Have we become too “exclusive”?
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 10:38 am* I attended the Parade's Concours d'Elegance yesterday. I showed up at the host hotel to ride the shuttle with a friend who happened to be registered. I unfortunately, was not. We stopped by the “Cafe” that was setup, and I was escorted to the boss so I could beg for permission to accompany my friend inside the cafe. Fortunately for me, the boss was someone who recognized me as a club member, and I was permitted to walk around inside the cafe and talk to the vendors (as long as I didn't not go near the computers).
* After viewing all the beautiful cars at the Concours, I came back to the host hotel. Wanting to pick a couple more shirts for my collection I ventured over the Goodie Store. I was asked for my badge. I did not have one to present. I was then asked for my membership card. I don't carry my PCA membership card around with me, so I told the sentry “I do not have it with me, but I am a member and would like to pick up some things.” And for some reason, that was not good enough. Apparently I was lying about my membership status, and would therefore not be allowed to enter the Goodie Store and part with my money.
[I understand that the Parade needs to have something exclusive to the Parade registrants. And I do not question the value of that exclusivity. Otherwise, why pay the registration fees. But isn't that what the events (Ralley's, Banquette's, AX, Tours, etc) are for? Do you really need to make the Goodie Store and Vendor Row exclusive? Isn't that doing a dis-service to the Club and the vendors?]
* Earlier this year I attended a QDE to get some much desired, and inexpensive seat time. Through a fluke situation my pre-registration was not complete. So I was to complete the process the morning of. Well, with all the prep and busyness of the morning I forgot to go by the trailer. When I was reminded that I needed to complete the process, it was just as my students session was beginning. So on my way to my students car I stopped by the trailer and let the registrar know that I would complete the process after my students run session was through. But apparently that was not good enough. Either the registrar thought I was lying, or that waiting another 20 minutes would have brought the entire registration process to its knees and the event would have to have placed on hold.
* Even earlier in the year, I had just had a new motor installed in my car. So I wanted to get some seat time before heading to the WSIR TT. I pre-registered (a week in advance? What ever happened to 3-4 days?), and then showed up. While getting my registration packet I was asked for my membership card. I of course did not have it, as I am not in the habit of carrying it around with me on a regular basis. So, my word not being good enough, I was required to find someone at the event who could vouch for my membership status. Of course their word somehow being better than mine I was just a little irked at being called a liar.
So my question is: What has happened to this club? I have only been a member for 5 years but have seen a great change in the attitude of the club in that time. When I joined in 2002 it was a fun group to be around. I fully believed the slogan “It's not just the cars, it's the people”. I didn't have to prove I was worthy enough to be a member. In fact, if I was at a club event it was assumed I was a member. Before becoming a member I was allowed to watch, and was told all about how great the club was and that I should join, by friendly people who genuinely seemed to want me to be a part of their group. So I did. But lately greetings by people I have not met before are antagonistic, as if to say “Are you a member? Prove it! Because if not, you are not worthy of being in my presence.”
I saw a sign yesterday at the Concours, it read “Porsche Family”, I believe it was referring to the fact that everyone who owns a Porsche belongs to the “Porsche Family”. But after talking with another friend of mine, I believe it was also referring to the “PCA Family”. I have only attended a few family reunions in my day. But I can't remember ever being asked for a birth certificate to prove I was a member of the family. If I said I was a member, then I was. Most times I was also asked what line I descended from, but my status as a member of the family was never questioned.
If we really want to be the “PCA Family” then you really need to be more trusting of, and less hostile toward those who say they belong to the family. However, if PCA wants to become an Elite Car Club, then you seem to be heading in the right direction.
Jack Miller does an awesome job with the TT series. Safe, laid back process, fun, and inexpensive. I also really enjoy the once-a-year Club Race. For those reasons I will likely retain my membership for as long as I own a Porsche. But I am finding it more and more difficult to come up with reasons to attend other PCA SDR events and functions.
* After viewing all the beautiful cars at the Concours, I came back to the host hotel. Wanting to pick a couple more shirts for my collection I ventured over the Goodie Store. I was asked for my badge. I did not have one to present. I was then asked for my membership card. I don't carry my PCA membership card around with me, so I told the sentry “I do not have it with me, but I am a member and would like to pick up some things.” And for some reason, that was not good enough. Apparently I was lying about my membership status, and would therefore not be allowed to enter the Goodie Store and part with my money.
[I understand that the Parade needs to have something exclusive to the Parade registrants. And I do not question the value of that exclusivity. Otherwise, why pay the registration fees. But isn't that what the events (Ralley's, Banquette's, AX, Tours, etc) are for? Do you really need to make the Goodie Store and Vendor Row exclusive? Isn't that doing a dis-service to the Club and the vendors?]
* Earlier this year I attended a QDE to get some much desired, and inexpensive seat time. Through a fluke situation my pre-registration was not complete. So I was to complete the process the morning of. Well, with all the prep and busyness of the morning I forgot to go by the trailer. When I was reminded that I needed to complete the process, it was just as my students session was beginning. So on my way to my students car I stopped by the trailer and let the registrar know that I would complete the process after my students run session was through. But apparently that was not good enough. Either the registrar thought I was lying, or that waiting another 20 minutes would have brought the entire registration process to its knees and the event would have to have placed on hold.
* Even earlier in the year, I had just had a new motor installed in my car. So I wanted to get some seat time before heading to the WSIR TT. I pre-registered (a week in advance? What ever happened to 3-4 days?), and then showed up. While getting my registration packet I was asked for my membership card. I of course did not have it, as I am not in the habit of carrying it around with me on a regular basis. So, my word not being good enough, I was required to find someone at the event who could vouch for my membership status. Of course their word somehow being better than mine I was just a little irked at being called a liar.
So my question is: What has happened to this club? I have only been a member for 5 years but have seen a great change in the attitude of the club in that time. When I joined in 2002 it was a fun group to be around. I fully believed the slogan “It's not just the cars, it's the people”. I didn't have to prove I was worthy enough to be a member. In fact, if I was at a club event it was assumed I was a member. Before becoming a member I was allowed to watch, and was told all about how great the club was and that I should join, by friendly people who genuinely seemed to want me to be a part of their group. So I did. But lately greetings by people I have not met before are antagonistic, as if to say “Are you a member? Prove it! Because if not, you are not worthy of being in my presence.”
I saw a sign yesterday at the Concours, it read “Porsche Family”, I believe it was referring to the fact that everyone who owns a Porsche belongs to the “Porsche Family”. But after talking with another friend of mine, I believe it was also referring to the “PCA Family”. I have only attended a few family reunions in my day. But I can't remember ever being asked for a birth certificate to prove I was a member of the family. If I said I was a member, then I was. Most times I was also asked what line I descended from, but my status as a member of the family was never questioned.
If we really want to be the “PCA Family” then you really need to be more trusting of, and less hostile toward those who say they belong to the family. However, if PCA wants to become an Elite Car Club, then you seem to be heading in the right direction.
Jack Miller does an awesome job with the TT series. Safe, laid back process, fun, and inexpensive. I also really enjoy the once-a-year Club Race. For those reasons I will likely retain my membership for as long as I own a Porsche. But I am finding it more and more difficult to come up with reasons to attend other PCA SDR events and functions.
