So You Want To Join A Car Club?

Congratulations. You've just finished the build up/restoration/modification of your 1937 Zoomobile 3000, 1953 Mercurial V-13, or 1971 Porsherrari flat 6. Now you want to go out and have some fun with your new toy. But what do you do? Yeah, you've been to the burger joint cruise nights and stuffed shirt car shows, but maybe you just want to hang with the guys (and gals). Hey, why not join a car club?

Good idea, you say, but which car club is for me? Well, let's take a look at what's out there.

The first question you should ask yourself is do you want to join a marque specific club or a general car club? Marque specific clubs are just what the name says, clubs where all the members own the same manufacturer car as you do. There are clubs for Ferraris, Corvettes, 57 Chevys, even Hupmobiles (well, I'm sure there is one somewhere). General car clubs allow any type car to join. Some may have a year cut-off (1972 and older for instance) or be limited to American cars only, but typically any type car would be welcome.

Next you should ask yourself what kind of activities would I like to do with my car? Do you like to go to car shows and win trophies? Are you interested in racing (drag, road, etc.) or autocross? Do you like to go on cruises to nice restaurants in the country or a winery? Some clubs tend to concentrate on one or two of these activities while others like to do them all.

Now, are you the type of person that likes things very structured (maybe you're an engineer or scientist) or do you like to "go with the flow" (a liberal arts kind of person)? Car clubs come in all levels of organization. You've got your basic "bunch of guys/gals who like to hang out at the neighborhood gas station and talk cars" to fully structured clubs that are incorporated (and probably tax exempt) with bylaws, rules, monthly meetings, dues, and officers. You've also got Internet based clubs (very popular these days) that are less formally organized but may hold meetings and go to events together. In between these extremes are many other flavors of club. Certainly you can find one that suits your interests.

Finally, and maybe most important, are you the kind of person that likes to be seen but not heard (you just want to hang out and do what you want) or are you the kind of person that likes to lead, organize things, and participate in everything you can?

Once you have answered these questions, you can start looking at clubs. You should start by checking out their website (if they have one, many do these days), attend some of their shows, and go to a meeting (if they have them) or two. Many clubs will have specific guidelines on the requirements you have to meet in order to become a member but in general you just want to meet the members and see if they are the kind of people you want to hang with.

NOVACCC member websites can be found on the Member Clubs page. Feel free to contact them if you have any questions.

So, what are you waiting for? Check out and join a club. There is a lot going on out in the car enthusiast world and a lot of people to do it with. The best way to enjoy your ride is to do it with friends. Get out of your garage and join a car club!

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Last modified: 07/02/08