Re: How many folks on this site DO NOT belong to a local Packard club?

Posted by Mike Grimes On 2012/9/16 8:46:03

Kev's vision of a platform to share information, experience, and a social discourse has reached proportions that I'm sure not even the big man himself could have anticipated.

Clubs have a role. First and foremost, we need a group who are willing to fund and support the unintended or calculated attempts by some to end our hobby. Be it an interest in environmental stewardship or people who view the artwork we drive as an eyesore, we need to have some organized capability and funding to protect our point of view. Our car clubs are a way of serving that purpose.

Clubs are a place where the virtual experience on this website can be turned into some hands on coaching by local Packard collectors who have that ability to turn the parts lists, owners manuals, and shop manuals into results on the car. Many of the very early Packard factory support materials presume the reader already has a working knowledge of some procedures that were never documented. Having local help can pay off.

Clubs offer social activities, like tours. For me, there's a lot less anxiety taking a 100 plus mile drive in the Packard if there are some "experts" in the caravan who can help you get home if your Packard decides its time for a hose or belt to break, a water pump to fail or something worse.

In addition to the info on this site, the Packard Clubs produce newsletters and other materials that contain fascinating stories of the technical, business aspect, design, and people who created our cars that are always interesting. To some Packard junkies, you can't send us too much information. While I'm not in the geography of some clubs, I'm a member just to receive their publications.

By their very design, clubs (like this forum) are composed of people. My experience has been that Packard people on the whole are no different than the population in general. There are always some people who enjoy a good debate and are willing to take either side of the argument, aggressively. There are others who know that their opinion is fact while others of us just want to enjoy the ride.

Many members of our forum live in an area where there is no local Packard Club. However, there are lots of other car clubs that would more than welcome you Packard or your enthusiasm for Packards.

So, while this is a great forum that needs to be perpetuated for many decades to come, if for no other reason than to protect our hobby for the rules and legislation of non-car lovers, I'd encourage a club membership (a Packard Club if you prefer) in addition to supporting Kev and those who make this site so valuable.