Whats Happening On Toc?

[dawesy]

Looking at the interest over the last year or so on meets it seems that no one wants to go.

We have over 100,000 members on TOC but cant manage double figures when it comes to meets especially the national meets like JAE etc.

It makes it very disheartening for those that try to organise events.

TOC used to be a very friendly site (and still is) with people wanting to meet up face to face rather than just share banter and info on a screen.

I remember the JAE's of old where we could easily fill a large stand and everyone had a good time.

Most national events are planned well in advance so that people have time to organise time off work etc and most are over weekends.

We on the moderating team would like to know what the rest of the forum members think, why you dont attend meets, what kind of meets you would like and would attend etc.

We have some great events, JAE, CAE, the TOC Christmas meal to name but a few. These are a great way to meet face to face and even to learn more about people that you don't usually get on with, you'll be surprised how different people are when you meet them personally.

So come on guys give us your thoughts, we'd like to here your views and maybe make meets that more want to attend

[Phoenix999]

I have always enjoyed meeting the members on here and sadly JAE last year's was the first one that I missed since 2005. The reason for this is that the JAE management have, in my opinion, lost a sense of direction in that this meet is for the attendees. Frankly I think they simply look at it as a money making venture! £25 entry for the full meeting is fine but not if attending for a single day Day entry tickets would be the way to go and if they do this once again then I shall return, but until then JAE will remain a memory

CAE looks fun but I just do not do camping, no bloody way

As for the TOC Christmas meal, this too looks fun but frankly I will not travel too far simply for a meal and a night out even if at a nice venue.... sorry!

I am stunned as to why there are so few regional meetings, it should be easy to get 20+ members and cars along but I do not know why this is not possible. Maybe it is down to a venue and the lack of an organiser. I would not mind getting something going in the South East/East Anglia/Kent but having looked at the history of this area I doubt anything would work out :(

I am afraid it is easier to have apathy than it is to have enthusiasm

[cfc1]

What we want to know is...

What type of event would you go to?

What would you want to do at a regional meet?

..and of course...

Why don't you go to any meets that may get organised or talked about?

We could post up a regional meet, get 20 odd names saying they will go and when you arrive there are 3 people who bothered to show up... we want to know why so we can improove things and get people together, the more often it happens the more you get to know other members, before you know it youre going to regular meets (aswell well as shoows and events) and thouroughly enjoying yourselves.

Where is the Scotlands meets???? I've been to more meets with another club in 2 years than I've been to in the 6 years or so I've been a member here.... so something isn't right.

[Raistlin]

On the subject of regional meets we could go bowling, kart racing, paint balling and then when proficient enough we could have inter region championships culmunating in a final for the TOC champions at a certain sport / event.

Just a thought...

[Raistlin]

Why not have a game of hunt Bizarra... Winner gets to keep the pot of Gold

[jw67]

I would love to go to some of the meets but money is a big problem and my wife isn't in the best of health.I couldn't leave her with 3 kids to look after but I will try and get to something soon.Nothing seems to happen in the Devon/Cornwall area despite some fantastic places around here as a day trip could be feasible.

[Raistlin]

I would love to go to some of the meets but money is a big problem and my wife isn't in the best of health.I couldn't leave her with 3 kids to look after but I will try and get to something soon.Nothing seems to happen in the Devon/Cornwall area despite some fantastic places around here as a day trip could be feasible.

Nothing like bring the prey down to you.... :shutit:

[dawesy]

we understand that for some other commitments can prevent attendance and we sympathise with those members.

children are always welcome, i take our 5 and 8 year old girls to JAE and CAE and they have a really good time.

travelling is part of the fun, i know davey (cfc1) travels down from way oooop north to come to JAE, they make a week of it.

it doesn't have to be 'just the weekend'

i like the gokarting and paintball ideas especially if we can have a national final of sorts with maybe a small trophy for the winners.

what about a model meet, corolla's, IQ's etc so you can meet others with the same car?

[+Steve]

think we should hire some hot legs!

[Raistlin]

think we should hire some hot legs!

Babes in a wet TOC teashirt.... ???

[jw67]

think we should hire some hot legs!

Babes in a wet TOC teashirt.... ???

Now I'm interested

[ae111sr]

The problem is that the person who was most enthusiastic about arranging meets and club attendances at shows, Ken, has not been an active member of the club for several years. He's greatly missed and since then it's been downhill all the way.

I really enjoy taking my Corolla to shows and meets but with little being organized on TOC I've joined other forums and clubs just to attend. Now that my Corolla is old enough I've joined the Toyota Enthusiasts Club and have been to shows at Tatton Park, Weston Park in Shropshire and Billing with them over the last two years. So it's not like I'm unwilling to travel from Cardiff to other places to enjoy seeing other cars and meeting people. I would have gladly gone to JAE last year with TOC but the Corolla was getting a re-paint.

