So.... I've been trying to find a club out west that has actual monthly club meetings, dues, runs, news letters, the patch etc..... Just like the clubs I belonged to back in Ontario. Not gonna happen! So... Wanna start one? It appears the VIoffroad would be an excellent place to start as it is small and the members seem "very capable " of such thing. That is to take it seriously, devote a night or two a month, for club meetings at a favourite pub, have at least one 1 day run a month, small dues, insurance, and no need to have to have a killer rock crawler on all runs. This would also be a great vessel for social activities as well. What say you.
This sounds like a good idea, though it also sounds like a lot of extra work and to be honest I'm already near capacity with just running the site on the side of regular work, life, etc. Are you volunteering your time? With a few leadership roles filled I think something like this would be great, though it would first be a matter of finding people who could devote the time.
I had a plan at one point to add a 'supporting member' role within the site that would be given to paying members and would enable discussion in private forums not visible to the public. I know sometimes there is concern in our community about who might be reading and this leads to hesitations around sharing good routes. I actually already have the functionality built but never rolled it out. I'm not sure if there is demand for something like this, but perhaps at some point I'll do a test run and see if anyone is interested. I could see some overlap with what you're proposing as well.
Was hoping to get a little more action on this but I guess it proves my point. Thank for your imput. The clubs I belonged to were/ are so much fun with all members committed to the sport. The central Ontario off-road club must have had 100 members with the Ottawa valley off-road club had as much as forty. They were formed much as the huge skidoo clubs are, sometimes sharing trails in their off seasons. They have the usual president, secretary, treasurer deal and all members were voted in after a guest run or two. Anyway so far just a pipe dream.
This is really tough to pull off because of the number of "free" groups that are out there. West Coast Jeeps, Alberni Valley Jeep Club, Comox Valley Jeep Club, Outsiders, Sticks & Stones and the list goes on.
Guys like the Sidewinders club get away with charging dues because they are a small group of Exo Caged / buggies who are pretty particular about who they roll with.
Another group that charges for memberships is Four Wheel Drive Association of BC, I don't know much about them but I think your membership gets you a decal, people like this group just because of the sheer size, people are active in cleanups and organized runs, but being so big comes with it's downfalls as well, with the good comes the bad which means there's always going to be a douchebag or two in the group.
Myself? I'm not interested in being part of any "Clubs". Clubs bring drama.
I roll with a "VIOffroad" decal because this isn't a club but a place to come and not worry about being internet trolled
I also roll with a "West Coast Jeeps" decal but it's been modified to "West Coast Jeep" so I'm no longer branded with club colors.
not many actual clubs, have lasted very long,and like B/M said there's so many different offroad/4x4 sites,......got facebook start another site....outthere,where to go??clubs also have to be very responsible for themselves on an island where there is no crown land to play in
i might still be a member of the island rock crawlers.....posts are 8yrs old.............i'm here bcjc and I4x4
good luck
I hear ya. I've come across a few douchbags with these clubs. My experience throughout the years though, 40 of them off roading, is very well organized runs and social events. Can't seem to get this in BC for some reason even though it's the same shit different day when
It comes to us 4x4 types. As I'm very new to the island I'll just have to rely on you fellas to get me out to a few runs, as long as you don't mind an asshole or two.
I wonder if part of the reason you don't see many well structured clubs around here is to do with the legality of wheeling on the Island. Like gramps said above, there is little to no crown land here. Most exploration is done on private property, where public access is prohibited. This may pose issues for any organization looking to be legitimate and collect dues. I don't know what it's like Ontario though so maybe this isn't the case.
Not much crown land around Toronto either. You drove north for two hours to get to the trails. But they still managed to pull it off. Looking forward to e closer stuff here.
http://www.4wdabc.ca/
Is a paid group, it's on and off the island!
4wdabc....they have a rep up island...glynn trafford,had a meet/greet up there awhile ago,but not for s island
try starting with a coffee/wings/?? night............how many crackbook "4x4" clubs are out there....must be some other like minded folks around
I hear ya gramps, Seems you and I are on the same page, close to age and off road experience as well. I'd like to try a wing-night in the Vic area on a week night, see where it goes with us dirt bags....hey sounds like a great club name!
Id be game for a wing night / meet and greet! Im new to the island also and am interested in a good group of guys to wheel with. Ive wheeled once with guys on here and it was a good time! Id also be up for the club thing as it would gaurentee more wheeling meet ups but people have brought up good points about the lack of clubs and why that might be.
Cheers!
As per BC jeep site, some of us will be at 6 mile, at 7:00 pm, October 19th. Sort of a meet and greet, wings etc.
Sounds like a good idea to me but the Island is a big place. It wouldn't be practical for someone like me (living in Port Alberni) to drive to Victoria for a meeting. It might be better to consider deviding it into regional groups like "north island", "mid island", or "victoria area" chapters.
You nailed it Rick. Also, It should known to be open to all types of 4X4's. I ran a long wheel base Samurai off road for 24 years. Owned several jeeps, however this is the first one I have off roaded with. I definitely see the south, central, north island thing....kind of like different chapters of V.I. OOOOOH, sounds tough :)