[Healeys] Young Healey Owners

[Jim Culp]

Ron

I probably should have been more clear, but in the spirit of brevity, I probably wasn't.  

I
know many car guys who are in an age group higher than mine.  I enjoy
their company and I think that for the most part car guys are
"ageless".  If you talked to them over the phone without meeting them
in person, you would have a hard time telling their age.   I find that
the group of guys in their 60's have a vast amount of knowledge and
experience which is invaluable to people of all ages.  I love you old
farts:)

My concern is that there isn't a *large* generation of
Healey owners coming behind the current crop and I think that's a
shame.  

I think that there is (as evidenced by the replies so
far) a group of young(er) owners out there, but the number needs to be
larger to sustain these cars and their history.  A club or part of a
club dedicated to nurturing this group would be helpful to everyone who
loves the marque IMO.  I meant no disrespect to anyone.

Jim

From: Ronald J. Ray <ronald-ray at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: RE: [Healeys] Young Healey owners
To: jculphealey at yahoo.com, healeys at autox.team.net
Date: Friday, May 30, 2008, 3:02 PM

Jim,

I bought my Healey when I was 18 years old, just out of high school.  The
people I knew back then that owned Healeys were close to my age or were in
their 30s and racing Bugeyes in  SCCA.  Now, 37 years later, the majority of
people I know
 with Healeys are 10 years older than I am.  Just check out the
pictures in either of the Austin Healey club magazines and it's easy to
tell
that Healey ownership today is dominated by a generation of individuals in
their 60s.  Consequently, this is true for the governing powers of the
national clubs as well.  "Not that there is anything wrong with
that."
Almost everyone I know that owns a Healey can be consider the nicest people
you will ever meet.  Perhaps what you are expressing is that sometimes, due
to the age differences,  it is difficult to have more in common with these
wonderful people than just the cars we love to drive.

Ron