944 owner experience 1st ever PCGB Meet (Essex)

[ukmastiff]

Lo all, I thought at least someone may like to hear my experience of going to my first PCGB regional meet which was in Essex.

I set off last night in plenty of time ( 50 mins) to arrive for 8P.M , only to find Google was quite out of date in its directions ( yes really). This caused me to arrive at the Golf Club 15 minutes after the 'start time' but since I was expecting a load of folk at a bar chatting I wans't too worried. On my arrival I checked out the car park , one 944 , two 928's and many, many 911 varients.

As I strolled in at 8.15 there was a lady PCGB member from the Institute of Advanced Motorists giving a lecture/presentation so I crept in and stood at the back as you do. Obviously during the lecture this didnt give even sociable chatty me any chance to meet anyone but the presentation was quite relevent to us Porsche folk so worth a listen. I would say there were around 40 people in attendence.

After the lecture most folk huddled quuickly in to groups of 5 or 6 plus and clearly all knew each other , I was quite visable but noticably only one club official and one other member spoke to me or even appeared to notice that I was there. I spoke for some time with a nice chap who I had approached and said hello too and it turns out that he was a new member like myself in the last week and has a 993 Targa. The only other person I met was the organiser a young gentleman who came round promoting a Scalextric night in two weeks time. Sadly this night out was too early for me to get to after work so I declined. The club chairman was there circulating but sadly didnt notice me though he walked right past me two or three times.

Would I go again , yes I would but would I go alone again, no I wouldnt as if I had not met the other new member I would have been the proverbial spare part at a wedding.

On a fun note , In my efforts to make conversation , I mentioned Karting to the organiser chap and that I was interested in Paul's regional Karting days at Rye House ( not far from the Essex lot). He quickly replied
" ooh you may be better supporting their region in any inter region Karting as they are a bit too good ".

From the look on his face I belive that Pauls Karting 'team' strike the fear of the allmighty in to the hearts of the surrounding regions []

Cheers Mas

 

[zcacogp]

Mas,

Hmmm. Sounds like we really need to meet up before getting to the venue next month ...


Oli.

 

[Suffolk944]

I think its a fairly typical regional meet experience. When I first went I managed to introduce myself to the RO and he fortunately (if thats quite the word ! []) introduced me to Mr Sims so I had a point of 944 contact early doors, plus there were a few other 944 types such as Rick there over the next few months. However, in the months where people I knew were not there it was a pretty isolated experience as people tend to clump together in their own little groups, which is really why I drifted away from the regional scene.

That said if we make arrangements next month before the meet to see who amongst us is turning up then its still worth a bash imho. Even better if we can make it into a regular occurence.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Must say that my first experience was far better than that.
I turned up, slightly early as is my want, talked all night to a variety of people, GT 2 /3 Cayanne old and new 911 924 owners and the regional organiser, was invited on a club meet the following sunday, which I said I couldn't do, which was met with real dissappointment.
I would guess having the speaker there may not have helped.
I hope its not put you off Mas and that you and the others have a good evening next month.
Mike

 

[jasonp]

hiya mas, sorry to hear your first experience was none to positive,im with oli and think it would be nice to turn up on "masse" for the next meeting hope to see you soon mas, regards jason p

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: jasonp
.... it would be nice to turn up on "masse" for the next meeting hope ...

Hey blud. We could have a 944 possee, and get wiv our front-engined homies. [:'(]

Word.

(Yes.)


Oli.

 

[verysideways]

Mas,
My first PCGB meet was many, many years ago now but i went in my 993 C4S and a mate went in his 944.
We had a very similar experience (different region i might add!) to yours.

I do think it's better if you know someone who is already "in", as they can introduce you around. There must be people here who are in your region?
Once you're "in" though you should find people are really friendly - it's just that initial introduction which needs to be made.

