East Sussex A7 club for potential younger owners

[merlinart]

I have an Idea.

I already build cars and I have a 900ft2 workshop on a farm in Ditchling East Sussex.

I'm 62, not quite an old fart, but not far off, but I'm a lunatic enthusiast in many directions. I've been thinking of late about either attracting a younger person to assist/inject new ideas etc, on a kind of apprenticeship level or whatever else might spring to mind.

I have tools and equipment.

It occurs to me that I might be able to help other 7 owners in my vicinity, or, as is being discussed on another thread, offer perhaps some space to younger owners of 7s or those thinking about it.

Once I've had a good cathartic clearance in my workshop, I could make space for a couple of 7s or so, or 3, all things are possible. Younger blood around me might generate new ideas and be mutually beneficial.

My rent is cheap, so perhaps I could offer quite cheap garaging/workshop space. 

But...how do we attract new blood, and locally?

Interestingly, I also have put-up/fold up marquees (good quality ones) that I used to use for airshows and when I hawked myself about the Uk selling aviation art. These could be put to some use perhaps. I have 4 such frames 3m x 6m, but only one set of decent panels and canopy (rats chewed the others up!)

How for example, would I go about discovering how many 7s there are in East Sussex and contacting those owners...presumably there's a listing available?

Anyway, just a daft idea, that at the very least might enthuse me more and might enthuse others?

Arthur

[Derek Sheldon]

I
Sounds like a marvellous idea, Arthur, wish you all the luck in this endeavour. No good for me an even older old fart.

[Tony Betts]

Well done arthur.

If you were closer, I would offer any help needed.

You say aviation art, My interest is peeked.

Everyone nows my interest in 7s, but I just love anything mechanical.

I bought an early veritable pitch PROPSHAFT for the museum last year at Hershey.

It arrived last week. So not mounted it as I want it yet.

Would love to hear or see more.

Tony.

[Ian Williams]

A few of you could set up regular workshops like we do here in Auckland, an friend of ours Don Hanlon allows us to use his premises, Fagan and Hannay sheet metal works in New Lynn. A group of guys are building Ulster body's under the guidance of Joss Campbell with my assistance, however we also tackle all sorts of other jobs, wheel building is one example, Chassis repairs another, and we will be white metalling soon, etc, etc. There is no restriction on who can join us provided you are interested in Austin sevens have something to contribute or want to learn something.

[Nick Turley]

Sounds brilliant

[Peter Naulls]

This is a great idea Arthur. My first restoration was carried out in the "Workshop for Young People" in Welwyn Garden City - the same place that Clive Ball (Seven Years with Samantha) restored his Seven years earlier. A great place for mutual support and knowledge-sharing.

It was council funded and the only problem the organisers had was a succession of people losing interest and leaving their cars behind. As long as the standing order kept paying the rent they couldn't remove the abandoned car.

Peter.

[JonE]

Great idea, Arthur. Brighton might give you a potential source of new blood - perhaps a technical college or something could have a 'competition' or something to offer something, presuming someone could get public transport to Ditchling. Perhaps you could speak to some of the bicycle maintenance charities, who probably have the sort of people that would have those sort of mindsets.

Old non-running, ready-for-restoration cars could be loaned/co-owned to a person under 25, and, like a housing association purchase scheme, uplift in value could be shared so the person builds up their own capital by working.

I'm only an hour away (and my father is buried just up the road) - I'd probably be interested in paying/contributing for being part a sharing skills workshop every now and again as per Ian's thoughts.

You really need the London A7 club behind your idea to come up with something that could attract that 'super-apprentice' who could then go on to inspire others in life, whatever they do. It's a win win situation...

[Jack in the Box]

Great idea, Arthur. Brighton might give you a potential source of new blood - perhaps a technical college or something could have a 'competition' or something to offer something, presuming someone could get public transport to Ditchling. Perhaps you could speak to some of the bicycle maintenance charities, who probably have the sort of people that would have those sort of mindsets.

Old non-running, ready-for-restoration cars could be loaned/co-owned to a person under 25, and, like a housing association purchase scheme, uplift in value could be shared so the person builds up their own capital by working.

I'm only an hour away (and my father is buried just up the road) - I'd probably be interested in paying/contributing for being part a sharing skills workshop every now and again as per Ian's thoughts.

You really need the London A7 club behind your idea to come up with something that could attract that 'super-apprentice' who could then go on to inspire others in life, whatever they do. It's a win win situation...

Arthur,

I too think it sounds like a great idea. I have sent a note to the committee of the East Sussex (Senlac) Centre of the A7OC London.

We meet every 3rd Thursday of the month at the Six Bells Chiddingly. Next meeting is 15th February starting at 8 pm if you want to come and say hello.

We often comment about the amount of A7 information and experience that our members hold and the dearth of younger members.

Alan

[merlinart]

Great idea, Arthur. Brighton might give you a potential source of new blood - perhaps a technical college or something could have a 'competition' or something to offer something, presuming someone could get public transport to Ditchling. Perhaps you could speak to some of the bicycle maintenance charities, who probably have the sort of people that would have those sort of mindsets.

Old non-running, ready-for-restoration cars could be loaned/co-owned to a person under 25, and, like a housing association purchase scheme, uplift in value could be shared so the person builds up their own capital by working.

I'm only an hour away (and my father is buried just up the road) - I'd probably be interested in paying/contributing for being part a sharing skills workshop every now and again as per Ian's thoughts.

You really need the London A7 club behind your idea to come up with something that could attract that 'super-apprentice' who could then go on to inspire others in life, whatever they do. It's a win win situation...

Arthur,

I too think it sounds like a great idea. I have sent a note to the committee of the East Sussex (Senlac) Centre of the A7OC London.

We meet every 3rd Thursday of the month at the Six Bells Chiddingly. Next meeting is 15th February starting at 8 pm if you want to come and say hello.

We often comment about the amount of A7 information and experience that our members hold and the dearth of younger members.

Alan

Good responses.

Early days yet and I need to galvanise myself into action for a massive clearout of junk, same as in my garage at home, then finally my head....gosh the junk in the latter is outrageous and amazing.

I have 2 push along forklift trucks that lift 1 ton each so lifting small cars is a piece of P155, plus a bender, guillotine, gabro aperture cutters, normal welding equipment, next door forge, various nutters like me, and a machinist/specialist with CNC milling machines, all kinds of kit.

It just seems a shame otherwise to contemplate one's demise when things could perhaps be of use to others perhaps...plus visits to local pubs, because we'll all a bunch of boozers too!

Arthur

[GK5268]

Chichester College run motor mechanics courses at their Brinsbury Campus at Pulborough, which is not a million miles away, might be some interest from the youngsters there?