I've always been a Club Member of the car marque I currently favor. BMWCCA member for years when I was into BMW's. The a PCA member for Porsches. Both of those clubs - which granted have to be much larger than AMOC - have dues of around $ 45 per year.

I go to sign up for USA - East Coast AMOC (Aston Martin Owners Club) and was astonished to see its $ 333 for a membership ( $ 36 less if you skip the magazine). That may seem a trifle amount to those dropping $ 200K + for a new DBS, but for those of us entering the Aston ownership experience by purchasing used 2006/ 2007 Vantages in the $ 60K range, that's a barrier to membership.

I did find this thread from last year here on this forum, and apparently the current thought is there is not much going on here in the USA with it.....

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...rth-while.html

So I'm curious - who sets these prices for membership and what's the rationale for it? If there are virtually no events as per the link above, they why even bother?

 

I agree Duane, that's a pretty steep price. I joined AMOC as an "international" member because I'm too far from where most of the events are organized, and that was about $100 less costly. Even so, I have to look at it as a bit of a "charitable donation" toward supporting the club and the AM Heritage Trust in order to reconcile it in my mind.

Membership gets you into a few more "technical" boards on the website, but all of those relate to the pre-Gaydon cars. If you owned a 30+ year old Aston it would be an invaluable resource, but the "public" forums for Gaydon cars are about as good as it gets on the website.

Since joining I've been contacted by the local rep and there were a couple of events that I wasn't able to attend. I don't get the North American publications but I do enjoy the AM Quarterly magazine from the UK.

I guess it's a bit like Aston ownership at the end of the day: ruled by your heart more than your head!

 

The $333 fee is for a one and a half year membership. This is because the membership runs from January 1 through December 31. So, if you wait until late December when the 2013 membership forms become available the fee will be about 2/3 of this. This number also includes a one time fee for new members. The fee is composed of money that goes to the UK for the world wide club, money for the Heritage Trust (keeps the historical material for the club, including 3 cars), and then some money for the US/Canada club.

As far as lack of events, it depends on where you live. I'm the Midwest Area Rep for the AMOC and we have 10 events per year along with monthly pub nights. And the club has a major event at Lime Rock in June that spans 3 days.

I know it's not inexpensive but it can be worth it if you are in an active area.

Henry

 

A little hijack of this thread: Your local A-M dealer will have copies of the most recent Aston-Martin Magazine for you.
If you'd like to receive copies by mail of the "Aston Martin Magazine" (Quarterly), you can send a request, along with your VIN to Aston-Martin, POBox 437, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Or call their US regional office in California (949) 379-3100.

You can also e-mail your request directly to: ampr@astonmartin.com
One of those approaches should work.

 

I'm more than a bit prejudiced because I belong to the Midwest Area chapter. Both my wife and I feel that it's worth every penny. As Henry said (and much to Henry's credit!) we have activities throughout the year. The active members in our area are a wonderful friendly group and being members adds a lot to the ownership experience for us.

If there are any AMOC members on this forum who are in drcollie's area perhaps you could message him with an invitation to one of your events so that he can see the value for himself. Or he could move to the Chicago area where I can guarantee that he'd have a great time!

 

Don't know if you were just saying this is an xtra mag or not. But to clarify for the OP, the AMOC magazine that comes out quarterly isn't the same thing as the quarterly AM magazine referred above (which is free and is full of mega price watches, jewelry, and yachts...but still interesting for how the 0.001% live).

In addition to "AM Quarterly" published in the UK (which really is a very high quality club publication) you get the US-published "The Vantage Point" (also published quarterly and high quality). This is one reason dues are so high. Getting the monthly AMOC publication is irrelevant if you live in the USA, since it is all about UK goings on.

 

Duane I'm curious too as to what events AMOC holds in our area (DC/MD/VA). I've not joined I do have a local friend with an 06 Vanquish S who I believe is a member and has expressed there is some value to joining. I know our local Aston Martin of Washington dealership has some events too, like the track day you recently attended.

I've been a long time member of BMW CCA NCC, Mercedes Benz-CA GWS, and PCA, still owning each of those marques but not super active in any one group, just too much stuff going on all the time...I get too many magazines most of which I never read. They just get shelved in their plastic jackets. I like the idea of a quarterly publication much better then monthly.

If you join AMOC I'd love to get your thoughts on the whole thing...see what events are in our area, check out how chalk full of valuable info the publications are, and gauge the overall value of membership.

 

Let me know as well . I'm not a member either and in the area

 

Oh no....I'm not shelling out $ 333 for a membership....that's just nuts. Unless of course, it comes with a luncheon date with Olivia Wilde. There needs to be some serious added value for that kind of coin. I'm a poor Aston Martin owner, you see...

Track days I always get for free as I'm an Instructor, so don't need that. And I can get my car fix at Cars N' Coffee on Saturday mornings in Great Falls....and Tech Advice here, so ... hmmmm....not sure where the value is in joining.

 

Duane, If you can negotiate the Olivia Wilde lunch for membership I'm 100% in!

 

Is there a calendar published somewhere that shows when you're instructing? Been wanting to get my car out to Summit Point. Managed to get my track bike on the Shenandoah course once, but never on the main course.

 

There is not. I don't do it regularly any more - and just on occasion. I've become a bit of a track snob and only do Instruction with the high line car clubs as the owners of fine (expensive) automobiles are less likely to throw them into the tire wall with me in the right seat, unlike the lunatics in the Mini and Subaru car clubs.

Used to be when I started instructing back in the 90's all the cars were 150 to 200 hp and fast, but not blistering quick. Now they're double that power and you have to ask yourself: "Do I want to ride in the right seat and go 160 mph just before T1 with someone I don't know driving and no cage/harness/racing seat/fire control system in a street car?"

Summit Point is probably closed for the season now, but you can always go to one of the FATT (Friday At The Track) events and get some time on the main track with an Instructor.

I'm trying to talk Aston Martin of Washington to do a mixed event next year instead of all track time (which seems to peter out about 2 p.m. and everyone drifts home). Do a half a day on the track with the Astons, and the other half on Summit's go karts for wheel-to-wheel racing n' bumpin' and some cheap plastic trophies. Now THAT is fun.

 

I feel the same way. There is not enough going on close to my area.

 

Does AMOC have track events or other events in CA?

 

I'd love to join but can't justify it either. tried to find some club activity but it always seems to be 4+ hours from me or so. I've been joining my PCA friends and driving with them but I think that's growing old (on them) They are no longer fond of my Aston like they once were lol (but they still keep taking pictures of her)