Newsletters from the 510 Club of B.C. 1991-2011
Posted: 10 Feb 2019 09:37
Maybe I’m a bit too nostalgic, having a hard time letting the past go, but, yesterday, I went from ten in the morning till ten at night, starting to tackle a project that I have thought of doing for a LONG time.
When I retired from work last May, I dragged 14 large plastic tubs home, filled with Datsun spare parts, log books, race stuff, bits and pieces of 32 years worth of my life stored there, and, running my race program. In the Bert Vorgon Archives is my collection of the DATSUN 510 CLUB of B.C. newsletters, 1991 to 2011 (plus all the wonderful calendars).
It took me the 12 hours yesterday to sort them out chronologically, plus, I thumbed through each one to see if any of my writing was there, make note, and then will check later to see if I have a digital copy. My plan is to scan and/or retype to digital, for my own record. I was also looking for that “science fiction” story I wrote, which turned out to be in 1994.
In going through these, in that 12 hours, I was gob smacked by the fact that they are an incredible repository of knowledge, technical stuff, and incredible pictures from a time gone by here with our 510’s and the 510 Club of B.C.. We were lucky to have a gene pool of truly dedicated, hard core enthusiast’s, lending their expertise in so many ways. Many, like me, have truly lived with 510’s since they were first sold; I bought my first wagon in 1969 and never looked back.
The work and contribution it took to put this newsletter together came from a many and varied source, and, like any newsletter, it had its ups and downs. But no matter what, each and every one, in one way or another truly captured our 510 “scene” here…WOW…in looking back now. The day disappeared on me!
Another part of this project is to see what editions are missing, so I have compiled a complete list of what I have, and as you may see, there is some missing. I was so caught up in my racing I did not join the club until a bit later, so missed the first 5 editions. The idea maybe could be to see if any of you other long time members have the missing editions, to the point that they stopped. Rob France and I have discussed, trying to get a complete set for the record…..and then…. WHAT?
That is what I am both asking myself and maybe some input from all of you out there in 510 Land, what would you like to see? Just snippets scanned in, the whole shebang, or, they just pass off into history and sit in a box in our collective basements and garages.
As you can see by my sheets, there was some inconsistency with labeling the covers, confusion with some edition numbers and months, so what you see is EXACTLY what is on the front covers. I have for sure put them in chronological order, which is another reason it took me so long, as I had to really LOOK inside to double check which month.
I do remember discussions, once Spencer created the 510 REALM online, in 2003, that the internet was going to become the source for information and not a news letter. But, it did hang in there for many years, serving our local community. Even I contributed my stories more and more online, covering our adventures and drives. These later editions are in full colour and the reproduction is excellent. A few of our members put together some incredible calendars. I do know we all like pictures on this site and there sure are some great photos over the years, of member’s cars and events.
So, I am posting up a snippet of the newsletters, some blasts from the past and other fun stuff, enjoy. Give me your thoughts and ideas; I seem to have some time on my hands on these cold snowy days.
Where it is marked “GRD” beside an edition that is my note to self of one of my stories I will have to check to see if it exists in my digital media. When the newsletter started, I was using an IBM 286 computer and saving to the old 5.25” floppy disc. It was there that stuff got lost over time if I did not stay on top of carrying forward, which is the case for my early stories, and/or, the discs did not come back from an editor over time.. Someone has a really cool picture of a 510 at full lock going sideways into Turn 1 at Knox Hillclimb, love to see that back in MY collection.
I’m also testing the waters to see if anyone would like this collection, as at some point down the road, I’m just not going to have the space to store this stuff, you should see my basement right now!
I can also see some of the stories I know got printed, are in some of the missing issues, as I do have the digital copy.
Enjoy
When I retired from work last May, I dragged 14 large plastic tubs home, filled with Datsun spare parts, log books, race stuff, bits and pieces of 32 years worth of my life stored there, and, running my race program. In the Bert Vorgon Archives is my collection of the DATSUN 510 CLUB of B.C. newsletters, 1991 to 2011 (plus all the wonderful calendars).
It took me the 12 hours yesterday to sort them out chronologically, plus, I thumbed through each one to see if any of my writing was there, make note, and then will check later to see if I have a digital copy. My plan is to scan and/or retype to digital, for my own record. I was also looking for that “science fiction” story I wrote, which turned out to be in 1994.
In going through these, in that 12 hours, I was gob smacked by the fact that they are an incredible repository of knowledge, technical stuff, and incredible pictures from a time gone by here with our 510’s and the 510 Club of B.C.. We were lucky to have a gene pool of truly dedicated, hard core enthusiast’s, lending their expertise in so many ways. Many, like me, have truly lived with 510’s since they were first sold; I bought my first wagon in 1969 and never looked back.
The work and contribution it took to put this newsletter together came from a many and varied source, and, like any newsletter, it had its ups and downs. But no matter what, each and every one, in one way or another truly captured our 510 “scene” here…WOW…in looking back now. The day disappeared on me!
Another part of this project is to see what editions are missing, so I have compiled a complete list of what I have, and as you may see, there is some missing. I was so caught up in my racing I did not join the club until a bit later, so missed the first 5 editions. The idea maybe could be to see if any of you other long time members have the missing editions, to the point that they stopped. Rob France and I have discussed, trying to get a complete set for the record…..and then…. WHAT?
That is what I am both asking myself and maybe some input from all of you out there in 510 Land, what would you like to see? Just snippets scanned in, the whole shebang, or, they just pass off into history and sit in a box in our collective basements and garages.
As you can see by my sheets, there was some inconsistency with labeling the covers, confusion with some edition numbers and months, so what you see is EXACTLY what is on the front covers. I have for sure put them in chronological order, which is another reason it took me so long, as I had to really LOOK inside to double check which month.
I do remember discussions, once Spencer created the 510 REALM online, in 2003, that the internet was going to become the source for information and not a news letter. But, it did hang in there for many years, serving our local community. Even I contributed my stories more and more online, covering our adventures and drives. These later editions are in full colour and the reproduction is excellent. A few of our members put together some incredible calendars. I do know we all like pictures on this site and there sure are some great photos over the years, of member’s cars and events.
So, I am posting up a snippet of the newsletters, some blasts from the past and other fun stuff, enjoy. Give me your thoughts and ideas; I seem to have some time on my hands on these cold snowy days.
Where it is marked “GRD” beside an edition that is my note to self of one of my stories I will have to check to see if it exists in my digital media. When the newsletter started, I was using an IBM 286 computer and saving to the old 5.25” floppy disc. It was there that stuff got lost over time if I did not stay on top of carrying forward, which is the case for my early stories, and/or, the discs did not come back from an editor over time.. Someone has a really cool picture of a 510 at full lock going sideways into Turn 1 at Knox Hillclimb, love to see that back in MY collection.
I’m also testing the waters to see if anyone would like this collection, as at some point down the road, I’m just not going to have the space to store this stuff, you should see my basement right now!
I can also see some of the stories I know got printed, are in some of the missing issues, as I do have the digital copy.
Enjoy