The Place

There was a thing on FB the other day when I said I'd had enough, people started sending money to help towards the site.
There was talk of subscriptions and loads of people saying they'd be willing to pay.
Thank you to the 4 people who have donated- I'm very grateful but you'll notice I didn't post the link to the donate button there's something you can do better than that to keep the site going, something much better than money.
If you sent me money I still couldn't take time out of my real job or afford to pay a pro to help out, this site is never going to pay what I get for going to work in a job that luckily pays quite well.

When someone asks a question, answer it on here. Join in, keep the place going. That's all it needs. When someone new comes into the sport I've been around racing for so long I don't know some of the basic stuff any more. I see people logged on who could at least put a view in, an opinion. That is what the site is for, that's how Dad was. He would help anyone and get them into the sport. Money wasn't his way, it was help, friendship (and a cup of tea).

If you have race results, please post them here. If you want to buy or sell a bike, need a passenger, the site doesn't make you pay, it's not about the money, it's about getting bikes to people who will use them. Don't just post on FB that you're selling something, oddly we get a lot of people on here, put it here!

Loads of people have told me how they got started in the sport through this place, I'm proud of that. Let's keep that going.

If you see something and have even half a clue, post a reply, someone else might have another view and the discussion continues. That's what The Place is about.

Well, I think so Go on, tell me I'm wrong

steve your place is the only contact I have to my sidecar family I thought this is geoing to be a poor t.t thanks for returning me to sanity jim norbury.

Isn't, it good to see,that friendship. And help for other racers is free, and money cannot buy that, I'm really proud of you Stephen , for keeping. The beliefs that dad (Fatbloke) had , money was never his thing, but plenty of cups of tea.xxxx he would be so proud .xxxxxx

I was genuinely gutted when u took the site offline steve, but it made me realise how much i take it for granted, it is the ONLY place for our community to know what is really going on in our world of sidecar racing. When i was starting out it has provided me with so many helpful bits of info and knowledge and still does now, and without seeing the reports of what is going on i would be lost. I also think that without it the sport wouldnt be anywhere near as heathly as it is, ( and yes to the naysayers, i now its not perfect and we have our issues in the sport but in the 8 years since i 1st got involved i'd say we have a lot of positive things goin on at the moment, especially in this country)

I love being out on track racing and when the lights go out im as happy as i could ever be but whats makes my weekend are the people, the friendly atmosphere, the way we all help each other out and offer advice and i have forged many friendships through the sport and in the paddocks. If it wasn't for the people i would have probably packed in ages ago, god knows my bank account probably wishes i had but racing isn't just something i do, its my life, and without the people in paddocks it wouldn't be half as enjoyable, so thanks for reminding me that this site is part of that and i for one know i have been guilty of seeing a post and not replying because i think somebody else will soon, yet if asked a question in the paddock i will always do my best to answer it and encourage people so from here on in, i will be doing my best to get involved on here and stop leaving it to others because that is the way i see our sport and what makes sidecar racing what it is , and this site is shouldn't be any different

And thanks again for providing us with such a great site steve,

Well put Steve and all others who've replied above.

I try and get stuck in and help too and I'm very appreciative of people's time and advice, especially yours Steve.

From a support perspective, is there some of the technical site maintenance/coding/software etc... that a web management firm could do which would lessen the demand for that on your time?

When I saw the consideration and comments people were making about subscriptions/donations then this is the aspect I thought those payments could fund.

If possible, then this could free your time up for content/advice, or just give you a bit more time for life in general!

I know a few very reasonable folk I could approach if this is something that could help.

Thanks again mate and always tea, cake and cider (!!!) available to you at our race truck!

There's a small email bug on the phpbb part of it that needs sorting, I think I know where it's hiding but it's not worth getting someone in to do, that's the bit I still enjoy I enjoy the coding, it's just getting time to post new stuff on the front as soon as it happens. We are coming up with a plan that involves more people having access to the front page, so they can post there when I'm not around. There are 4 other people but they're all in the same paddock at the moment across

I'm happy to get involved. Will send a PM.

you have been listening to too much Jesse J, try a bit of Dylan man.

Dude I'm more muddy waters

I thought you were more of a fun lovin criminal

You need to get into Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Milton and Howlin Wolf - then you'll really feel it......

I'm glad that people understand that it's important to keep Steves Place active and relevant - I'm just glad I'm not the only one who has been by-passed by the Facebook/What'sApp/Twitter revolution.........

Howlin Wolf yep, little milton yep.

I'll say it again the problem with Facebook is it chooses what you see. Once you have more than a few dozen contacts on there not everyone sees every post so for getting info across its greatly flawed. I link to news articles on the sites page there, some get seen by 200, some by 3,000.

Twitter I love for news but you have to find the right people. That's like reading the wrong newspaper then complaining about the rubbish in the news.

Twitter (like Newspapers) is flawed because it is tailored to suit the whole population, not niche interests. You have to trawl for ages through the Sunday broadsheets to find what you want, whereas a specialist publication will be full of the stuff you're interested in.

There is a surfeit of information available today and you just need some kind of filter to sort the wheat from the chaff.

regards
Din Nosaur.

David Stewart wrote:You need to get into Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Milton and Howlin Wolf - then you'll really feel it......

I'm glad that people understand that it's important to keep Steves Place active and relevant - I'm just glad I'm not the only one who has been by-passed by the Facebook/What'sApp/Twitter revolution.........

Wow, what a seam I have found, may I propose we all listen to some Big Bill Broonzy?