Who is a FOC member?

Philip, I think you've expressed this issue very well. Clubs have a general, very broad direction. I think the FOC tries to cater for ALL people who love Ferrari ownership and they try to offer a very broad range of activities. It's up to us, the owners, to pick those events we like and partake of them, and the ones we are less interested in we don't have to go to.

I've tried all sorts of FOC events over the years, racing, concours, socialising, fallen in and out of love with them, and had a great time, met life-long friends and can't wait to do a lot more!

But, also, we have to respect the opinions of those who simply don't find a single thing that attracts them to the FOC and would rather do their own thing with their Ferraris. Bit lonely but it's a valid choice.

 

and

Ditto... Cheers, MARK

 

By the way Stig,

Thanks for the lead in Chelsea....on Monday I picked up a complete 328 wheel changing kit for GBP 200

I appreciate your help mate!!

Cheers, MARK

 

What company is that Exiges?? Cheers, MARK

 

Member...

 

MEMBER.

 

I guess it is like anything else-you get out what you put in.

 

Member and Area Organiser.

chaa, I suspect that not many East Mids foc members are into Martial Arts or Weapon`s. They have some good events on now, but they may not be to your taste!!

If I ever need close protection, you will be my first call.

Dale, if you join the PHR section of the foc, you will be made very welcome at the West Mids meetings.


Phil.

 

I've been a member for 8 years, reckon it's well worth the money, don't go to many events these days but the mags are good

Phil

Nice to see another AO on here, Ray Ferguson lurks around here sometimes!

 

Chaa

Would love to see a photo of the Zonda - do they have an owners club ?

James

 

im a recently joined member of FOC, but as yet havnt really had the time to
do anything locally. (that, and the fact my car is in 100's of bits, and my company Citroen diesel may look out of place........)
but the magazine's looks fine, and there seems like lots to do if your up for it?
i guess you get out of it what you put in!

steve j

 

Have just re-joined for this year - slightly against my better judgment, as I'm not sure it's worth £70/year (or the colour magazine another £18 on top).

Still, I guess it's nice to be in the club, so to speak, having spent so long working to get the actual car...

 

Well said, likewise.

Robert.

 

I have been in the classic car business now for over 20 years,I have been a memeber of a few clubs,read many magazines and attened many club events both as a dealer and a punter.
For the £75 the FOC charges you get 6 mags which for me barely warrants 10 mins toilet time.You get track days,area meets etc all of which have been pointed out by others,great if that's what you are into.I have not yet been to an area meet,but from what I have read in the club mag the NWest area meet for lunch every month,very formal and not my idea of a club meet.The format of the drive outs that have been organised on here seem much more imformal and more inkeeping with the main purpose behind a car club meet.

Now to the highlight of any clubs calander,the national day/weekend.I went to last years(my first) expecting an interesting day.I took along one of my colleagues from work,we arrived at around 8.30 by 10.30 we were ready to go home.What a letdown that day was.
Yes there were 6 or so F40's and it was great to see an Enzo and F50 in the flesh close up.But where were the traders/specialists.
From memory there was Ferrari UK with a tent selling T shirts,Rosso Corsa with cars that were of a condition that I would have been ashamed to have on one of my stands,Neil Lucas with a Dino body which was left on the trailer,a few stands selling pictures,flags etc and an exhaust specialist that had all its stock laid on the grass with staff that were more interested in their barby.
So where were all the traders/specialists/dealers,I have just counted about 40 that advertise in the club mag so why were they not there showing us what they can offer us as Ferrari owners.
We do 2 shows a year,taking up a 40 ft stand full of parts,all at a discounted show price,along with a car that is currently being restored by us.
The main one in the summer is run by the TR Register(yes thats what I specialise in)for which they take over the complete 3 counties showground,the trade hall is indoors and is massive.They organise all kinds of events over the weekend to keep all the members of the family entertained.
It wouldn't be wrong to saw that there is a sort of carnival atmosphere there,which was totally different to the morgue like atmosphere at last years FOC national day.
One of the most disapointing aspects of the national day was the standard of cars in the concourse.Yes there were some very nice cars,and well presented but these were in the minority.Most I am sorry to say left a lot to be desired,and wouldn't even make the concourse hall at many other club events.

