Your club, trips and info on your club.

LCOOL > Land Cruiser Owners On Line > www.lcool.org

Day Trips, Weekenders, Snow Trips, Desert Trips (3 weeks plus etc) - www.lcool.org/trips/trips.html for Trip Reports

No specific trips for kids, but they are well catered for on all but the toughest of trips which are posted as being not 'kid friendly'. Most of those in the 'club' are families and the kids have long standing friendships, swapping cars and having a ball..

Joining Fee - $0, Yearly Membership - $0 Obviously not your normal club, so not covered by insurance etc, but also lacks the political bull$hit that can surround many clubs

A GREAT bunch of blokes (and families) and I have looked at others (to join as well so that I could be in a club which wasn't Just for LandCruisers - I have a mate with a Nissan) - but none seem to have the flexibility, or down to earth approach that LCOOL has.

Come on Sandy(Steve ACT)/Craig (Crackles)/Andrew (Dozer)/ Phil G - what have I missed ;-))

Fraser Cost 4wd Club

We usually have two outings a month, sometimes more, sometimes less.

We have become a very family oriented club once again with an influx of tiny members over the last two years.

We have 55 families as members.

Mostly weekend or day trips though there are two 'advantures' in the calendar for the next two years being the Simspon and Kimberleys.

Joining fee is $20, annual membership is $35

I think the value is excellent, the club was not created to make a profit or buy blocks of land and sheds full of equipment.

I would change the % of people who don't really give a damn about organising activities themselves (a problem in every group or club in the world).

I'm happy with my club, I have met some fantastic people, and I'm mature enough not to let the less than fantastic ones spoil it for my family and I.

Our clubs site

www.orvc.asn.au/

I've since quit this club which has the name of my vehicle in the title. Like all clubs, there is good and notsogood.

Most weekend trips are training trips.
Plus at least 1 trip every long weekend.
Very few trips lasting 1,2,3 weeks - very few people in the club willing to lead trips.

Advertises itself as a family-orientated club - it was 20 years ago - but no evidence of this now. Most members are aged 50 years plus - some in their 70's and 80's

$30 joining fee $70 per year.

Value - yes. $70 per year is nothing compared to the cost of owning a 4wd. They could quadruple the fees and it would still be good value. Get money back on purchasing discounts alone. The driver training is excellent.

This club is going thru a low period. What would I change?
#1 Make it compulsory for members to lead trips or do some activity - 90% of members in this club sit on their hands. Trips are the bread and butter of a 4wd club.
#2 Make the committee smaller
#3 Charge new members for training - most new members come, do the comprehensive training for nix and then leave. Training costs are currently paid for by the membership.
#4 Kick out the feral element
#5 have 2 trip coordinators - one for long trips, and one for short trips
#6 Have a compulsory driver re-education program. Too many people did training years ago and need retraining.

I'm giving the club stuff a rest for now. I've met a lot of really superb people thru my 5 years with this club and learnt a heap. I've also put in - been on committee most of that time and led umpteen trips. But theres the odd bad egg that wears you down. Looking around for a club with a more relaxed and trip-orientated culture.

Hi Truckster,

Don't want to hijack your thread but could you drop me an email to ryjoe@ozemail.com.au as I want to have a yarn to you about getting some gear from Melbourne to Brisbane. Once I get your email address I will give you the info. It's a bit out of the ordinary.

Thanks mate.

Truckie,

Have belonged to the LROCV for 12 years.

We as you would know, run the Victorian 4wd Show at Wandin. We have about 750 ?? members of whom maybe 200 - 300 would help out on this weekend.

Fees I think are $75 individual, $90 family.

We run the usual day, weekend trips, long weekend trips but their is never enough for such a large club. Our club might run 3 or 4 long trips per year.