 

[Alpine]

my experience was the same as yours too Mas. To be honest, I probably don't have much in common with the typical 911/Boxster driver. I am after all a 944 enthusiast, not necessarily a Porsche enthusiast

 

[pugsy]

mas,
Maybe the format of the evening didn't suit new members such as ourselves;given another visit and better weather when people will be outside and can chat cars all night!
hope to see you there next meet.
jon. (993 targa and hivi)

 

[ukmastiff]

Well Jon, you saved me from oblivion and I have a long memory []

 

[wibble]

[FONT=Arial"]It does sound familiar. However, if you persevere you will get to know more members in your region. I have now met most of the hardcore R19 members and now officially one of them - we always welcome new members to attend. The 944 register will definitely welcome you, so make sure you attend one of these meetings such as frontrunners, cotswold rally or the silverstone classic, plus the unofficial 944 events on this forum.

 

[944Turbo]

haven't been to a region meet for years but down our way the summer ones are better attended and chatting around the cars is an ice breaker,
Tony

 

[Suffolk944]

The summer BBQ that Essex region do where all the other clubs are invited is excellent and really well attended with well over 100 cars of all marques turning up (closer to 200 usually)

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Alpine
I am after all a 944 enthusiast, not necessarily a Porsche enthusiast

... and that's a good point. I suspect that the discussions on here are atypical of those in PCGB as a whole, and that is perhaps shown clearly by the traffic here as opposed to in other PCGB forums.

I happen to wish that my S2 wasn't a Porsche. It would be cheaper to insure, parts would be cheaper and it wouldn't have the whole "Porsche driver = toss9r" aura about it. The fact that it is a Porsche is reflected only by the badges on the nose and stern and the chrome-and-plate-glass place that I (very occasionally) go to when I need to buy spares.

How much I would have in common with the rest of PCGB is debatable. How much I have in common with the rest of the 944 chapter is huge ... (I understand that my S2 is basically the same as those terribly slow turbo things, so I guess there is something in common there as well!)


Oli.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

How much I would have in common with the rest of PCGB is debatable. How much I have in common with the rest of the 944 chapter is huge

You'd be surprised. Most long-term members I've met have owned 944s in the past, if not now, and have a great deal of respect for them. There will always be someone who's spent his company budget on a lovely silver 997, and wants to feel superior, but they are very few and far between.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty
You'd be surprised. Most long-term members I've met have owned 944s in the past, if not now, and have a great deal of respect for them. There will always be someone who's spent his company budget on a lovely silver 997, and wants to feel superior, but they are very few and far between.

Fair cop. I should caveat my comments with the fact that I know nothing of the club other than that which I have picked up second-hand, and therefore my comments should be taken with no weight or authority whatsoever (as should everything I say!)

My experience of enthusiasts clubs runs to that of Club GTi (as I think I have mentioned before), and there was a huge regional variation - some regions were great, some terrible. I happened to be in one of the best regions of all, with a bunch of people of a similar mindset to me, and made some very good friends. There was a certain amount of car-based-snobbery, but it was almost an inverse snobbery; the Mk1 was cool (and I had one), the modern Mk3's (and Mk4's, which arrived while I was 'on the scene') were very, very uncool.

I guess that this will be similar with PCGB. But summer meets are always better than winter ones, and standing with a half of shandy in your hand (have to drive home, after all!) looking at some tin in the car park on a warm summers evening was always better than standing by the bar in the winter. 'Show and tell' is more fun than 'tales of derring-do', and some hardware is a great conversation piece ...


Oli.

 

[EU53UUX]

Gosh Mas you have started a hot topic here. It's pleasing that you have referred to me as a young gentleman in your message. I am sorry that you have mixed feelings about our club night and it is good to have feedback about your initial experience.

You (and Jon) are unusual in attending a meeting so early in your PCGB life. Most people turn up once they have had our welcome email, so they know what will be happening on that night. It is true that if we have a speaker and you arrive late it is hard to get introduced because afterwards everyone assumes that you have been there all along as I did.

