Zap Racing

I am stepping down as the person who organizes the Houston area monthly meets. I have been doing it since we started these last year. It's time for somebody to take a turn at it. I am taking on a new heavier workload at my job, that will require a lot more of my time.

That, combined with the fact, that the turn out for the monthly's, have been very disappointing to say the least, I'm not sure if the monthly's will continue at all. I'm sure I will attend most of them as I always have, but when the turnout is 2 or 3 people (besides Sue and I), what's the point?

If U guys want the monthlys to continue, then U need to show up at some of them. Maybe the concept of rotating them around town is why we have a low turnout, but when we first organized them, that was the popular choice. Maybe that's not a good idea--I don't know. If U are interested in the monthlys continuing, then speak up and throw out any suggestions tha might increase attendance.

Maybe rather than having set time and date monthlys, maybe "special events/gatherings" such as Dyno Day like we have scheduled in May, or drag strip night, or modding parties, or whatever, is a better way/ concept of getting together as a group, in between the 2 big annual meets, we have been having for the last few years.

I'm sure I will help to continue to organize the annual big meets, but with the new work load I am taking on, I will not be able to take on 100% of the responsiblities associated with putting one of these together. Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy putting these meets together, and since I have done stuff like this in other venues, before I got involved with the Thirdgen board, but I don't think some of U realize how time consuming it is, and it's something that should be shared, rather than falling on the shoulders of one person.

So, if U want to see the monthlys continue, step up and do your thing, or at least throw in your comments about them.
__________________

z28evans

I've put on events and organized a club before - it takes a lot of time, i feel your pain.

As thirdgens do not have the following that 4th gens do, meets are probably harder.

I'm from out of town, and probably will not make many monthly meets. I enjoyed meeting many of you, and hope to see some of you again.

Larry Dunlap

I know I haven't gone to many of the monthlies up til now, but I would like to see them continue. I have not gone to the far away ones with my car because of the inconvenience of long driving on the freeway with the TH350. But now that Max's car is running I would like to bring it and let everyone see it. So I could drive his car to the far ones and my car to the close ones.

I wouldn't mind filling in and helping organize occassionally, I don't have time to do it all the time. I could go ahead and organize one for May.

Zap Racing

The May monthly is "Dyno Day at ARD" Sunday May 21.

U can do June if U want!

Red92RS

If I have time after I get married I will try, especially since i will have my car back.

Zap Racing

When's the big day?

Personally I would like to see some discussions from the Hou thirdgenners about whether they even want o have monthlys. I think it's great tht there are a couple people (so far) that are willing to step upto the plate and keep them going, butwe need Hou people to jump in here and let us know if they even want to continue the monthlys as they were--if the format needs to be changed (such as a later/ different time or permanent location)--or if we should just try and do "special events" like I mentioned earlier (such as modding parties /dyno days /drag strip or auto X meets /cruises /mini meets once every couple months /ETC). Trying to drag it out as they are now, with only a couple people showing up, does not make much sense to me.

Come on people we need to hear your thoughts on this subject. Please post one way or the other if U want the monthlys to continue or what changes would help want to make U attend! Even if U do not care--we need to hear that too!

plndtx

Random thoughts.

I wonder if we should just meet up at the established Saturday night meets (Ottos, Sams club) or maybe the Friday night meet in League City.

Would it help if we meet in Houston somewhere. In the very few monthlys that I have been to, not many people from up north attended.

Are we in a temporary slump? Last month was on Easter weekend, several guys cars are/were out of action (Red92rs, rudy, z28evans?, lt1guy around alvin, coz305). Aldixie was moving. Where has esc been hiding?


Do you think a membership drive flyer might help. Something like "Join us on https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/south-central-region/ (deposited by plndtx)" Maybe put a sticky at the top of the board so new people could let us know they are 'lurking'.
I hate to do this, but we could deposit the flyers on thirdgen or maybe have them on our cars when we go to cruise ins.

Thats about all for now. I'm open for comments, opinions, verbal abuse.

