<VV> attracting youngER members

[J R Read_HML]

Hi Bill,

Good thoughts for some (few) potential new members I suppose.  It certainly 
does not fit my own (past) scenario...

In the early '60s I was in college and had a couple of mid '30s Fords. 
Restored a '36 rumble seat convert and had a used (and abused) '35 2 door. 
The '35 became an engagement ring.  Not long after, babies started coming 
along and despite the time and money spent and the love for the '36, I had 
to let it go in 1967.

When I got back into old cars it was after the kids (4) were pretty much 
done with their college and the attendant expenses.  This time around, it 
was Corvairs.  I was probably in my late 40s by then.

Considering that (in general) folks are marrying later and having babies 
later in life than we (most of us) did back in the '60s, that money 
situation (to afford these toys) may not come around for them until their 
late 50s or beyond.  I suspect that most folks currently in their 40s are 
busy with raising a family and helping to put the kids through school.

Now, I'm not saying that we should not talk with such folks, just that the 
"market" may not be so large as your note might indicate.  I've found that 
the best way (for me anyway) to meet interested (car oriented) folks is to 
be out and about in a Vair.

I pretty much drive one or the other all summer and attend "cruise ins" held 
by various towns in my area.  When "parked" at a cruise night, stay with the 
car and talk with the spectators.  Seems like almost everyone has had an 
uncle, father, even grandfather had a Corvair and they have fond memories. 
Be ready to put them onto one or two that you know are for sale at the time. 
Also have some parts catalogs and a few CCs to be able to show them the 
support that is available.  The one on one works best for me in terms of 
recruiting new owners/members.

Later, JR

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Wrsssatty at aol.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 4:30 PM
Subject: <VV> attracting youngER members


>I have long thought that the greatest obstacle to current Corsa folks
> attracting new members is their (our?) inability or unwillingness to think 
> outside
> the box.  Now we are again discussing attracting young members and 
> everyone
> seems to be thinking about when "guys like us" first got into Corvairs  as 
> our
> first car in high school, etc. and thinking that all we have to do is to 
> get
> guys now in high school interested in Corvairs.  I don't think that's 
> likely
> to happen on a large scale.  I don't think guys in high school today  are 
> much
> interested in cars period, much less Corvairs.  We need to think  not 
> about
> attracting young members but youngER members as in younger than what  we 
> now
> have.  Step one is determining what is the average age of current  Corsa
> members.  I'd guess around 50.  In fact, I'd bet the mean age of  Corsa 
> members is
> probably higher.  Anyway, once we've determined our  average age, aim at
> attracting members 10-15 years younger than that, say, 40  years old.  At 
> that age
> they should be entering their peak earning years  and still old enough, 
> perhaps,
> to have some knowledge or memory of the  car.  Getting into the collector 
> car
> hobby probably is something  that already has appeal to them and they may 
> be
> enticed into Corvairs by their  relative affordability.
>
> Our cars are antiques now and most people who own antique cars regard them
> as a toy or a luxury.  They have another, modern and reliable car to drive 
> to
> and from work everyday.  Sorry, but the reality is that the number of
> Corvairs used as daily drivers is dwindling, dwindling, dwindling.  And 
> this target
> age group I'm talking about usually works long hours to earn the 
> disposable
> income that would allow them to have a collector car and, for that 
> reason,
> usually wants to pay someone else to keep it in the kind of condition 
> that they
> can just enjoy driving it and showing it, etc. in what little spare  time 
> they
> have.  For that reason, I agree with the person who posted saying  that 
> the
> lack of knowledgeable and experienced mechanics to whom one can take a 
> Corvair
> is a hindrance to a more widespread popularity for Corvairs.  I've  said 
> that
> here before.  I don't know much we can do about that other than  to 
> encourage
> anyone in our midst so inclined to work on other people's Corvairs  for 
> money.
>
> ~Bill Stanley
> **************From Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in between, 
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