Filed Under: News
Are we living in the past? Or are we preserving a part of automobile history for future generations? So what are we doing to ensure that the youngster’s of today appreciate the cars and bikes of yesterday.
From what I can see very little, it is clubs like our own and the numerous clubs through out Ireland that need to nurture the youth of today to become the custodians of the past.
Do we have a youth or junior section?
If as it is said in the club magazine we are going to have monthly meetings with talks by various experts or even demonstrations, who is going to be there? Yep the fat cats of the classic car world, in other words the usual people, don’t get me wrong we need you, without your contribution there would be no club.
I will give you a scenario, you are eighteen, wish, or so and have a love of cars old cars, how do you get into the scene, very little money, little mechanical skill, perhaps a father who cannot even knock a nail in straight, like me – so where do you start.
Wow, I need a car, indeed you do, how much? Where from? What sort of car, ah it might need spare parts, without doubt, where do I get them from, all relevant questions, where do you get the answers, Internet some yes, magazines well again some, there are a few magazines for sale in Ireland though they are in my opinion over priced, but nevertheless they have plenty of pictures, but lack any practical application, sorry if somebody is offended but it is true.
We know you can buy ten or fifteen year old cars for next to nothing, provided of course the majority have not gone to the crusher in the name of progress and prosperity, but they are not classics, have computerised parts which cannot be repaired,
So how do we advise the up and coming generation? Do I hear the usual remarks, let them do what we had to, or do they want it handed to them on a plate, easily said when you have got sufficient money to indulge yourself, we to a degree grew up with some of these cars being the norm, I could change spark plugs, put on a new hose, even put in Anti-Freeze, of course battery changing was a doddle and keeping it topped up, I even managed to start the car on the handle, without breaking a thumb, checking the dash pots of the carbs, no bother, and as for the free Redex, it was almost as good as petrol.
Unfortunately that is where my mechanical abilities fade away, even at my age I would be delighted to know some of the more technical aspects, changing brake pads for instance, I had a bicycle and decided the brakes had worn down, so it was easy to pop down the bike shop and buy a new set, not a bother putting them in could do it blindfolded, of course one has to try out the latest improvement, I pedalled furiously down the road and applied the brake levers, it had no effect the bike didn’t slow, thankfully we had a slight hill which did the job, on coming to rest I looked, not a sign of the brake blocks they had flown out, I put them in upside down.
Do we as a club have the inclination or the ability to pass on our knowledge and experience, without making them pay full membership
Ted Lay. tedlay@gmail.com
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