Hot Rods Start a Car Club?

Hello,
Recently I have been thinking about what is involved in starting a car club. Maybe 1920"s through 1950's. In and around my area. Has anyone had any experience with this? Is it too much of a h***le?

What if I found a name that I like that is being used in another state? I like Hooligans or Hoodlums. What are my obligations? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

We joined our local car club about when it started, in 1988, and have almost always been the youngest members. Everyone is dying now.....

But if you want to start a young folks car club, it would be neat to see how it works. I have no clue how to do it in the modern world.

have fun!

 

Getting started , New Club,often starts best if zero dues,at least at first. Members of only 3 is a good start,more better. Fewer starting members,makes thing smoother at first... Cards are cheep n EZ to get made,if a member is good at art,he can make logo,design cards,maybe even do shirts { I painted /airbrushed shrits n jaacket for the 3 clubs I was in,in the late 50s n early 60s ! Our clubs were kind of our inter net { as was zero of that back then }to be able to ask about stuff,how to,or were to find,plus get help or give help.
Way back, some clubs joined NHRA to record there club name,this in part was so club could work at drag strip. Was not MUST DO . If Club name ever had been copy righted { not many ever did that,an very few renewed copy right } so,as long as your not in the same state/town/ not to worry about a same name club some other place! Alum. Club plates,can be used if no state or town name. Some older club,did have chapters that were joined together with same name,an some same name club didn't know about any others! It is good manner* to ask old club memember that have a name,same as your going to use, if you can find them.
Just some thoughts n ideas,hope that helps...

 

...This is the best way to ease into it and judge the response. You can still be informal but, call yourself the Donut Bandits or whatever. Cars and Coffees are kind of a thing right now. Informal gatherings.

 

The easiest way to start a club is to arrange a with a few other car owners to meet for breakfast before going to a car show. The guys that can get up an hour early for that are serious. Then cruise into a car show in a group. You get the same group of cars cruising into a car show together every weekend people will notice. Do that for a year or so. No dues, no rules. no name, just a casual group. If your group holds together for a while it will become a club. Lothiandon1940 types faster than me

 

@corncobcoupe brings up a valid point, best not to have an official club, in the realm of potential liability.
That being said, as a graphic artist, and a former annual contributor/vendor at an event back east, for 26 summers in a row, consider this.

The realm of T-shirts and jackets, high quality, can be a real factor in uniting your group of hot rod pals.
There is also the realm of ****ons, stickers, hats, lapel pins, etc.

Mind you its not cheap, it never has been. I am sure you know a person that is a great graphic artist, that is also a hot rod person.

Find a name or an image, that all of your pals can agree on, get the artwork done, and then find a very reputable, high quality printer and go from there.

Keep in mind, that a bigger run is cheaper than a short run.

So when pooling the money from the initial group of hot rod pals, once you get the design right and a few shirts printed, and they are seen around at burger spot gatherings on a Friday night, or something like that, it doesn't take long, till you have a way to support your group, while NOT being an official club, that has to deal with any liability!

Be smart, the day of the $10.00 to $15.00 printed 100% preshrunk cotton T-shirt is long gone, so don't be surprised at what the current prices are!

I had the luxury of being able to sell my designs to a dedicated group, annually, and I also had the luxury to give away a shirt now and then when it was warranted.

There is nothing as satisfying as seeing ones artwork on several people at the same gathering, or seeing a known individual wearing something that is appreciated by fellow hot rod pals!

Examples of when a group has the same shirt, and an example of the known individual @squirrel wearing one, and a sample of something simple as a hot rod design.

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Drop by the thread here on the H.A.M.B. known as the Friday art show, (FAS) in the off topic hot rods and custom's forum.
There are some great hot rod artist's that contribute weekly!

Check out @Jeff Norwell and @themoose they are great artist's and this piece by another contributor @tawdler they are in the business, so reach out to them via a PM.

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Dont be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to design!

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Good luck on your journey to accomplishing something cool for your group of hot rod pals.
Enjoy from Dennis.

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Ok I will start with a name, by looking at where you are from.
"HOTAS HELLERS"
"SWEATERS"
"DRY RUNNERS"
"ZONERS"

 

I am a member of Tri-City Rod & Custom which has been in existance since 1972, the club started with a a few guys that had or was building hot rods and grew from there, the rules were simple and the dues were cheap.

To become a member a person had to attend 3 meetings in a row, then they were voted on, BTW no one has ever been voted against.

