Folks Of Interest How do you join a car club ?

Have been in three car clubs in my 70+ years of life, joined all three by searching swap meets for parts and talking to someone who had a source for said parts. First club I joined was in So Cal and owned a 56 Ford Customline. Found a club called Fabulous 50's and was open to 49 to 59 Fords. Went to a few meetings and a few shows and seemed like a good bunch of people but something was a bit off? There was some person that was like the Harry Potter movie, "he that shall not be mentioned" that nobody would talk about. After about a year and a half in the club I get a letter in the mail from an attorney stating the club was being sued including all the "members" of said club. Found out this had been brewing for some time, had to do with ownership of the club and one of the founding members that had been booted out for something he had done. Anyway, I bailed out and didn't join any other club till I moved back to Oregon. Bought a 49 Studebaker in 1994 and was looking for parts and found a local Studebaker club, got talked into going to a meeting and really hit it off with the members so I joined. Great experience! One of the members was a founder of another club, Willamette Valley Street Rods, but they were for 48 and older cars so I didn't qualify. They changed the rules to include newer cars so I joined, this was about 2001 I think but anyway been with them ever since. Made many great friends and contacts, the club has about 115 family memberships and is still going strong but yes, we are all aging and have been getting a few younger members lately. I highly recommend finding a club with people you get along with and has a good vibe, I knew something was amiss with that first club right away. I should have picked up on the bad vibe and not joined. Mark

 

LOL Love it. Actually the Pharoahs (note the spelling) has grown to become one of the largest clubs on the planet. We have about 140 chapters worldwide including most of Canada. Send me a message and I'll put you in touch with the Canadian President.

 

I was talking to a guy with a Pharoahs jacket at the fall show in High River, AB, He advised that all one needs to do is apply, and that some of their members don't have cars. Is this true? Far different than the days of Gil Gonzales & Joe.

 

Can't imagine who might have told you that. You absolutely have to have a qualifying car. And no imports or front wheel drives. My chapter has 150 members and with the exception of a few 60s muscle cars they are all HAMB friendly cars. I run the Northeast Tennessee chapter and we are one of the largest in the club. Now I can't speak for every chapter but he may have told them he had a project he's working on that's not on the road yet and in that case it's fine. I don't make the rules for ALL chapters but mine are the same as HQ in Modesto CA. Celebrating 75 years in 2023. This is some of our swag but you can't buy any of it if you're not an active member.

 

I have never been a member of a car club but ever since I had a driver's license, I've known of the Slo Poks. I hang out with the club once in a while at Alley Night and I have become friends with many of the guys. I'm an outsider, but this wicked talented, uber friendly and damn cool group of guys make me feel like a part of the gang whenever I am around.

I am not sure what my point was other than you don't have to be a car club member to be part of the Hot Rod community. Member or not, don't sit on your *** and let life p*** you by. Car guys make good buddies, and we all need more good buddies.