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That's a bit like the government raising the taxes of honest folk, instead of collecting arrears from the non-paying deadbeats. Folks in Boston will dress up like Native Americans and throw stuff into the harbor. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn
Jim
Actually, I'm #8 in the S registry, #15 in R Gruppe. Guess I know a good thing when I see it! ;) C'mon guys...as early 911 owners, we all know that you gotta pay to play. Send the check!
I joined the Regisrty as soon as I purchased my car. I was hoping to find as much information as I could specific to the "S" cars to assist me with my restoration. To a degree, I have found just that. The message board has been a great source of information. I follow others who are involoved in their own restoration projects carefully. I keep tabs on the sources for those hard to find items and service providers. I feast on the project pictures posted by other members.
The news magazine is a fine product. But even though it is well written, it frequently lacks the information portion that I crave. I read the write ups of events, but I feel like a total outsider. Unless you were at the event, the names, faces, and insider "jokes" miss the mark.
I'm sure some will be thinking "Get involved with the events and it will not miss the mark." I understand that. I try to attend as many PCA events as my schedule allows. Fitting in Registry events that are rarely in my area is next to impossible. And since my car is in pieces, driving my Toyota double cab to a Registry event wouldn't be much fun.
I would like to see more beginner type information on the cars. Focus on the restoration and care of certain elements across the various years. For example, restoration of the interior of a door. What are the differences from 66-73? How about Brake systems? What are the options? Steering wheels seem to be of great interest. How about an article devoted just to Rims? While technical information regarding compression ratios or gear ratios may be the cat's meow to some folks, it is lost on me. Perhaps a balance of information would attract more folks.
I'm relatively new here and certainly do not wish to step on any toes. I ceratinly do not know the history of the ideas that have already been attempted. I am just offering my perspective.
Thanks,
Joe
Thanks Chuck!!
If you need any help out here in Colorful Colorado - just give me a shout :)
A couple of comments. Most (if not all?) the activities are regional. Being in the midwest prevents many from participating. It makes the registry feel exclusive. If there were more regional events, maybe more people would be compelled to join?
Some perceive the 911Sregistry as an extension of R-Gruppe and exclusive rather than inclusive. Maybe simply from the fact that many of the more active members here also happen to be R-Gruppe members that own some really nice (and unobtanium for some) cars. I think some get intimidated by that (obviously, not someone like me who is also a proud GruppeB member :) ). Perhaps that perception discourages some?
Just some thoughts...not sure what, if anything, should/could be done about it.
I'm in South Florida most of the year and would like to help out. E mail me if needed.
Branding and convenience sell.
We have neither.
It's to hard to pay and the club's name is too exclusionary. You can say "we love all things longhood", but perception will always be of exclusivity until we walk the talk. Not be a voice of discontent; as an 'S' owner, the 'S' part of the registry is cool by me. BUT, if we want to get more registered members, we NEED to address the convenience and perception issues or we will be stuck where we are. I know I am sounding like a broken record here, but the truth is the truth.
[QUOTE=Chuck Miller]
We are still hovering around 500 paid Registry members with a registered message board participation of 1617.
This still baffles me. :confused:
QUOTE]
Bear in mind that 600 of these 'registered users' have zero posts, and likely do not visit the board reglarly if at all. I'm sure a few are 'lurkers' in those 600, but there are also hundreds of 1-3 post 'users' that also are probably not close to being regular.
There are probably a few duplicate usernames as well in that list (from people forgetting passwords & starting new accounts).
Is it possible that there just aren't more than about 500 people who are truly passionate about these cars? Passionate enough to consider all other Porsches (and all other cars in general) as 2nd class citizens to the early car? Passionate enough to join the club and participate? Just a thought.
I visit a couple of M3 forums occasionally. Most of the regulars on those boards are as passionate about the M3 as we are about the early 911. Personally, I don't have any real passion for the M3 even though I think they're great cars and I own 2 of them! But I wouldn't pay to join an M3 club. Maybe there're early 911 owners who feel the same way?
My only thought on Curt's point is that all M3s are truly modern cars. They can act as great transport, for the enthisast and non-enthusiast alike. Driving an old 911 is a great pleasure, but not without the pain that is commensurate with driving a 40 year old car. It takes a decision clouded by enthusiast reasoning to drive these cars. Early 911 owners drive their 911s for one reason: LOVE. You have to be crazy about early 911s to drive one...period.
I know a lot of M3 drivers who drive them only for getting from point A to B in style. That coupled with the sheer number of M3s on the road and I don't think the comparison holds except in very general terms.