Over the years we have had more than 100 members, the original members from that 1972 meeting have all p***ed away but there are several that came along a few years after the club started, including myself.

We decided a few years ago we would not collect dues anymore, and we meet once a month at a local burger joint, back in the day when we were the only car club around we put on several car shows and events that drew big crowds and gave the money to local charitys, but today as the guys hove gotten older we are more of a social club, we let the younger clubs host shows.

The main thing is we are all friends and get along well together, there is about 12 members now and our newest member is the founders son in law.

Every car club is different and everyone is not cut out to be in a car club, it works for me. HRP

 

Find like-minded people to hang with.
Coordinate meeting times for local gatherings.
If the skills are there, help each other out at member's places.
As said, present a united visual. This can start with the same colors and styles before the jump to unique shirts or jackets, cards and plaques.
Once the social part jells, you can seek to increase membership.
Nowadays, an online chat or site can present a private or public presence.
By this time you can look into the non-profit business side, which can get pretty heavy. Incorporation, insurance, rules and dues, etc.
At this point you may start your own meet, fundraisers or community outreach.

Its Not A Gang Its A Club

 

Junkyard Creepers....Edgewood
informal and we are spontaneous with our activities.... and encourage everyone else to put on events by attending theirs.... in force....breakfast gathering every Friday at the Owl Cafe in Albuquerque 7:00 AM come join us

 

I have a car club plaque on my car for a club that never was. They got as far as getting the plaque made and got no farther.

 

I always thought these three designs, would look great on a shirt, they are self explanatory!

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@squirrel
The previous local car club was formed at my kitchen table in 1980. We did some fun free Saturday car shows in the parking lot of a local bank (back then, this bank was closed on Saturday). We held some car washes - raised money to provide a small scholarship for a local auto shop student to go on to higher education in the automotive field.

In any club, just a few people do all the work. The president and the vice president (That would be me) went through messy divorces. By 1986, we got distracted and stopped meeting. A few of our former members joined Squirrel club. I was briefly a board member of this new club. A m***ive heart attack and employment challenges changed my available time. I dropped out of club activities.

I'm 81 now, almost everyone has died off.

A modest suggestion, based on belonging to (and being a contributing member - i.e. actually doing the grunt work) several car and truck clubs over the decades. Gather a small core of like minded friends. Have an informal gathering at a local restaurant or drive-in diner. Weekly or monthly will depend on the needs of the friends (younger folks have distractions such as real jobs, family, kids activities, etc)

Russ

p.s. Squirrel is right - Almost every one has died off - I have fond memories on most of them - and a couple funny stories about some "unique" individuals.

 

This plaque was cast at the local Boys High School in the late 50's, by students taking auto shop cl***es.

I have met a couple of guys that were in the club, the club didn't last long and the members spread out all over the states. HRP

 

Small group garage meet-ups are another way to get to know other locals and keep things informal. Rotate it around and serve up some pizza and sodas, beer if there is designated drivers on hand. Grilled hot dogs and a side like potato salad or cole slaw work great as well. Donations accepted.

 

My brothers and I started are club in 02 we were tired of all the BS in the so called normal clubs rules were simple 59 and older no billet no dues. We are in our 24th year just welcomed our 14th member 13 active my older brother past away in 2011 we have a run once a year and our ages range from 19 to 76 years old good bunch of guys.

 

Start as a group of friends that want to attend a few shows or events together. Meet up for breakfast, cruise to the show together, park together if you can. See where it goes after a couple summers. Pick a club name together, set the rules together.

Above all, have fun together.
If it isn't fun, the club will die shortly, with or without a name.
I've seen times when a group of friends formed a car club, then shortly after, the friendships ended. Being in a car club can to make things harder.

 

It’s all what you want it to be and how much effort or head ache you want to endure. Everyone and every “club” is different. There aren’t any rules

But to your original post my buddy’s and I do go by the Hoodlums CC here in the Kansas City area.

but it ain’t like we own the name or anything

 

I told the guys “ never act like a fool while wearing a club patch” otherwise no rules

 

You guys are bringing me down with all the dying.

 

There are numerous groups in the Mesa/Gilbert area. I know of five off the top of my head. Mostly made up of retired or snowbird types. The two groups I hang with are mostly social. Arizona Vintage Cruisers meet on Tuesday mornings as early as 7am during the winter and as the snowbirds leave we pair down to around 8-10 regulars that continue to meet. The meet is at On The Green on Power. We usually do more car related cruising starting April through May and start again when it cools down.

