PAG 19, page 3
‘Right to Reply’ - Readers have their say
The Codgers Strike Back’
Dear Algernon, Many thanks for the Issue No18, beautifully prepared and edited as usual. Your efforts are much appreciated ! I particularly liked the car built by David Gardiner, and his mod to convert to beetle back.
However his comments on the state of 2CV trike clubs cannot be allowed to pass without comment, in particular his rather demeaning statements that the CSC does, and here I quote ‘include some really impressive people among the codgers’ !
Anyone who has been engaged in the running of a club knows that there are a set list of gripes which continually surface as each new ‘generation’ of novices joins the club. Try the following for size -
The management are too old, set in there ways.
Prefer picnics to technics
Have quite definitely lost any inclination to provide exciting activities
Need an injection of new blood
Why don’t we have more tie ups with other clubs
Why don’t we go hill climbing
Why can’t we have more technical stuff and fewer excruciatingly boring ‘How I did it’ screeds
I hate driving in convoys, the old codgers drive so slow
I’m not sure what I’m suggesting but it all needs a shot in the arm !
Nobody has ever encountered this problem before me
Nobody has ever solved this problem before me
They form cliques and I’m on the outside
Well the answer is simple—Anyone who is dissatisfied can put themselves up for election to office and put their ideas into action
Everyone has their own preference of the way they want the club to develop but how many of those people are prepared to be dedicated, unpaid slaves to the whims of all the members, because they all have their own agenda.
For my sins, I served for four years on the committee of a large gliding club as my passion is for flying. I could not have foreseen in my wildest dreams, some of the crackpot moans, about nothing to do with flying, that surfaced during those monthly meetings, eg, not enough toilet paper in the bogs, objections to children in the clubhouse, puddles in the car park etc etc etc
I swore I would never again put myself up for election ! Regretfully I know I am not alone.
Thus, in almost every large club there is a constant appeal for magazine editors, membership secretaries, regional organisers etc etc
Plenty of scope for the dissatisfied to become the saviours of the genre !
To take just one point, hill climbs for instance. I am fairly certain that in the CSC there are people who are interested in hill climbs. Phil Gregory is an ex hill climb champion. What about insurance for this event, it’s bad enough just to go to a show as a club, and as for holding a rally !
If you are interested in hill climbs, do some research yourself and write an article on it.
What is needed is constructive dialogue backed up by action.
I’m ready to propose anyone at the next AGM of the CSC who can convince me that he or she can build a better mousetrap.
Never underestimate the codgers, we may be old but we aren’t stupid ! — Keith Bull
Dear Algy In reply to No 53 ‘Thoughts on a Barmy Army’ from the last newsletter I thought we were a club, we have a newsletter which is brill thanks. What the Barmy Army would like is for owners to contact each other more and say go for a drive together or maybe meet for lunch or just a bit of fun. Pembletons are not just for show. They asked—Where were the Pembletons when they were at the Welsh Rally ? If they had let us know we would have been there in strength.
Last summer we had 6 Pembletons to stay for the weekend, we had lots of fun. 6 months on and people around here are still talking about what a great sight it was to see 6 in line. That is what the Barmy Army is all about—fun, fun, and more fun. So come on you lot get in touch and if any of you are in the welsh area give us a call you will be always welcome.
Keep Pembling you barmy lot. - Liz and Dave - Crew 11
Call in, they say !!! I did once, and have only just recovered from several rather large shots of whisky forced on me !!!!!!—