AVO club forum no longer allows lurkers.

[Guest mr freeze]

bunch of saddos those avo peeps

 

as vista said a very poor comment mate.......

[over_head_cam]

Does anyone here know mr freeze?

 

I deleted his account by mistake

[Rallyman72]

 

Johnny may not have been a supporter of the club, but I was and still (for a short while at least) am. I share his opinion that it was a poor decision and I don't recall any of the members being asked about it. A forum needs lots of users to be really interesting, variety is the spice of life after all. Looking at the limited number of members who post regularly the forum isn't going to get a great deal of use.

 

 

bunch of saddos those avo peeps

 

That's not fair. It may have been a poor decision but there are plenty of good people in the club

Vista - Whilst I am sorry that the decision has, for now, upset folk like yourself and other good people the website and forum is a rather different animal to OSF. Whilst OSF is a forum and bulletin board run to bring like minded folk together the forum on the AVO Club board is one that was originally set up as a means to allow members of a formally set up club who are scattered widely to communicate. Whilst it had the advantage of allowing non members to post it was never meant to be a free for all medium. Yes - there was a public board and a members board but most of the posting, even by members, was on the public board. Out of the top 30 posters some 25 or so were members.

 

Also it needs to borne in mind that the AVO Club has to run as a business, albeit non profit making, and that website costs are borne by the members via their subscriptions. Perhaps some more vocal ones had got fed up with 'subsidising' others that they, I think wrongly, perceived as freeloaders. Whilst I cannot provide any data I do wonder if any of those surfing the AVO site as non members did actually join the club. I would be delighted if someone could prove me wrong though. As for the cost of membership - well when running a £10k+ car what is £25 a year - less than a pint of beer a month (lunch at work costs me more than that each day). If there is a need for a Seniors/UB40 style membership then perhaps we should consider it - the membership just need to tell the committee.

 

There was consultation on the matter which came about as a result of some lobbying by club members to restrict access. I accept that there was no consultation with Forum users and were we to do this again I would like to think that we would do this part differently. Whether the change is shortsighted or not only time will tell.

 

As for the type of folk who are members - I perceive it as being split into broadly 3 categories. There are the serious bufties. I have no argument with them and have great admiration for the time and devotion they have in producing a car that is actually far far better than anything that ever passed through the doors of Aveley, Halewood or anywhere else. I have found that they can be very stand-ofish sometimes and look down their noses at me as I run a modified car. The serious bufty mode is actually not for me.

 

There are many many more members who enjoy their cars for what they are and drive them on a regular basis when conditions are favourable - after all they are valuable now and most people do not want to encourage corrosion.

 

Finally there are a handful who love the cars for what they were intended to be - that is a performance car (remember that in its time any of the AVO models were quick cars - very slow now but times have changed) to be enjoyed and driven hard - I would count myself in that group and it is evident that they are a growing population. Having said that we are, perhaps, slight time warp folk as well as we like to see the cars with period modifications rather than bing tricked up with fancy modern engines and suspension as that changes the 'driving experience'. In this respect I suspect that we have a lot in common.

 

To sum up I do not think that we should fall out seriously about this and harbour grudges - I certainly won't despite being at the end of some flak from a minority on here - that sort crops up everywhere in life (including on our own board). As far as I am concerned OSF folk will still be warmly received at National Day in June.

 

Best wishes for the New Year

 

Richard Elms

AVO Club Secretary.

NB Some remarks here are personal opinion and not necessarily representative of the AVO Club opinion as a whole.

[morcheen]

what i would like to know,as a now ex- user of the avo board but not a member,is why was the decision taken to just stop non members,without at least letting them know what was going to happen ,and giving the chance to become a member? not sure if this has been answered in previous pages. to me it seems like the harshest choice has been made

i would have thought it would be better to try to become part of a bigger ford community than a smaller one,it would help with trying to re-make parts and keep all models of old fords on the roads. reminds me of the life of brian and the popular peoples front of judea(not sure if they are the ones,there was a few) splitters

[mr freeze]

Does anyone here know mr freeze?

 

I deleted his account by mistake

 

shocking mate truly shocking .....

 

now i'll have to start spamming all over again ..

[tim]

well said richard,id like to think i am/will be in the same group as you once the restro is complete

lakes tour is only 4 months away

[orionmojo]

i think this thread should not be forgotten and revived in approx 3 months. that'll prob give an idea of whether the plan worked

[voyager]

Im a member of the AVO club,I also think closing public access is folly,I think it was a choice made by few for the many,if it remains I dont think I will renew my membership when it falls.

[Guest]

Just to keep those of you informed who are interested, we have started a poll as to the direction of the club to open or remain closed the AVO BB. Early indication is that 90% of those who have voted would like to open the BB to all.

 

I have been a member of the club for years and offer the same friendly attitude to everyone who asks me a question or wants information – treat people as you expect to be treated.