Zap Racing

Let me start by saying I don't know the answers--all I have are opinions. Hooking up at established is good cause if nobody else shows up at least the evening is not a total loss! However the only problem I see with a permanent locaton such as Otto's for example, is that as big as Hou is, I don't see people from other ares driving 45 minutes + to attend. As well, if they were in League City, I don't see Me driving that far either (well maybe I would but I am one of the few on this board that are "addicted to thirdgens")

Tempory slump? Not sure--I DO know the board is pretty dead compared to what it was a year or two ago. The annual big meet we had 2003/2004 New Years weekend, we had over 30 cars show up! We couldn't get 30 3G's now if we paid them to show up.

I'm still trying to figure out why people disappear after a few months after coming on the board for the first--loss of enthusiam? Some never are heard from but a few times but some are regular posters. Where are the ones that were semi addicted? I could go down the list that we have stickied at the top of the board and name a dozen people that were in this group, but we no longer hear from them.

By the way ESC is in Atlanta on business at the moment.

Flyer? Membership drive? ZAP89 made up a killer flyer a couple years ago, when he was real active. (I'll see if I can pull it up) to hand out. The problem there is that only a few of us on the board were enthusiastic to actual run some copies and go to the trouble of handing them out to a thirdgen they might see on the street.

Here it is--I'm going to send it to StevenK and see if he will post it as a PDF so it can be stickied and EVERYBODY can download it and run flyers on their desk top printer and hand them out.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...g?d=1115784290

Maybe this board is too boring? (Maybe we need some flame wars going on?) Maybe most people just don't have the enthusiam like a few of us have? To many, it's just not that important to them in the overall scheme of things? Maybe we need more "special events" to hold their attention? We always seem to have descent turnout at the Special Events's?

Personally I think it's just that to most it's not that important to them. I'll give U an example--by the time this thread is dead, we will probably hear from half dozen people--if there is more I will be surprised!

Sonar_un

As I have stated earlier to you guys on multiple occasions, the meet days are pretty hard for me to attend. I work weekend and it is farily hard for me to get out and attend. Even when the meet was litteraly a block from my house, I still showed up late. I have to take days off even to attend the special events.

Mr.Wolf

iTrader: (1)

i vote for the every weekend deal where we could whom ever can make it out to the around town meets like at sams or the cruise in @ Target in Seabrook, and the mod parties,

plndtx

Nice comments everyone.

How about everyone make some comment on the subject. If we know who the players are in this we might be able to work something out. (Might even be nice to know who is not interested at all.) No hard feelings from me if you don't.

Do we have any lurkers out there who haven't posted anything yet?
We would like to hear from you!

Sonar_un,
I'm glad you let us know your situation.

Anybody else have work, family, car, house, school (you get the point!) issues that you want to share with us?

MMroc86

To tell you the truth the reason I kind of lost intrest was because of the low turnouts. To take the time to request a day off weeks in advance and sometimes only end up with 32 hours just to attend a meet that is only gonna have 3-6 ppl show up is not fun!

Having the meets at one set location would be cool.

It would be cool to of had 12+ 3rdgens all lined up at sams club. I have never been to ottos before, and I did not know that there was a meet at the target in seabrook.

Like craig said if no thirdgens show up atleast you still get to see other cool cars.

I really don't give a crap how far I have to drive. I know my car will make it, and I try not to let the stupid freaking gas prices stress me out to much stupid gas prices!

TexasB4C

iTrader: (1)

even though ill be leaving in four months i feel like just having a meet by ourselves isnt as fun as actually having something to do at them, like a mod party, dyno day, track day, other car show day, sort of not any fun having just a couple of thirdegen cars showing up and having nothing to talk about... need something "active"
i work most saturdays, and my cars been getting fixed up so thats why i havent been able to come, sure wish i could have made it to the spring fling..... HOPE to be at the dyno day....

Zap Racing

Input /Opinions--YES keep it coming we need to hear from more of U--With what info we have already received, I personallyam seeing part of why the monthlys are a bust.

So far, It seems like its the time of day it is and that just to get together to hang out just for the sake of hanging out is NOT the way to go.

And Mike U ae right hanging out with2--3 maybe 4 people is not near as much fun as hanging out with a dozen.

What I am seeing, hearing is that, we need to forget about getting together at a restaurant, if we are going to meet up at one of the local Sat night car shows, just meet at the chosen show, and the meeting time should be like 7pm.

