Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Darth Loo-knee on 11 June 2012, 00:43:03
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I went to the VBOA meet at Billing a year or two back to see more types of Vauxhall Clubs than I honestly thought Vauxhall ever did. I saw the Cresta Club, Manta Club, Chevette Club, Viva Club, but what make of Vauxhall did not have a Club?
Now my thought was when I saw this Cresta that my Grandad in Law spoke highly off was that it must be near on a 50 year old car. Would the Omega last 50 years? Will the Forum last 50 years?
Now I know OOF was started by the Guys that want it to be free to everyone, and that there are certain things that need to be done to become a "Proper VBOA Club" but what if OOF had another part to it as well as the free help side? Not a higher or lower ranking system or anything like that, but a Club Section that like minded members who would like to show their Pride and Joys in the same inviroment as the other Vauxhall Clubs. Could this be a way of letting the Omega also live on for its 50 year mark?
I know that the Admin Team have enough on their plates to run the Forum, so perhaps their could be a member elected to run this idea as Their Baby obviously keeping the Admin Team up to date on whats happenng etc..
I would assume this Club side of OOF would need to pay a yearly subscription fee, where you would get a sticker, a pen, half yearly magazine or something along those lines like other Clubs.
Any ideas, constructive critisms, points of view all welcome
Cheers
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You know my feelings... I think it would be great to have the Omega Club and great fun to be able to attend the shows in our own right :y
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they have a paid members area on the corsa forum..costs £10 per year..one of the benefits is having a special area to post in where anything goes... :P
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I go to Billing most years, the last few being with ABS, and I agree about the lack of Omega's. The VVOC have an array of concours/tuned up/modified cars and they are all well presented, as are most other Vauxhall/Bedfords through the ages. I think I have seen more Opel GT's than Omega's on show there, and I didn't even know they existed until I saw them at Billing.
There were only a handful of Omega's in the ABS enclosure and didn't appear to be that many floating about in any other area. We seem to have skipped a generation of show cars as it's gone from Carlton's/Senators straight through to Monaro's/VXR8's.
As Daz said, would be nice to see a few Omega's being shown off. Even the humble Chevette outnumbers us.
Regards
Alan
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Would it not be easier to join ABS who already have the club status ect
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Would it not be easier to join ABS who already have the club status ect
But that defeats the object the OP is going for of having a dedicated club for the Omega ;)
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they have a paid members area on the corsa forum..costs £10 per year..one of the benefits is having a special area to post in where anything goes... :P
For me Karl that would not be the reason for this part of OOF.
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Just a reply to a pm I recieved.
I would not want to be the person who Organised it no. I do believe it would take someone who has more idea about Organising Events. I do think it would need a few people to run this Club and would like to be a part of it somehow though.
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I think it would need to be separate from this forum, both from a point of view of spreading workload and keeping this forum true to its' original "free help to all" ethos.
The problem I foresee is that any "club" would sooner or later decide it needs a forum of its' own, and we'd end up with fragmentation of the pool of Omega enthusiasts which would be a bad thing overall.
In terms of a club representing the interests of Omega owners, ABS is already established and many of us are members there anyway. They would probably welcome an increase in Omega enthusiasm as the older models they traditionally represent have dropped in numbers over the years and something newer needs to fill the gap. They even recognise 4 pots now, IIRC. ;)
There is also a good fit between what ABS members get for their membership fee and what we have here for free. OK, ABS have a forum, but it's members only, and tends to focus on Carlton/Senator/Monza/LC stuff, and more on tuning, mods and track use then everyday ownership.
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I was interested to read this thread today. As yesterday I was at the Bromley Pageant of Motoring. I too took a long look at the Cresta's and Velox's and was thinking how many Omega's will be about wheh they are 50+ years old.
Anything that raises the Profile of the Omega and Helps towards a plentyful spares supply I would take as a positive. I do however understand peoples concern of the fragmentation of "Omega Enthusiasts" I remember in the Early 90's there seemed to be as many Granada owners clubs as cars!!
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The problem I foresee is that any "club" would sooner or later decide it needs a forum of its' own, and we'd end up with fragmentation of the pool of Omega enthusiasts which would be a bad thing overall.
Sorry Kev how and why would that be?
I do however understand peoples concern of the fragmentation of "Omega Enthusiasts" I remember in the Early 90's there seemed to be as many Granada owners clubs as cars!!
If someone can explain this in laymans terms maybe I could grasp it as I am struggling to see why it would fragment the Forum. The other thing you mention about being alot of clubs for Granadas, there is no Club for the Omega, that really is my point.
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The problem I foresee is that any "club" would sooner or later decide it needs a forum of its' own, and we'd end up with fragmentation of the pool of Omega enthusiasts which would be a bad thing overall.
Sorry Kev how and why would that be?
