Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

[Steven B.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Corvette has a great position in the market, it is the ultimate example of aspirational marketing -not priced for the masses, but not elitist either. What I find interesting is the NCRS path vs. Corvette ownership. I think they can be mutually exclusive. Corvette ownership does not mean someone will ever restore one or join this group. As the name implies, NCRS targets restorers, not owners. Although I bought my first Corvette when I was 21, I did not join NCRS until after I started restoring my 68 and was in my 40's. My perception was why bother? I did not have a car to restore.

Exactly, the target is restorers, not the total universe of owners. Restoration has normally been a "more mature" audience. It is important when we look at restoration organizations, progression of the organization and TDB, print, etc. that we realize what we really are and the potential size, no smaller, no larger. Good insight Patrick, thanks.

[Greg C.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Don't give up hope Kevin...
While I'm not part of the Millennial Generation, I am part of the "younger" Corvette enthusiast group at 45...

It sounds like some folks have already made up their minds about things... and they are resisting any change/progress especially if it doesn't fit into their comfort zone. I understand that... to some degree.
But I can't understand why some folks want to be the Harvey Updyke of the Corvette community, poisoning every sapling that tries to take root. The NCRS is not the same now as it was 10, 20 years ago... and it WONT be the same 10, 20 years from now....

[Tim S.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Don't give up hope Kevin...
While I'm not part of the Millennial Generation, I am part of the "younger" Corvette enthusiast group at 45...

It sounds like some folks have already made up their minds about things... and they are resisting any change/progress especially if it doesn't fit into their comfort. I understand that... to some degree.
But I can
t understand why some folks want to be the Harvey Updyke of the Corvette community, poisoning every sapling that tries to take root. The NCRS is not the same now as it was 10, 20 years ago... and it WONT be the same 10, 20 years from now....

Well spoken,

At 44, I have grown up with the Corvette as a result of my Father. As I get older, I have come back to Corvette more than ever. My appreciation for what made these cars so desirable when new reignites my interest today. Quite honestly, I have been concerned over the "Model T Syndrome" for Corvettes..................C1's in particular. I do not see that becoming the case.

To further support my point, please explain the uptick in brass cars? It is my opinion, while Corvettes may be on the outer limits for a young person, I do not believe the cars are going away. With some certainty, we need to open our minds to allow the Corvette hobby to endure. It probably never will be what it should be in our own minds. Then again...........................ask a dinasour!

Tim

[Bill H.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Just an observation, at Hot August Nights (a rather large event), I guess that the percentage of people under 30 looking at the cars is less than 10%.

But at our (SCCA) High Performance Driving Events, the percentage of drivers under 30 is probably 60+.

[Steven B.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Our situation is not unique to many car enthusiast groups as has been noted in other posts the past years. I have some friends in the Porsche Club of America and Ferrari Club. They have trouble attracting new and younger members due to cost of entry and goals. The same discussion with NCCC, a local Corvette club, some straight axle friends, the 3 SCCA regions I have been a member of, and a street rod club. I think a post the past few months referred to a British car club with the same issues. Being a member of 6 car organizations for years money and other interests compete for attention. All of that being said that is not a condemnation of the future of these organizations but rather, from members of these organizations, a view of the organizations as they exist today and the need to bring younger members in. A few things I have done all call back to my first ride in a Corvette given to me by my barber. Currently I am involved in a youth targeted organization so I have ready access to talking to young people about cars. Most talk Honda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota because, they tell me, they can afford one in the near future or have already bought one. In the past couple of years there are 17 of these youth who I have given rides (especially in the modified car), helped work on their cars, bench race with them, and I forward automotive and Corvette articles to them. Five articles to them in the past 48 hours. Previous to that three boys I participated in Big Brothers with got rides weekly and I took them to as many Corvette related events as I could, along with trips to Wright Pat Museum and Indy 500 Museum. A fourth went with us to track days and auto X's for five years. The past week I discussed the benefits and history of an owners Triumph. The owner is 36 and has stopped working on the car due to lack of interest. I gave him some old Triumph manuals I have including a competition prep. manual hoping to ignite the fire again. Last week I spoke with my doctor who has a Porsche and he was concerned none of his three kids were interested in driving his Porsche, but he continues to involve them in washing and light maintenance in hopes of passing on the passion. Good observation Bill about Hot August Nights, and the same seems to be true about domestic hot rods and customs. The older enthusiasts participate there where the drifting and Asian brand car events are predominantly teens, 20's and early 30's, at least the ones I have attended the past years. It seems that one on one interaction, talking, giving rides, working on the cars, at the individual membership level is the best way attract members and develop interest. No magic wands or great marketing approach will enlist younger members. It is interesting to observe the demographics of organized car enthusiasts as it is many times segmented by age and financial position, and also interesting to note the background of our members who have modified, raced, and shown cars in other venues.

I honestly do not think a number of members are resisting younger membership or want to keep a status quo. I do believe the dominant reason for their interest and membership is restoration. I have had face to face discussions with a number of folks at chapter, regional, and national events the past years on the topic and the feeling is we need to bring in younger members but how is a question hard to answer. The very nature of restoration, of anything, can be a pretty detailed and dry topic so how do we significantly increase the membership and interest? That question came from a discussion I had with Sam Foltz years ago. It is good we are still asking the question. And, a question our minister asked last month. I guess it isn't only cars.

