[Jazzbass]

So far, excellent responses all. I hope this continues, as I find it interesting everyone's views on this BBS.

As for me, let me clear up a few things that, as usual, I missed in the first post.

1. At no time have I ever been mad/offended/etc about any of the responses to the slicks post that, is some ways started a lot of this. It was just a dumb joke. If you think I was offended by it, then you obviously don't know me very well. Let me know I'll buy you a beer sometime, and then it'll be a non-issue.

2. I don't advocate telling the lurkers "Hey! beat it! This is our playground!" - but at the same time I don't agree with trying to make everything we say on this BBS "lurker-safe". The best part of this site is that the lurkers come here and can easily get involved - which, if you have been around enough, you know is something that makes this group second to none. Like has been said, there is ALWAYS someone willing to help a total stranger out, and this is the most accepting group of gearheads I've ever met. If a lurker delurks and asks for help, and I am free, I'll be at their house in my coveralls helping. But, if someone is simply a lurker, doesn't get involved and doesn't have any desire to, then fine - I'm just not going to care how they perceive my posts. Also, I hope no one confuses "lurker" with "noobie". There is a huge difference.

[OldTee]

Man, I haven't heard this much kiss'n since I was in the back seat of a 1948 Stuebaker in the middle of a snow storm. A lot well said!
ARF
Oldtee :P :P

[jpnovak]

I tend to agree with the posts so far about Dorki-land. I also agree with the way that things have been going around here. Sure there will be disagreements. There is also a large exchange of information with many people learning (including myself) what to do in terms of maintenence, modifications, track driving, and social functions.

When I first bought my targa I lived in NC. There was a literally non-existant PCA there. I was excited when I moved to DC thinking a larger community was present. I was hoping to find like minded people that wanted to turn wrenches and drive while not worrying so much about how good the wax job is. I like the shiney cars but could not afford one then or even now.

When I first joined PCA I went to a few functions and did not get a good feeling through the personalities present. After a while I found a few people on Pelican in the area and met a few more at tech inspections for the few track events I did. I then found out about Dorkiphus. This originally started as a way to do things that didn't exist on the PCA web board. When I first started this whole P-car endeavor I noticed that technical questions did not get answered on PotomacWeb, this has not been the case here. So far, this has been a great web community.

I would like to see it stay the way it is. It is one way for me to communicate with some wonderful people I met while living in DC. Even though I live many miles away I feel like I am present for each engine drop, suspension change, engine build.

concerning the number of posts. sometimes I am able to read at work. I am not always able to take time to respond. by the time I get home, questions have been anwered. So many good people, so little time.

And yes, beer, wine, cheese, velveeta, hot dogs; I like it all as long as there are good friends to share it with! too bad I never had everyone over to work on the ST while it sat on blocks for weeks, into months, into years... you are all welcome to TX anytime. did I mention it was 80 this afternoon?

[Chopper Dropper]

Daddy!!!!???????
Dirk

[BlackTalon]

Well, instead of 2 - 4 inches of snow last night and this morning, all we got was a little rain last night and 60 degrees in the afternoon It's raining now, but I didn't drive the 911 to work, so I'm not too bummed. But I'll take 60 over 30 - 40 any day!

[Trak Ratt]

Originally Posted by OldTee

Man, I haven't heard this much kiss'n since I was in the back seat of a 1948 Stuebaker in the middle of a snow storm. A lot well said!
ARF
Oldtee :P :P

Was it a new car, or just new to you :P

[Dave O]

As an extreme newbie to the board I'd like to say that this is hands down the best board I've ever been associated with.

I've seen many Boards go down in flames due to bruised ego's or virulent agendas but the thing about you guys is you don't care about any of that stuff. You are here to share your love and knowledge of these cars and for that I am very grateful. Until I got wind of this BBS I had been in Pcar hibernation for many years (I've had my '77 Carrera 3.0 for 20 years). I was active in PCA Potomac in the late 80'/early 90's and did about 10 - 15 DE's at many tracks and loved it but then got distracted by other things in life. You all, collectively, have re-energized me and now I've got my engine all over the garage (I know I didn't invite you for tyhe drop. ) and am ready to put the bits back on. And I want to meet as many as possible for the un-drop (and we'll combine it with my neighbor who is rebuilding the carbs on his '69 T thanks to you all .)

So.... keep up the good attitude and don't let the inevitable bumps in the road get you down.

Thanks a whole, whole lot.

[rs911t]

Wow. Group hug, anyone?

Really,the more the merrier. Kudos to Charlie and Geoff for the time and
energy they've put into creating a forum for all things Porsche. And thank
god they turned it on. I was worried I'd be force to actually work at the
office today. Whew!

