HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CT Z CAR CLUB.
Thursday, 22Jul21, heralds a notable landmark in CTZCC history.
16 years ago on 22July 2005, our Webmaster and President Emeritus Jim Hagani made the first entry into the CTZCC website, which he created that day as the Club was forming. Jim is thereby the first member of the CTZCC website, followed by Club creator Ross Williams two months later. (You can see these entries by pressing FORUM, then MEMBERS at the top of this forums page header. That will show you the chronological list of all 781 CTZCC members who have actually registered onto this website. Some two doZen other members are registered but don't sign-on).
The entry of those first few members mark the birth of our present CT Z Car Club sixteen years ago this week. They had been members of the old Bob Sharp 240Z club, who had visions for a bigger venue which included all Z models, not just the 240.
We consider that handful of first CTZCC members to be our Founding Fathers, and salute them for their responsible thinking, clear planning, cooperation, enthusiasm, outstanding TEAMWORK, and endurance.
Jim, Ross, Alan Brown, Barry Cohen and a few modest others who "were in the room" when the Club was born over coffee, worked together and created a lasting and rewarding gift to the Z lovers of Connecticut, New England, Canada, Australia, France, Finland, Germany, Singapore, and many of the United States.
Webmaster Jim has personally and quietly funded our great website out-of-pocket since its inception without fanfare or complaint, updated and improved it as years went on, and helped newcomers learn the system.
Impossibly, Ross single-handedly Mastered every ring of our circus for the first 3+ years of our Club, was our Founder and our first preZident. He held that demanding position for over 8 years before passing it on to Jimmy, then to Phil Parent, and now to John Kish. I personally witnessed Ross' first grey hair; it sprouted during our First Annual Z Car Show in Darien, 2008.
Since Jim's first entry there have been 58,262 more entries regarding 6,433 individual subjects. This great website has held our Club together thru 15 cold winters, 16 active Zeasons and a frustrating COVID lockdown. It has helped build a huge network of friends and colleagues, until "most of us know most of us". It has educated us, shared our elations and our sorrows, and united us. It has become the harmonic voice of the best Free Z Club on the planet. Our future appears unlimited as we look forward to the upcoming release of the new Z later this year.
Please join me in a STANDING OVATION to these far-visioned pioneers who have given (and still give) so very much of their time and effort for our enjoyment and camaraderie.
BRAVO, GUYS ~ AND THANKS!
How about a word from each of you pioneers about your memories of when our mighty CTZCC oak was just a sprig?
Frank T