Anyway,do I think £75 is good value,probably just for the insurance aspect.
With regard to the mag again,why so many pages on the Grand Prix,surely anyone interested would watch it anyway.These pages could be devoted to more technical articles for instance.

For comparison FOC £75,TR Register with all the same events but better and 8 COLOUR mags a year £34.

Best value of all is F-Chat,I have got more from that than anything during my time as a Ferrari owner.

(BTW Chaa do you recognise me from my profile)

Steve

 

What an unexpected pleasure it is for us to actually hear from somebody thats an expert on everything Ferrari. ie , Car Clubs Club magizines ,Club Meets ,Drive Outs Meetings ,Concours Concours Cars ,Specialist Stands ,Cost of Clubs membership and value for money Have you ever bothered to offer constructive advice or actually help with any events or just be critical on results only ? I suspect you dont relise the efforts some people go to too help you enjoy your Ferrari more .Anyway i am going to join you at your level and people can draw their own conclusion on enjoyment value between a TR club for thirty odd quid to a Ferrari one at seventy odd that you cant buy any parts for from Halfords Call me a Ferrari snob if you like but i actually enjoy being part of a band of like minded enthuseasts that get on with useing and enjoying their cars and if EVERYTHING is not to our liking and sometimes costs a few quid SO what nothing is PERFECT in this life
Ray360m
ps See you know CHAA funny he dont much like FOC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

 

I can't resist putting my size nines in here too.You would expect that not being a retired colonel or having a villa in Marbella (and rather liking a pint instead of pink champagne) I would NOT be a member of the FOC.
But I am!!!!
Why??
Cos the 2 mags are admittedly a dam good read!

 

I am now busy tightening the strap on my tin hat and awaiting the salvo of incoming fire from the FOC boys

 

Ray

I don't think that you have read my post properly.At no time have I said or intimated) that I am an expert in all things Ferrari,far from it.The main reason that I use F-Chat is to learn more about my car.

What I have said is my opinion formed by experiencing these different clubs.

Yes I have been active organising events within a car club.
Yes,I do realise the effort that goes in behind the scenes,but criticism goes with the territory ,GOOD OR BAD.If you attended a TR,MG,Ford,Morris Minor,Jaguar event(to name a few)then you would realise how poor the FOC national day was.

Do you really think that because you pay twice as much for your club membership that you are getting twice the club because its a Ferrari club.
Remember that its people that make a car club not the cars.The cars are just the catalyst that brings them together.These are what you call "like minded enthusiasts",of which I like to think of myself as one.
The "Ferrari snob" attitude is everything that is wrong with any car club,that is why so much goes on through F-chat outside the FOC.I suspect it is this attitude that was the reason why the national day was so poor.

I can get plugs for my 308 from Halford's,and I am sure that if I cross referenced some Fiat part numbers with Ferrari ones,then I would find a lot more.

With refernence to Chaa,I have only just realised(of this thread)that he was one of our customers many years ago when he had his TR.His opinion on the FOC,is exactly that his opinion.

I would like to say that I am not against the FOC,far from it,but what I stated earlier is constuctive criticism,about what I would like to see at a national day and in a club mag.

Steve

 

Hi Steve No your wrong i did read your post and as i see it i stand by my reply I understand your reasons for using Ferrari Chat to learn more about your car but as i see it this was an attack on the FOC and the enjoyment most of us get from the Club not about cars What you dont know is ,I do know a lot about concours in particular being a National Concours Champion FOC with my 348TS that i have raced Hillclimbed And have trackdayed all over the country I am not going to get into a heated exchange with you over this and is my final post on the subject See you at at a TR meeting maybe !!!!

