End of New Jersey Replicar Club

[Mark Hendrickson]

I just received an e-mail from a fellow NJRC member annoucing the demise of the club. Sad that this has happened.

The NJRC, as it’s know to members, will host a free dinner (to members) at a local North New Jersey restaurant on Saturday, 12 April 2008. This is the last offical NJRC event.

I believe the club started in 1992. I joined NJRC in 1998 when the membership was nearing it’s all time high membership of just over 100 members. Since then, the club waned as events that were staples of the club began to evaporate. In the last couple years, only a handful of members were participating in any of the one or two club events held each year.

I know some NJRC members, two of us former NJRC presidents, post here to this forum, but this is my take on why the NJRC ended up the way it did.

Much of the original membership, the glue of the club so to speak, had passed on to the great Interstate in the sky or moved out of the area. Much of the newer membership participated in other activities and had other responsibilities and could not be “100% members”. We see them at an occasional function. This caused the responsibilty of running the club on to just a few individuals. The rest of the membership looked to these few people to do everything. Not fair, but that comes with the territory I guess.

The task of keeping the club vibrant was not easy and the membership participated less and less. This was very discouraging to the people doing the hard work to keep the club alive. A lot of hardwork, time and plannng would go into an event and no one showed up. It doesn’t take long to give up after that scenario takes place a few times in a row.

I miss the good times when I first joined NJRC. The enthusiasm of the members, the crowed monthly meetings, the many seasonal events, the wealth of knowlege and mosty just chewing the fat with other car people.

The club has had no regular meetings in well over a year. I believe there was only one event in last two years, the Popcorn Rally. No one wants to be an officer any longer and no one will volunteer to be one. So, the smart thing to do is commit NJRC to the long history of car clubs that were great while they lasted.

 

 

 

 

Pink MG39538.4438773148

[Dale Schumacher]

Very sorry to hear

I always wished I belonged to such a club or had one around here,but no such thing. To bad people don’t realize it till it’s gone.

I joined a local car club – mostly all US muscle cars – they put up w/ me coming, but I think they wish it was a ” real car”. My only saving grace is the many US hot rods now made of fiberglass that come to the shows – not a lot they can say about me now. It even states in the club heading ( American Cars ), but are allowing others as well. I think the more different types the better – get tired of looking at just a bunch of Corvettes etc. Still it’s lots of fun and I am hanging w/ car guys and gals.

It is funny to see all the girls walking right by their Corvettes etc. to look at my car – makes me laugh a bit

Dale

 

[Mark Hendrickson]

We have a very large cruise night on the last Friday of the month at a huge outlet center near Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. The car club that runs the cruise, the Fossils, will only allow American cars that are 1975 and older.

I’ve seen some Anglia and Austin “gassers” there, but they would not allow my VW based TD in. I asked why they let the Anglias and Austins in and they had no answer other than only the bodies are foreign. DUH!

So, maybe they’ll let me in with my Chevette based TD?

As you said, it’s sad to see the NJRC fall apart like it did. Thank Goodness we have this website! 

 

 

[Paul Mossberg]

Thanks for the NJRC euology Mark.

I just looked at my plaque…I was president (1996 – 1998) when you joined! Glad to have let you in. 🙂

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Mark Hendrickson]

You should have warned me.  I was president from 2002-2006.

We just lost Wall Stadium and 2 of the 4 best cruise nights in Monmouth County. New Jersey has no paved oval racing anymore.

Hope it gets better!

[William J Collins]

Hi Mark ..Hi Paul ..Really sorry I missed the “Last Hoorah” dinner at Pepe’s Rest Saturday night …My Daughter (#2) that lives in Florida  decides that she and my Grand Daughter are arriving at Newark at  six thirty and needed a pick-up from the Airport ..So it was no din din for me..So how did it go…send me an run down what I missed …if ya lost my email it wcoll8374@aol.com ..

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