I am also hearing that "special events" has a lot more interest--a purpose if U will-- for people to show up. I certainly understand that and agree.

This is good info, but we need to hear from more of U!!! Plus just because U might have posted once in this thread, don't think we don't want to hear from U more--the more we throw this around the better and more info we end up with.

KEEP POSTING

plndtx

TexasB4C,

Where are you going in four months?

Is it me or does it seem that about half of our 'crew' has to work on the weekend. Would Friday night be any better for you? Thursday night??
(Thursday night would now allow us to join an established meet.)


Would it help to meet every 6 weeks or every 2 months?

TexasB4C

iTrader: (1)

Michigan, where my wife is from, cant wait to be around all the BIG shows, like the car craft nationals, Hot Rod Nationals, woodward Dream Cruise, and so many more!
just dont want the snow

plndtx

Thats good. I remember looking at your profile and thought you might be
going to a place a lot warmer than Michigan.

I hope you can make it out to a meet before you have to split. I really like the spot lights on your car. I'd like to see it.

Chris

Would everyone consider specifying which part of Houston you are from in your profile?

Wheel Spin

Gosh I love that word....


Check here:https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/sout...er-member.html

Zap Racing

Chris,
Your name is not on that list cause U have never posted in that thread for me to add it, and I forget to do it if U don't.

After U look at how many names are on that list, now U know why I wonder why we can't get more than 3 or 4 at a monthly or 10 or 12 at an annual meet!

When I say we had well over 30 at the 2003/2004 meet I was not kidding! There's 58 on the list and only 2 that need to be deleted cause they have moved out of town.

Zap Racing

Anybody else?

MORE COMMENTS/OPINIONS PLEASE!

plndtx

Yeah, I lurked for weeks if not months before I bought my car. I guess thats how I got such a screwed up screen name. I wanted to do a search real quick and I just slapped something together so I could be a member.

Zap, I was referring to the profile that shows up to the left of this box. However, I forgot about the thread you are talking about. It should do just fine.

mickey_sbk

hi im new to this thirdgen stuff,, but i want to get more envolved in this i have a 1986 trans am mint condition. i was going to show up to the spring fling but it rained and i didnt have a phone number to find out if there was going to be a rain out.me and my girlfriend were looking forward to spring fling. in other word i really want to get involved with this thirdgen stuff..... let me know about any car meets,shows, or event. and by the way the car shows and event should be held on a sat. night or on a sunday ..just my opinion cause i work on sat..and i might not be the only one maybe thats why thirdgeners dont show up.....thanks for the time .........................

Zap Racing

Welcome to the board--too bad U couldn't make it to the SF. Beautiful weather--the ground was a littl dmp, but couldn't have asked for a better afternoon for a BBQ and an evening at the track.
I posted my phone number several places--guess U missed it!

Yeah working Sat is turning out to be a bigger thing than when we originally set up and discussed doing monthlys. What time do U get off work an Sat anyway? What part of town do U live in?

Just watch the board for future stuff going on. Try and make Dyno Day the 21st--even if U are not going to Dyno your car--a lot of the Hou. crew will be there and would be an excellent time to day hello!

Tell us more about your car! Mods--pics?

plndtx

Hi mickey_sbk,

I had a feeling we had a few new folks hanging around waiting to jump into the fray. Good to have you.

All meetings will be posted on the board, so just keep an eye out. We have a monthly meeting coming up soon. Craig, Zap Racing, has it posted as a sticky at the top of the forum.

What part of town are you from?

mickey_sbk

i stay in the NW side in spring branch by memorial city mall
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well i get off of work around 6p.m and have sunday off ......... well to tell you the truth its my girlfriends car and its mainly stock, in a way we want to keep it that way because its in reall mint condition all the numbers match it only has 27k original mile her grandpa has had it in the garagecovered and well maintained. the car was bought brans new out of the dealership... its silver with ground effects and faded into a dark greyish color the paint is also original... i really dont know much about cars but i would love to learn.....

aldixie

iTrader: (2)

Hi Guy's,

If anyone has a copy of the membership flyers from a time ago. Where I have moved to in Deer Park there are at least four 3rd Gens in just my local neighbourhood. Quite willing to stick some flyers on them and see what happens.

