FCA Annual Meets 2025 and beyond...

I am not looking to meet anywhere. Association with the mentally challenged is just not in my game plan. Banned yes, a number of times but not for disrespecting opinion.

 

FWIW Dave, were you aware that FCA Executive board, did create an extensive survey of its members in the last 18 months +/- ?
Did you receive or complete that survey? A lot of what you are expressing has been researched and the results of the survey were widely shared with members across the United States.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly, I am happy to help. I for one am interested to hear your personal experience and better understand why you feel so strongly the way you do.
Sharing 3rd or 7th person opinions are interesting, many sharing those are not aware of where those opinions even started, or what may be behind the negative position being shared.
I'd like to hear your 1st hand, personal experiences and suggestions for making the club better.

While your sentiments are your personal experience, what you are posting does here not align with many regional, chapter, member experiences, that I am aware of.

Steve Fordham - [email protected]
FCA National Secretary
FCA South Central Regional Director
FCA DFW Chapter President ( 2020-2023 )
FCA Judge
IAC/PFA Judge
Ferrari Chat Member since 2004

 

Hi Steve?
You seem to be a rational personality and thanks for not having a defensive response to my original post above.
No, I was not forwarded a survey. Probably because I am no longer a member, but thats ok as apparently no one on this thread mentioned that a survey was conducted either. If so, it may have eliminated allot of unnecessary drama and nasty feelings within the thread.
The title of this thread being "FCA 2025 Annual Meets an Beyond... captured my attention to see if rejoining the FCA in 2025 would be any value for me now that I have retired.
As I stated in a previous post, I learned much from this thread. The FCA has changed. True, not all regions have the same culture and structure.

I do see many former ex and current FCA members in our area at other car shows outside of FCA meets, and will continue to monitor the changes and culture within the club.

Hopefully from the results of the new survey, it will tell FCA officers much about the majority of members including income status so that changes can be made to retain satisfied members. During the late 90's - early 2000 survey, a middle class income made the majority of members. This group was, and possibly still is the "bread and butter" of the FCA. The results was published within Prancing Horse.
Thanks for your interest in my post.

 

I'm about 30 years into the FCA, so I have been around a bit. I dont always go to the National meet, mostly as my wife is not into it, so it's a lot of effort to go by myself. But to the events I've been to, I have always had a good time.
It's been my experience that the FCA is what you make of it. I own an older Ferrari - and have never had a brand new one ... but I have never experienced any model discrimination... from when I had a 308 to now having a 599... It usually just a lot of Car guys. I have seen a few "arrogant types" here and there, and frequently it was all about money vs. the car. That's ok... they do them. My experience as a local chapter President and just a regular member has always been good. we've had a couple of Regional leaders who got a bit too serious sometimes, but over the years it's been a far more positive influence in my life than anything negative.... If you like Boxers... then the FCA will have other that like them too... you just have to find them. I always say get involved, and dont sit on the side lines.

 

I pretty much echo Tom's sentiments (except my wife is really into the FCA events).

I had my Ferrari for a couple years before I joined the FCA. I wasn't joining but then my wife met the woman who was the local chapter president and my wife told me we had to join. So my attitude at the time was I had to keep her happy.

The best thing I ever did! I met great friends attending the various events. The first FCA Annual Experience since I joined was Daytona in 2017. I've driven my Ferrari to every one since except for Oregon.

Each Annual Experience has been spectacular. Great events, fun times, fabulous friendships, and oh, the cars!

We'll be at Charlotte next year, and when it's at Lime Rock I told our Regional Director my wife and I will volunteer. I am happy to give back for all the great times we have had.

 

This last one was my 18th National Meet in a row. I have been a volunteer at every one. I have told this before. One year I was at one of the dinners on my own. I had my food and was looking for a place to sit. I finally found an empty seat next to some guy who indicated it was not taken. We talked all night. Like I he was a car guy, all kinds of cars. He had a very eclectic collection. We became friends and met up at many car events. I just knew him as Larry. At one event he was just walking away when some other friends walked up. They asked if I knew him and I explained. They asked do you know who that is? I said, yes, its Larry. They proceed to tell me he was one of the founders and current corporate officers of one of the countries biggest most famous high tech firms. I didn't know or care and I doubt he knew or cared I was a mechanic with a 328. Like someone said your experiences are up to you. And like all clubs its only as good as its members make it.

There are 3 kinds of people. Those that make it happen, those that watch it happen and those that wonder what happened.

 

Nasty feelings were hardly started in this thread. Your constant negative attitude to the concours program and its judges has a great deal more to do with it. Just one more area you are not involved, not knowledgeable yet have plenty of negativity to spread around. Please, its best you continue not being involved.

Like I said, you must be a hoot at a party.

 

Are you still droning about this Brian? I've moved on so maybe you should as well. Steve answered the question, so why are you continuing?

 

Just correcting the record.

 

Daytona was THE high water mark for Ferrari in America. It was indescribable with the number of high end, vintage and astounding racing cars, especially the Daytona record shattering Formula One performances by Sebastian Vettal and the Iceman Kimi Raikkonen. My wife and I were absolutely blown away. Every possible car was there and they let you wander through all of the garages as the Formula One engines, including Schumacker’s, were screaming. Ferrari Mondiali!!!

 

Is it too early to know what model will be celebrated at the 2025 fca?

 

looks like it moved!
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I can't think of a better person to honor. Francois is a great man, My mentor,
Gary Bobileff
Bobileff Motorcar Company in San Diego

 

I agree. I’ve gone to lots of events in the past 30 years and for me personally this was the absolute best.

I used to be very active in my local FCA but once we lost track events I lost interest. My friends keep trying to get me back in but nowadays here it’s nothing but foo foo restaurant “events” and wine and cheese gatherings. It’s become more a wannabe socialite scene than a gathering of car guys. It just isn’t the same IMO.

That said I’d still like to go to another Annual Meet. From what I have heard and seen it seems like they are fun times like the old days.

 

I have been to too many FCA annuals. Been an FCA member for 49 years! Done two in FL when Portland pulled the plug due to covid….and unrest due to riots. However I must say last year’s event at Road America was one of the best I have attended. There were so many special cars in Elkhart Lake that I didn’t ever know what some of the late 50s cars were. Like this one…...
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0110 E.

Marcel Massini

 

I'll be there next week as well. Looking forward to it.
You've got me beat by one tear. I've been a member for 48 yrs.Time flies.

 

That was supposed to be year not tear

 

I will be bringing my BB 512 to show at the concourse. S/N is 35411. Red over black with black and red seats. Maybe us old-timers can meet each other.

 

I’ll look for you !

 

It appears that my car is sleeping safe and sound at Foreign Cars Italia awaiting my arrival tomorrow from Denver. Big THANK YOU to Tony Rizutti for accepting its arrival earlier today and offering a free wash so that it hits the road gleaming and ready to go!

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Also, if you haven’t RSVP’d yet for the 3rd Annual Ferrari Trivia Happy Hour, please message me to join and note that it takes place on Monday from 4:30 - 5:30 PM in the Fairway Room at The Ballantyne.

I’ll be cooking up the questions tomorrow morning while in the air…

 

I just arrived!
My first FCA, my first time showing the Modena.

 

Any parking lot pics yet?

 

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Thanks, John. Some of my favorite times at concours have been walking around the hotel parking lot in the early morning, while the cars are still ‘sleeping’.