The other group is the Lost Dutchman Car Club. Again, very social group. Most everyone does their own thing. Lots of cruises and car shows this time of the year. Lost Dutchman meets on Thursday mornings at the Eagles.

The one thing about these groups is that they are Face Book oriented, no dues, no formal leadership and no ruleS except no politics or religon. Information is put out on events such as car shows and and cruis-ins. As far as covering expenses we use 50/50 to raise money to have Christmas events, pizza parties, picnics etc.

The only group in the area that does a lot of drives is Rat Rod Addiction. Lots of young people and is family oriented. FYI, I’m trying to put together a drive from Gold Canyon to Mt Lemon and back.

I started a group when we first moved here. On FB I put out an invite to locals in our neighborhood and we met at a local restaurant on a Saturday morning. I facilitated the meeting. One thing I brought out was that a young person has to step up and organize the group. That young guy did step up and organized a car show at What’s Cracking. In ten years the meeting morphed into what is now the Mesa Cars N Coffee. Good event for people of like minds to meet

If you want some ideas get ahold of me through PM.

 

I love questions like this, as I have my own experiences, which may be like or unlike yours.

Growing up in the 80's, I was surrounded by the car guys of the late 50's clubs, that had disbanded due to life changes. In the mid-80's, the older generation and (at the time) new generation got together and started a club here in the city. It was what I perceived a club to be; Friday night cruise-in's at the Dub, Wednesday car club meetings, club car washes, cool jackets, Saturday car club members garage tours through the winter, Halloween parties, and the best of all, hosting a ROD RUN, which was an amazing event when you're a kid!

Soon, one of the elder members was unable to make it to a club sanctioned gathering. He was basically burned at the stake for it, and dropped out. Shortly after, the three "main" car club members (Pres, VP and Sec) began running the show as they wanted, belittled other members, and basically ran the rest of the good people from the club, including my family. They thought certain vehicles were more "qualified" for the club based on shiny paint.

So, what did the departed members do? Create another club, with their motto being "No Dues, Just Cruise". This was in 91, and that club remains today, sort of. The only reason they do exist is because now, their median age is 82, they barely drive their cars, and sitting around talking about their arthritis is more important than anything.

I strayed off myself, and twice tried starting my own club. These two attempts failed worse than the Plymouth Belvedere time capsule because more than a few members didn't know how to initiate participation, didn't attend anything planned, and left everything up to the ones who did show up. It was more of a pain than anything. And if you set precedent on what years, make and model are allowed, oh boy have fun with the backlash. And don't get me started on the one guy who joins solely to divide everyone and try to take over like it's some kind of War of the Worlds takeover.

Anyhoo, my main point is better than a car club is what I am currently enjoying. A group of 10-15 of us meet every night at the local Timmies, as well as the weekly Wednesday Cars and Coffee at the mall. We don't have dues, a name, a pres, or anything else. And we get along amazingly. We schedule short cruises to different landmarks throughout the summer, have BBQ's, visit each others garages, and hang out.

Do I wish I was part of a club, who had the cool jackets, plaques, and held Rod Runs, and basically showed everyone how cool car people can be? Sure the nostalgia part of me does. I envy all of you guys in different locals that have successful clubs. I am very envious. This geography here and the stick up the you know what people in this town won't allow for that. So, we enjoy the heck out of what we do, as informal as it is!!

 

Me and a good friend started one some time back. We did some car stuff and the theme of the club started drifting away from what is was originally. The club kinda fell apart then some years later one of the original member started it back up but it was not with the original rules. They still use the art work I did for the club plaque.
I have since started my own personal club but it more of a shop time and cars are loaded to go to the race track.

 

Our Lost Dutchman group started pretty much from a falling out with another group. All this took place during Covid. My understanding is some money was being misappropriated, some members got pissed and started their own Lost Dutchmen.

We have about 7 groups that meet mostly early in the morning. Some are members of all seven groups and attend meeting all during the week. Average age for most groups is around the mid 70s.

 

boy, if you read all of the stuff in this thread and link to other thread it will test how bad you want to start a club. but, do not start out with a name you like and build on that. a club is a team effort.

 

Ive been thinking of doing the same thing in my area, akin to the So Cal. clubs of the 50s and 60s. I think Im committed to starting the club, even if its just a one man club. The only rules would be you must own a car that you've built, are building or are currently thrashing on.

 

Keep it as simple as possible. If the member has to build his car you may have an issue. In DFW area we have lots of good club members. But they didn’t build their car.