CAT and Alpines

Jay Laifman (Jay_Laifman(at)countrywide.com)
Wed, 15 Jul 1998 17:20:09 -0700


Someone wrote me about getting CAT to provide more support for Alpiners. I actually disagree, and think that the ball is now in Alpiners hands to take what CAT is already offering. I believe CAT has already laid out the welcome mat for Alpines. Steve Alcala tried to organize a number of regular Alpine meetings and has been a great supporter of all things Alpine. Steve Sage has now gone to great lengths to reformat the Tiger Tales magazine to shift its focus from Tigers only to Tigers and Alpines. And, at Tiger's United, Alpines were allowed to compete in the concours for the first time. As far as I see it, it's all there for the taking. Its up to us to have the get togethers, publicize in the Tiger Tales, write articles for Tiger Tales, and also show up at the Tiger events to strut our stuff. (There was a criticism of the TU swap meet as to Alpines, but, actually it was pretty lame for Tigers too.)

I also might add that I do not know if Tiger owners will ever really welcome Alpine owners in. It has not happened for the last 30 years. What will make it change? I think we should look at it as a club within a club - where we can take advantage of the existing structures and events, but where it rests on us to provide whatever we expect or want differently for our Alpine interests. Otherwise, we are wasting our time.

Can we do it? We are just not fanatical enough like our Tiger owning brethren. Alpines got a bad wrap when they came out as too feminine. It only got worse when Tigers came out. We probably have to face facts that there will never be an Alpine following like Tigers, Corvettes, Healeys, MGs - or other cars that have already captured the public's interests. But that should not stop us. Maybe we are even more fanatical - Heck, we cherish a car against all public opinion. We cherish a car that is not the fastest, the most powerful, the best looking, or most expensive. If we do not stick together, no one is going to do it for us.

Jay