But a club of any size needs people to actual run and arrange events - therefore there needs to be some kind of structure, and that structure needs rules, and therefore to a certain degree, politics surely?

If everyone just turned up 'for the cars' then who would organise it, who would liase with the venues? Who would get involved with the massive amount of work required to run a show?

It does seem that in light of the shrinking size of the RSOC the politics need to be reviewed, but to have the 'it should be just about the cars' mentality is missing the point somewhat.