LETTERS

HAVE YOUR SAY

In the last issue, we asked for your thoughts on Nichola Osbourne’s letter and the response from the major clubs – we weren’t disappointed!

Send an email to cj.ed@kelsey.co.uk or write to: The Editor, Classic Jaguar, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL

ATTRACTING THE YOUNG

I was interested to read Nichola Osborne’s letter about attracting younger members to our marque clubs. It is perhaps significant that although the plea is to do more to attract a youthful membership, there seems a dearth of detail about exactly what it is that would attract them. Assuming the wish is to get more twenties, thirties and forties to join, one needs first to examine what attracts members to groups. Indeed, why do people join or find themselves in groups? Surely, the key is common interest or interests. It’s not a wild assumption to assume that members join tennis clubs because they want to be involved with playing tennis or, in some cases, more indirectly, to make use of the facilities and/ or to enjoy the social aspects. There is a natural tendency for us to want to associate with others that have something in common. Car clubs are no different. In our case the common ground is owning a Jaguar car or cars. Both the JDC and JEC refine the commonality by offering subgroups - including model registers to make belonging even more exclusive. They also offer additional attractions like social and driving events. But everything on offer is predicated upon owning a Jaguar. As Nichola points out however, most younger people, given the opportunity cost, don’t want or can’t afford, to own a Jaguar. It’s hard to believe then, that we can compensate by having the additional facilities or running the right social events that muster the interest of non-Jaguar owning youngsters. Perhaps a heated club swimming pool or velodrome, or a series of music concerts might do the trick but, I guess not! One, not unreasonably, might assume that if the clubs could organise something, they would have done so by now. So, that it seems, is that.

Is all lost, therefore? - Maybe not. A few years ago, my youngest daughter (then at university) spent time with a young Veteran Sports Car Club (VSCC) group. They seemed to have a jolly time wandering together around France in old motors. The key was of course that it was the youngsters that drove the cars, almost always unsupervised by the people who owned them. I’m not suggesting that that you immediately let your twenty-five year old loose to rove around the continent in your E-type but, well, almost that. If we want to have younger players, then mums and dads will have to let their offspring and, in some cases, their offspring’s offspring, use their old cars. I can recall a club event (not Jaguar) where under twenty-fives competed in a non-hazardous gymkhana, mainly in a parent’s car. It’s certainly been my experience that my daughters’ interest has been significantly awakened since they were able to use my old Jaguar sports cars. It’s even generated some technical knowhow; my youngest now knows the difference between a torque wrench and a flux capacitor.

Roger Learmouth

Having just read the latest issue of Classic Jaguar I can say that I totally agree with the comments made by Nichola Osborne regarding JEC and JDC. I have tried membership of both clubs and they are both heavily focused on the social aspects of membership along with regional events. I found JEC to be better on technical support mainly due to Ken Jenkins who on the one occasion I requested assistance was excellent and 100% correct which saved me time and money. JEC are far more active in North Devon (which is where I live) plus they have a very helpful regional chairman, but I am not a great fan of joining meetings or social gatherings, my main interest is the cars and information.

I own two Jaguars: a 1994 XJ40 V12 6.0 and a 1991 XJS Le Mans V12 5.3 converted to a 5spd manual. I have two sons in their 40s and the clubs have no appeal to them, but both are big fans of the XJS and regard the XJ40 as more of an old man’s car. If the clubs want to attract younger members, then I agree change is needed. I also own two series 3 Land Rovers and the clubs involved with these vehicles do attract a much wider age range of membership.

I should finish by saying I very much enjoy Paul Keating’s reports on the XJ40 restoration as I am a big fan of this very underrated car and I worked at JRT (as it was then) when this car was being developed. Thank you for an excellent read.

Hugh Roberts