I have chosen not to join TOMCC, just as I have not joined MGCGB (Moto Guzzi Club GB) for various reasons. I know from my experience with Moto Guzzi that the reaction / attitude between Club members and non members can range wildly from 'I can understand your reasons' to simply not wanting to speak to me. So I wondered, are there any non TOMCC meets and how welcome are non TOMCC riders at TOMCC meets / events?
Hi guzzi I'm a member of Surrey Tomcc and from my experience anyone who turns up are made welcome. 20 quid to join a year isn't a lot and you get a monthly magazine included. I went to 4 meetings and 2 rideouts before joining and had no pressure or prissiness. Usually any extra rides and meets are put on their Facebook page which is only open to members. Obviously a club would like you to join as I suppose it's all about the members being included to events as a club. At 20 quid it doesn't really matter if you turn up or not your still getting your money's worth as you get the magazine.
Ah, so its a mix of open and members only events (or at least only members are notified about some)? Its a little like MGCGB then, there are local meets that don't enforce membership but you get cold shoulders from some club members. MGCGB also has the Gambalunga magazine but I'm not really bothered about that. I basically stopped my subscription because of the exclusionism that occurred if you were a non member. At first, you were forbidden access to technical advice, and then from the web forum altogether. That doesn't sit well with me at all, especially when the same specialist knowledge is available on other forums! Just feels like a clique, if that makes any sense. Especially when, as I say, some club members can be quite ignorant towards non subscribers. Thanks for the reply and information. I'll keep an eye out on this forum for The Triumph Forum meets.
I think that the Tomcc has the membership thing to ensure that it has like minded people contributing and participating. I've not experienced cold shouldering at the Surrey branch, maybe you've been unlucky. You will find many bike forums, organisations etc that have meet ups. Maybe they have regular participants that give newbies a cold shoulder too. I use the Tomcc because i know the branch is local to me so any rideouts etc are in my area which is handy, I don't really use the member only forums as I have not needed to. I feel sorry that you had a bad experience at your local Tomcc as the one I'm at are a fairly good bunch and people are actually allowed to attend in cars and there's one that comes on a BMW
Sorry, I need to clarify, I've never been to a TOMCC meet, it was at MGCGB (Moto Guzzi) meets that I had that issue. It seems like Guzzi club is a small family circle and if you aint in it, you aint. Hell, its hard enough to get a Guzzi owner to wave back sometimes, its not like we don't recognise that iconic engine at 100 paces!
I don't think I've come across a triumph owner who hasn't waved back, unless I didn't see them which means I'm the one that doesn't wave back As for exclusivity, I suppose you have to get something for your £20, that money does go towards things. The registration includes giving your engine number, supposedlyto make sure your a triumph owner, as it is a triumph owners club. I think they have associate memberships too. If it doesn't float your boat then it doesn't but it is nice to know that once a week I can go to a pub where there's like minded people offering help, advice and general banter. As has been said on here before, triumph owners, on the whole, seem to be a certain breed, different to other bike owners, even BMW owners come here to be treated better! If you haven't been give it a try, you never know you might be pleasantly surprised.
Im sure it doesn't happen with Triumph owners, but I do get the feeling that the some of the classic Guzzi owners look down a little on those of us with post Tonti (aka CARC / modern big block) Guzzis. Its almost like some of them are sad the 80's ever ended! I'll consider joining the Triumph Club, will certainly look into it a bit more. Cheers!
I must same Crispey they did sound very nice when I heard them on the breakfast run at the 2016 Forum Grand Meet In fact I'd say they were the nicest sounding pipes there. Dave.
I'd just go down to your local branch on their meet night, then you've got nothing to lose and see what you think, can't be worse than a room full of old grumpy bu#%^rs like wots on here!
