By Bart R. Orlans

Car clubs have been around since the very birth of the automobile. Back then, they were a necessity. They helped car owners find things like passable roads, hotels and boarding houses, and a little-known substance called gasoline. While some auto clubs like AAA are still providing those services, car clubs have evolved since those early days. Today, when we talk about car clubs, we mean clubs geared toward enthusiasts and whatever kind of car gets them enthused, whether that's a stock Model T or a radical street machine.

Car clubs now also have the added responsibility of protecting the hobby from unfair government intrusion in the form of anti-hobby legislation and regulation. SEMA encourages clubs to join the SEMA Action Network (SAN), a nationwide partnership of vehicle clubs, enthusiasts and the Specialty Equipment Market Association designed to protect the hobby from government threats. The SAN provides clubs with information on government action, and clubs are encouraged to share this information with members to ensure legislators understand that we are a united and organized group that will fight for our rights.

Simply put: Car clubs are a place where people who like vehicles get together to celebrate and protect those vehicles.

Perhaps you're sitting there right now saying, "Hey, I'm not a joiner," or "I've gotten along without a club this long, why join now?"

Well, you didn't know you were going to like your favorite food until you tried it. You didn't know you were going to love your favorite vehicle until you drove it. Let's face it, there are a lot of things you didn't know anything about until you gave them a try. Car clubs are like that. The benefits are many and the downside is that you just might not like it. But you'll never know until you try it out for yourself.

• Starting A Car Club
• What's In It For Me?
• How Do I Join?
• What Do Clubs Do?
• Getting More Involved
• Make A Difference 
• Car Clubs Doing Good
• Your Car and The Law