Consumer communities - The Pontiac Car Club of Australia
From Mod Mania
The Pontiac Car Club of Australia
The Pontiac car club of Australia is a social car club centred on the car brand Pontiac, produced under the General Motors brand name. Although on the 27th of April 2009 Pontiac ceased to be produced in America due to the global financial crisis, Pontiac’s collectability continues to rise, and there is a large consumer community based on the brand itself. The official club statement outlined on their website specifies that “The PCCA Ltd is the governing body of the 4 State Chapters which consists a group of enthusiasts who own Pontiac's, or have an interest in them.” [1]
The club is structured divisionally across Australia, with chapters existing in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales. Within each chapter the members of that chapter (for example, the Victorian Chapter) structure their chapter through a democratic vote for various roles within the club. Whilst each chapter varies slightly, the Victorian chapter has 5 main roles fulfilled by members. These include:
Club Chairman – Tim Connell Secretary/treasurer – Mark Douwe Victorian Torque contribution – Karen & Mel Lancaster Merchandise/Club Jackets – David Beale G.M. Day Representative – Dennis Flowers [2]
Voting on club structure occurs once every 12 months and the national committee is voted on bi-annually at the Club Nationals. Positions are nominated by members and the voting is conducted within the annual general meeting typically by “show of hands”
The club, being self-governing, has a written constitution visible on its website. This constitution works as a basic “law” system for the club, divided in to 10 sections of law. These sections regard naming, club aims, membership, state chapters, membership fees, committee meetings, special general meetings, committee, changes to constitution and winding up [3] This constitution was developed in April 2007 and still stands as relevant today. It gives a set of simple rules and guidelines to club members, and acts as a measure against club members if they are considered to be “rule breaking” members.
The Victorian chapter meets once per month on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss upcoming events and club-orientated news. The club has a very small online presence through a very basic webpage - http://www.pcca.org.au/ This page contains information on each states “chapter”, upcoming events throughout the chapters in Australia, information on car models, and other information that club members may find useful. It also contains a link that provides web viewers with a club membership form in order to express their interest in the club. Membership has two types – social membership for people interested in Pontiacs but don’t own one. And regular membership for people that own a Pontiac car. As with many other consumer communities, the club also has a Facebook page used for brief reminders in regards to club activity.
Club communication also goes through a club-published bi-monthly magazine, called “Pontiac Torque” containing contributions from members of each chapter – with reviews of local cars shows or events, personal member profiles and occasionally a “how to” article for club members.” Karen and Mel Lancaster organise the Victorian contribution each month, getting various members to write an article similar to those previously mentioned.
As a group, the club participates in various events, including car shows and club runs, often these are car orientated. For example on the 13th February this year, the car club attended the 24th annual “Hanging Rock car show” – at which approximately 3000 cars across a variety of clubs, and individual cars, attended to show their cars as a group. Events such as this held at Hanging Rock is open to all classic cars from the US, Europe and Australia and must be at least 25 years or older.[4] This sort of event is typical for the club to attended, and some shows such as “All American Day” are restricted to American-only cars.
Once every two years, the club organises a “Pontiac nationals” that generally is held in New South Wales – however as the club grows they are thinking of rotating states each nationals. This brings members from every chapter to one place in order to meet and share with one another. In 2009, the club travelled to Cootamundra in New South Wales at which members took place in events such as sprint racing and showing of their cars. Awards are given out within numerous categories – such as “best full size”, “best F-body” and “best A-body” for show cars, in which these are then broken down in further categories. Other awards are given out in regards to sprint times and reaction times.
The members within the club are various and broad. The club is predominantly male, however not solely male. The club is very family-orientated, often making an effort to hold events that will interest both genders and their families, including children. The members cars often reflect this family status – owning a “full size” Pontiac that can carry a large family. Also, sometimes these members have a secondary car being a coupe, and just as often have one in restoration. One member in particular has 16 cars in his possession, ranging from a small, two-seated Pontiac Fiero through to a Pontiac Parisienne – one of the largest models of Pontiac manufactured.
Having personally attended many of the regular meetings in the past, held in Moorabbin, I have become aware of typical club activities and talk. Talk generally consists of car-related problems or stories as many of the club members work within the car industry. A large denomination of members work to restore their personal cars, so the club becomes an outlet for information regarding this restoration process. It often also yields the members restoring cars a variety of expertise and avenues for hard-to-find parts. Hot topics are also discussed on a formal level, one recent topic being that of the VicRoads introduction of a “log book” permit system of registration for cars belonging to a club in replacement of club registration or full registration.
[1] http://www.pcca.org.au/index.html
[2] http://www.pcca.org.au/vic.html
[3] http://www.pcca.org.au/club%20constitution.html
[4] Pontiac Torque: March – April 2011
Much of the information obtained in this article is from personal experience, having been involved with the car club over many years, or obtained through interviews with Dennis Flowers – my father – who also holds a well-regarded position in the club.
