MCA membership - Reasons for not joining

[J_Speegle]

That last post is a little disconcerting. To win an award, you have to know what the judges look for. ..........

On the concours side 50% of the points are assigned to workmanship and condition IMHO even if someone with no specific knowledge of these cars (heck even a chevy owner can be of some help in pointing other the hidden or missed spots.

As for the concours side - that is a whole 'nother thing but every thing helps


Sorry but we're getting off thread : (

[FastDad]

...Don't think we need to "get away" from the show idea - especially since a large percentage of the membership is interested ....

The reason why "a large percentage of the membership is interested" is because, for the most part that's all that MCA does. That's why MCA is not growing as much as we might like to see. When you only offer one thing, you are only going to get "customers" who want that one thing. Everyone else will shop elsewhere.

[J_Speegle]

The reason why "a large percentage of the membership is interested" is because, for the most part that's all that MCA does. That's why MCA is not growing as much as we might like to see. When you only offer one thing, you are only going to get "customers" who want that one thing. Everyone else will shop elsewhere.

Not sure if its the "ONLY" thing they do remember allot of cruises, dinners, shop visits and even an open track or two event over the years, but as you may have noticed in my earlier post - I'm more than supportive of allot more things going on at the "weekend events"

We're not on opposite sides - just looking at it from different angles

[bbs428]

Just got me thinking about this and how many other enthusiasts are out there, but don't join MCA for reasons like this. Seems a shame that they don't feel compelled to join because their car isn't good enough. Guess I would like to know if others have had similar discussions and what was said. I personally do not feel a need to "sell" MCA as I think there are many different ways members enjoy the club and my benefits of being a member may not apply to someone else.

I also didn't join until our mach 1 was about 6 months till completed. We have a new 2013 mustang but felt that wasn't the reason to join. Having the older car and being reviewed by our peers and knowlagble judges were our motivation to join. Our 69 mach 428cj was an expensive car to restore and local car shows did not appreciate the rarity nor the effort to get it as original as possible.

Our first show was the Grand National at Mustang Ok last week. Other than the heat, we had a great time. The Oklahoma mustangers did a fine job and were more than hospitable.

I agree with a previous poster that car show events need to be more than a parking lot of cars. A lot can be done to have other things to do and to see locally to make the event more fun and interesting.
The wife went shoping at the mall with our mustang club friends from Joplin, Mo. that came to the show. We went on the cruise to the brickyard and had dinner with the Greater Kansas City Mustang club. We met some new friends and had a great time!

Even though I had reviewed the rules till my eyes bled, I still missed some things and mis-interpeted others. Our 1969 mach 1 didn't do as well as we wanted in the CPS class and we wanted to find out what needed to be improved/fixed. Most of the hits were cleaning/condition issues.
We were very happy with the results and the judges were very professional and knowledgeable.

One thing that bears mentioning is the growth of the late model mustangs that you can cruise and drive more than a classic show car. What has helped us have more fun is having our new v6 mustang at a show so we use that as our parade/cruise/go out to eat car and leave the 428cj on display.

Jmho, Brett

[aroth28]

Russ,
Your car would not have placed in Mustang, OK. Sorry. My Cobra convertible with IRS has 163k and we love the car and it is daily driven every day. Shelby said cars were made to be driven. My point I was trying to make was for first timers going to a national show, if your car would not bring $25k at Barrett Jackson dont bother entering. Daily Driver is for concourse with a little wear on the tires that do not want engine or undercarriage judged. Occasional Driver is for the same only judging the engine also. Top car (zero pts deduction) and the next within 3 pts get first place, second and third are right behind. We had CSI judging i.e. "a hair in the trunk", "dust on the speedometer". I really thought daily driver was just that. I want new MCA members to know it is all concourse like Pebble Beach. I fully expected my friend with the $80k+ Shelby to get best of show or a special award. I was flabbergasted when they announced his name for a second place award. I like the drive and may do Mustang, OK to Vegas in 2014 only to see Shelby's place, see the Vegas racetrack. We did MAA with Sam Haymart to Nashville and Birmingham and had a blast. Like the young man said, I wont be entering any MCA shows because my car is not good enough. If I owned the $80+ Shelby, I would have to think twice before subjecting it to CSI scrutiny. I have learned a lot from MCA and appreciate that but unless Obama gives me a Shelby 1000 perhaps it is time for me to move on.