We run a weekend we call the "Outdoor challenge" which has may events to cater for all the family and you participate as a team. There are many things like night navex's, trials, kids pushbike trial, kids coloring competition. For people who don't have kids we ask families wi

Another event is the Family Field day which gets back to the origins of our club which is 4wd touring and we do demos like tyre repairs and 4wd fitout so that newer members can feel confident that they will know what to do when travel in remote places. Last year we even had a how to make biodesiel demo.

In the end it all comes down to how much effort the indiviuals in your club want to put in.
Most club members are passionate crazy/mad about the brand and wouldn't join another club. We have some people who have been members for more than 40 years. Whilst I own a landie I couldn't even think of joining another club.

Cheers

John D - LR Disco 200 Tdi

Not a current member of any 4x4 club myself, but will be watching this thread with interest.

I'm keen to join a 4x4 club, but find it difficult to find a like minded one. Been on a few runs with different clubs and have found in general there seems to be an across the board attitude of 'indiference' to anyone from outside the group. It is not just me either, seem to get the same impression from other folks I talk to. It's not that I need someone to hold my hand and coo reassuring words into my ear along the way, but maybe a quick "welcome along mate" wouldn't go astray either.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but it seems that a lot of them have the wrong 'front man' or something. I'm sure it is all done with the best of intentions and the heirarchy and chain of command within the organisation is working, but I haven't exactly been enticed to race out and join one yet. Dunno, maybe it is just me.

I simply want to go away regularly somewhere off the beaten track with some interesting folks and have a good look around. I want to have fun getting there in 4x4, but don't want to trash my vehicle too much. I don't want anyone telling what to do or how to do it. If I'm acting like an idiot or not pulling my weight, sort me out of course - if not, let me have my fun doing things my way. I don't care if others drive a Cruiser, Patrol, Rover etc. I really don't. As long as it is well maintained and is capable of the trip as planned, well that's fine with me. I want to sit around a big wood buring fire at night and have a few drinks and a laugh with a bit of background music. I also want to be able to tell rude jokes and also pick my nose and fart if the mood take me. I have no interest in the politics side of clubs, which I suspect is most likely my problem.

I'll be intersted to see what responses you get Truckster.

Wattle Rangers 4x4 Club - based at Beachport - SA
Started about three years ago with about four guys and now have about 38 families as members.
Generally try to have at least one event/trip a month however same as other responses, more hand sitters than doers.
We had one extended trip last year (10 days) and another one shortly (luckily orgnaised and led by a different person from last year). Have done Otways, Pyrenees, Rocklands, numerous around Beachport/Noira Crena/Robe, Murray Mouth, Border Track, and many day trips around the area.
Many of our members are older gae group (OF - Over fifty or old farts) but most still yoing at heart and attitude but not yobbo's.
Our club gets involved in preserving/maintaining some tracks through Canunda and Beachport Park areas with support of Dept Environment and Heritage and Nat Parks.
Many of our members still work so really long trips not always possible.
I think annual fee $50 (wife controls finances so just a guess).
No specific events/kids section as more grandchildren than children in group.
Best value is relaxed attitude whilst many will still give advice mixed with a lot of humor and bias to their own vehicle whilst being able to accept a joke at their own expense.

Nothing to change in our club as we are not at size where politic crap intervenes.

G'day Truckster
No doubt your club receives heaps of mags from other clubs if it's anything like the one I'm in. Just have a read through them, especially the Trip Co-ordinators reports and I think you'll find that many of the larger clubs have the same problems. Too few people willing to run trips. Too few people willing to get involved. Your club definitely isn't the only one hurting. I suspect a number of factors are at work to cause this: changed working environment (many work weekends); expensive vehicles which people are afraid to scratch; cost of going somewhere; fewer places to go what with the continual closure of land; etc. Also I think that many people lack a sense of adventure - they expect to be lead by the hand and are afraid to "go have a look" on their own.
Cheers.

