DOA Retrospective

[lhemb@xxxx]

I have had Harvey (my DeLorean, vin 5830) and been a member of DOA since 
1989. The club (especially John Truscott) was very helpful when we were shopping 
for a DeLorean; we had joined the club prior to buying the car. Over the years 
we attended two DOA national conventions, one in Williamsburg and one in St. 
Louis, and had a nice time at both. We also went away knowing more about 
DeLoreans than we did before. This also gave us the opportunity to personally meet 
all of the national parts and service vendors. I have done business with all of 
them and found them to be most cooperative and cordial (even the much 
maligned Ed Bernstein). I make it a policy to do business with all of the vendors 
beacause I want them to be there in the future when I need them.

Being a fourteen year DOA member, I am also concerned about the direction it 
has gone in the last couple of years. My wife and I discussed that fact that 
DELOEAN WORLD was looking more and more like a travel magazine long before any 
mention of it appeared on this list. I too would like to see more car related 
items in the magazine. This dissatisfaction does not, however, cause me to 
want to drop my membership to DOA. I want to be a part of everything related to 
the DeLorean auomobile. That is why I am an avid reader of and active 
participant in this mailing list.

I think that DOA will evolve into the organization that its present and 
future membership will dictate. I have several other antique automobiles, and I 
have seen a couple of other marque clubs go astray for a time, but return to 
their intended purpose. I, for one, am willing to give DOA some time to refocus. I 
think that DOA's worst mistake was doing away with the regional chapters. 
Regional chapters in any club, give it strength and national presence.

I encourage those of you on the list who are not currently members of DOA to 
join or rejoin the Association. DOA is the DeLorean organization that has a 
history that goes back to the days when the cars were new. We can not let this 
heritage fade away. We, the membership, can make DOA into exactly what we want 
it to be.

Sincerely,
Brian McCabe & Harvey (5830)
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida


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