Is TOC going to JAE this year? What about Japfest, JTS at Silverstone, the Japshows at Santa Pod, and the host of others that TOC always attended?

I did arrange a South Wales meet some years ago but of the 20 odd people who said they would definitely be there just 5 turned up. I wasn't going to waste my time doing that again. That's the problem - people say they are going to be there but don't turn up on the day.

[Raistlin]

Apathy rules....

[bothwell_buyer]

Did manage to 3 or 4 Scottish meets but as my wife still works; my father (92 yrs old) is still living with us despite several hints to move; and an old 'uncle' has become almost blind (he lives with us too) things have been a tad difficult. You see, they all won't fit in my 2 seater RAV; old John fidgets something rotten in the 4 seater RAV and my daughter has borrowed the Previa. The JCB only has 1 seat; and the Tranists only have single cabs.

[Raistlin]

Did manage to 3 or 4 Scottish meets but as my wife still works; my father (92 yrs old) is still living with us despite several hints to move; and an old 'uncle' has become almost blind (he lives with us too) things have been a tad difficult. You see, they all won't fit in my 2 seater RAV; old John fidgets something rotten in the 4 seater RAV and my daughter has borrowed the Previa. The JCB only has 1 seat; and the Tranists only have single cabs.

So that's a no then... :shutit:

[Phoenix999]

Did manage to 3 or 4 Scottish meets but as my wife still works; my father (92 yrs old) is still living with us despite several hints to move; and an old 'uncle' has become almost blind (he lives with us too) things have been a tad difficult. You see, they all won't fit in my 2 seater RAV; old John fidgets something rotten in the 4 seater RAV and my daughter has borrowed the Previa. The JCB only has 1 seat; and the Tranists only have single cabs.

So that's a no then... :shutit:

I have the impression that our man Bothy has other things to do ;)

[Raistlin]

Did manage to 3 or 4 Scottish meets but as my wife still works; my father (92 yrs old) is still living with us despite several hints to move; and an old 'uncle' has become almost blind (he lives with us too) things have been a tad difficult. You see, they all won't fit in my 2 seater RAV; old John fidgets something rotten in the 4 seater RAV and my daughter has borrowed the Previa. The JCB only has 1 seat; and the Tranists only have single cabs.

So that's a no then... :shutit:

I have the impression that our man Bothy has other things to do ;)

You think....

[bothwell_buyer]

Did manage to 3 or 4 Scottish meets but as my wife still works; my father (92 yrs old) is still living with us despite several hints to move; and an old 'uncle' has become almost blind (he lives with us too) things have been a tad difficult. You see, they all won't fit in my 2 seater RAV; old John fidgets something rotten in the 4 seater RAV and my daughter has borrowed the Previa. The JCB only has 1 seat; and the Tranists only have single cabs.

So that's a no then... :shutit:

I have the impression that our man Bothy has other things to do ;)

You think....

I could always borrow yer Aygo blue - whatever that is?

[Hou]

Ok to get back on topic and rear my ugly head.

Here is my point of view, as someone who has gone to several meets over the past 7 years and organised my fair share!

The problem with people attending relates to several reasons in my eyes:

- Dilution of the members in a couple of ways. Model only clubs that people would rather go on, and then go to meets with. For example one of the MR2 clubs having meets all of MR2s.

The other bit of dilution is people sticking to their specific technical section (like the corolla bummers :P ). TOC used to be set out in the same way but the split sections were only really used for technical questions, sociable posts were in the general section.

- The 'core' socaible members either being driven away by overhanded moderation or keyboard warriors that have so little going on in their life they enjoy causing problems.

- People from areas not related to specific meets, including one or two Mods that are guilty of this, popping up in the thread commenting on it or going off topic.

- The people who want to arrange meets etc being put off doing so due to lack of numbers or people dropping out last minute. The largest northern meets we have are when Gaz comes to mine or Rich pops in. Plus it is harder and harder to get people to agree on location and activity.

- Economic downturn! People have less money to be able to spend £30 on fuel and then £15 on grub etc just to go meet up with 4 people. Or people have to work weekends to bring the cash in.

- Outside factors, JAE for example stopping non-!Removed! coming on stand, which is quite right, but that upsetting the non-!Removed!. The day tickets not allowing people to park on stand due to not trusting people to leave. Due to the economy £25 is a lot for one day ticket if you want your car on stand

None of these comments are there to cause offence or upset anyone, just my opinion (before I am accused of Mod bashing - I only do that to Gaz in my own home......)

