If you are reading this, you are probably your family’s or barkada’s resident ‘car guy.’ We have all been there, getting asked questions about which car they should buy, and giving our best recommendations based on our formidable stock knowledge and research. Only for our recommendations to be inevitably ignored as shiny new features trump driving feel and parts availability, much to our chagrin.
This being the case, the reality is it can be lonely being the only car guy in your group. This leads us to seek like-minded individuals, usually through car clubs of the vehicle that we drive, or at least, hope to one day drive.
Car clubs are not without their drawbacks, however. Gone are the simple days of meeting up outside Yellow Cab in Greenhills to chill and talk cars. Those quiet nights have been replaced by owners loudly showing off cars for the ’Gram, endless Facebook flame wars, and our favorite Philippine pastime, politicking by club members. Blame it on the rise of social media, but the car club scene has forever moved the majority of its activities from physical meets to online interactions.
The upside to all this is there is no better time to research and know more about your car than in today’s internet and AI-powered age. But there really is something we miss about the smell of a carb running too rich, or the whiff of freshly burnt rubber having been recently melted onto the pavement.
Last weekend, Subaru Club Philippines (SCP) hosted Boxer Madness 5, the largest gathering of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines. Subarus were absolutely everywhere, with a total of more than 400 boxer-powered Japanese cars braving the heat and going to Parqal Mall in Pasay for the day. In fact, 400 is a conservative number, as a lot of owners had to park their vehicles in the mall’s basement parking, as all the above-ground Subaru parking was filled to the point of absolutely overflowing.
It doesn’t take long to see that SCP is different compared to other car clubs. Wives, girlfriends, and partners were more than just present, they were actually enjoying themselves. Kids and dogs roamed happily, and everyone was having a blast. Gone were the days of hardcore car meets, and everyone was welcome to partake in the festivities.
So what has made SCP so different and inclusive? Here’s five things we learned as to why SCP is one of the happiest car clubs in the country today:
1) Niches within a niche
SCP is a car club devoted already to a relatively niche brand. Subaru has comfortably occupied a space somewhere between luxury vehicles and mass market cars, what some marketers would call ‘aspirational.’ Its model range has everything from compact crossovers, to SUVs, to sports cars, and to its venerable all-wheel-drive turbocharged sedan. Thus, fans of the brand are as diverse as its offerings. Some want to go overlanding in their SUVs, others want to dress up their sports cars, and still others want to live out their inner Colin McRae fantasies and strive for full-on performance in track days.
These groups don’t necessarily intermingle, as someone into performance wouldn’t want to bring their vehicle car camping. So, SCP adopted three sub-groups to accommodate each respective niche: SCP Overlanding, SCP Style, and SCP Performance. Each group has its own events, has its meet-ups, and its own core group.
So while there is an umbrella organization, dividing interests into separate groups makes for specialized events that appeal to each group, while some general SCP events (like this Boxer Madness) draws everyone in. This helps everyone find their place, and creates a more harmonized experience, where there is a place for anyone and everyone.
2) No officers, no fees
We know from experience that most of the issues in car clubs come from the fees collected by these clubs, and the politics involved in finding who would manage the funds. SCP’s solution is to not have either.
All of SCP’s operating expenses are covered by the sale of merchandise. Mostly, this takes the form of shirts and stickers. And while these may priced a bit higher than your typical car club merch, not having fees makes everyone more willing to spring for a sticker to proudly display your club membership. In fact, these stickers are so popular there have been some situations wherein fakes were being peddled online.
Now as to the officers, there are technically none. Yes, there is a core group at the center of the club, but nobody is elected, nobody is chosen, and everything is voluntary. Anyone and everyone is welcome to help out for events, and this means that it is a true democracy, which removes a lot of the pitfalls and politics prevalent in other clubs.
3) Diverse events, with optional attendance
SCP has a very diverse set of events. From outreach (Boxer Madness had a blood drive component to it), to car camping in Tanay, quick drives up to Baguio, and even track days, the club takes advantage of the brand’s distinct lineup to likewise offer different experiences for different events.
Attendance in these events is generally open to all. This means that even if there is a track day, you might spot some members showing up in their overland rigs, if only to provide for an awning, cold water, and maybe even to cook some meals for those partaking in the on-track shenanigans. In fact, you may sometimes even see some members arrive in non-Subarus, and this is not frowned upon in the slightest. Which brings us to…
4) Non-owners can remain members
Since membership is generally informal, non-Subaru owners are generally still welcome in events. There is this thinking among club members that once you have owned a Subaru, and you end up selling it, you will find your way back into the brand again someday.
Don’t be surprised to see a few SCP stickers on a Suzuki Jimny, or a Toyota Land Cruiser when you’re out camping with SCP. This can clearly be seen with the front and center position taken by the Toyota 86/BRZ group in Parqal Mall for Boxer Madness. This inclusivity ensures that membership numbers and, more important, friendships, are retained.
5) Manufacturer support
This is probably the most common feature of other organizations, but it is likewise important to stress how essential it is to get support from your brand to have a strong car club. From specific deals and discounts at official dealers, to sponsorships at events and demo drives, SCP has had, and continues to enjoy, the full support of the Philippine distributor, and this relationship works both ways.
If there are any issues the manufacturer would need to be aware of, there is a direct line of communication with the most rabid of fans, and if the club needs support for events, the distributor is more than willing to participate and support. It goes to show that happy customers become a brand’s best ambassadors.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Boxer Madness was more than just a collection of Subaru owners. Rather, it was a showcase of what an inclusive, non-political car club can be. The smiling faces, the awesome cars, and the fun environment stand as a testament to the kind of belonging we all wish we had when we first became car people. Everyone is different, and like SCP, we should celebrate that diversity. In doing so, an event like Boxer Madness is possible. We genuinely cannot wait for next year.
