Hi Everyone,

My name is Helena and I work for AutoGuide.com, as you have read above we are now the proud owners of hotrodders.com. I would like to start out with letting you all know that we are not here to close this site or change this community; we are here to help improve the functionality of the site and help it grow to a new level. We have a great team of tech support that is here to fix any functional issues you have with the site, and help keep the site updated and working. I am here whenever you need help with anything, or if you have a question or concern.

With that I would like you all to know that this is still YOUR community and we are here to work with the community and the existing staff to keep this site a place for you to come and feel at home.

Feel free to post your concerns or questions below or you can PM me any time, you may also email me at helena@autoguide.com.

Thank you everyone.
Helena

 

What can I say....wow, this is a shocker.

Brian

 

Jon

Thanks for all the hard work keeping things going over the years, I am sure that a site this popular has been a challenge to keep up to. I can totally understand that life goes on and one needs to move along with it. Glad you are still here and will keep it honest. :thumbup:

Hi Helena,

Welcome to the best hotrodding site on the WEB, together with all the other members I am sure we can keep it that way!

TJ

 

Jon,

As long as you'll still be here as the admin and the place runs like it always has, I think the rest of us will be here too. Thank you sooooo much for everything you have done for this forum and community.

Here's to a new era. :thumbup:


Again, thank you.

 

Jon,
I completely understand why you chose to sell. The last couple of years had to be a drain on you and you're bank account. Thank God that's over and its just too bad George Lavin escaped some serious jail time in the process. His arrogance and intimidation tactics finally worked to his disadvantage for once and a terrible company has been finally, and hopefully for ever, put out of business. If ever anyone had grit, it would be you. :thumbup:

To the AutoGuide people, I would only suggest this: People are resistant to change, myself especially. If you have changes in mind for this site, I would bring them on line gradually and piece meal, not all at once. Most of us are here because we like the HR.com the way it is and we appreciate the way Jon has administered the site and stood up for what was right. We feel a loyalty to Jon. Now that the ownership of HR.com is no longer in his hands and a faceless entity has taken over, that loyalty factor is no longer there. The fastest way to drive long time members away is to abruptly change things, so please go slowly and it wouldn't hurt to ask for members opinions before jumping off the deep end with a boat load of changes. That includes bombarding us with ads like many other forums do.

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

"Old age and treachery will always trump youth and exuberance." - Anonymous

 

In case your wondering,,,check out the other forums under the big wing. It is all about advertisement, nothing wrong with that I suppose,,,we all gotta make a buck.

Just wondering if we here will soon be bombarded with adds? hope not.

http://www.autoforums.com/

 

In case your wondering,,,check out the other forums under the big wing. It is all about advertisement, nothing wrong with that I suppose,,,we all gotta make a buck.

Just wondering if we here will soon be bombarded with adds? hope not.

http://www.autoforums.com/

Wouldn't surprise me at all.

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

"You just can't fix stupid!" - Anonymous

 

This is the mother site. http://www.autoguide.com/

Relatively clean of ads. Let's not jump to conclusions.

 

To the AutoGuide people, I would only suggest this: People are resistant to change, myself especially. If you have changes in mind for this site, I would bring them on line gradually and piece meal, not all at once.

I call it "New Manager-itis" and it is a killing condition.

Now that my shock has passed, yes by all means Jon, thank you so much, you are very skilled and have created a hell of a forum!

Helena, welcome to a great site!

Brian

 

In case your wondering,,,check out the other forums under the big wing. It is all about advertisement, nothing wrong with that I suppose,,,we all gotta make a buck.

Just wondering if we here will soon be bombarded with adds? hope not.

http://www.autoforums.com/

It may be because you aren't signed up, even Hotrodders has a ton of ads if you aren't signed up. I noticed two of my favorite forums are on that Autoguide list Team Camaro and Team Chevelle, both EXCELLENT sites so I have to assume Hotrodders will stay much like it is.

Brian

 

Roger that Brian, I know that signing up will rid one of those pesky adds.

In keeping with other sites under the big wing, checkout the chevy volt forum site, nothing but adds and small space for the forum at the bottom.

http://www.voltforums.com/

Not trying to be negative, just dont want to go there, other than that,,,as Dorris Day put it Que Sera Sera.

 

Hotrodders.com has been acquired by AutoGuide, a company that runs forums. I have been hired by AutoGuide to remain as administrator.

Why? Time/stress/money/life/site growth/legal vulnerability. Being hired to stay on as an admin keeps me connected to the community, but not as the formal owner. In addition, we're growing exponentially, and we can benefit greatly from the tech team that they bring to the table.

There's a lot that goes into a decision like this. When I started this site out of the corner of my bedroom more than a decade ago, I never could've imagined the adventure it turned out to be. Thank you all for the opportunity. For the ride.

There is no "hotrodding expert" being parachuted in, and I am not expecting that there will be significant changes around here. I also know that most of us have been around the web long enough to know that online communities are ultimately controlled by their members, and not their owners. AutoGuide will be handling the entire backend, and all new development for Hotrodders.com and the CrankshaftCoalition.com wiki (including an upcoming forum software upgrade). In addition, we'll be adding one AutoGuide rep: Helena Barclay, who will be joining us in this thread to answer any questions.

