How can we improve?

[EL302]

Skidpan days are good, I attended the FM one a few years back.

As for the forum, the Mod's do a good job, as you can see i don't post much but I'm on here most day reading,

I agree with the Intro/builds/show room thing.
My only ideas are maybe limit the intro, make the showroom a Photo only from the creator of the tread, and the Build the discussion on the showroom threads.

Shit canning is fine that is why most of us are here.Yes it doesn't/wouldn't look good for sponsors if that's the way you want to take it, but that's the nature of the beast you can have a nazi mod team and sponsors or you can have a relaxed forum where people feel free to speak their mind. I'm not sure if their could be a middle ground, someone is always going to have their nose out of joint on something.

[obriza]

Shit canning is fine that is why most of us are here.Yes it doesn't/wouldn't look good for sponsors if that's the way you want to take it, but that's the nature of the beast you can have a nazi mod team and sponsors or you can have a relaxed forum where people feel free to speak their mind. I'm not sure if their could be a middle ground, someone is always going to have their nose out of joint on something.

I totally agree, one of the big reasons this forum is better than a lot of others is because of the more relaxed mods, we don't want to be like some of the strict sponsor run forums, where just a slight slur of a sponsor gets you in trouble. But there is a fine line we do have to watch that at times (very few) can be taken a little further than should be.
I'm not looking at this as a sponsors point of view, more as a new members point of view. I can see some newer or visiting members getting deterred by shit canning of some simple questions, don't get me wrong a lot of members here are a great help and its the most knowledgeable forums for e-series i know. It would be great to keep this forum relaxed and fun as it has always been. That's why I've always visited here and its the only one I've kept visiting regularly.
I do also agree with the spelling and grammar lessons too which do at times make it quite painful to read some posts.

[EFFalcon]

i've got no intention of changing our stance around sponsors.
I don't think anyone else does either.
we treat C4C differently, but its a member driven community, so its what you guys want that matters.

[Dansedgli]

I'm keen to hear LTDHO's suggestions. Seriously though, not for troll value.

He is the reason this thread was started.

[LTDHO]

I'm keen to hear LTDHO's suggestions. Seriously though, not for troll value.

He is the reason this thread was started.

Thanks Dan.

I'm happy to hear what others have to say.
Let let the masses speak.

My ideas/opinion will not change, however this doesn't mean I will not support the final decision.

[pHaT`eL]

Im not saying we should become a sponsored forum, not saying we need PLI or anything like that? Not sure how that came out of my words..
If I wanted to start my own club, why would I bother promoting Boosted?
I try to get events happening and put the money raised back into the club itself, therefore cancelling the need for sponsors.
There is the same bunch of blokes who attend every event we hold, whether it be offical or just a random meetup. Actually meeting them and finding out what they're like in person makes it easier to understand what gets posted on the forum.
Dan, we dont just do carpark cruising, for the last couple of months we've been at Calder, perfect chance to show off the AU!

[XR_Lightning]

why change anything, if its not broke, dont fix, its a layed back casual forum where people can talk shit and can pretty much do anything they want, apart from the very few simple rules, if people like infinite rules & regulations or a dictatorship, go over to AFF

[Mr_4.0]

I think overall things are done and moderated pretty well here. The intro/showroom/builds may require some moving around. Maybe some new mods can be made up. New mods would have to inject new ideas, values and direction. I'm not saying delete the old ones. Just make up a few new ones. Even if they only have control in certain areas like showroom or for sale etc.

I think we may need a little more tolerance towards newer members. Just remember, the ones with the stocks cars were a lot of us 5-7 years ago.

Pete and Beth have been doing an awesome job with cruises and meets lately. They have clearly put a lot of time into the club. I think anyone who has a free weekend or week night should try attend these events. If not because your interested in the event, at least because your keen to support those who help organise and support the club.

With forum sponsers....

It's always going to look better from a sponsers point of view if their are moderators laying down the law. If we don't want to go that way, then we need more fund raising events. But that brings us back to people actually needing to attend. Sponsers money is a great way to raise money and member will see benefits in cheaper parts and sponsers technical input. For example AFF. But if we truly wish to remain independant we just need more attending cruises and meets. If cruises and meets don't interest you then suggest new ideas or organise something yourself even. Sitting back doing nothing will always allow things to run their current course.

I'm a fairly sedate member when it comes to most things here. But I've learnt a lot, made a lot of mistakes, and met some genuinely nice people from this club. I hope it continues.

[Mr_4.0]

And I spelt "sponsor" wrong half a dozen times haha

[TUFED6]

Wasn't it already established that the forum/club had very few expenses anyway? If there are bills to be paid just make it known and I'm sure people can kick in a few bucks. I know i would. No need to change the way we operate.

Merging the build/showroom areas is the best idea to come out of this. I guess many never really got the distinction anyways.

Now to wait for the exact same discussion in 6 months.

[EFFalcon]

we don't need the money from sponsors.
fund raising events thus far have been able to provide enough for our requirements so far, i imagine the need for this will actually decrease overtime as we build our stock up.

sponsors offering discounts is a good point, and is why we setup the commercial traders section.
Its an opportunity for interested businesses to promote their wares free of charge, with the intention that our members get something in return.
so far its worked well.

[pHaT`eL]

That was my point about the events being our fund raising towards the club, therefore not really needing sponsors for the club itself.
The sponsors were for C4C, an event which actually needs further funding.

