DIY breakdown rescue cafe facility!

[kembiff]

Let me give you some background...When I broke down at a busy roundabout in Albi, Southern France, this summer in my bus- a very helpful fellow bus owner let me camp in his garden overnight. (there were lots of helpful non dubbers too!) He also helped me source oil on a sunday (remember - this is france!) and change my oil on his lawn. What a guy!!
He is a member of a french vw air cooled club over there (I can't remember the name its in my bus & i will try & remember to get it out & share it with you.)

Anyhow, here's the GREAT bit: On their forum is an xls database of all the members of the club up & down france. Each entry gives a location, phone number, vehicle they have, whether they are technically minded or can just offer a place to stay the night or an opportunity to have un cafe au lait and usefully in this case what language they speak. This is excellent if you happen to breakdown and need a part or just want to meet up. Like I said I have the list in my bus because I go to France every summer.

I'll bet you can guess my suggestion. I think most of us are just like 'Abel' the French guy - we love to help out. So how about we make a printable list of contacts that we could call on if we need a part or some help away from our own turf so to speak. I know there is a google maps page for 411/412 cars but these all rely on have internet access. A simple club list could be carried in the glove box/toolkit. Of course it should be members only to protect us from scammers on the web but I'm sure the internet gurus on here would have suitable suggestions.

...What do you reckon?

[purplepeter]

It already exists to some extent,though now somewhat out of date..perhaps it could be discussed/requested at the AGM?

[kembiff]

Where does it exist?

[purplepeter]

In the membership list that new members recieve & the members only pages on here
Unless of course Barbara's run out !

[kembiff]

I see - How do I see the members only pages. When I go there it says I do not have permission. I assumed it was for forum admin stuff until now.

[Editor]

It's for paid-up members of the original club - that funds the show stand, website charges and publicity and publications - but we're cutting down on those now the forum and website works so well.

We are planning to look at this at the AGM meeting in Bristol - at the moment we are having difficulties encouraging anyone to do a handbook, and I have quite enough doing the forum and helping with members problems. The Helpers List used to be circulated with that, based on membership renewal forms. Details of how to join the club (as in becoming a paid-up member) are in the club pages on the forum. The club annual sub is £10 at the moment, which more or less covered running costs a few years ago when we were also printing and posting several newsletters and a Yearbook each year.

Publishing a helpers list requires members' phone numbers etc - it's not really something to put on the web unprotected. Quite a few on here don't even admit the town or country they live in, let alone anything more personal! I can look up emails, but I don't know if the other moderators can, but that's not necessarily a quick method of getting in touch, and won't be safe from web-bots.

I'm open to offers; we can have something like this, but it needs collecting, collating and sending out securely. Anyone got an idea of how to do that?

There's a good world-wide old VW fellowship. When I found Beetle and Golf keys while snorkelling in the South of France, I got in touch with the local club through SuperVee magazine club list and managed to reunite them with the owner!

[kembiff]

There's a good world-wide old VW fellowship. When I found Beetle and Golf keys while snorkelling in the South of France, I got in touch with the local club through SuperVee magazine club list and managed to reunite them with the owner!

This is why it would be a good idea. Are people in the uk just so untrusting? My local club durhamdubbers.co.uk had pretty much the same opinion.

BTW durhamdubbers does not have paid up members its all free. We make up internet charges (which is really the only cost TBH) by selling t-shirts, club car stickers, having raffles at club meets and doing similar fund raising at shows that the club attend.
Seems to work fine up here - but i do realise that type3&4 owners are much more spread out and club meets would be less frequent, but still.
I for one would love a sticker proclaiming my type3&4 status!

I hope this doesnt put any cats among pigeons on here?

[Editor]

All ideas and opinions accepted, particularly constructive ones. We need to update things to match modern trends, but it would be a shame to leave behind some of the people who did a lot to help build up the cllub over the years.

We used to have a lot of fun with 'Wack-the-Rat' and a particularly-startling 'steady hand game', where touching the convoluted copper spiral with the loop made a car horn blare out - you should have seen them jump!

I don't know if club car stickers need to be restricted to paid up members. Obviously they are sent out to new members, but I don't think we check that people asking for a replacement are members.

In fact the reserves would last quite a while, and will be handy for modernised publicity to celebrate the 50 years of the Type 3 next year.

[adi #2]

Why don't we just have a sticky thread on the forum? That way, anyone, member or not, will be able to see it. I don't think it would cause any financial issues, as paying members will pay anyway, and people who don't want to be members will not be anyway. And if the odd old car owner will exploit the system to get info free of charge, then, will, its not the end of the world, and we would be helping out our own people anyway so all is good.

I would gladly put myself on there (by the way Im in Dorset, and rent a bit of a very well kitted out workshop, but i suck at making coffee)

[kembiff]

Well, I'm officially a lower class, non-member....and I put my name and address forward as a helpful & law abiding, firm tea drinker with some coffee leanings plus a respectable trolley jack! (DH6 1LQ - if you get this far you would recognise my drive!)

[Paul Hayward]

i think ive only paid once or twice, moved house and mislaid all the info ...looks like we should both pay up then .its only ten quid i think....

this place has given so much and ive made grat friends ....even if i dont see em often


thanks everyone

[Editor]

It's on the agenda for the AGM discussion, but I would be pleased for any input from paid-up members or others.

We used to need a subscription to cover events, publications, club infra-structure (gazebo, banners, tables etc) and even with 5 or sometimes 6 publications a year we managed gradually to get a comfortable reserve. Now, with fewer members and minimal expense for publications, it has grown quite large.

We have generally avoided buying quantities of club spares as someone has to store them, post or bring them to shows and account for them, though on a few occasions it has been silly not to - eg a batch of Type 3 silencers, or FI Filters, though about 20 years ago when they were plentiful I recall turning down a dozen or two NOS late Type 3 rear light lenses, and stocks of Type 4 air filters were eagerly bought up by some German visitors.
It's generally much better for individuals to take responsibility for their own spares, but I admit seeing recently that one UK company charges £24 for a part which is needed from time to time, and in the USA costs $4, it did make me think we should be prepared to spend some of the reserve on that sort of thing.

One idea was to get parts reproduced, but generally the costs are prohibitive for the numbers wanted.

[Paul Hayward]

i would love a brand new 412 auto please Dave

[Editor]

Don't Marklin still make one? Oh, you mean a full-size one.

[Paul Hayward]

Don't Marklin still make one? Oh, you mean a full-size one.

yes sorry Dave....couldnt help it!




Back On Topic

if anyone needs any help in the Southampton area SO32 2LJ....

[adi #2]

By the way, I also wouldnt mind be added to the list, although im not a member. Im in Dorset and I rent a corner of a fully-equipped classic specialist workshop (although I rent a part of it for my old car collection, and not as a business) so i can always help out someone who is stuck.

[kembiff]

Great to virtually meet you! Put your details here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5251

[Editor]

I'm compiling a list that's in a password protected Word doc. It's at viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5251 if you want to join in. Check it works for you, and we can add phone numbers, and addresses as well if you wish. It may be some would rather tell you an address if you need help, than leave it in a list (even if it's reasonably secure).