This is, as usual, an open thread. Feedback, constructive criticism, questions -- I'll do my best to answer. If you have ideas on how to further build or improve Hotrodders.com, this is a good time to let them be heard.

I have to say, I agree with everything that has already be said. This has been a great site and I hope it stays that way. Thank you Jon for all that you have done in the past and will continue to do in the future but with less headaches.

Welcome Helena and AutoGuide.com You have some big shoes to fill. Again welcome.

 

This is the mother site. http://www.autoguide.com/

Relatively clean of ads. Let's not jump to conclusions.

Not jumping to any conclusions. Of the hundred or so forums owned by AutoGuide, I visited several earlier today. Tons of ads on everyone I visited. Maybe it was because I'm not registered on them, I don't know for sure... but it wasn't encouraging, I'll say that much.

When you think about it... what is their motivation in buying HR.com? ADVERTISING !!! That's how they make their money. Jon wasn't in this to "make a million" but a faceless entity probably won't care about bombarding the site with ads. Of the websites AutoGear owns that I visited most had a large area at the center of the screen with ads and ads down both sides of the page with a small section in the middle for the forum. I'll withhold final judgment for now, and I hope I'm wrong... but I doubt it.

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

"I'm not upset that they lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe them" - Friedrich Nietzsche

 

Hey everyone,

Every change made to this site will go through your moderator team, i have already disused ad changes with them.

Yes most of our sites have ads, but you are looking at them as guests, when you are a registered user ads are minimal.

 

Hey everyone,

Every change made to this site will go through your moderator team, i have already disused ad changes with them.

Yes most of our sites have ads, but you are looking at them as guests, when you are a registered user ads are minimal.

So...... we'll be going from none to "minimal" whatever that is. Once again, NOT encouraging. Just as an example check out the "registration" page on their GTO website. If you want to PAY for a premium membership you don't have to see the ads. I can tell you, if that happens around here... I'm gone along with a whole load of other people.

See the registration page HERE

Centerline
HotRodsAndHemis.com

"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." - Anonymous

 

I will take a wait and see approach. If I see too many USELESS ads, I'll be gone. If there are a FEW ads pertinent to why we are here, no big deal.
We all get to decide if this works or doesn't. I don't blame Jon one bit for trying to ease his load....and perhaps recoup some of the money he had to put out for the legal crap. As always, time will tell. Here's hoping we get to stay around as happy campers.

 

Jon,

Thank you for starting this automotive community. IMHO, it is in fact the best the Internet has to offer, and the credit goes to you and the membership.

Helena,

I'm sure you are aware to the degree that Jon has kept this a democratic forum, not only respecting free speech, but putting his money where is mouth is in defending free speech. If that is how you see the forum continuing, then welcome aboard.

How do you feel about hot rodding the new electric cars coming out? The membership knows I just had to throw that out there. lol

Bob

 

site change

Something has already changed or I did something wrong. I use to open this up and had project pics on left side and questions in the middle and they changed daily. Now the same ones have been on for a week or so. And also have big pics flouting by,and big pics of homemade tools. What am I doing wrong.

 

Something has already changed or I did something wrong. I use to open this up and had project pics on left side and questions in the middle and they changed daily. Now the same ones have been on for a week or so. And also have big pics flouting by,and big pics of homemade tools. What am I doing wrong.

Looks to me like you haven't been here in a while

 

I too am concerned about advertising. There is just too much of it everywhere and we don't need it here. A line has to be drawn and for years this site has been on the right side of the line. I really hope this site doesn't cross that line and join the rest. The number one reason why I like this site over so many others is because of the lack of advertising to registered and NON-PAYING members.

 

What ever happens I sure hope we can keep the black background.

Hopefully there wont be some "designer" figuring that black is non conducive to on line purchasing.

to the moderators; since you guys are along for the discussions please keep us posted.

But what is meant by "go through" the moderators?

Every change made to this site will go through your moderator team, i have already disused ad changes with them.

Are the changes simply going to be PM'd to you as they happen? sounds like ad changes are forth coming.

 

I too am concerned about advertising. There is just too much of it everywhere and we don't need it here. A line has to be drawn and for years this site has been on the right side of the line. I really hope this site doesn't cross that line and join the rest. The number one reason why I like this site over so many others is because of the lack of advertising to registered and NON-PAYING members.

x2 on that! I personally don't want to fight my way through ads.
Jon, you have done an absolutely wonderful job creating this site! The homemade tools are a big hit with all my friends as well. :thumbup:
Helena, I hope the HEART of this site does not change. Please don't treat us like a captive audience. With that said Welcome!

 

What ever happens I sure hope we can keep the black background.

Hopefully there wont be some "designer" figuring that black is non conducive to on line purchasing.

X2 on above. For us old farts, easy on the eyes, and since Custom10 brought it up, I guess it is preferred by the "not so old" too.

 

X2 on above. For us old farts, easy on the eyes, and since Custom10 brought it up, I guess it is preferred by the "not so old" too.

You need to try the white "large", it is way easier to read.

Brian

 

thanks jon, we wouldnt have this with out you :welcome:

to whom it may concern:

I havent been here as long as some
but just a suggestion for changing things

this site has a larger population of old guys than most other sites
and old guys dont like change :nono:

so take it slow and easy, and we might survive :thumbup: