Reminiscing

[White Van Man]

Just been watching some old SORC clips on YouTube. Whatever happened to the good old days (off only a couple of years ago) when you would get 20+ cars turning up for RTVs and Tyros, when the Hill Rally wasn't cancelled due to lack of entries and when members actually used the forum. Has the club become a victim of its own success or have the costs simply become to much to bear ? I just feel very sad watching these clips, until this year I had hardly missed a RTV in 5 years. Now even if I get the chance to go, will there be any point if there are only 5 others turning up ?

[SandyM]

I feel your pain Joe , but I think that many folks are having to make some tough decisions about how they spend their money, and 'off roading' is basically a fun, leisure activity which comes low in the spending cash for fun stakes.

Sspeaking personally I would have taken part in more events last year if I was able to get the time off work, however what with the global recession putting business and household budgets under strain etc, etc, etc, the only way for me to get the required time off is basically to take unpaid leave (and bully some poor soul to work my shift), and that doesn't really make sense .

As for this year, well due to my kidneys going on strike in January, the racer is still awaiting repairs since the axle busting carnage that was the Glendearg Comp , not to mention the extra mods required to comply with the latest Blue Book.

The Ninety (Gawd love the wee soul!) has sat patiently in the drive since January waiting for me to get my sorry 4rs[- in gear and get it MOT'd, but with 6 inches of snow on the ground, howling gales and me feeling somewhat poorly (and a car that is 2 inches too tall to fit in the garage ) that has to wait for better weather and me being able to crawl about the floor without bringing on a relapse.

I don't think it is just SORC members that are feeling the pinch either, I have noticed a general slowing down on several other t'internet forums, with people generally posting less, and on one in particular a complete lack of anything decent worth buying on the 'For sale' section, when 12 - 18 months ago there were plenty of options to buy vehicles/parts in the £3,000+ category. Now it is mainly second hand door handles and bent wheel wrenches for 50p that make up the bulk of the trade .

[weeone]

Everything is down on 2009.... and 2009 was down on 2008

(don't let anyone tell you the recession is over - it ain't, and it ain't going to get any easier in the next few years!)

[SandyM]

Everything is down on 2009.... and 2009 was down on 2008

(don't let anyone tell you the recession is over - it ain't, and it ain't going to get any easier in the next few years!)

Thanks for cheering me up Ian , but on the subject of reminiscing I recently came across the SORC 10th anniversary calendar, complete with piccies of people and cars I had forgotten about , and somewhere I have the(shaky) video of the fun/driving day in wintry Northumbria featuring Jim Miller in the RR with 7.50 tyres, and a very young looking Danny riding passenger in my V8 Discovery ( the day after I had fitted the wrong spark plugs ) to name but a few.

[Da Pimp]

It will be a while before we're out of the woods...the recession is just starting to bite up in Aberdeenshire.

[Alan S.]

Yep only a few years back the club was running two groups in the tyro's due to the number entering. I suspect the recession, increase in fuel prices and car tax hikes have made many question whether they can afford to run a 4x4. There is barely a week that passes in the Stoddart household where I don't have to defend the cost of owning the disco. I hope the clubs decision to reduce the entry fee for the next event stimulates interest and the numbers participating increase.

Alan S

[weeone]

I hope the clubs decision to reduce the entry fee for the next event

Hell, at £20 entry fee, you are only covering the cost of the ground - the club if stumping up the MSA costs from it's coffers

I'm wondering if there are just too many events happening now?
(with rallies & club events & other club events & other hobby days & trying to trim the clothes to fit the cloth & ....)

[Marcus]

Yup. The plan is that we will take a financial hit this time, but hopefully if we get significantly higher numbers then we can use that as a negotiating tool with the landowners, simple maths 15 cars at £15 each is more money for the landowner than 11 cars at £20, and for a Tyro especially the ground "damage" is likely to be indistinguishable.

Thats why we need as many people as possible to come to the Drumclog RTV and Tyro events on the 31st July and 1st August.

[wee_arthur]

Maybe an email around to all SORC members would be required to let people who don't check the website regularly see the discounted price and alert them of the date.

I know people who only plan to come to an event the week before some prior notice would hopefully help them put the date in the calendar.

My tuppence worth

[Marcus]

Good suggestion William, I've just sent out an email to all the forum users, so hopefully that may generate more interest.

Marcus