[Shale]

There has been much discussion both on DOBC and on ClubSUB about 'club cars'. Now, here are some details!

ClubSUB is in the beginning stages of pondering several club cars, most likely for 2012. I have been talking with Kami about DOBC also jumping on the bandwagon and organising at least one club car.

The idea behind these is to introduce a bit of bonding and friendly competition - both within the individual clubs and between them - but also to allow people from either island to get a chance to race when ferry and travel costs would otherwise not allow. Ie: if there is a large meet at Ruapuna and enough NIers are interested, the club car can be trailered down to the meet and NIers get to race ater all; the same is true for Manfeild, Taupo etc meets and stranded SIers.

All the cars will be as identical as possible, and strict modifying rules will be in place.

The suggested specs, and I agree with these, are:

Quote

- 2.0L na sohc/dohc not sure yet prolly sohc as easier to find (and SOHC is cheap as pig-shit to replace)
- probably BC chassis (OF COURSE BC chassis!)
- factory parts only
- decide on a standard rim/rubber package (We have a sponsor over on CS that's willing to work with DOBC also - this could work doubly well for ALL the club cars)
- decide on a brake package (prolly RS spec) (Or GTB)
- up to wof standard (sound chassis, good shocks etc) (May I suggest Bilsteins?)
- un warranted/ un registered car to be trailered to our trackmeets (This is for ease of maintenance IMO)
- managed by a nominated person
- scrutineered at the meet.

These specs not only make the whole shebang as viable as possible, it also introduces obvious learning curves - trying to make a wee putt-putt of a SOHC stocker do amazing things takes skill. Winning against several identical cars takes even more skill.

As this is run by volunteers, the suggestion is to charge $20 for driver's seat rights a day - this pays for petrol and maintenance.

Of course, you break it you pay for it - even the whole shell. At least old de-reg'd BC shells are cheap as chips!

CS' thoughts are donating an initial $100 for new fluids etc, and the rest run by volunteers. For this I also agree, though depending on DOBC's financial standing by late this year, we may be able to purchase a shell as well.

So far it seems the Wellington and lower SI teams are strong enough to start one of these themselves and will likely be managed by CS, but there is nothing for the upper North Island. Auckland CS and DOBC will most likely run a car together - DOBC making the purchase and sharing with the remainder of the CS crowd as a joint thing. (Read: It'll be DOBC's car, but CS has driving rights too)

If there is enough cash floating around and enough enthusiasm, we could consider doing simultaneous projects further south - this would allow a bit of friendly competition between the CS cars of the same area, and an extra car for inter-island competitions.

BUT WHAT ABOUT A REAL COMPETITION CAR?! THIS CAR WILL BE POOS.

This is just a first, cheap step in getting a taste for motorsport. I do have something a little more seam-welded, caged, road-legal and fire-barfing in mind a few years down the track once funding has five zeroes instead of three.





THIS is what all this 'club car' talk is all about.

Thoughts, folks? Feel free to critique, suggest, poo-poo or worship.





(PS: Yes, the car will be painted DOBC brown! Gonna look at custom colours for ALL the eventual DOBC cars - caramel in sunlight, dark chocolate in shadows, and stickered to all buggery.)

[matdaymon]

I like the idea of this, especially as a car is out of my reach for quite a while it seems and I'd like to keep some kind of relationship going with dobc (not so much with CS).

[Shale]

It'd work well for you then The sort of car we have planned isn't too different from what you wanted

[kamineko]

good call on the GTB 297mm 2pot sliding fronts. i'd forgotten about those

personally i don't think you want an open invitation for CS'ers to drive the DOBC machine, but thats just my opinion.

[Shale]

I do know most that would in person at least, but perhaps a stipulation that they must be paid members? Much like I imagine it would be for a CS car?

The reason I say it is that 99% of Auckland that's on DOBC is also active on CS and it's the one same group that would run a car for either club. It'd be a bit poos to make people decide either way.

I guess we'll see closer to the date. We may have enough active population to run one for each club by 2012, Iunno...

[matdaymon]

kamineko, on 18 January 2011 - 2:06 PM, said:

personally i don't think you want an open invitation for CS'ers to drive the DOBC machine, but thats just my opinion.

This

Shale, on 18 January 2011 - 2:13 PM, said:

I do know most that would in person at least, but perhaps a stipulation that they must be paid members?

+This, that way the silly little web jockeys who put no financial input into either club get to partake in what is a complete privilege to those that have and have put the hard work in to make it happen. Become a paid member, get perks, nuff said

[Shale]

^ that, in a nutshell.

