Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:31 am
Yeah, the ICCA (Isuzu Car Club Australia) is interesting.
That formed from the very active Bellett-Gemini club of NSW (Australia).
Though the BGCC-NSW was active, its later newsletters were somewhat thin on technicalities mainly due to the legal liability issue. That was pre-www but the same philosophy may apply to the ICCA.
Their available parts tended not to be advertised BEFORE meetings. I suspect that way, the regulars had first dibs. Remaining sparts would then be advertised in the following newsletter.
Whereas the BGCC-NSW was "all Isuzu", my local BCCV (Bellett Car Club of Victoria) was essentially exclusively Belletts. Sparts were advertised before meetings so that all could have a go, though in early days we had sparts galore thanks to the work and investment by their 2nd treasurer.
[Note: Bellett.net recently had something about the recently retired/resigned BCCV 2nd(sic) treasurer - he was in fact the BCCV's 3rd treasurer. I point that out to prevent confusion with #2 who - apart from being a founding member - was the key to the BCCV's high balance sheet which has not significantly increased in real terms he resigned decades ago.]
It was #2 that got dozens of genuine GT Bellett disc pad sets which we bought for $5 a set (after-market sets then cost over $30); some 50+ sedan windscreens that sold for $25 (retail was over well $100); instigated a gasket supplier (a back-yarder that became an established company that still exists and is a well known gasket supplier) - not to mention various new parts from Japan etc.
Whereas the BGCC had strong monthly meetings where technical etc things would be discussed and shown, the BCCV's main medium was its newsletter. The BCCV's newsletter - later named "Bellettmania" - featured abundant articles on mods etc.
Legal aspects weren't as much a concern as the BCCV became a incorporated association - not that that necessarily protected authors! (Victoria had a cheap incorporation system for clubs and charities. It was a popular way to indemnify members from club or "severally" law suits.)
The BGCC had key members that were dedicated sparts and information gatherers. I believe it's thanks to one of those that Isuzu extended the normal Japanese policy of scraping all sparts after 20 years, hence why it is still possible to obtain G-W (DOHC) gasket kits to this day, though some of that may be thanks to the cottage industries that supply major manufacturers. (I know the 1971-1973 GT-R Bellett LSD centers were still obtainable after 2,000(CE) which was great for Bellett owners since its diff is unique, unlike its sister Wasp ute and Florian that shares the same diff-banjo as other Isuzus like the LUV, KB, Rodeo, Jackaroo/Trooper, and later Piazzas until the advent of the ~1990 2.6L EFI 4ZE1 engine.)
I'm not sure how the ICCA sits with the BOA (Bellett Owners of Australia) nor Bellett.net.
The BOA was a splinter from the BCCV. It advertised National Bellett meetings, but they were (later?) by invite only. (!!)
Bellett.net was started by some South Australian enthusiasts.
I don't know whether previous "National" meetings were BOA or Bellett.net functions.
IMO the only true National meetings were organised by the BGCC/ICCA several years ago. I think there were 5 yearly meetings, all held in Canberra (ACT; our national capital), and they were open to all Isuzus. (Yes, there were Piazzas.)
LOL - I wonder if the ICCA organised the recent meeting for harmony reasons. They are well aware of various happenings. Maybe they too heard that unless you are an organiser, don't expect a prize in the Concours! (As I recall, BGCC/ICCA concours judge's vehicles were exempted from prizes & awards, but they did apply known International Concours rules anyway.)
I was hoping to catch up with the ICCA at its recently organised Isuzu meeting at Merrimbula (southern NSW coast, mid-October 2012), but alas my employment situation let me fiscally short.
I too had been keen on more on the ICCA site. The ICCA was quiet for several years due to various issues, but I believe all that was resolved some years ago.
But I did get to meet the current ICCA President when I attended a Gemini meeting last Easter at Kiama (not-as-southern NSW coast), but time was too short to discuss the current club situation (LOL!).
So what has all this to do with Piazzas and Isuzuweb et al?
Well, aside from some hereon previously wanting to know more about the Bellett clubs etc - and ignoring early grumblings about the ICCA on AusPiazza.com - maybe I still hope for a larger community.
I was once keen for the BCCV to share more with the BGCC.
When the BGCC became the ICCA, there was discussion of a single website where the different sub-clubs or regions could become "chapters" - much like IsuzuPiazza and Bellett.net now have.
But that was not well met - maybe for self-identity & power-play reasons?
