An observation...
I used to run the Astra Mk2 Owners Club until August last year and was arranging a number of events each year, all centred on shows. The main event of the year was the
VBOA National Rally at Billing Aquadrome near Northampton. The best part of that was that all the VBOA affiliated Vauxhall clubs come together for that weekend and make a huge show that runs from the Friday afternoon until the Sunday evening (or for the die hards like me, Monday morning).
The location was generally accepted to favour Southerners, but nonetheless lots of people made it down from all over Scotland as far North as Aberdeen. Great for me as I could get there with the caravan in a little over a couple of hours or so.
Travelling a long way to any meet / show / event was something that put off many members, but the solution is pretty simple really. We arranged convoys that would stop at various points along the route from each main area and these would grow as people joined. Therefore there's already some 'club' activity, tyre kicking and introductions before everyone arrives. That works well for people coming from afar, locals just turn up on site.
For me, it's great not to be doing the organising. While I did enjoy it, I lost so many evenings in the run up to each event handling questions, bookings and arrangements that by the time I got there and spent the whole weekend running round keeping it together. Sunday night came round and that was the first chance to sit down. Good on you guys for doing the organising. I can't commit yet and the only GTG I've been to with you guys was the one at Jimmy's, which was excellent.
Ian.
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