Forum costs are covered by stickers, and our merchandise setup fees (one off) and our banner/aframe/future display gear will come from events held.

Agreed that if people want to help out, attending a meet every now and then would be a great help

[blackout]

Forum sponsorship only ever came about as a means to pay for hosting and website upkeep, so unless you are strapped for cash do you need it?

Other than that, if you get as big as AFF sponsors want in for their exposure, not to be part of a community (to which you guys so clearly are here.)

From experience with VSS, going down the sponsorship and more 'officialness' crap (cause let's face it, when people/businesses are investing cash into this place you need to up the 'responsible' ante) leads to further politics which is all bullshit and unnecessary.

All I could say is get a better fucking colour scheme so I can differentiate between posts from 2 years ago, posts from yesterday and those that are stickies.

And for once, when I come here, I want to see a damn EL V8 I could potentially buy (that's usually the only time I come here, searching for something for sale).

[blackout]

Wow - look at me. 19 posts since Jul, 2007 ahha.

[AaronEF8]

Oldschool mIRC days man
Your old EL was pretty mint. I remember that vid of you skating it gutter to gutter in an industrial estate.

There has been a couple EL Monty V8s for under 4k in the last few months, I consider that cheap when I paid 14k for the EF lol.

[blackout]

Hah yeah I remember you!

My old EL was certainly alright, but geez I gave it a bit too much shit. That video was proof, plus there's plenty of other videos around - even John filmed me inside AND outside of Heathcote.

I'd pay 4k. That seems reasonable. I sold mine for 7500 in 2007.

Anyway; don't want to derail thread.

peace!

[iCER]

ive offered EFfalcon free webosting for entire site, emails provided to all users(or paid members) and everything web related free of charge. No restrictions/space/quantities/subdomains etc on my superfast and protected server. Just got the new super server up not long ago!

[Bipolar]

It'd give you some power over the forums, and maybe if you'd been here another couple of years and built up a level of trust that might be a good idea.

But we've already seen what happens when someone (even well known and established) gets a bit of power here and can't help start making emotional decisions. Shit gets personal.

All the people with power here do a great job. So...

if its not broke, dont fix

[EFFalcon]

Whilst i/we appreciate the offer iCER, the issue comes down to a level of trust within the community, you're not exactly the most liked person, and whilst it would be incredibily stupid for you to screw us over from a business sense, handing over the website/forums gives you complete control, whilst (by you own statement) you don't expect admin privliges, by being admin on the server, you have complete control over the files/database and can potentially do what ever you want.
if there was ever a conflict of interest, which can often occur, we can't be sure things wouldn't go pear shaped.
by using a commercial host who has zero interest in who we are and what we do, we avoid that completely.

your relationship with the guys over at ET Street may be completely different to here, i don't know.
But i'm pretty sure a majority of the members would agree.

potentially in time that'll change, and we could come to an arrangement, but short/mid term we've got things covered, and options should the need arrise.

[TUFED6]

Hosting is so cheap these days its hardly worth using friends servers/random hookups (which usually involve some kind of sacrifice of support quality).

Edit: having said that, I have about 200gb/month of unused traffic on a US server. If John wanted to host a mirror or images or another part on the site there I could arrange it.

[thebeast.]

Maybe make a sub division per state to make cruises easier. maybe same thing for spotted thread.

[OMY-747]

Agree with state sub division's. Opened this thread to suggest it lol.

[Commando]

I'm not sure on either the state cruise subforums or spotted thread. Spotted thread may be a bit busy to follow if you're not a regular visitor, but cruise threads should be easy - just add the state in the title.

[Rollin]

I'm quite happy with the way things are going at the moment, the only thing I'm really hanging for is for TUFED to update his build thread!. Everything else is just peachy

Re the sponsors discussion:

If the sponsors are getting free advertising here and they're doing a shit job or providing shit service, people should be able to mention it - keeping it to the facts though, such as "I purchased X part for X price on X date and it took X months to arrive, and it was nothing like what was pictured" rather than "X company are a pack of **** because they have shit service and shit parts".

Actually, **** it, even if they are paying for advertising people should be able to tell the truth about the products and services - same as if a normal user rips someone off (like when rat got ripped over the 6 speed box), people should make it known so others don't get ripped off as well.

Good sponsors get more business, bad sponsors don't get any business, and that's the way it should be.

[obriza]

totally agree rollin, if a member does get ripped off then the rest of us are entitled to know and as said without just talking shit about them

[iCER]

fair enough. But my magicshells.com is a professional business (ABN Etc) for over 12 years. And as you all know, i dont take anything over the internet seriously.

Happy to meet up for beers etc i was willing to rock up to events with boosted stickers (shame car wasnt ready)a and its not like im hidden anywhere. I am out every fri on highways. The support i provide is second to non as im 24/7 (even mobile phone based) and always on the forum anyway. I go out of my way for support. Just cause im a douche on the forums doesnt mean i run my company into the ground.

I already agreed i dont need mod/etc axs Bipolar. I got a life outside forums too you know

We host large companies such as webtrack24.com, zorst.com (flamethrowers.com.au), etstreet.com, beastclub when it was around and more.

its not like there even ever could be a reason for me to do anything corrupt. If you ever get dissatisfied just do a daily sql backup through cpanel and load it elsewhere.

Again my offer is there to help the community if its wanted. No skin off my back