Southern California RX8 Club
 

Hi All,

Currently, I am Secretary of the Board for the Southern California Miata Club, of which there are approximately 600 members and 400 cars. It's a lot of fun going on runs and gathering for socials with this organization.

Now that I have my RX8, I think that the interest and comraderie generated by this car will be at least as strong as the Miata club. Therefore, I am proposing the creatiion of the Southern California RX8 Club. Any takers?? Has somebody else already formed something??

I'm open to input, suggestions, information...

Dean Rudenauer
2004 Titanium GT w/Nav

here you go:

http://www.socalrxclub.org

been around for years and welcoming all the new RX-8 owners.

BTW, check-out the WEST FORUM on this board for some of our upcoming events that all are invited too.. regardless if you've taken delivery or not of your 8.

Also, don't miss SevenStock, the top rotary event in the country

http://www.sevenstock.org

Make sure to browse thru pics of events from the past.

-Bern

bump

incase anyone is curious about a So-Cal RX club....

-Bern

Actually, I think this is worth a sticky.

---jps

I hate to pick sides since it looks like various club would embrace the RX-8. Conceptually, I wouldn't want to limit it just to 8's. Rotary club sounds good, since 7's blazed the trail for us years ago, and certainly would have an appreciation for the 8's. If I could have got away with a 2-seater, it probably would have been the Miata. I was "that close" which is why I picked the name 8_wannabe. I never dreamed I'd really buy the car.

The point of all this, is that we all have something in common. So, to quote another famous Southern Californian: "Can't we all just get along? Can't we all be friends?" How about one, big, SoCal Mazda club? SoCMOC: SoCal Mazda Owners Club. I think any of us owners would admire and appreciate any else's in the club, so what the heck!

You have a point, Wannabe. But seeing how clubs have succeeded and failed, there is a flip side. Here's some examples...

Just like the FD RX7, the MKII MR2 stopped selling here in '95, while it continued production in the rest of the world until the MR2 Spyder was produced in 2k. It was a little different car, which for the most part appealed to a different group of people than those who owned the MKI and MKII cars. Most of the MR2 Spyder owners wanted little to do with the established MR2 crowd, because they had different interests. Since there wasn't a real MR2 Spyder club, alot of Spyder owners ended up not joining or participating in anything.

Then take the Miata scene in DFW. There is the Lone Star Miata Club, which is pretty active, and a friendly bunch. I've spent many nights at Sonic talking with those people. But they are generally more of the "cruiser" type, if you will, and they almost turn their nose up at performance mods, and they normally do not participate in track events or the like. There is an Internet community in DFW, which is called "The Outlaws". While they aren't officially incorporated like the Lone Star club is, they meet just as often, and are just as friendly. Those are my buddies, the track dogs, the autocrossers, the turbo boys, etc. They aren't ricers, they aren't irresponsible street racers or anything, they are just more performance minded, whether turbo, SC, or stock. But for some reason, they were generally shunned by a good portion of the Lone Star Miata club. You would think that there should be a club that could cater to both types of people, and thus making a stronger club. But it just doesn't work that way sometimes, and there were several of us who were part of both, and were disappointed in that situation.

My point is, with groups like this, people will still tend to gravitate towards their own, and the RX8 is just that much different from previous rotaries. I expect the established RX7 community to welcome RX8 owners with open minds and arms, just like the MR2 community welcomed any and all MR2 Spyder owners. But I also expect there to be more new-to-rotary owners who would join a club only if it is an RX8 specific community, like the MR2 Spyder owners. It's the unigueness that draws them.

So, I think starting an RX8 specific community is a good idea, as it will bring alot of people to the car club scene who normally wouldn't otherwise join. I also expect there to be joint events, like with the Mazda event planned in Las Vegas that will not only include Rotaries, but Miatas, Protege's, MX6s, etc. etc., and joint events where both the RX7 and RX8 clubs to a dyno day, or a track day, or a BBQ. You'll still be able to combine the number of people for bigger events, yet you'll also be able to keep the uniqueness of the club.