I just think it would be hard work to run a club without one these days. I assume the goals of the club would be to organise local meets, attend national events, etc. There would have to be some sort of committee structure to cope with membership and accounts, daily running of the club and so on. This all requires organisation, and doing so without some sort of online discussion would be quite a challenge. A forum of some kind would be the obvious answer. Down the line someone would decide it would be good to have a general chat section, and a help section, and maybe allow buying and selling. It, or parts thereof, would no doubt be "members only". I'm not against the idea entirely. I think it has the potential to sleepwalk into something that undermines OOF. That was my point.
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there is no Club for the Omega, that really is my point.
There is a club for Omegas. Its called OOF.
HOWEVER, we are not affiliated with VBOA, thus are not allowed to show at VBOA events, such as Billing.
If someone can explain this in laymans terms maybe I could grasp it as I am struggling to see why it would fragment the Forum
If a (entirely) seperate club was set up, you'd have half the members in one, and half in the other (OK, the ratios would unlikely be 50:50, but you get the concept). Not that many would be in both clubs. For eg, many of us are/were in VxON/Migweb/ABS, but how often do/did we visit them? Thus fragmenting the "Omega Enthusiasts".
However, reading between the lines, I think you are talking about some kind of mechanism where OOF can have stands at Billing? Or were you thinking of an entirely seperate, unrelated, competing Omega club?
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However, reading between the lines, I think you are talking about some kind of mechanism where OOF can have stands at Billing? Or were you thinking of an entirely seperate, unrelated, competing Omega club?
I read it as an official club as part of OOF :-\
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However, reading between the lines, I think you are talking about some kind of mechanism where OOF can have stands at Billing? Or were you thinking of an entirely seperate, unrelated, competing Omega club?
I read it as an official club as part of OOF :-\
This is exactly what I meant. I think it would be another string to OOF's bow. OOF you say is a Club and yet I have to confess its probably only the second occasion I have heard you relate OOF as one.
Some on here me included I was quite sure would have being interested in OOF having a Club side to it which would allow us to go to different shows like Billing for example. Have part of a field like ABS but having an Omega Owners Club banner over the gateway into our field. Granted there will be some on here that wont be interested in the slightest, you could say that about our yearly meets, that some dont even try to attend, so does that mean we stop doing them?
Maybe I am wrong, maybe some of you are missing the point I was trying to make, maybe I dont express what I actually mean very well.....
Top and Bottom of it when I walked around Billing VBOA meet there was cars over 50 years old being shown off. There was around 10 Cresta's on their own Club pitch. Chevettes on their own Club pitch, Mantas, Viva's but not an Omega. There were a few Omegas on the ABS pitch along with Carltons, Senators etc I found it a little strange wondering if Omegas will be getting shown in another 20 odd years ........
Quiet simply that....no hidden agenda against the forum or wanting to split it in anyway and for anyone even thinking that your very much mistaken. I actually thought it may help the Forum.
I am aware that it could take alot of work, there a number of members I could name now who I think would help to shape this as they are also willing to help the forum.
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The other way to go might be to affiliate with a recognised club.
Totalcarlton attend billing with VODC and we just park together on their stand. That way TC get to attend and VODC get more members (and therefore cars) attending - everyones happy!
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Has any one asked Omega Owners Network?
They've a presence at shows - could they become the 'show arm' of OOF?
I'm a very inactive member there but I'm fairly certain that all the founders/admin/Mods on OON are OOFers.
Is there any milage in that sort of an approach?
Curiously,
Matthew
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Has any one asked Omega Owners Network?
They've a presence at shows - could they become the 'show arm' of OOF?
I'm a very inactive member there but I'm fairly certain that all the founders/admin/Mods on OON are OOFers.
Is there any milage in that sort of an approach?
Curiously,
Matthew
Think that`s closing down
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yup end of the month
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.........that's that out the window, then ;D ;D ;D
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Interesting, asked the question before as this will be my eighth year attending Billing, and yes although some OOF members attend VBOA via ABS and likewise ABS members are on OOF etc.. The ethos of the Forum founders is to remain as a free forum. To create an area where members pay in order to affiliate with VBOA and attend annually etc., requires more organisation than is currently present on the Forum, eg annual general meets, minutes, club secretary's etc., and all the rest, this would require a core goup of members to co-ordinate and organise elect, vote etc.. Some of the basics are already present eg annual meets, Newent, lakes and regional meets are taking place.
I am not against the idea as a sole dedicated omega stand is something that has never been at VBOA. However, putting things in perspective you are lucky to see 10-15+ omegas at VBOA and of those they are spread out as some attend ABS stands and other club stands, so would it be worth the effort? :-X. Personally, yes, but potentially at the risk of creating as KW mentioned fragmentation within OOF. If this was to move forward it should be under the banner of OOF/OOF Club in my opinion, remain within the same website?, place a poll on OOF to gauge opinion?.
