<VV> More realities and about recruiting younger members

airvair at earthlink.net airvair at earthlink.net
Sat Jan 31 15:12:14 EST 2009


You guys sure know how to make a guy feel like an antique himself. LOL But
you ARE right. Those under-30 really DON'T know what carbs or points are.
But then again, maybe if we would tell them that unlike those modern
computer-cars, a car with carbs and points can be bailing wire-and-chewing
gum'd together and limp home. Whereas a computer-car is like a light switch
- either it works or it doesn't, and no amount of bailing wire or chewing
gum will get you off the side of the road.

It all reminds me of what Andy Rooney once said when somebody tried to
"sell" him on the idea of "keeping recipes and addresses on a computer." He
replied that he had a card file that did the job admirably, and it didn't
even need to be plugged in.

Sometimes having a car (like the Corvair) that's simple to fix, even if it
DOES need (often minor) fixing more often than a modern car, IS a selling
point. It's just that the buyer has to enjoy mechanical tinkering. And
that's one human quality that I doubt has ceased to be. It just needs
nurturing. And we old-timers are the ones that have to do the nurturing. I
think that once the right young person is turned on to just how easy (and
fun!) Corvairs are to work on, then the future of CORSA and the Corvair
hobby will be assured.

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> Subject: <VV> More realities and about recruiting younger members
>
> Hi Andy and all, Your observations are very accurate. It may have 
> been at a recent Corvair Atlanta function or at
> one of our autocrosses that someone commented to me that anyone under 
> the age of 30 probably doesn't know how a carburetor or ignition 
> points work as they have never had a Car that used them. My initial 
> response was WOW that is really how it is and we do indeed live in a 
> different automotive world. Bill Hubbell commented recently that our 
> revolutionary Corvairs are antiques now just like
> any other pre computer cars. Your points (no pun intended) and mine 
> and Bill's are all things that effect young peoples decisions to
> enter the old car hobby and are really basic to whether they will 
> take the plunge and they need advice and help with their Corvairs
> when entering the hobby.
>
> Chuck Armer
>
> At 02:17 PM 1/30/2009, you wrote:
> >Guys (gender neutral),
> >I recognize the hope to recruit young members (I'm 50) - but I am
> >concerned about something that I haven't seen mentioned.
> >Many Corvair owners are happy tinkering with their cars - including me.
> >I drive a Corvair daily - even in Wisconsin winters.  I am very willing
> >to help out others - but more as a teacher/mentor than as a doer.  Many
> >people can't, or won't try to do their own work.  I have also heard
> >there are fewer Corvair mechanics around than in the past - and this
> >will likely continue.
> >However, I have seen some local (relative) youngsters give up on their
> >cars - as they don't know how to work on them - and can't find a
> >mechanic willing to do so.  Some may feel I am in the wrong here - but I
> >have told several people interested in buying a Corvair that unless they
> >are mechanically inclined - it may not be a good idea.  I stand by my
> >belief that (any) older car requires frequent (generally minor)
> >maintenance - and that most people are so used to modern cars that this
> >idea is foreign to them.
> >Any comments?
> >Andy K.
> >Wisconsin
> >



More information about the VirtualVairs mailing list