I'm in the Brisbane 4wd Club and I think I must be on a winner with it. I've been a member for about 2 years and am on the 2005/06 committee. We have very few of the problems that have been mentioned here.
There is a small politcal thing in the club but that occurs in any club and it does not pose any real problems IMHO. We do have the same people running trips generally. I can say that I have yet to run one. However I plan to when I change my vehicle for a more capable one. Just an excuse I know. However it won't be long now.
Our current membership is 63 which includes 182 people.
This is my first club so I can't compare it to a larger club like yours or a single make club. I like the diversity that multiple makes brings. Plus the friendliness of a smaller club. Most of the active people know each other to some extent. I have learnt a lot of new names since joining the committee though. Guess I have to since everyone now knows mine :-)

As far as trips we have 4 in April (including the Qld Jamboree). I'd say we normally have about 2-3 per month. This includes social as well as 4wding. Although even our social trips sometimes include one drive.

The club is family orientated in that there are no yobbos in the club. However it has been noted that the number of children is reducing. We do not have official kids activities except on some social trips but thy are most welcome on any trip that is run.
Most trips are weekend trips, very few day trips and very few longer trips. Any longer trip is normally just someone inviting other members on a trip they already plan on doing and generally get few takers.

I don't know the average age of the club but I would guess at about 40 years old. I'm 26 and probably the youngest (not including the real kids :-) ). Although there are a reasonable amount in the 26-30 year old bracket.

We do run a driver awareness weekend every 3 months for new members. Although it is open to anyone and it is not uncommon to get 20 cars.
This is compulsory to attend before any trip rated more than easy is udertaken. However it is not an accredited course so we don't get anyone attending for a free course (have to pay membership fees before hand anyway).
I have heard people aske before how we manage to get so many people to attend our trips? I just thought it was normal to be honest.

Joining fee is $20 and then $51/year for single and $61/year for family. This is inclusive of the $11/year association fee.
When I joined I got two club stubby coolers included (family rate). Don't know if they still do that.

Our committee has 15 members
President
Vice President
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Officer
Trip Co-ordinator
Social Secretary
Editor
Webmaster
Driver Awareness Officer
Mechanical Officer
Insurance Officer (joined with) Association Delegate
Purchasing Officer
Sargent At Arms

We have only had one subcommittee since I joined and that was last year when we ran the Qld Jamboree.

I think we have an execellent magazine which helps make you feel included even if you haven't attended any trips for a while. It has trip reports written by people who attended as well as articles people have written or gotten from an acknowledged source. As well as birthdays and upcoming tips etc.
We send it on to other clubs but I don't know which ones.

If I had a chance to change anything within the club it would be that I should attend and run more trips. I do have the chance to do this though as that is up to me.
I think it is excellent value for money.
I think joining the committee was the best thing I have done in the club so far. Even if I only did it because of a gentle push from behind.

If you want me to send you a magazine then just ask. I can email you a scanned one through your Yahoo motor bike account.

Hope you manage to get your club back on the straight and narrow. I know for me that joining one was the best thing I ever did.

I'm a member of the Mount Lofty Rangers 4WD club. We've got about 80+ members and have a trip of some sort most months. Most trips are put up my individual members on the notice board and those who want to attend just add their name, nice and informal. We are very much family oriented, which is what i was looking for with two kids. Great bunch of guys, big variety of cars and a nice non 4wd social side as well dinners, paint ball, theatre etc..
New committee gets voted in next month, probably including me, which might give me a different perspective. So far the political wheeling and dealing is just about non existent and it's nearly all about getting out and having a good time.

Pres
Vice pres
Secretary
Trip coordinator
Aboriginal liason officer
Property officer
Assoc delegate
Treasurer
Newsletter editor
Web site
Training officer (plenty of trainers and assesors)
Social committee

Hey guys,

are there any members of the Southern Tablelands 4WD club (ACT/NSW) on here? Was seriously considering joining but having seen the other posts here I'm wondering why it's so much more expensive ($330 joining $100 a year). If there are good reasons I'm not worried about the cost (as someone else said, relative to the cost of the car it's peanuts) just wondering that's all.

Hope someone can help,

Demented