 

It’s a shame some of you consider the AVO club to be elitist? I agree that some members do have a slight “chip on their shoulder” when it comes to cars – but then again, there are those sorts in every club, on every forum and at every meeting.

 

Regards

Dave Verney

AVO 1127

[Chris!]

opps sorry peeps i didnt realise i said that last night

[martymk1]

opps sorry peeps i didnt realise i said that last night

 

had a few to many then?

[Wessie]

COR ! im away for a couple of evenigns and i miss all of this !

[blower]

CHILL

 

really guys , so much fuss over nothing ,if they wanna be different / think they are elitieist ( not my quote ) leave em to it

 

i know not all of them are snobs

 

i probably visit THAT site about once a year ... the OTHER friendly/ important , informative forums that are worth viewing , i view everyday ,thats how much i give a fook

 

PS , i own a XR4x4 s ierra so am used to this belittlelry from the RS owners

[action dan]

wish i had known bout this happenin i had loads of contact details in my private message box i'm not a happy bunny

[Toby]

opps sorry peeps i didnt realise i said that last night

 

That's it blame the drink!!

 

It takes a big man to appologise!!

 

I said it before........Cortina owners are SO nice!!

 

What is AVO?

[morcheen]

wish i had known bout this happenin i had loads of contact details in my private message box i'm not a happy bunny

 

you should be able too,i can still see mine. great aint it,it's almost like the avo site has become one of those mad religious cults

[RedditchJay]

as others have already said....... in my opinion as an former AVO Mexico owner and had my car on the NEC stand for the club a mistake......

 

A club is about encouraging others to join, when I bought my MK1 Mexico I had no idea the AVO club was around but joined and had a good few years with the club at all the events {ie Santa Pod, Standford Hall}

 

I agree it is a profit making club BUT without people being able to browse it HOW can people find out if they want to join it ? ? ? or what good RS models are for sale ? or seek advice befor buying a potential mock up RS.

 

It is not a good move for the club and although I sold my Mexico last year {for a bloody quick Westfield } I still kept in touch with various members and there are many members in the Midlands area.

 

I only live a mile from Russ Pemberton {AVO Events organiser } so we will have a word and see why this has happend.

 

Jay

[Vista]

For what little it's worth, I'm not the only one in the club who is disappointed by this move. I felt that the public board amongst other things was a good way to dispel some of the myths that float around about the AVO club and the alleged aloofness of some of its members. The change took us all by surprise and I ask that those of you who were using the public board and feel aggrieved by the sudden change of tack don't judge all the members of the club on actions that were inspired by the complaints of a few. I know from experience on here that running any club or forum is often a thankless task that can involve making unpopular choices but I guess somebody has to make them.

 

The decision may or may not be reversed but if it does ever change back it's unlikely to be any time soon.

[mk1super]

HOW can people find out if they want to join it ? ? ? or what good RS models are for sale ? or seek advice befor buying a potential mock up RS.

 

You hit the nail on the head there mate.

 

As for seeking advice? We dont need Avo we have Vista! All hail the Encarta of avo:worship:

 

 

Failing that as we can always ask Mk1 gaz as Johnny says he knows more than all of Avo put together

[Guest MK1gaz]

Blimey , a big mistake by the A.V.O. bufties from stopping the lurkers browsing on their site . I've never been/looked on it so can't say weither it was any good or not but it will certainly stop any non-polishing threads in their tracks for sure

[Guest MK1gaz]

I've just had a thought , the A.V.O. club was always a very small and friendly little club when i was in it many moons ago but they loved a standard motor and looked down their noses at any tasty modded ones . Have they got a modified car section in their club/site/forum etc or is it only still for the concours queens + bufty posse ? . If i bought another Mexico and chucked all the standard bits in the skip , lowered it and put a proper engine in it would i still be the "spawn of Satan" or is this allowed in 2008 ?

[tim]

here we go again,gaz spoutin his normal crap about avo buftys *yawn*

[Guest MK1gaz]

here we go again,gaz spoutin his normal crap about avo buftys *yawn*

Is there a modified section in the club now then tim or is it still all mirrors underneath and standard tin air boxes ?

[Vista]

As for seeking advice? We dont need Avo we have Vista! All hail the Encarta of avo:worship:

 

Thanks for that overly generous compliment, but I assure you that my knowledge is small compared to some within the club.

 

There is no modified section Gaz, believe it or not all AVO cars are looked on as alike be they barn finds, modified cars, concourse, rally cars or ruff and ready runners. There are elements within the club that prefer the show and shine approach but this is not the be all and end all of membership and plenty of people use their cars on an almost daily basis.

 

Current disagreement aside, it is still a friendly club with some very knowledgeable members.

[tim]

part from 1 or 2 nearly all the members i know use there cars as much as they can,kerry the only bufty i know in the club but he also has an rs1600 track car