a trip to the coast (WSM) only 4 people turned up for that. There aren't many weekends that we don't do something, usually involving a big breakfast.  Only Snow has stopped us this year, oh yea and my broken diff.

Has this event been regularly been posted on the forum Mark? I for one didn't know this was going on, and as long as your runs are not too early, as I've perceived to be the case, I and maybe others could be interested from time to time.

If anyone is planning a run out, there is an impromptu late posting section on the forum that just might attract some last minute attention from those at a loose end.

WSM and only 4 turning up is poor. From now on I intend to email all members with up and coming events as not all people follow the forum regularly. Or, could it be that the WSM event just didn't appeal to many?

So being positive what is the club good at.

Nice people, great well organised Forum, some very clever people/engineers with good idea's and a wealth of knowledge that can help everyone whether beginner or experienced car builder.  It has a very active track day member base, which a lot of people support and enjoy which is a positive thing. From my perspective a slightly negative side to the club is that the high membership figures do not seem to be as willing or able due to personal commitments to actually get their cars out and dirty and use them to drive around and enjoy the countryside, again it seems to be the same old 5 or 6 people.

Agreed, we do have a great forum and some great people, all of which are steadily falling into categories. A general pattern emerges from joining members, some never post but visit the forum regularly, some join with a flurry of posts then just fade away, and some join and continue to join in. So what we have to find out once and for all is what people want from the club and to gauge member's interests in what type of events we should be pursuing.

This year I would like to incorporate a few talks from people etc and I will promote events more aggressively, however I need events to promote, and as we don't have a full time events organiser, this falls on members to become pro active rather than waiting to be spoon fed I'm afraid. As Mark says, lets get our cars out, but first it seems to we need to find out what we all really want to do.

All suggestions welcome to be added to a survey and I welcome any suggestions of any kind.

Thanks for taking time to read this reply to Marks excellent post and I'm sorry if it rambled on a bit but its off the bat, and I really should be doing my accounts .

Cheers.

Phil.

[Dixie]

Phil.

You are correct I/We should post on the Forum when we intend to go for a blast over the Mendips or elsewhere.  I/We will make sure from now on that a post is put on, at least then everyone has the chance to join us.

You are very correct in saying they are not early runs, usually 10.30 or 11am for a couple of hours.

Regards

Mark

[Quarrycars]

What first attracted me to the BKCC were the interesting tech discussions in the forum, having been away from the UK kit car scene for 30 years I have a lot to learn about BECs, IVA tests etc.   Member's replies to my dumb questions helped get me back into the swing of things.   Encouraging comments on my first build also helped to keep me going and get my Furore built.  Problem is I now have the build bug again, so I hold the BKCC responsible for that!  Not sure what the next build will be bike engine, electric, unfinished project?
Wanted to get to some club meets last year but weather or other obligations intervened, determined to make it somewhere this summer.