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I understand exactly what Daz is saying, but also am very aware of the possibility for it to go wrong through no-one's fault.
Does anyone know what the criterion is for being a 'club'? Taking fees, is there a set amount?
I think that is the sole issue. I could see it working, if, a new section to the forum was introduced, that specifically dealt with attending these meets. The section is open to all, but to attend the meets you need to have paid the subscription. It would in essence appear to others a seperate entity but is included in the forum. I would subscribe. I am very soon to have two police Omega's which I'll take to shows, but they can only go to recognised shows, not an OOF Oxford meet. So for me, that'd be the main reason.
But, do we need an 'us' and 'them' within OOF. I agree with Daz it could bring some real benefits and be fun, but could it lead to added fricition, unfortunately I think it may do.
I think it merits further investigation.
It should stay as OOF, but, the OOF ethos is about inclusion and free for all. Does it make this impossible? And is it just added agro for Admins? I wouldn't be opposed to helping organise things. I can be terrible, and have lots of last minute things popping up, but I would make time.
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If you are thinking of specifically Billing, that means OOF would have to be VBOA affliated.
Last time I checked, about a year ago, we'd fail to meet the required criteria, including:
1) Charging for membership
2) Sending out a printed publication 4 times a year (from memory)
3) Having to attend frequent VBOA meetings
I certainly lack the bandwidth for 2) or 3), or organising/designing/implementing 1)
Then there is the cost of implementing. I think so few would pay for something they can get for free that 2) would end up costing more than the membership fees bring in. And OOF isn't made of money.
Still, although I'm sceptical, if the demand is genuinely there, I will look at what hoops we have to jump through, and what the costs are.
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To become affiliated to the VBOA the "club" has to jump through a lot of hoops ...all listed here ..
http://www.vboa.org.uk/toplevel.php?p=m1
Now, that is a lot of work "just" to get to Billing on our own stand !!!
Now, please don't take that as me being against it, but the Admins here already do a great deal of work, and my reading of that VBOA document is that running a "seperate section" within OOF would not be allowed. My understanding is that it would be "all or nothing", and I think that would detract from the OOF ethos.
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Interesting, asked the question before as this will be my eighth year attending Billing, and yes although some OOF members attend VBOA via ABS and likewise ABS members are on OOF etc.. The ethos of the Forum founders is to remain as a free forum. To create an area where members pay in order to affiliate with VBOA and attend annually etc., requires more organisation than is currently present on the Forum, eg annual general meets, minutes, club secretary's etc., and all the rest, this would require a core goup of members to co-ordinate and organise elect, vote etc.. Some of the basics are already present eg annual meets, Newent, lakes and regional meets are taking place.
I am not against the idea as a sole dedicated omega stand is something that has never been at VBOA. However, putting things in perspective you are lucky to see 10-15+ omegas at VBOA and of those they are spread out as some attend ABS stands and other club stands, so would it be worth the effort? :-X. Personally, yes, but potentially at the risk of creating as KW mentioned fragmentation within OOF. If this was to move forward it should be under the banner of OOF/OOF Club in my opinion, remain within the same website?, place a poll on OOF to gauge opinion?.
Agreed Mike. :y
You'd like to think that if club status was gained it would get more support than we currently appear to give to ABS. Loads of us have ABS membership for the TC card but, as already said, there were only a handful of us in our Omega's in the ABS enclosure at Billing. I'm as guilty as anyone for not attending other ABS events but do try to attend local OOF meets where possible.
The distinct lack of Omega's at Billing, even as day visitors was noticeable by their absence.
I'm grateful for what the Admins already do but as said, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to run a club. The idea of an Omega only enclosure is a nice thought but I assume it could potentially create divided loyalties between ABS and OOF as well as within OOF itself.
Tricky one. :-\
Regards
Alan
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Thank you TB and Nige, very interesting.
It seems there are indeed a lot of hoops, especially public liability insurance. It unfortunately seems more hassle than it's worth.
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If you are thinking of specifically Billing, that means OOF would have to be VBOA affliated.
Last time I checked, about a year ago, we'd fail to meet the required criteria, including:
1) Charging for membership
2) Sending out a printed publication 4 times a year (from memory)
3) Having to attend frequent VBOA meetings
I certainly lack the bandwidth for 2) or 3), or organising/designing/implementing 1)
Then there is the cost of implementing. I think so few would pay for something they can get for free that 2) would end up costing more than the membership fees bring in. And OOF isn't made of money.
Still, although I'm sceptical, if the demand is genuinely there, I will look at what hoops we have to jump through, and what the costs are.
I'm sceptical
Yes, and you're quite right to be,
In my view - for what it's worth to the great unwashed of the membership - this idea holds all the promise of being quite reasonable and perhaps even desirable to some degree or other - in theory but, I would suggest, in reality it would be a rather unwieldy, time consuming, resource hungry and ultimately divisive proposal should an attempt ever be made to put it into practice.