Alex

Zap Racing

I posted it earlier in this thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...g?d=1115784290

It is too small when U actually download it from the above link, and it get real blurry if U enlarge it. I have it in my email--I can email it to U. I also sent it to StevenK and asked him if he could PDF it and post it here on the board so we had a version that everybody could download and run copies on their desktop printer.

If somebody has access to a color copier, maybe they could run a bunch copies (without getting in trouble) and give them out at Dyno Day @ARD --May 21st to all the thirdgenners that show up--so they can pass them out!

rudyt5000

If i still had a vehicle i'd go to the montly meets just to go somewhere and hang. But i also work weekends and work 2pm-10pm. So this is why i really never got to attend any monthly's but i did request that i had off for the annual meets.

I'm also more interested in doing modding parties that would've helped out alot back in da day or help us learn more bout our cars from each other's experience.

Also i believe spreading the word a bit more bout this site can help people find out how many of us are out there who care about and love our cars, maybe even persuade them to buy a thirdgen . LAST time i had my thirdgen parked near a carshow i had a bunch of flyers on my winshield and by the time i got back they were all gone. So maybe this can help at like sams carshow or any other local show's hangouts.

Red92RS

I live a block away fom memorial city mall, keep an eye out for me when I get my car back, my screen name explains what i will be driving

xtremeirocz

I think there are some good points, saturdays i usually work, if not for my regular job, over helping owen. maybe we could switch around to a sunday to see if it makes a differance or like zap suggested to do the meets at a specified place like sams at 7 pm. I dont know, but I think i am as guilty as all because i have had a hard time making it to the monthlys due to schedueling. I make the large meets due to size of meet and that it usually is a little later in the day.

plndtx

What does everyone think about Sunday afternoon around 1:00?

Barry 85IROC

No numbers matching anymore.

Zap Racing

If U mean for the monthlys--that is usually NOT a good time for me. I personally, would much rather do it later on Sat nights after everybody gets off work. Forget about meeting at a restaurant and just meet at a car show or the strip or any other special event like some have been referring to.

But then again if people want to meet at 1pm on Sundays, then that is when it should be--should do whatever the majority want!

Wheel Spin

Dang Barry! You flaming the new guy? You haven't been numbers-matching since you blew your first tranny!

Easy now......I've been lurking on this thread instead of posting simply because I have probably the most flexible schedule of any Houston area third-genner around.

My observatons:

• We have a wide age-range group, and I think that is beneficial and it has worked well.
• Many of us work "odd" schedules, not the typical M-F / 9-5.
• We typically have the better turn-out at a Sponsoring event. Our big seasonals work well, as do the drag strip meets. How was the Auto-X at the dog track? Couldn't make that, I don't know. MMRoc makes a good point about having something else to do if our turn-out is low.
• Houston is a BIG town. Many members run their cars as daily drivers, and no matter how well-maintained they are old. Pot holes and heaves suck. Does the threat of mechanical breakdown in a part of town you don't know play a factor? More so at night? Do we need a maintenance facet to a mod party?
• Few people bring wives/GF's, does it need to be more social? Has anyone ever felt they SHOULDN'T bring them?

I don't know the answers either guys. I can suggest meets remain near the major thoroughfares, and that something at least loosely organized be going on (drag-strip, car show).

Times and frequency are up to you.

And there is nothing wrong with a well-banked flame-war going on. I'm STILL waiting to stage with Barry, and got a spanking owed to Vortecbird. I've never seen 1bad91z go down the track.......Heck, I'll stage with Zap, Larry or Jay just for reaction times and 60 foots.

mickey_sbk

all i know my car would be worth more in the future!!!!
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i think sunday would be fine it fits in my schedule. is this a once a moth thing or every sunday?

rudyt5000

i vote on a monthly meet at a gentle man's club

Wheel Spin

If that is what you guys agree on, I''ll help with the inside hookup on the SE side. But you would have to be "Gentleman"

Zap Racing

The "monthlys" would be once a month.

Zap Racing

Well, Sunday afternoons would probably be the best time as far as people being free and able to make it, but there's not near as much stuff goin on to choose from to go do on Sun, such as all the Sat night car shows around town.