These days it may not be as desirable as some have a broader identity - eg, IsuzuPiazza and its international audience.
Ironically I find that factional or internal groups often miss out. Despite the BCCV 's Constitution (for Incorporation) stating that it is open to all Isuzus (with a note that it is not intended to be a "common" Gemini/i-Mark or an Isuzu truck club), they are essentially still all Belletts - maybe the odd Wasp ute or Florian. I consider that a loss. They are generally unaware of how the other models can enhance their Belletts.
By extension, they also missing out on other improvements. I suspect many are still fumbling with old externally regulated 25-35A alternators, old starter motors, points ignitions or aftermarket electronics. Meanwhile my 23A Wasp generator has long been replaced by a modern 90A alternator. Similarly it also uses an Isuzu reduction starter-motor, and an all-Isuzu electronic ignition (which is so good I ceased my cheap sequential CDI build!).
Perhaps an analogy for the Piazza would be the 4ZCt-1 EFI ECU which - if it were in need of replacement - would quite possibly be a common Delco. Ok, that's not Isuzu (nor is my alternator - older Isuzus don't take the Piazza & 4Z-engine ND alternator mountings), but it's one of the few equipment mods that I can envisage for the Piazza.
The Piazza has all the mod-cons that the older Isuzus don't have (though my Wasp now has electric windows; previous to that an LSD, and 5-speed gearbox, and metric speedo...).
Only the Piazza's electronics and wiring could or need be modified, but that's not tailor-made from other vehicles. I'm thinking f.ex of upgrading Piazza flinks (fuse-links) to modern plastic types (those wire-types were and still are shockers!), and the possibility of replacing that huge wiper controller with a matchbox-sized circuit, and even replacing the multitude of digi-dash circuit with a CPU equivalent (with enhanced functionality to provide more info with existing displays).
[The latter was to be a project after my self-learning sequential EFI & ignition... Boy I'm glad RodeoBob hasn't read this! Nor Poida for that matter!]
Ah well, enough of my ranting.
It must be the thought of clubbings that spurs me. (Oh the puns.)
Meanwhile I think we'll leave our bikini-clads for the SummerNats - a big annual car meet in Canberra held over the Australia Day (long?) weekend circa 26 January for SPL competitions, burn-outs, custom & muscle cars & rods, and consumption of alcohol - and nitrous!
That formed from the very active Bellett-Gemini club of NSW (Australia).
Though the BGCC-NSW was active, its later newsletters were somewhat thin on technicalities mainly due to the legal liability issue. That was pre-www but the same philosophy may apply to the ICCA.
Their available parts tended not to be advertised BEFORE meetings. I suspect that way, the regulars had first dibs. Remaining sparts would then be advertised in the following newsletter.
Whereas the BGCC-NSW was "all Isuzu", my local BCCV (Bellett Car Club of Victoria) was essentially exclusively Belletts. Sparts were advertised before meetings so that all could have a go, though in early days we had sparts galore thanks to the work and investment by their 2nd treasurer.
[Note: Bellett.net recently had something about the recently retired/resigned BCCV 2nd(sic) treasurer - he was in fact the BCCV's 3rd treasurer. I point that out to prevent confusion with #2 who - apart from being a founding member - was the key to the BCCV's high balance sheet which has not significantly increased in real terms he resigned decades ago.]
It was #2 that got dozens of genuine GT Bellett disc pad sets which we bought for $5 a set (after-market sets then cost over $30); some 50+ sedan windscreens that sold for $25 (retail was over well $100); instigated a gasket supplier (a back-yarder that became an established company that still exists and is a well known gasket supplier) - not to mention various new parts from Japan etc.
Whereas the BGCC had strong monthly meetings where technical etc things would be discussed and shown, the BCCV's main medium was its newsletter. The BCCV's newsletter - later named "Bellettmania" - featured abundant articles on mods etc.
Legal aspects weren't as much a concern as the BCCV became a incorporated association - not that that necessarily protected authors! (Victoria had a cheap incorporation system for clubs and charities. It was a popular way to indemnify members from club or "severally" law suits.)
The BGCC had key members that were dedicated sparts and information gatherers. I believe it's thanks to one of those that Isuzu extended the normal Japanese policy of scraping all sparts after 20 years, hence why it is still possible to obtain G-W (DOHC) gasket kits to this day, though some of that may be thanks to the cottage industries that supply major manufacturers. (I know the 1971-1973 GT-R Bellett LSD centers were still obtainable after 2,000(CE) which was great for Bellett owners since its diff is unique, unlike its sister Wasp ute and Florian that shares the same diff-banjo as other Isuzus like the LUV, KB, Rodeo, Jackaroo/Trooper, and later Piazzas until the advent of the ~1990 2.6L EFI 4ZE1 engine.)
