Heading to the Buckles Inn for a scout around.

[El-ahrairah]

Just got back and would like to express a few opinions of my experience.

Myself and my Dad came to see what the meets are all about and were quite excited. Both turned up in the Aubergine Elise. Things we hoped for but not expected where as follows:

A hello on arrival from somebody perhaps a regular' (especially if a new person/unknown person makes the effort to turn up).

People seemed grouped and circled to which we tried to stand near by and listen to conversation hoping that perhaps somebody would bring us into conversations. Didn't happen.

We walked around a lot of cars and complimented (between ourselves i might add) the look of others cars, spending time to show an interest in everything there. Not once did anyone approach to ask what we thought/have we been before/nice to see you...

And the last and final point, my dad actually washed his hair for this meet (Not often he makes the effort).

I don't want to be completely judgmental, But it certainly felt like a 'if we know you we'll talk to you' closed off affair. I saw Ishy's car, and spent a long time complimenting it (love the black and red/gold), but didn't get an opportunity to chat to him. Guiseley i also spotted (registration plate) but no chance for conversation.

I just feel like it was very difficult to feel welcome in the circumstances, Thank you to the person who actually said 'bye' upon leaving.

One plus point was the affordable beer, Was surprised at how cheap that was.

Overall, Not the experience i'd hoped for i'm afraid. But each to their own i guess.

Regards
Mike

[Guiseley]

That's odd, as it's only the third one I've ever been to, and I've always found someone to chat to. I spent two hours just chatting in the car park to people I don't know and would happily have said hello to you too. Did you stay to the end and introduce yourself at the meet in the pub function room - that would probably help as people can put a name to a face.

I was sat on my own eating at the start of the event and ended up having a brief chat to two groups I've not spoken to before - a common interest in cars is all you need.

Had a couple people have a nosey in my car, and everyone seemed pretty easy to talk to.

[El-ahrairah]

That would have been nice to at least have a hello from somebody. Did not stay to introduce ourselfs as felt very much sidelined. For reference I was the young looking chap with a purple t-shirt.

We went into pub on a couple of occasions but nobody seemed to engage. I felt like I would have only got noticed with a big lotus jacket on. My one enjoyment was to see an LF1 up close. Lovely rare car to see and was an honour to have seen.

[PaulT]

It's rare anyone says anything like this about the club, but that's not to say you've not got a fair point... because you have. However, I've been a member for 11 years and there are so many faces that I don't know everyone by a long chalk so when someone new turns up, they could easily have been members for a while or friends of a member.

If you'd asked someone if there was anyone to introduce you then they'll have pointed you at the folks who run the club or done it themselves. If we appear clicky, well, yes I suppose it looks like that in a school playground but as the new boy, I can understand it's a bit of an ask to break the ice. If you'd stopped for the meeting afterwards, you'd have had the opportunity of introducing yourselves and we'd have made you welcome.

I was close by when I saw you leaving, and I knew it would be you cos of the car. Shame you decided to leave, please don't think of the club as clicky because we're actually not, it's just we need a bit of an intro from yourself so we know it's someone new. I sincerely hope you come along to the next one and this time, ask for me.

[El-ahrairah]

I'm glad you realise I have a fair point Paul. I'm just trying to give an honest/outsiders opinion on how the meet felt. Perhaps you all get into a routine and haven't noticed these things, I'm not sure?. We thought on arrival someone would have perhaps let us know where to park for instance. We got out the car after at least a dozen people had seen us park up, yet none of those said as little as a hello.

You said you thought it was us leaving because of the car, so I'd have been inclined to think you'd know we were new. Not many aubergine elises (you probably recognise new cars more than faces) and not to mention all of my recent forum posts regarding me and the car I drive.

You and one other have since mentioned an introduction option yet this was never mentioned or explained on the forum? However I feel people wouldn't stay that long for that opportunity if they felt like outsiders.

