Mmmmm
Hell there is so much to do and so little time.
All these events.
In all seriousness I wonder why this 'Thread' was started.
A little history
Far to many years ago, about six or seven Cobra enthusiasts gathered in the workshop of GV Automotive in South Melbourne, Victoria.
We had been calling into George's factory for some time at all different times of the day to say HI.. bump into other enthusiast or just look at what George and Maggie were up to. George was always welcoming and had some new thing happening...
There was a decision made - by whom? - that we should do a few things together socially, perhaps a drive or get together for a meal somewhere.
George V. Rob Baker, Michael Moore, Nevile S., Laurie B. and I decided over time that we should do a cruise and bite to eat. George had a couple of customers - one an ambulance driver and another the publican of the Mercat Hotel. A decision was made to meet at the Mercat Hotel.
Our first meeting there was great. Walking into the Mercat Hotel we were greated with a British Racing Green Cobra with red leather sitting in the foyer entrance and posters around.
The whole thing was pretty layed back and somehow we became the Cobra car club and we were under the South Australian banner.
If my memory serves me well, we did not keep any meeting minutes and I don't think we paid any membership. We were members under the South Australian club somehow - financial there.
About the same time Anne and I were running the Renovation and Heritage Home Shows for Dulux and we kicked off the G.A.S event - Geelong Auto Spectacular and Wings Wheels and Water that was sponsored by Shell, Dulux and the R.A.A.F to name a few.
We had drifted away from the Cobra Car Club as I was into Street Rods and road bikes. However we kept in contact with a lot of members through the participation in racing and events at the shows.
Well, long story short
After selling the shows Anne and I became involved in the Cobra car club again and attended the legendary events at Mangalore Airport, West Wylong etc.
The club was still meeting in the Mercat Hotel under the Presidency of King Jason 1 - you can still see it was low key!!. The Hotel Publican still had his British Racing Green Cobra.
The move to the German club was brought about by our - particularly mine - dissapointment in both food and treatment at the Mercat after the Publican left.
Stiffy kindly drove and phonned around and found the German Club. It's centrally located and sure you cannot see your Cobra, but it is parked on site and under cover. No problem to date.
Membership dues were $60 a year and we received a newsletter each month. The membership covered the newsletter and left a few dollars to do banners and cover postage etc.
The newsletter was being collated and printed from South Australia with States encouraged to put articles in it. I wrote an article on the trip across America in the GT40 and other members were encouraged to do the same. It has always been hard to get people to put articles in and yes sometimes the calendar of events is out of date a few weeks. The newsletter would be huge if we all contributed something and did some advertising..
The newsletter is put together and forwarded to some 700 members. A great effort.
So that's were it was and were it is now...
The club has grown in numbers and the web. site is up and running. Emails are out all the time. I think we are more than well informed.
In conclusion
I want to emphasize that I think the club is going ahead leaps and bounds. It is a very social group with dozens of activities. I feel that members need to put a little effort in to move around and talk more - part of becoming a big club.
I travel five hours to each meeting and even longer to some events. I have never left an event where I felt I was cheated or left out.
The majority of members are professional business people, business owners or retired and I think to a person depend on the committee to basically do it for us - just let me know what it is and I'll be there approach.
The committees past and present have done a damn good job of both organising and giving us a wide variety of events in social and competition. I have been a little busy to get to all but know they have all been successful.
Over the coming months there is an event on in the Victorian Cobra club every weekend and even two events on a few weekends...
As a member I'm very satisfied and grateful to the guys and girls who put an effort in to make our time spent together enjoyable, interesting and friendly. I'm sorry that we have lost a member.
To all of the committee members and their partners - past and present - I thank you for a job well done and give you my support and confidence..
Hope to see you all soon...
Importantly, have a great 2007 and a safe one. Good driving..