---jps

Guys, I think there is a misunderstanding here. No one is not getting along. The SoCal RX Club has the upmost respect for the SoCal Miata folks. We even hold one or two joint events a year, where both groups participate. Over the last few years the groups have become closer. The reality is though, that the majority of RX and Miata folks are quite a different demographic, especially in So Cal. There is some cross-over, but not much. No reason to try and force anything.

As to a seperate club/group of So-Cal RX-8 owners, we are not against it. We were just letting everyone know that the So-Cal RX Club is welcoming the latest of RX vehicles into the fold. Our club has RX-2, RX-3, RX-4, 1st, 2nd & 3rd gen RX-7 and now RX-8 folks on board. Our club organizes both street-type cruise events and picnics, as well as drag, auto-x and track days. Of course, the biggest club event of the year being one of the largest Rotary gatherings in the world, SevenStock (with a name change in the works for next year). We try to have something for everyone. We are a little less formal than the Miata folks, but we still seem to organize pretty good events and gatherings.

As to a bigger So-Cal Mazda Club. I think the big difference in Mazda vehicle types and the already established clubs and organizations would make this a big task. Not saying it can't be done, but it would really take a lot work and a well established and funded group to pull it off.

Anyway, all are welcome to the SoCal RX Club and it's events. If a new RX-8 group is launched, then we will be friendly, cordial and cooperative with such a group. In the end, they are still RX vehicles.

See you guys at the BBQ!

Cheers,

-Bern

Agreed 100%.

---jps

Not to mention R100s and Rotary Pickups as well ;)
Its all about Rotary Power.

Thanks Mel!!! How could I forget the trucks and R-100's

BTW, Dan M. of RotaryNews fame took delivery of the RN RX-8 this last Thursday, and he also just completed his Rotary Truck conversion. How does a REPU truck with a T-II motor and Haltech sound? ;) Very nice...

All about ROTOR love!

-Bern

:D See ya all at the BBQ

TOADMAN you didn't show for the BBQ... what happened?

Also guys we now have our own SevenStock section on the RX-8 Forum, check out:

https://www.rx8club.com/sevenstock-25-58/

-Bern

Here's An Idea
 

Why don't all you SOCal Rotary folks (of which I am included with my gen 1 and 3 RX-7) make the short drive to the Mazda Nationals. The only way to convince Mazda that we can all play together is to join up at an event. There is a great track day for the performance types and tons of other social things as well. The info is at www.mazdaevents.com Barb

Re: Here's An Idea
 

Fine idea, but of course that's right after our decision deadline. So we'll either be satisfied RX-8 owners by then or back to wannabe's again. I sure hope to be a satisfied owner.

Hi,
Took delivery Sept 26 and am enjoying it a lot
live in Mission Viejo
Interested in talking to or getting together with other
RX-8 Owners.
Be up for a club, nothing too serious just fun.

Bob D
Nordic Green GT 6-spd

welcome bob
congrats

Thanks for the welcome Mike is there a gathering place somewhere near us. If not there is always Fuddrucker's every Tues night @ Lake Forest (El Toro Rd) There are a lot of hot rods and American iron but there have also been some sports cars too. There has been occasional Miatas, Sprites, Morgans A-Healeys and even a Ferrari or two. An invasion of RX-8s might be kinda fun.
Bob D

Count me in. If not fuddruckers, I vote for yardhouse :)

really
every tuesday
what time

bobdrx8, view your PM's. If you don't have them enabled, you might want to in your user preferences.

are people meeting tonight

I guess we blew it this time. Any takers for Tues October 21? Lets make it happen. btw Mikeb we missed you at sevenstock?

oct 21 where and when

I was at sevenstock but I got their at 12

Tues nites from 5 to 7+ at Fuddruckers is just a gathering of car guys. You pull in pay a buck if some one is at the entrance, park where they tell you, wipe off the brake dust, open the hood and get ready to answer questions and talk to friendly people. When things slow down you pickup and leave.

In the summer there is never less than 75-100+ cars there. In the dead of winter there is always 30-50.

They usually put the rods one place, Mustangs and Camaros another, Corvettes another and sprinkle the others around. Every once in a while they give away stuff. If we were to go "en masse" they would probably put us together if the first one there asked.
Might be interedting to do before 8s get too plentiful

crap
I work til 630
do they ever stay later