 

Hi Stevew, yes ofcpourse i remember you, i delt with you for over 8 years, good to hear from you dude, and i have still got my Twin turbo TR. From the years that i knew Steves company and experties, he has been in the bussness for many many years and has cusumers from all over the world, he builds the cars that win concours again allover the world. The quality of his work from bodywork/ spraying and enginerring skills are Second to none. As for his motor sport and trackday skills he and his partner have had a very sucsesful motor sport record, unlike alot of ferrari drivers who claim they can drive(but only on the track) this dude can drive. But Stevew, being a pro in the feild of enginering, body restoration and the sponsor of many concours events you have made one very inportant and costly mistake...........you dared to speek out against the UK FOC.

 

I am an FOC member and so are almost 2,500 others, so they must be doing something right. Personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed all the events I have attended and also look forward to receiving the two magazines. Having said that, I support everyone's right to pass comment and to criticise with the proviso that it isn't done in a personal way and that it is borne in mind that a lot of people (and I know Ray Ferguson is one) put a great deal of their own time and effort into the Club.

I have visited the club office on a number of occasions (as I volunteered my computer expertise to help out with the new membership database). The phone is constantly ringing and the office is always very busy. Actually, I say office, but Peter and Suzanne have actually given up their living room for the Club. Are there things that could be better? Of course! There always are with anything. It would be pretty extraordinary if everyone was thought it was all perfect all the time. But don't just be critical. This is a club and any club is only the sum of its members and what they put into it. If you have suggestions then phone or e-mail the Club Secretary (I hope he won't mind me saying that...). If you would prefer different articles in the magazines then write some. The Club are frequently asking for contributions. Or, if you would like to see something which you're not qualified to write about, drop a line suggesting what you'd like to see and maybe Keith Bluemel, Marcel Massini or one of the other expert contributors may be able to oblige. If you do that and get ignored then you have a right to whinge.

The same goes for the area groups. Each area group is organized by a different individual and, consequently, there are differences in how they go about things. If you would like different activities drop the organizer a line. But please bear in mind they are all volunteers giving of their time and effort and, frequently, money to arrange things.

I thought last year's National Meet was excellent, but I also think Steve makes some valid points. I don't know why there weren't more trade stands, but I will ask. As for the cars present, it is, of course, up to the members to get their cars out and bring them along, enter them in the Concours and so on. I know the Club Secretary constantly asks for more Concours entrants and I know the cars are there in the Club. I suspect it is an unfortunate side-effect of the value of a lot of Ferraris that they don't come out to play more.

Jonathan

 

Ray

Without appearing to be trying to get the last word in,this isn't about getting into a heated exchange,its about good healthy debate.That is surely the main purpose of any Forum.

My comments were not made as an attack on the FOC or anyone personally.Your comments,however,regarding Triumph TR's are nothing short of condesending,the sad thing is you have displayed exactly the attitude most people think we Ferrari owners have towards everyone else.

I am right in saying that it was your car that won the 2002 Autoglym concours at the NEC.Lovely car,a credit to you.
Now the 2003 winner was a 35 year old Triumph TR5.

Jonathan

The fact that The FOC have 2500 members does not mean that they are doing things right,it just shows that the 2500 don't no anything different.
But I agree that if I want technical articles in the mag,then maybe I should write some.I have a few things planned for the 308 next winter so I may put pen to paper.I also agree that things can only be changed once the things members feel need improving upon are brought to the secretarys attention.

The main point that I was trying to make in my first post was that although I think that the FOC membership offers value for money,mainly for the insurance savings,it cannot be classed as good value for money compared to other clubs.Here's a couple more examples :-RS Owners Club £30,MR2 Owners club £28 both with full colour mags.So why is the FOC £75 or if you have the colour mags £93.
Before Ray or anyone else starts bleating about the calibre of cars in the other clubs,Remember,at the end of the day they are clubs just the same as the Ferrari club.
Now I don't suppose anyone including myself who is a member of the FOC is that desperate for the £40 or so that it costs more than the other clubs that I have mentioned,but that is not the point.
I would be interested to hear other thoughts on the national day,or was it just me who thought it was a let down.

Chas

Good to see you have still got the Twin Turbo beast.You must have a drive up in the spyder to see our new premises.


Steve