Spectator... Or Player?

By Robert Snowden

Every Sunday nearly 2,000 NFL players take the field. Likewise, millions of spectators sit down in front of the TV set to watch these players. The number of players, which at first glance seems large, is nothing when compared to the number of spectators! Life is full of players versus spectators examples; this is just one illustration.

I would like to take just a moment in this months View to compare a Sunday afternoon football game to your involvement in the Chevy collector car hobby. In our hobby we see spectators and we see players. What's the difference in the collector car hobby between the two?

The most glaring difference between a player and a spectator can be summed up in one word - effort! Every Sunday an NFL player puts out 100%, it's that or get benched. The most effort a spectator puts out is in the form of a trip to the frig at home or to the concession stand at halftime.

Then there's the risk factor. Each week a player risks broken bones, or perhaps even a career-ending injury. The only risk a spectator takes is perhaps the loss of his easy chair to the family dog while making that trip to the frig, or getting beer spilled on him or her by another spectator.

Last of all, there are rewards. For the NFL player, his greatest reward is a trip to the Super Bowl. Maybe he'll even get lucky and make it to the Football Hall of Fame. The rewards for a spectator are rather limited, a few snacks and maybe, if he or she is at home, a nap!

The big question is, as a collector car Chevy owner are you a player or are you a spectator? When was the last time you put forth any effort to tell other collector car Chevy owners about the Chevy Classics Club? Have you shown your copy of Chevy Classics to other Chevy enthusiasts? Have you joined a local chapter in your area? If there is no local chapter, have you thought about starting one? The key word here is of course effort, have you put forth the effort to do any of the above?

Risks? You bet there's risk! Each year about this time there are dozens of local chapters out there asking themselves the question… is it worth the effort? Why can't we get more of the spectators to become players? Maybe it's time for you to get off the sidelines and become a player.

The greatest part of becoming a player are the rewards! Being a Chevy enthusiast doesn't qualify you for a Chevy "Super Bowl" or Chevy "Hall of Fame", but the rewards of becoming an active player in the Chevy hobby are many. Some of your greatest and closest friendships will be made by becoming a player in the Chevy hobby. Tell other Chevy owners about the Chevy Classics Club and show them your issue of Chevy Classics and join a local chapter nearest you. It's time for you to get the most out of being a collector car Chevy owner; it's time to become a player!