Thread: American Street Rod Association??

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Mike, you're not hijacking anything. Looks like there are going to be several groups vying for national presence in the street rod arena, all looking for dues money to fund development while trying to keep their dues low enough to attract members. It will be interesting to see how things play out this year.

I see both groups playing off the recent sentiment of "pre 49", as if to say that anything else is not a true "Street Rod". The problem that I see is that instead of asking the membership what should and should not be allowed (as the other two major players have), the "board of directors" (a select, close knit, like minded or close friends style group) is dictating what can and cannot be allowed. Again the problem is that you have a select few (think elitist mentality here) who feel their cars are above everyone elses. Having been around these cars, and promoting/running shows (public, private, for profit, not for profit, and everything in between) since 1979 I can tell you I have seen it far too many times with different organizations, Corvette Clubs, Mustang Clubs, Camaro/Firebird groups, and yes, Hot Rod groups. You get a few of the long term members with early cars who look down at anything beyond their circle/sphere of influence, then attempt to steer people/clubs into their mind set. Of course we know that by doing so they fracture the memberships into multiple groups, diluting the enthusiasm of some by pointing fingers at others. By doing so they weaken the organizations they belong to by creating conflict from within. As such, you then get spin off groups and clubs, some take off and are successful, many are not. The ones that continue on their path of mostly "not for profit" seem to be the ones that thrive, the ones who's "board of directors" get paid for their positions have a tendency to flourish for a year or two before the "paying members" get wise and leave for the larger groups that they left in the first place (having seen the true nature of why a new club or group was started). Now, I'm not saying that is what is happening with these two new groups, I'm just stating what I have seen in the past. Whether you agree or disagree is up to your own interpretation of what is and what is not viewed (in your eyes, not what you are being told by others) as a hot rod or street rod. it is up to you as the individual to say "I like it" or "I don't like it". But regardless of that, you also have to step back and say "it's someones vision".

Well, I've said my pre-caffeinated two cents worth. Now it's time to get a cup of coffee and clear my head for the days workload.


Sincerely,

Bill S.