The car WON'T be a free-for-all and open to anyone that wants a bash. It will be turning up to club events only (ie: any grasskhanas, gymkhanas, trackdays, etc hosted by either CS, DOBC or any club that invites them) and people will obviously have to book in advance for their ride rights.

I'm also considering roster options, so the car isn't hogged by one butt all day.

So basically yeah, the car is open for all paid members of either club and of course DOBC's mods/pwners have the right to refuse people if they deem it necessary.

It's more for situations like Megameet - the car will be trailered down to the event, and both CS and DOBC members can book a few blats in it so long as they agree to the terms of use - you break, you pay.

I'll work out the legalese in regards to this, but it's essentially just an anti-elitist move so that people aren't cut off simply because they aren't members of DOBC (because let's face it, we all socialise together as one).

I'm taking all your suggestions in regards to this, and will be compiling it into a group agreement that everyone is happy with.

[matdaymon]

That sounds fair enough, like I said, contributing financial members only as I can only assume that it will be with club money that these vehicles will be financed and maintained. Roster sounds fair also. Event is announced. People express interest and pay their $20 for a place in the drivers seat. Time is then evenly distributed amongst those who have booked a time.

What would happen if/when the car is broken and there are people who have yet to get seat time that have paid? Refund the $20 or input it towards repairing the vehicle?

[Shale]

Like the CS cars the vehicle will likely be maintained by volunteers as well as club money - something facks out, someone is likely to have a replacement they don't particularly need and donate it for little or free. I imagine the bookings will only open up a month or so before an event, so unless someone steals and joyrides the car we're unlikely to face the situation where it's booked and broken. I guess it will be up to the members - some will want a refund, others may want to donate to the repair... but good thought actually bringing it up this early.

I think it'll be to our benefit to watch what CS does, and operate on pretty much the exact same recipe. We MAY have the funds to back the car in a bigger way, being a smaller club with less expenses, but it's not a promise.

That said if we get a few more FUCKIN HUGE shirt orders like the current lot on the press (32 at final count!!), it may just be a promise

[boostin]

If DOBC is funding the car, then I would think that it is for DOBC members only. Yet another perk to signing up here.

[matdaymon]

boostin, on 18 January 2011 - 3:42 PM, said:

If DOBC is funding the car, then I would think that it is for DOBC members only. Yet another perk to signing up here.

+1 CS will have their own car, they can sit and drool as our one more than keeps up with it That way we shall earn converts so that they can have a go

[Shale]

Well, the SOUTH ends of CS will have their own car Auckland is most likely just have one (read: I am NOT organising two!!)

[matdaymon]

To be honest I don't see a car shared with CS being a very successful idea... each club should have their own. That way all the CS trolls can't bully us into doing what they want with the car, we can 'keep it pure' so to speak

And if there is one in Wellington and one in the SI for CS why do we need one in Auckland to do the same task? Surely the Welly car will be in attendance of all major CS NI events anyway so why double up?

[Shale]

Guess I am too big-hearted for my own good?

[boostin]

There's plenty of people in CS Auck who could organise a 2nd car if need be.

[matdaymon]

boostin, on 18 January 2011 - 4:55 PM, said:

There's plenty of people in CS Auck who could organise a 2nd car if need be.

Exactly, and you won't be CS Auckland rep for too much longer unless your silly enough to take another run for it Focus on the DOBC baby you've created and CS can and will roll along with no troubles (especially when the aucklanders get jealous of the other cars)

[Shale]

I won't be running next year unless there is NO ONE. I've got uni starting in 3 weeks No money, no time. And at the moment it's too much like hard work anyway

I do hope that CS does have a population boom. There's not a remarkable amount of kinship right now from what I see.

[boostin]

Sounds normal for CS Auckland.

[DacerX]

im liking all the info thats coming up, and also having it up north is a great idea for me, because if my car is still not running i can just fly up and have a few laps and fly back sounds like heaven. but then in saying that a DOBC car in the SI would be nice to i think that we need an area meeting in chch to discuss it a little more

[Shale]

Area meeting in Chch is a brilliant idea. The options dare I say are better down there.

I've realised the key difference between the cars, should CS go ahead and run 'em... they would build theirs, and run that car with that group of people as they trailer it around the country. DOBC's intention given our significantly smaller size is to allow the other end to fly to it and drive at the car's local meets. Of course, trailering the other to the event also is a double-win.

This would probably kick off once the areas are a touch larger and have stronger organisation as well. From here looks like Chch is getting some meaty numbers though.

Would Wellington consider a group car also, or do you all have BCs coming out your ears already?