I have been reluctant to open this can of worms, but what the heck. I joined the early V8 club and the model A club, thinking that I would like to go on some of the tours they had to offer and other activities. When I got their news letters, magazines or what ever they are called, I was not disappointed in the tours they had planed for the summer they looked like alot of fun, Until I got to looking at the expense involved! Not to mention that these purists would not thumb their noses at anything I would bring. I know what I like and as far as having the correct nut and bolts, all I want is something that does its job and looks good in my eyes. Maybe I am totally wrong about these outfits and was wondering if any of you had any experiences you would like to share.

 

Driving real slow with a whole bunch of old guys never appealed to me

 

I have been interested in the Montana 500 race. The rules are strict:
Official Montana 500 Web Page

 

IMHO, car clubs can represent the best and the worst of society......these types of events can be really fun (and i'm a go fast type of person), but what in many situations happens is what starts out originally as a group of people to want to have fun (without getting out of control), as things become successful and the originals become too old to participate and a new group of self-interest, self centric, self profiting/promoting weasels snake their way in a take-over......I won't mention the TV show, but there is a person who finds cars and sells them, specializing in vintage era cars......you will see them repeatedly state "Their father is the expert on model A's and wrote the book which is used by all of America's top judges".......

Anyone who ever has watched the actual vintage movies of the assembly, or actually watched the interviews with management & labor, will tell you, while there were standards, much of what is stated is just soo much bull........not to belabor the point, but, heck, there were at times so much labor and supply chain disruption that local police and fire hoses were used as part of "control methods"......and yet some people really honestly believe that every model A, etc was built with this bolt, this nut, this coil put in this position......these are people who are not interested in having honest fun and making friends...they are into self promotion.

My key point is, if there are a great group of people- go for it, you will have fun, make new friends and each are there to support each other.....

 

For years, my Father had Model TT's. Always 2 or 3 around from what I can remember. He had quite a few folks approach him, wanting him to join a club of some sort. He always declined, and I asked him why?
"Politics", he said. Anytime folks get together with the best of intentions, politics always seems to take over and ruin what you love about something, no matter what it is. He would go to the local cruise-ins and enjoy other's vehicles as well as letting his Twin T's shine, but never to join any club. I took that unintended advice to heart and now when I pick up Dad with my DeSoto (he can no longer drive, and I don't go without him) and we head off to some of the local cruise-ins, guess what....I get asked to join a club.
I respectfully decline, and Dad just smiles

 

Wow, they are strict. 500 miles flat out in stock a T, wouldn't expect too many of them to cross the finish line,lol.

 

This is serious business for many of these guys! And, some of them are there to have fun and get a chance to run there Model T on the roads. Some of them are running 70 mph on the down hill; they even use drafting while they are boiling along at 50 mph. I don't know if anyone is getting up on the right "quarter panel" of the guy in front to get him out of shape in the corners .

Model T Ford Forum: Montana 500 car

Carnegie's Model T rules in Montana | | The Spokesman-Review

 

The Western NY Region group of the Early Ford V-8 club is a group of really nice people who love old Fords. We have everything from not quite nasty drivers to top award winners. No one ever looks down on anyone else. Everyone is willing to help other members and people who are not members. We hosted a 5-day tour last year and the cars and trucks ran the full gamut from okay to beautiful. All the participants were happy to drive their antiques and appreciate what everyone else had. We don't care if you have the correct bolts or if you have parts held on with baling wire. There are judged meets and those are entirely different. But there are classes where daily drivers compete also. Give it a try; you might be pleasantly surprised. You can always leave if you don't like what you see.

 

I have been a member of the Early Ford V8 Club since the mid 90s. I like stock old Fords, and I like to drive my cars. I don't get too excited if you drive up in a car with obviously later fasteners. I like the local tours and picnics. I enjoy most of the folks in the club. Nobody gives me grief about the incorrect parts on my car (I have A/C in the 53 sedan). We have members with a 36 sedan that has no paint left on it whatsoever. My experiences are very similar to FireEngineMike.

I go to the occasional national meet where concourse restoration cars are judged. I volunteer to judge 37-38 passenger cars since they are my favorite. I appreciate the effort i takes to restore a car as close as possible to "like Henry made it". I like judging not to take points away from a car, but since I get to slide under the car, look at the engine, look at the interior, etc, in detail that otherwise I couldn't do.

Yes, there are occasional politics. I don't let that get in the way of enjoying old Fords with other old Ford enthusiasts.

Yeah, the national meets are expensive... I only get to one every couple years. Here is a thread on the Ford Barn of the best V8 meet I have attended:
New Zealand 2017 - The Ford Barn

 

I too am a member of the V8 club. I have never attended a function. I am glad that you have had some good times at their meets. I will give it a whirl and see what its all about. Thank you all for your replies

 

I belong to the T club, lots of fun and pretty laid back. Plenty of tours and good people. Tours are generally free or very low cost.

I also belong to the early v/8 club, lots of fun and mostly laid back. Good people and lots of tours although if you have a big truck tours can be a bit of a problem since they do not go very fast and you might not want to go that far in it. Tours are also either free or low cost.

Tried the A club, way too serious and picky for my taste but there are plenty of tours and good people there also. Tour costs apply here.

(my humble 2 cents worth)

I wish there were more clubs for the the big trucks.