Posted: Monday, October 9, 2006 (7:35 AM HST)

The Attraction of
Car Clubs

By Elmo Kekaa
Honolulu Streets Magazine.

HONOLULU HI. — Have you ever wondered what it might be like to belong to a car club? Back in the day, a glance at a typical car club gathering might have looked a little intimidating and second-guessing whether you really wanted to join would've been right up there on your list of things not to do.

OLD PRESUMPTIONS VANISH
Degenerates, dropouts and hoodlums all draped in squeaky leather jackets (yes, even in Hawaii) hanging around parking lots, leaning against slick rides. Some lowered to the ground while others point their front-ends towards the sky sporting chrome undercarriages bright enough to light up even the most darkened roads of Makakilo and Kunia right after a copper-wire theft. But that's not really the image of car clubs today.

Many if not all of them small and large, have evolved into respectable organizations dedicated to helping local communities. In alliance with other non-profit groups such as Hawaii's Food Bank and Easter Seals whose main goal is to provide aid to infants, children and adults with disabilities, car clubs have proven to be a vital catalyst raising funds and awareness.

CAR CLUB PERKS
Today, the very ambience of being part of a club puts you way ahead of the pack. It's a camaraderie that's filled with benefits. Despite the obvious — making lasting friendships and the opportunity to show off your ride at events and cruises — swapping ideas with other club members and letting them know you're looking for a special part will surly conjure up something that not even a Google search could pull up on a good day is another advantage of being a member.

POWER IN NUMBERS
Belonging to a car club gives you the power to change things such as certain legislative regulations that effect owning an automobile altogether, whether it's a street rod, muscle car or tuner.

For example, while Hawaii's reconstruction (recon) law is still up for much debate, if it weren't for the strong efforts of almost every car club on Oahu rallying together, pre `49 street rods would still be continually targeted for many violations on Oahu's roadways.

I can remember getting twenty-seven tickets all at one time for violations from no hood to no front license plate. (Did I mention it was a 1931 Model A roadster?) But back then, when you took your hot rod out for a cruise it was a crap-shoot whether or not you came back with a couple of tickets.

Thanks to many of the car clubs on Oahu, today you can rest a little easier that when you take your ride out for a cruise you won't be targeted for some sort of recon violation.

IS THERE A DOWNSIDE?
There are a few disadvantages of belonging to a car club but the positive aspect of it outweigh the negative by far.

A couple of them however, is that almost always you will have to pay dues to the club. Partly, that's so there will be money available for rod run promotions, picnics and in some instances, for the purchase of door prizes which are given to non members at special car show events. Clubs also set monthly meetings and you will have to attend them or face the consequences.

CONFLICT
Friction between car clubs don't happen very often and in fact are rare but sadly to some extent they do exist. However, that shouldn't be a deterrent in your decision to join one. Like past civilizations colliding with different ideologues, there will always be a difference of opinions. And one club may want to capture celebrity status at the cost of bad-mouthing another. I believe under those circumstances, in the end only the good will prevail.

FINAL THOUGHT
Since at last count there were over one-hundred car clubs in Hawaii, I'd also like to think that leaves a wide range of great car clubs just on Oahu alone worth joining.

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