For me personally--Sunday afternoon meets would mean, out in the Houston HOT summer sun, and for me that's a definate turn off. Doing an afternoon at the drag strip on a Sun afternoon would just about kill me.

Besides the "Gentlemen's" clubs aren't really popping on Sun afternoon!

a

mickey_sbk

true .... a saturday night sounds fine we would have something to do all night with out getting a sun burn....about the gentlemens club are yall serious because if yall are we might have ladies coming and i dont think they would like that!!

Laura89iroc

ok I just now saw this thread. I think the problem with me is that I don't check this board but about once or twice a week. Since generally the meets are the first saturday of each month, we usually have autocross the next day and are preparing for those events (first sunday of every month).

Right now pretty much all of the third gens are down (or will be shortly) so it kind of defeats the purpose to go to a third gen meet in a mustang (And the time it takes to go to the meet ideally should be spent working on all the third gen projects we are in the midst of).

Being on the younger end of the spectrum, the meets aren't active enough for me to drive very far to go to them. And because of that it seems I always end up free on the months that they are far away and busy on the months that they are close.

The rotating locations really isn't an issue but I think it would be smarter to keep them at the same locations within those rotations. This would alleviate some of the stress that goes into planning the meets and then would give some predictability to those who sporatically attend.

GMAN 3MT or whatever Gary's board name is, usually works on Saturday's until about 8:00 or so... so that is why he can't really make the meets...

Zap Racing

In all reality, I think the "gentleman's club" idea is more wishful thinking than anything!
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The meet are/were the THIRD Sat of every month!!!


Thanks for the good input-- U brought a couple good points! I think one thing that has come out of all this is we are going to drop the meeting at a restaurant part of the monthlys and just do "events" like shows, strip, or whatever and have the meeting time moe like 7pm.

U guys gonna try and make the "Dyno Day" at ARD? Sun May 21 3 pulls for 40.00!

rudyt5000

I was just joking bout the gentlemen's club thang sorry to get yalls hopes up

MMroc86

did someone say gentlemens club?

Now that sounds like something that would work, especially if one of use deciding to cover the charge for everyone.......yeah we could rotate the person that pays alphabetically going by last names! In which case my new last name is Zuniga.


By the way that was my original idea.

xtremeirocz

You will kill me on my reaction times, I am in trouble on that one. but I will say that I redlighted on zap so he got me

Zap Racing

Yeah...but U know how guys are!


OK....I'm as guilty as anybody here in this thread, but let's get:

Laura89iroc

ahhh well oops! I dunno why I was thinking the first ones...

just doing events will also make the meetings a little shorter which is good for people who can't really get away for too long.

As for the Dyno Day, I really doubt that we'll make it.... although we do have Gary's car still running... Won't find out until right before that though because of work scheduling But hopefully the turnout is good!

Mr.Wolf

iTrader: (1)

esc

iTrader: (6)

I've been pretty busy lately and not really keeping up, but I'm back in town and more or less cought up with work, so I'm back.

Monthlies....

#1. I like having it at the same place most of the time. That way if you decide to go at the last minute you don't have to find a computer and figure out where it will be. Rotating amoung several predefined locations would be better than what we do now...but I still think that having a primary location would make things easier for everyone.

#2. Car show vs restaurant vs special events...
Most Car shows are at or near a restaurant (Like Otto's BBQ, which gets my vote) so that can kill two 'Birds with one stone. The special events would bring us back to never knowing when or where, so I vote that they be EXTRA and not part of the Monthly.

#3 Time: I think that Saturday night is probably the best for everyone else (any day is fine with me). Now that the days are longer I wouldn't mind it starting a little later, but I'll want earlier when the winter arrives. Ideally I'd like to arrive just before the sun goes down so that it will be easy to find the place and spot other 3rd gens, but not too hot.

Zap Racing

Thanks for the good input Eric.

Even with all this good info we now have, about the changes needed, and what works for most, I am still not going to head up the monthlys, so somebody (or a committe) needs to step up and deceide. what, when, where, how, why, and of course, base those decisions, on the new info we have here in this thread!

Don't forget the May monthly is Dyno Day at ARD--May 21 Sunday.

Jay we still need to know a time Owen wants us to show up!!!