Tommy, have driven the Shelby 1000. It's not very "street" friendly at all. Of course it's not suppossed to be. I'm only in my mid 30s (young by club standards) but am absolutely hooked to MCA national shows. The travel, new locations and meeting great people is what it's all about! And it's not a true concors show for the OD/DD class. Cleanliness is the name of the game though. Shoot me a PM if you want some commonly missed areas for our cars.

Andy

[CharlesTurner]

The reason why "a large percentage of the membership is interested" is because, for the most part that's all that MCA does. That's why MCA is not growing as much as we might like to see. When you only offer one thing, you are only going to get "customers" who want that one thing. Everyone else will shop elsewhere.

Completely agree with that. Believe the membership numbers have remained static for at least the past 5, possibly 10 years... hovering around the 10-12k members. I'm sure it would interest a lot of folks if those stats were published somewhere.

Going back to my original post, I know we all join for different reasons, but believe there needs to be more done to attract younger owners to MCA... and to keep them as members. I would guess that the numbers are very high for members that join and don't renew after the first year. Wonder how many of those MCA memberships that Ford gave with a new Mustang that didn't renew after the first year?

I do appreciate those that get involved in the club and try to make it better and never intend to imply that what they have done isn't good enough. But, with membership not growing, the numbers do speak loudly, so there has to be room for improvement.

[gtpuller]

A Mustang is purchased to satisfy the ego. There are plenty of more practical or economical vehicles manufactured that meet a customer's transportation needs. Whether it's the styling, the performance, or the pony car hype, Why the Mustang as remained a viable product of the Ford Motor Company for the last 48 years, who can say for sure? Mustang means so many different things to their owners; The MCA will have to embrace a multifaceted membership to remain viable. Supporting five national shows a year is fine, but you have to admit that only appeals to a small percentage of the Mustang community. I enjoy cleaning polishing and waxing, but I have difficulty achieving and maintaining MCA show standards. I am proud of the little scars my car has received while being driven over the years. I do enjoy driving it. That's why I prefer the Display Class
The following are methods I believe could grow the membership of the MCA;
1. The MCA should partner with Ford and its dealers to provide MCA brochures and Limited free membership in the MCA. Anyone who buys a new or used Mustang from a Ford Dealers lot should receive a MCA welcome packet. Send in a prepaid postage card for a free trial membership. The packet should also have a pamphlet directing the new owner to the local MCA affiliated club. Six months to a year of a free trial membership ought to do it.
2. The staff at Mustang Times could use the data of the limited club membership drive to entice more advertising sponsors. Everyone buys something for their new ride. Advertising revenue would increase to the point the magazine production and delivery costs would be minimized.
3. Work out MCA Membership discounts with as many parts and service suppliers as possible. This alone could take the sting out of the annual dues.
4. Promote more driving events. Not the hard track days or dragstrip runs, there are other organizations that are better suited for those pursuits, but events where a participant can get out and exercise their pony. Maybe leave a little rubber on the asphalt somewhere. A Car rodeo comes to mind. Heck it could be as simple as a timed parallel parking competition between some traffic cones.
5. Promote the local clubs cruise about. Spend a day and get out, see some off the wall attractions, eat dinner in an out of the way restaurant. Go to a drive-in movie. End the day at an ice cream parlor or better yet, coffee and doughnuts at Krispy Kreme.
6. Some How To articles in Mustang Times for the folks who do little or none of their own maintenance. Not the How to rebuild a C-6 auto transmission or differential stuff; leave that for the hard core guys. There is plenty of maintenance or modifications on the newer Mustangs that are so simple that after completion, you wonder why you would ever take it to a shop to have that done.
7. Promote and do fun stuff

I have taken too much of your time and I thank you for allowing me to vent. My local club and I suspect many regional clubs have similar issues with membership and a sense of direction. If I find something that works, I'll be more than happy to share.
Now get out there and drive that Mustang!!!
Steve

[jacostang]

Great Input Steve, Time well spent!
Enjoy your Mustangs!