lastmanx wrote:Who is the Manxclub? It is my understanding at most times there are only about 900 active PAID members per year. Who are they? How many are newbies with real need, how many only wanting to attend Manx club EVENTS, How many who built their own buggy, How many who paid to have their buggy built? How many who drive their buggy to their local ice cream shop and won't cross town lines? How many who carry a surf board; but can't surf and are nowhere near the ocean? I am member #965 and when I joined it seemed members where just discovering dune buggys and just building them. We had a news letter with informative articles in black and white. I joined online a few years ago. This site is mostly unused today as the cell phone based facebook site is. I don't have a cell phone, nor plan to, as i'm a cheap old curmudgeon. I plan to drop my wifi when it runs out next month as well. I just don't get enough use per cost out of it. Members drop out each month. But new members join each month as the 900 active paid membership remains constant. There has been a sorta divide within the club between street verses off-road buggys which I propagate and is just silly since: tire size is the only difference , tall tires with the same buggy and you have clearance for off-road. The news letter today is all glossy but just repeats Manxclub events, and advertises coming events arriving past early registration dates. I have thought of not renewing after hearing about the secret buggy raffle: winners being drawn secretly months ahead of reveal. An obvious trick to maintain renewal. It worked on me. But for $30 bucks a year it doesn't really mater. I can still afford it. So I feel the 900 active members may have a different demographic than I had when I joined. My demographic built their own buggy as cheaply as possible. Me in particular built in Y2K a completely new Manx all mail order, to see if it could be done . I had planned on doing a story on it recommending which companies offered good services and which did not . they all failed and the experience was stressful. The Manx was built complete in one year as a zero mile Manx. It cost $15,000 in parts and shipping. $5,000 in labor if I paid myself and others in cash rather than beer,vices, and favors. Yes I built a $20,000 dollar Signature Series Manx all by mail order. It was more money than I expected, but the buggy has lasted 18 years, and 18 beach seasons. It has 43,000 miles. No major rebuilds. So who is the Manx club today and where does the future go? Or does it even matter? I'll renew but participate by reading the news letter only. I am privileged to live close to the Atlantic ocean and am still the last Manx on Race Point Beach. I have driven it before the Manxclub existed and will do so in the future.
Larry, I will give you my take on your questions.. I am "former member " # 959, joined in 1998. I BOUGHT our "OldManx, from a customer of our auto repair business & have serviced/worked on it since built in 1965,car was built by "local-legend" ROGER SMITH, of PEPPERTREE AUTOMOTIVE. Our "OldManx" is an off-road car, thru & thru !! Have attended MOST MC events, up until the the "change" to "resort-camping" NOT what I am into........prefer dry-camping in the desert, personally..

Also just FYI....our "OldManx" according to Bruce, is "the oldest pan-Manx he has seen!!"
In MY way I try to keep it in the essence that it was designed....a SHORT wheelbase, VW (1600cc single-port) powered, OFF-ROAD vehicle, no chrome, NO monster engine, NO multiple carbs, NO EFF'N RADIATOR! This car has been in ALL types-o-terrain that Calif. offers & has done so WITHOUT breaking down!! In this I take GREAT pride...I work @ HOME...NOT in the desert/ mountains/sand dunes !!
I MAY reinstate my membership, IF & WHEN the majority of the org. have been listened to, as to what THEY prefer !! Mr. Dario wrote...." I don't hate Bill or Francis," FYI....her name is spelled F R A N C E S ........."is" is the MALE form...
BILL SCHUSTER, aka OldManx
owner @ DOS PERROS MOTORSPORTS