One person we tried to engage with was the loud white t-shirt clad bald headed guy (well done for losing 1 and a half stone by the way) "see we listened to conversations"... He did let on when we laughed at something but turned away straight after.

I may attempt another meet but very much put off on first meet. I was hoping to show my car to a couple of people and see other cars and have a little banter.

[PaulT]

You said you thought it was us leaving because of the car, so I'd have been inclined to think you'd know we were new.

Yes, at that point I knew who you were and you were driving away - I wasn't about to give chase

[El-ahrairah]

No problem Paul. Some people may have also in the past attended these meets and equally so dissapeared off without notice. At least I had the gumption to try to put my perspective on things to see if something can be don from here on in. Perhaps even something so simple as a meet and greet delegate would help perhaps?

Finished washing my car after the motorway journey last night. Normally not someone to drive the car in bad weather but wanted to make an effort.

[Rick101]

Sorry we didn't get to talk. I was in the Yellow Elise parked next to yours but didn't see you/realise who you were.
I must have been stood with you at some point, looking at the van?? but apologies it didn't click. Quite a big group and many faces I don't recognise from one month to the next so please don't think anyone was deliberately ignoring you.
I did see you go but was sat inside with my daughter by that point and thought it was a bit strange leaving at that time.
Don't be put off, come along to another Buckles meet and also PM baldy FF (Fat lad ) with your number so you can see when the weekend runs are happening.

[El-ahrairah]

Hi Rick, I think we were stood watching the van, half hoping the car would dance for us

I saw you turn up and go straight in to pub I believe. Assumed you were going in to eat as some people would obviously look to do at that time.

When everyone went into the pub later I sat on my own at the entrance to the main pub room and looked pretty alone and dissengaged, I wondered if anyone would say hello but nobody did.

I understand people who know eachother will obviously group up and immerse themselves into discussions, just from an outsiders point of view (unless loud and proud like badly ff), it's very difficult to interrupt people to introduce. That's part the reason I used the forums to introduce myself and give some background (look through my old posts), and also mentioned I'd be coming last night in purple Elise "how many of them do you see".

I may come again Rick but obviously now people will make the effort, but this kind of prompting shouldn't be nescessary and could be looked at? As mentioned before, perhaps a deligate meet and greet.

Regards
Mike

[Ishy]

Hi Mike,

Sorry I missed you....
Did notice the car at some point but afraid it was parked by then so couldn't put a face/driver to the car...

I do understand you're comments & can only echo Pauls earlier reply, it's a long time ago but I can recall standing around looking at cars wondering who to talk to... Such a shame you didn't stick around for the meeting, it's a bit drawn out & for me a low point of the evening (not selling it here am I ) but the introductions slot for new members is a good ice breaker & your experience just shows the value of the "boring bit"

For me as for many others its an opportunity to catch up with people as much as the tyre kicking & I'd forgotten my vest last night so stayed mostly indoors

Give it another try pop along next month, if in doubt seek me out (you found the car) though I'm not one of the gaffers I'll talk to anybody
Happy to take you for a quick blast in the LF1

Rick's suggestion of a PM to BaldyFF could be a good call, he often organises (by text) a weekend run out
Joining one of the runs with a smaller group with less distractions gives more chance to chat/get to know people who are not catching up with people they have not seen for a while..

[PaulT]

One thing the people who help run the club have done in the past is wear name badges - much a cause of muse. This highlights the need for us to wear the damn things. However, unless we have someone dressed up as Ronald McDonald you're going to have to know who to look for. Perhaps I might change my avatar so it's a pic of me and not my car. Would you have approached me if you'd known what I look like? <Jesus H Christ that's going to open an internet of worms!>

If you have several hours spare to search my posts (no, don't!), you'll notice I have in the past tended to urge new visitors to seek me out. However, my attendance hasn't been as frequent in past months so I've not said much.

As a good friend's menu says...."shy bairns get nowt".