My guess is that membership growth is directly proportional to the quality
of discourse, be it technical or just fun. The former works well because of
the participants, the latter because many of the participants personally know
one another.

It turns out that the top 50 posters are responsible for over 94% of all posts
to this board. I believe I've met each of you face-to-face and all (except one
stinkin', traitorin', takes-his-ST-project-and-runs-off-to-TEXAS so-and-so) are
local. All except one of the remaining membership have posted. But, we should
cut 'mscheidt' some slack - he joined today and is no doubt wondering what the
heck is going on.

Anyway, looks to me like the board has stayed true to its roots as an online
meeting place for a small (and expanding) group of friends and enthusiasts that
share an obsession of all things Porsche - wrenching, driving and just looking.
Personally, the more the merrier!

I believe all of the top 50 posters are PCA members. Some new, others for many
years. That doesn't mean Dorkiphus is PCA. The Club caters to the enthusiast /
owner. Potomac may boast 2000 members, but it isn't surprising we see at most
a couple hundred per event. I enjoy the participation of the most obsessive of
the Potomac 2000 on this board and consider myself one of them. They have a lot
to offer and, frankly, seem to do so more freely than when I've encountered them
at an event. The reason is simple - they're too busy running the track events we
crave all year long!

I think we should get back to the tech talk and friendly banter. It's way more
productive (and way more fun) than this thread. Like anything else involving
inpersonal communication - think before you post or reply. This crowd doesn't
hesitate to call out stupid or plain crazy talk. Any such text found in the open
is obviously bait or sarcasm. Respond accordingly.

Accept the fact that as passionate enthusiasts we tend to adopt the correct mindset
when we're under the car, on the track or tech'ing in the shop and on the grid.

Accept the fact that as experienced enthusiasts we communicate with the hope that
others will benefit from our experiences, learn to repeat the good and useful, and
learn to avoid the bad.

Accept the fact that all of us want to leverage a greater community to extract
the maximum enjoyment from our shared obsession. It's always more fun as a group.

That's obvious to everyone, isn't it ... ?


So, let's get these axioms out of the way once and for all. Charlie, this calls
for a sticky entitled 'Read Me First' in the Track Talk forum.

(1) How to spend your money

a. 1st on seat time
b. 2nd on safety
c. 3rd on performance

(2) Be safe

a. You are responsible for your safety, that of your passenger and your
collegues on the track (regardless of how slow they drive)
b. You are expensive to fix
c. Your car is expensive to fix
d. That insurance will pay for either is a dubious proposition at best
e. The track is expensive to fix (e.g. who pays for bent armco at The Glen?)

(3) Girls just want to have fun!


Good. Now, as an exercise, use the above axioms to classify each of the following
posts as bait, sarcasm or posted by a clueless newb. Craft an appropriate reply.

(1) What brand of baseball bat is best for rolling fenders? I bought a set
of 18x11 wheels with 315/30 Hoosiers for my SC and it sounds like they
rub when I turn into my driveway.

(2) I have 15 track days in Green and found a great deal on a GT1R 930 race car.
Should I buy it?

(3) I just bought my 1st Porsche, a 2003 GT-2, and can't wait to drive it on the
track. My mechanic told me the brakes are really expensive to replace and
that I should buy some different rotors and pads for the track so I don't
where them out. Can anyone recommend some good track pads and rotors?

Respectively,
Greg

[jpinkert]

Geeze. I pop into the board on Saturday morning looking for VASteve's contact info (he PM'd me his number) only to find things shut down. Then after spending time in the garage over the weekend, a few of you took your best shots at dorki dissertations. Can we all say disfunctional? <-- (smiley added to ensure that everyone is equally offended)

[Vicegrip]

Michele decided that I need to be awake.

Well said Greg! It looks like the board just might live through a little bar room argument. Besides Tony called me and held out the phone while starting his 951 up. Now that’s good stuff.

1. Adjust the ride height. The bolt on Bling brand wing you got at Advance auto parts is making the back sag some and the tires are hitting.

2. Hell yes! It could be fun and if you wreck it the surviving Dorki will part out the fast parts! BTW. Did you know that you can request an instructor? It is spelled Mickelwait and I bet we can fix the 15 Green thing if we don’t confirm the first part of this answer.

3. Where do you live? Is the car alone during the day? No? Do you own guns? Yes? OK, how many? Oh, that many huh? (I better call RL in too) Did you know that you can request an instructor? It is spelled Mickelwait. Trust me, it will be fun. My car is almost the same as yours and I will even show you the line in your car! I’ll bring the Depends.

Oh yea. Yer question. Auto parts store brand pads and drilled Zimmerman rotors. You can save the motor by removing it too. I will hold it for you and loan you a replacment...