[John H.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

I'm 71, and when my daughters were young kids (10-14 years old in the 70's), they had a constant dose of their Dad and cars being restored; they were interested, and cleaned some parts, helped with basic things like brake jobs, etc., and they thought the Corvettes and Ferraris in the garage all the time were "really neat".

Fast-forward to today, and my younger daughter (now 43) still likes cars (actually, trucks - she's 5' tall, 95# and loves her new '13 Ram pickup [her second one] with its Hemi and every electronic/connected/bluetooth gizmo known to mankind). A lot of her day revolves around her smartphone, primarily because both of her kids (20 and 18) live in that always-connected smartphone world, along with all of their friends, even though my Grandson is a Marine, 10,000 miles away fixing Harrier jets on board ship in the Indian Ocean, and my Granddaughter is in college away from home.

Both of those kids are totally accustomed to instant communication and gratification, as that's what their group has grown up with; both are great kids and outstanding performers/workers, but I don't think either of them has the patience to be interested in "restoration" - it takes too long to see the results, compared to how quickly everything else that's important to them happens. Maybe in 20-30 years, but not now.

[Steven B.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

I'm 71, and when my daughters were young kids (10-14 years old in the 70's), they had a constant dose of their Dad and cars being restored; they were interested, and cleaned some parts, helped with basic things like brake jobs, etc., and they thought the Corvettes and Ferraris in the garage all the time were "really neat".

Fast-forward to today, and my younger daughter (now 43) still likes cars (actually, trucks - she's 5' tall, 95# and loves her new '13 Ram pickup [her second one] with its Hemi and every electronic/connected/bluetooth gizmo known to mankind). A lot of her day revolves around her smartphone, primarily because both of her kids (20 and 18) live in that always-connected smartphone world, along with all of their friends, even though my Grandson is a Marine, 10,000 miles away fixing Harrier jets on board ship in the Indian Ocean, and my Granddaughter is in college away from home.

Both of those kids are totally accustomed to instant communication and gratification, as that's what their group has grown up with; both are great kids and outstanding performers/workers, but I don't think either of them has the patience to be interested in "restoration" - it takes too long to see the results, compared to how quickly everything else that's important to them happens. Maybe in 20-30 years, but not now.

I can relate to that John! After about ten years of my daughter helping me every weekend with the Corvettes I got her one of those English two seaters because we all liked it better than the Chevy wagon. I told her I would paint the car but she had to help me with the body prep and reassembly. One summer evening in '97 she and I started sanding. She lasted 45 minutes and walked off saying it was taking too long. Sanding still needs completed. I hope some day she, her husband and son will take it up again but for now Facebook, texting, and teaching are her concerns. Like you hopefully later, but not now.

[Bob H.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Many of the younger generation that DO love the looks of a classic Corvette don't want a car they have to work on and has no power steering, disc brakes, air conditioning, boom box, etc. Thus, the creation of the restmod for those that can afford them

[Adam B.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

32 here and have been obsessed with cars since I was born. A car was to get from point a to point b for my family. I had gasoline in my veins! When I was 14 I bought a Mustang, and restored it/resto-modded it. I sold it the day I turned 16. I knew I would kill myself. I replaced it with a Subaru Imprezza 2.5T which I later rolled 7 times down a hill..

When the C5 was coming out I was a Jr in High School. Living in Bowling Green we would see prototype C5s running around town and I knew right then that I was a Corvette guy. I wrote a research paper on the history of Corvette and the C5 Corvette before the car was formally unveiled to the world. I became enthralled with this car! There search paper ended up being 32 pages long and it needed to be “no more than 10 pages”. My teacher saw my passion and recommended that I start volunteering out here at the Museum… 18 years later and I am still enthralled by this car.

I have owned a 94 Admiral Blue Coupe and a 2000 Coupe…..Had a CTSV and loved that car….My wife is the owner of a 69 Monza Red Convertible that she grew up with….We have 2 kids (Gracelyn that is almost 6 and Owen who is 2)……They LOVE cars! My daughter knows the 69 Corvette will be hers…..It is time to figure out what Owen will be getting….

I have struggled with getting young folks into our hobby. The hurdles I run into are the standard “Corvette people are snobby, too old, no fun, they just want to eat, etc.” Something has to change. The average age of Corvette owners are going up each year, we need young blood in this hobby. I would love to team up with Carlisle, Bloomington,NCRS, NCM, etc and build a coalition to get young folks interested.

[Pat M.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

The hurdles I run into are the standard “Corvette people are snobby, too old, no fun, they just want to eat, etc.”

Now that's a new one. For some reason I find that enigmatic and oddly funny at the same time.

[Adam B.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Local clubs (I am part of 20+ local clubs across the nation) are drive and dine clubs...Thus the reason for the comment.

[Terry M.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Now that's a new one. For some reason I find that enigmatic and oddly funny at the same time.

Local clubs (I am part of 20+ local clubs across the nation) are drive and dine clubs...Thus the reason for the comment.

Have either of you ever gone on an NCRS Road Tour? We resemble that remark too.

[Adam B.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Not yet! BUT you know me, and I dont miss a meal either!

[Pat M.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Have either of you ever gone on an NCRS Road Tour? We resemble that remark too.

I haven't, I guess that's why I found it odd. Sounds like there's a Seinfeld script in there.

[Terry M.]

Re: Cars can't take the Millennial Generation far enough!

Not yet! BUT you know me, and I dont miss a meal either!

As you can tell Adam, I haven't missed a meal in a while either. Along those lines any chance you have to join the Louisiana Chapter folks should not be missed. Those folks make a religion out of eating. Great bunch of people.