[El-ahrairah]

Hi Ishy

Just my way of thinking here but wouldn't it make more sense for introductions to commence sooner rather then later? Simply because as mentioned in a previous post, some people may turn up, feel disengaged and slightly ostracized, and simply do not feel obliged to stick around long enough for a potential introduction (which by the way i never have seen advertised) so had no idea that would happen.

I'll think about the option to return on August 25th all being well. I just hope this discussion and me being completely honest and open has perhaps allowed some people to realize that from an outsiders point of view, its a little difficult to feel welcome if your not loud and brazen, and that something as simple as a meet and greet person would be most welcome to someone like me. An icebreaker for me would have been for me to park up, have a couple of those dozen who watched me park up say hello, shake my hand if they felt obliged, ask where i've driven up from etc.. I'm not totally shy and that would have quite happily got me involved. Once involved with a few then usually people are more relaxed around you.

Haha I think having a spin in the LF1 would be magical, ironically my Dad is not besotted with those cars and has since researched them more. He did wonder which model number/race yours had assigned to yours?

Thank you to all who have replied, I will consider the PM'ing of Baldy FF for a potential drive out somewhere in the near future.

If anyone would like to add more to this post, please feel free to do so, opinions etc are good to hear.

[Ishy]

Hi Ishy

Just my way of thinking here but wouldn't it make more sense for introductions to commence sooner rather then later? Simply because as mentioned in a previous post, some people may turn up, feel disengaged and slightly ostracized, and simply do not feel obliged to stick around long enough for a potential introduction (which by the way i never have seen advertised) so had no idea that would happen.

I'll think about the option to return on August 25th all being well. I just hope this discussion and me being completely honest and open has perhaps allowed some people to realize that from an outsiders point of view, its a little difficult to feel welcome if your not loud and brazen, and that something as simple as a meet and greet person would be most welcome to someone like me. An icebreaker for me would have been for me to park up, have a couple of those dozen who watched me park up say hello, shake my hand if they felt obliged, ask where i've driven up from etc.. I'm not totally shy and that would have quite happily got me involved. Once involved with a few then usually people are more relaxed around you.

Haha I think having a spin in the LF1 would be magical, ironically my Dad is not besotted with those cars and has since researched them more. He did wonder which model number/race yours had assigned to yours?

Thank you to all who have replied, I will consider the PM'ing of Baldy FF for a potential drive out somewhere in the near future.

If anyone would like to add more to this post, please feel free to do so, opinions etc are good to hear.

Not necessarily bad ideas, as I said I'm not one of the gaffers but.... in the interests of the club I'm sure your comments will be noted/discussed by others

My LF1 is number 78 of the 81 Senna's 1987 Monaco Victory

[El-ahrairah]

One thing the people who help run the club have done in the past is wear name badges - much a cause of muse. This highlights the need for us to wear the damn things. However, unless we have someone dressed up as Ronald McDonald you're going to have to know who to look for. Perhaps I might change my avatar so it's a pic of me and not my car. Would you have approached me if you'd known what I look like? <Jesus H Christ that's going to open an internet of worms!>

If you have several hours spare to search my posts (no, don't!), you'll notice I have in the past tended to urge new visitors to seek me out. However, my attendance hasn't been as frequent in past months so I've not said much.

As a good friend's menu says...."shy bairns get nowt".

As mentioned Paul, i'm not shy but equally so the initial meeting of a lot of people is going to be tough for anyone. I think avatar pictures wouldn't make a huge difference. As mentioned, a friendly hello not seen you before, where have you driven from? anything like that would have been much obliged for sure. Appreciate you making the effort to find ways to make meet and greet easier. I feel the things i've mentioned may prove very useful and help for future purposes.

[El-ahrairah]

@Ishy. Thanks for the info. Must be lovely to own such a unique and rare car.

I'll perhaps come along to another meet sometime soon. I do appreciate people taking the time to respond to me and try to find solutions to what happened.