BDC not for me
Discussion
Joined the BDC just over a year ago and have attended a few events and I'm sorry but found it's not for me,I've seen alot of comments on here ref stripped blazers and ties and that is 100 percent accurate.
I drove over 450 miles to one event only to find 5 cars in attendance and very poor organisation.
Thought I would give it another go and found exactly the same thing,but this time rudeness and when one of my cars got a huge amount of attention from the public it was almost frowned on by the old boy owners.I was also asked by one member how I was enjoying my posh vw,so have not renewed my membership.
Come on BDC wake up and if you want to survive best start welcoming everyone.
One thing that embarrassed me at both shows was that Aston,porsche,jaguar,mg all had superb welcoming stands,BDC just park cars up and even the marquee was not sign written.
So will stick with taking my cars to non BDC events and hope that in the future things will change.
I drove over 450 miles to one event only to find 5 cars in attendance and very poor organisation.
Thought I would give it another go and found exactly the same thing,but this time rudeness and when one of my cars got a huge amount of attention from the public it was almost frowned on by the old boy owners.I was also asked by one member how I was enjoying my posh vw,so have not renewed my membership.
Come on BDC wake up and if you want to survive best start welcoming everyone.
One thing that embarrassed me at both shows was that Aston,porsche,jaguar,mg all had superb welcoming stands,BDC just park cars up and even the marquee was not sign written.
So will stick with taking my cars to non BDC events and hope that in the future things will change.
This exactly echoes my own experience with the BDC, and I didn’t even last the year before I sent my membership card back in disgust.
I have met some friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining Bentley owners who happen to be members of the BDC, but sadly I found the bulk of its members look down on owners of VW-generation cars.
Moreover, the Club appears unwilling or unable to make these members understand that if they don’t modernise and attempt to at least appear inclusive, then the club will die.
With somewhere around 100,000 CGTs built, I think that there’s now a space for a Continental GT Owners’ Club, which with the right impetus and backing, could completely eclipse the BDC.
One wonders whether the BDC realises this, or even cares…?
I have met some friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining Bentley owners who happen to be members of the BDC, but sadly I found the bulk of its members look down on owners of VW-generation cars.
Moreover, the Club appears unwilling or unable to make these members understand that if they don’t modernise and attempt to at least appear inclusive, then the club will die.
With somewhere around 100,000 CGTs built, I think that there’s now a space for a Continental GT Owners’ Club, which with the right impetus and backing, could completely eclipse the BDC.
One wonders whether the BDC realises this, or even cares…?
Hate to say it but Zulu’s comments could apply equally to a fair few of the old boys from the Aston Owners Club who tend to believe that anything from the Gaydon built era isn’t worth talking about.
I can also recall showing up at a Porsche club event in a Cayenne ( my GT3 was temporarily out of action ) and getting abuse from the air cooled brigade - possibly fairer albeit without the Cayenne not sure their future was quite so assured.
I can also recall showing up at a Porsche club event in a Cayenne ( my GT3 was temporarily out of action ) and getting abuse from the air cooled brigade - possibly fairer albeit without the Cayenne not sure their future was quite so assured.
I'm going to come out on the side of the BDC here even though I'm a "new" Bentley owner.
I've been a member for six years. When I joined there was a definite "them and us" but that has lessened greatly. I had my own bad experience of that when I tried to help out behind the scenes. It still pops its head up from time to time but it's not as bad as it was. Mostly it's much older guys who don't engage brain before opening mouth - nothing more sinister than that. I ignore.
The regional events are great and a lot of work goes on at regional level. Special mention to the South East and Mid-West events that I've been made very welcome at over the past few years. I've made many good friends through the BDC and met a lot of interesting people. The racing club days are superb.
The BDC does however, need to do more to encourage Conti owners - especially those that want to work on their own cars. That includes being more welcoming of them within the BDC forum which if allowed to could become a great resource for Conti owners. There is a gap there for sure but rather than have a separate organisation, I would suggest some sort of special interest group within the BDC - if one doesn't already exist. If it does, it needs to be better publicized.
I've been a member for six years. When I joined there was a definite "them and us" but that has lessened greatly. I had my own bad experience of that when I tried to help out behind the scenes. It still pops its head up from time to time but it's not as bad as it was. Mostly it's much older guys who don't engage brain before opening mouth - nothing more sinister than that. I ignore.
The regional events are great and a lot of work goes on at regional level. Special mention to the South East and Mid-West events that I've been made very welcome at over the past few years. I've made many good friends through the BDC and met a lot of interesting people. The racing club days are superb.
The BDC does however, need to do more to encourage Conti owners - especially those that want to work on their own cars. That includes being more welcoming of them within the BDC forum which if allowed to could become a great resource for Conti owners. There is a gap there for sure but rather than have a separate organisation, I would suggest some sort of special interest group within the BDC - if one doesn't already exist. If it does, it needs to be better publicized.
Hello all,
Just a thought - the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club also covers all Bentleys and would certainly be welcoming of any Bentley owner - Continental, SZ, Turbo R....
The RREC forum is a very good place (members access only) which has lots of very useful technical information on it and active participation. I joined the club when I bought my pre-war Rolls-Royce 20/25 and have enjoyed the experience so far.
Pre-war / post war Bentleys get good interest and the technical similarities of the T series Bentleys / Silver Shadow (SY series) and Mulsanne / Spirit (SZ) series make the resources available particularly useful.
Maybe give them a try,
Andy
Just a thought - the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club also covers all Bentleys and would certainly be welcoming of any Bentley owner - Continental, SZ, Turbo R....
The RREC forum is a very good place (members access only) which has lots of very useful technical information on it and active participation. I joined the club when I bought my pre-war Rolls-Royce 20/25 and have enjoyed the experience so far.
Pre-war / post war Bentleys get good interest and the technical similarities of the T series Bentleys / Silver Shadow (SY series) and Mulsanne / Spirit (SZ) series make the resources available particularly useful.
Maybe give them a try,
Andy
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