Furthermore, I would suspect that those who put their services forward to manage this new group would perhaps rue their descisions when the daily requirement to conduct responsible business began to impinge on their everyday activity and personal time.
I don’t think many in the membership fully appreciate the dedication (and personal time) required from those who run this Forum and to expect them to assume additional responsibilities - even at the most uncomplicated, loosely bound level (advice, mentoring/assistance and so on) is unfair and impractical.
Something also tells me – although I don’t know what it is precisely – that the formation of such a group would spell the end of this Forum as we presently know it.
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Slight drift I know but has anybody else got a new direct debit mandate from Abs with a price increase ?
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If you are thinking of specifically Billing, that means OOF would have to be VBOA affliated.
Last time I checked, about a year ago, we'd fail to meet the required criteria, including:
1) Charging for membership
2) Sending out a printed publication 4 times a year (from memory)
3) Having to attend frequent VBOA meetings
I certainly lack the bandwidth for 2) or 3), or organising/designing/implementing 1)
Then there is the cost of implementing. I think so few would pay for something they can get for free that 2) would end up costing more than the membership fees bring in. And OOF isn't made of money.
Still, although I'm sceptical, if the demand is genuinely there, I will look at what hoops we have to jump through, and what the costs are.
I'm sceptical
Yes, and you're quite right to be,
In my view - for what it's worth to the great unwashed of the membership - this idea holds all the promise of being quite reasonable and perhaps even desirable to some degree or other - in theory but, I would suggest, in reality it would be a rather unwieldy, time consuming, resource hungry and ultimately divisive proposal should an attempt ever be made to put it into practice.
Furthermore, I would suspect that those who put their services forward to manage this new group would perhaps rue their descisions when the daily requirement to conduct responsible business began to impinge on their everyday activity and personal time.
I don’t think many in the membership fully appreciate the dedication (and personal time) required from those who run this Forum and to expect them to assume additional responsibilities - even at the most uncomplicated, loosely bound level (advice, mentoring/assistance and so on) is unfair and impractical.
Something also tells me – although I don’t know what it is precisely – that the formation of such a group would spell the end of this Forum as we presently know it.
i think you are right there den.
i like the idea though but dont think it would really be worth it tbh.
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Slight drift I know but has anybody else got a new direct debit mandate from Abs with a price increase ?
nope. i will change my standing order on-line. :y
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You'd like to think that if club status was gained it would get more support than we currently appear to give to ABS. Loads of us have ABS membership for the TC card but, as already said, there were only a handful of us in our Omega's in the ABS enclosure at Billing. I'm as guilty as anyone for not attending other ABS events but do try to attend local OOF meets where possible.
The distinct lack of Omega's at Billing, even as day visitors was noticeable by their absence.
I'm grateful for what the Admins already do but as said, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to run a club. The idea of an Omega only enclosure is a nice thought but I assume it could potentially create divided loyalties between ABS and OOF as well as within OOF itself.
Tricky one. :-\
Regards
Alan
I think you make a good point there - the structure is already there in ABS to be able to create a good attendance at an ABS meet, but how many of us actually use the ABS forum? I became a member to get the trade card but I can't get into the forum - I have tried - it's just so poorly attended. You can almost have a real-time discussion on here but you can wait for days on ABS for a reply. 90% of the times I've been on ABS, I've been the only member online :-\
Perhaps a few more of us should take a peek at ABS when there is a big meet and push the Omega attendance a bit? Easier than creating a 'club' on OOF I reckon...
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Implementation issues aside, is it worth stepping back and considering what proportion of Omega owners would be interested in attending VBOA shows, etc. in the first place?
The more "classic" cars, IMHO, attract a different type of owner to the more recent cars like the Omega which are, let's face it, not quite there yet.
Amongst them them are plenty of people who modify, tune and track their cars, and those who prepare them to concourse standard and exhibit them. Weekend cars. This will naturally draw them to shows to a greater extent than those of us who punt an Omega to work and back 5 days a week and spend the weekend maintaining them or tinkering with something more "interesting", IMHO. Just a thought, and without trying to be negative towards the idea... Is the interest there to warrant a bigger presence than a corner of the ABS stand? :-\
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It was just am idea :D
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It was just am idea :D
I know, and I'm not trying to pooh pooh it. ;) I just don't want to see people go to a lot of effort and then find nothing but apathy in reward. :-\
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Well Billing is only a month or so away so if your an ABS member then why not attend, you have paid for it .
This year isn't a show and shine competition but more of a family day and please don't think your car has to be spotless to be on the stand, come down if only for a day and say hi
Cheers
Andy
And the area meet is tomorrow night if anyone wants to come along
Andy