One of the difficulties for me as an organiser is that we have over 700 members and some come but once a year to the barbeque perhaps. Martyn and I try to pick up on the new faces that are there, but by the same token we don't want to seem rude by asking someone if they are new only to be told "We chatted last year, don't you remember?". If you had stuck your hand up and asked who was in charge they would have pointed you in my direction or Martyn's. I could then have introduced you - perhaps we will do that next meeting!

When I was new to Essex I didn't enjoy my first meeting. I wasn't keen on the subject matter of the evening and everyone seemed to know eachother and I felt like an outsider. I decided to give it another go though and found that there were actually some quite nice people. It took me a while to realise there are quite a lot of great people. Many of them don't know eachother and that is why you see the cliquing of groups of people. It can be the same with the register meets too except that if you are standing beside your cars you instantly have something in common.

We do run lots of different events throughout the year (22 last year plus 11 club nights) and some are better for meeting people than others. What you do get from your region is that it is close to you. That may be less relevant to you because you are lucky enough to have the 944 brigade on your doorstep. Registers for my cars never seem to have stuff going on in East Anglia - sorry Jon!

Anyway if you and Jon could send me your email addresses I will get you up to speed on what is going on in Essex. [gt@feering6.fsnet.co.uk] I would be pleased if you could give your thoughts on how you feel about us in a couple of months time.

Best regards,

 

[ukmastiff]

I wont be posting to ' have the last word' but do feel the need to point out that I havnt 'critisised' anyone , just written about my experience. I always write an honest and fair appraisal of anything , Meets , Car , Tyres, Light Bulbs, I dont do sticky waffle. Folk here will know that I like to write and to read others thoughts ( chat?) and I like to think that a few other folk even enjoy reading my exploits. It also wasnt lost on me that a 'club official' would read this post either a I am many things but not slow.

One of the main reasons I told some forum folk that I would be going to the meet was to encourage others like Oli Jason etc to join me so I'm a happy bunny now.

Cheers

Mas

 

[zcacogp]

Mas,

You haven't criticised anyone (and, in fairness, I don't think anyone said you did!)

Your post (i.e. this thread) was helpful, as it could just as easily have been me tripping along there to a slightly less-than-enthusiastic welcome. So, thanks from me at least.

Having said that, I guess it's like going to any party (/club/pub/ritualistic-child-abuse-coven/other) for the first time, without any friends with you. It seems that everyone else there is bosom buddies and has known each other for decades (which may or may not be true) and you are the billy-no-mates who has to start from absolute scratch. It's tough. Which is why I am so keen to meet up with other 944 folks (friendly names even if I don't know the faces) before going there myself!

I guess the Regional Organiser is meant to take the role of 'Party Host', and hence it's probably worth dropping him (/her?) a line before going along for the first time. Greg, you are the assistant organiser for Essex (according to your sig), so should we tell you or someone else that a bunch of dirty, smelly, unwashed poor-man's-Porsche owning types will be rocking up for the March meeting?


Oli.

 

[EU53UUX]

Hi Oli and Mas,

I agree that it is difficult to fit into a new group. You have to find out which ones you are going to like for starters. I actually think that it is better to go alone to such things because it forces you to mingle. The reason girls dance round their handbags is to intimidate any approach. Mas was chatting away to Jon and people maybe assumed they didn't want to be interrupted. Anyway he is right to say that an introduction wouldn't have gone amiss. This is something we will try to rectify for him and for future new members.

Next month we will be having a half hour chat from Phil Seton, a motorbike race tuner (see http://www.seton-tuning.co.uk/ ) and he will be bringing one of his bikes into the room with him! Might be interesting.

Our meetings are for members only and people from outside Essex region are very welcome to attend. You can also go on our mailing list if you are not already - please supply your member number if you are from a different region. (Tons of stuff never makes it to the magazine because of the long publishing time). We don't post events to the R11 forum because that requires a login and password which is too much for many members.

Just so as you know my boss, the Regional Organiser for R11, is Martyn Molyneaux. He is also the Chairman for the club as
a whole which is a full time job in itself.

Greg