I'm not sure how the ICCA sits with the BOA (Bellett Owners of Australia) nor Bellett.net.
The BOA was a splinter from the BCCV. It advertised National Bellett meetings, but they were (later?) by invite only. (!!)
Bellett.net was started by some South Australian enthusiasts.
I don't know whether previous "National" meetings were BOA or Bellett.net functions.
IMO the only true National meetings were organised by the BGCC/ICCA several years ago. I think there were 5 yearly meetings, all held in Canberra (ACT; our national capital), and they were open to all Isuzus. (Yes, there were Piazzas.)
LOL - I wonder if the ICCA organised the recent meeting for harmony reasons. They are well aware of various happenings. Maybe they too heard that unless you are an organiser, don't expect a prize in the Concours! (As I recall, BGCC/ICCA concours judge's vehicles were exempted from prizes & awards, but they did apply known International Concours rules anyway.)
I was hoping to catch up with the ICCA at its recently organised Isuzu meeting at Merrimbula (southern NSW coast, mid-October 2012), but alas my employment situation let me fiscally short.
I too had been keen on more on the ICCA site. The ICCA was quiet for several years due to various issues, but I believe all that was resolved some years ago.
But I did get to meet the current ICCA President when I attended a Gemini meeting last Easter at Kiama (not-as-southern NSW coast), but time was too short to discuss the current club situation (LOL!).
So what has all this to do with Piazzas and Isuzuweb et al?
Well, aside from some hereon previously wanting to know more about the Bellett clubs etc - and ignoring early grumblings about the ICCA on AusPiazza.com - maybe I still hope for a larger community.
I was once keen for the BCCV to share more with the BGCC.
When the BGCC became the ICCA, there was discussion of a single website where the different sub-clubs or regions could become "chapters" - much like IsuzuPiazza and Bellett.net now have.
But that was not well met - maybe for self-identity & power-play reasons?
These days it may not be as desirable as some have a broader identity - eg, IsuzuPiazza and its international audience.
Ironically I find that factional or internal groups often miss out. Despite the BCCV 's Constitution (for Incorporation) stating that it is open to all Isuzus (with a note that it is not intended to be a "common" Gemini/i-Mark or an Isuzu truck club), they are essentially still all Belletts - maybe the odd Wasp ute or Florian. I consider that a loss. They are generally unaware of how the other models can enhance their Belletts.
By extension, they also missing out on other improvements. I suspect many are still fumbling with old externally regulated 25-35A alternators, old starter motors, points ignitions or aftermarket electronics. Meanwhile my 23A Wasp generator has long been replaced by a modern 90A alternator. Similarly it also uses an Isuzu reduction starter-motor, and an all-Isuzu electronic ignition (which is so good I ceased my cheap sequential CDI build!).
Perhaps an analogy for the Piazza would be the 4ZCt-1 EFI ECU which - if it were in need of replacement - would quite possibly be a common Delco. Ok, that's not Isuzu (nor is my alternator - older Isuzus don't take the Piazza & 4Z-engine ND alternator mountings), but it's one of the few equipment mods that I can envisage for the Piazza.
The Piazza has all the mod-cons that the older Isuzus don't have (though my Wasp now has electric windows; previous to that an LSD, and 5-speed gearbox, and metric speedo...).
Only the Piazza's electronics and wiring could or need be modified, but that's not tailor-made from other vehicles. I'm thinking f.ex of upgrading Piazza flinks (fuse-links) to modern plastic types (those wire-types were and still are shockers!), and the possibility of replacing that huge wiper controller with a matchbox-sized circuit, and even replacing the multitude of digi-dash circuit with a CPU equivalent (with enhanced functionality to provide more info with existing displays).
[The latter was to be a project after my self-learning sequential EFI & ignition... Boy I'm glad RodeoBob hasn't read this! Nor Poida for that matter!]
Ah well, enough of my ranting.
It must be the thought of clubbings that spurs me. (Oh the puns.)
Meanwhile I think we'll leave our bikini-clads for the SummerNats - a big annual car meet in Canberra held over the Australia Day (long?) weekend circa 26 January for SPL competitions, burn-outs, custom & muscle cars & rods, and consumption of alcohol - and nitrous!