[dawesy]

please guys keep this on topic or ill be forced to get the pruning shears out!! :D

come on guys tell us how you see the club? why are you here?

once again we have loads of views but not many replies

[Phoenix999]

....once again we have loads of views but not many replies

To follow up on my earlier post I have to say that it is quite possible that TOC has advanced as far as it can go.

What else can TOC do by way of events etc? Track days.... not worth while given that so few of us drive performance cars. Karting.... I have seen that do in another car club and it works well. Paintball days.... I have access to a good local venue so could work something out there. Meals, discos, social events.... I don't think these work too well. Car club meets.... well last year's JAE showed what it now become typical.

Sorry guys but I doubt things will or can change

[KPARRIS-JONES]

I find that I am more than willing to travel the distance, but obviously being 16 I need someone (me dad ) to take me to the shows and events.

The lack of a dedicated Event Organiser is one major killer here. I noticed that no one had posted about Japfest and when I did only a few people decided to get on board, and NONE of those people volunteered to lead the group.

I am however sad that I won't be attending JAE with TOC this year, as I will be taking the AE92OC, that said I am definitely going to stay with you guys for some time as it's bloody hilarious!

Also it doesn't feel like a Club to me, there's the Forum, and then there are the shows where we all have a laugh as a group of mates.

I love meeting the people, but the Forums are strewn with Keyboard Warriors, 1-post-wonders and most of these 100 000 members aren't. I bet we have about 50 active members, and most of them will be gone in a few month or even a year to then be taken over by someone else.

I am still a Member of TOC because I want to stay in contact with those whom I had such a great time with at JAE, but other than that it's same old same old. However, I would never wish for TOC to fall I just don't know what changes need to be made.

KP

[KPARRIS-JONES]

Ok to get back on topic and rear my ugly head.

Here is my point of view, as someone who has gone to several meets over the past 7 years and organised my fair share!

The problem with people attending relates to several reasons in my eyes:

- Dilution of the members in a couple of ways. Model only clubs that people would rather go on, and then go to meets with. For example one of the MR2 clubs having meets all of MR2s.

The other bit of dilution is people sticking to their specific technical section (like the corolla bummers :P ). TOC used to be set out in the same way but the split sections were only really used for technical questions, sociable posts were in the general section.

- The 'core' socaible members either being driven away by overhanded moderation or keyboard warriors that have so little going on in their life they enjoy causing problems.

- People from areas not related to specific meets, including one or two Mods that are guilty of this, popping up in the thread commenting on it or going off topic.

- The people who want to arrange meets etc being put off doing so due to lack of numbers or people dropping out last minute. The largest northern meets we have are when Gaz comes to mine or Rich pops in. Plus it is harder and harder to get people to agree on location and activity.

- Economic downturn! People have less money to be able to spend £30 on fuel and then £15 on grub etc just to go meet up with 4 people. Or people have to work weekends to bring the cash in.

- Outside factors, JAE for example stopping non-japs coming on stand, which is quite right, but that upsetting the non-japs. The day tickets not allowing people to park on stand due to not trusting people to leave. Due to the economy £25 is a lot for one day ticket if you want your car on stand

None of these comments are there to cause offence or upset anyone, just my opinion (before I am accused of Mod bashing - I only do that to Gaz in my own home......)

I totally agree with the points made there Hou.... I just can't feel laid back or relaxed here...

[bothwell_buyer]

Following on from that above, and taking into account the inputs, then I must make a reply. Why am I here?

Well there's loads of forums out there that I can have a good banter with and I do. The commonality I have is having 2 highly tuned up RAVs which I enjoy and enjoy sharing knowledge with those in the RAV section. However as the first version RAV gets long in the tooth, then the RAV section is swinging more to 5 door diesel 4.3s. However I have an outlet/source in rav4world given their sub-sections on the 4.1 Useful as it helps me to source parts from all over the world, altho I'm hardly likely to ever meet them.

We had a RAV meet in warrington sometime ago and it was nice seeing the face to the name. We've had some meets in Scotland as well and again its nice to put a face to a name.

but some people prefer to 'socialise' over the web and face to face is not really their scene.

The TOC is primarily a haven for people with a car that has a problem and they will use and pass thru the forum as long as the need exists.

As mentioned, the costs of travelling to a meet is becoming heavier as petrol price means that my RAV uses £60 to travel 200 miles...which is only a round trip to Carlisle. I don't work but spend 5 days a week working for 3 charities I support unpaid. Added to this, I wonder how many people enjoy doing a day or twos travel on the roads we have now.

TOC is a good service and I just think one has to be careful in both judging others, and ones expectations of the outcomes of TOC.

I'd love to go along to a meeting of moderators just to be nosy, but then maybe I'd just be disappointed - or maybe they meet either?

Happy Valentines.

[Raistlin]

That was a reasoned and well thought out post.

Who are you and what have you done with Bothy.... :D