[Ccass]

Originally Posted by MoonShiner

Since buying my GTO new in 2006 I have been a member of one of those other forums. It definitely changed character some when it was bought out. It is still a good place to hang out, but I do miss the good ole days. I would be more than happy to promote this forum on there, but the post would likely disappear

You are correct. Your overture will get pulled once they see it. It has to be done more subtly and through chain e-mails, PM's, shows, club gatherings etc. We'll also be doing our part in various advertisements. But for success, we need everyone's participation.

[quicksilver97ta]

Originally Posted by Ccass

Just so you don't think I'm sour grapes and making this stuff up. A lot of you guys are probably members of at least several of these forums. And, again, I'm not saying you shouldn't be. Just trying to get everybody up to speed on what is happening behind the scenes.

http://www.autoforums.com/

http://www.automotiveforums.com/

http://www.internetbrands.com/ib/autonetwork/

Yes, I have noticed that but had no idea it was so widespread. I would get pop-up windows on another site from internetbrands claiming their ownership. I cant remember what the window wanted me to do but I always just closed it or the whole window. How annoying. I also noticed that even any good mention of a non-sponsored shop or service was a closed thread in short order for that very reason.

PY forums is home to me and I have had great experiences dealing with PY sales during my 68 restoration. And thank you for pointing out that PY is not part of that trend.

[eric_cspan]

Bump!

The contest is still in the works with the finalization of the Grand Prize and rules and regulations.

Here is a sneak peek of the vendors that have already signed up to sponsor and donate items for our big contest.

Drive for 40K Contest Page

Keep checking back on this page for updated info. You do not want to miss this one...

[Engine-Ear]

"we are asking that you encourage, cajole, coerce, convince etc that there needs to be a SINGLE place where all Pontiac enthusiasts can hang out and call HOME. And we're saying that there isn't a better place to do that than right here at the PY Online Forums."

I feel that PY is the place. Thanks for sharing the inside story on what's going on. I am not sure how to describe it, but there is a feeling of fellowship here. I believe that the feeling is inherent in the fact that this is run by you and your staff, and reflected back at you by the regular members here who also feel it.

...does that make sense? I hope so.

Either way, thank you, Chris and the PY staff.

Aside from the knowledge I have gained,
aside from having a great company thru which to help sell my product,
to me what's truly priceless is the FRIENDSHIP that I have forged with so many because of the PY forums.

[mike nixon]

Originally Posted by Engine-Ear

"we are asking that you encourage, cajole, coerce, convince etc that there needs to be a SINGLE place where all Pontiac enthusiasts can hang out and call HOME. And we're saying that there isn't a better place to do that than right here at the PY Online Forums."

I feel that PY is the place. Thanks for sharing the inside story on what's going on. I am not sure how to describe it, but there is a feeling of fellowship here. I believe that the feeling is inherent in the fact that this is run by you and your staff, and reflected back at you by the regular members here who also feel it.

...does that make sense? I hope so.

Either way, thank you, Chris and the PY staff.

Aside from the knowledge I have gained,
aside from having a great company thru which to help sell my product,
to me what's truly priceless is the FRIENDSHIP that I have forged with so many because of the PY forums.

Well said Matt!

[aceaceca]

I appreciate the heads up about big business taking things over. However , it has been obvious for some years now. You have only confirmed my concern. In the earlier days the net was a great place to learn and to get information. Over time it has become an advertising mecca for sellers like Google, Facebook, Twitter, and others trying to make
ad revenue or sell you something. It is almost like from the minute you sign on you are being fired at with garbage by corporate America. Then when you sign back in the next day they are even waiting for you with more stuff related to what you did yesterday.

Do you ever watch all the internet Titans being interviewed. They are all asked how they are going to monetize their company. They rarely answer that they are going to sell stuff to everyone on the net. I suppose there are those that say all this activity keeps the net going and makes a living for a lot of people. True. Lets just be thankful for a company that has its heart and soul in the right place and continues to offer us a great place to enjoy. Thank you!

[FBird69]

Chris, First off, THANK YOU for the forums, I try to visit daily. A great resource, a wealth of knowledgeable individuals, and one of the best moderated boards I've had the good fortune to participate in. Secondly, and more importantly, THANK YOU for the business of PY and supporting our cars. As was said above, we all have choices where to shop for our Pontiac parts and like most, I look around to check pricing and availability, but even if the part is a few dollars more at PY, I specifically choose to purchase from PY because YOU support the hobby with these forums. I notice and many people here notice as well. You have been and continue to be my #1 supplier of parts (my latest order shipped today). THANKS again! FBird69

[gmot455]

I love it Chris. Along with my 20 or so GTOs, ranging from 64, 65, 68,69,70,71, and 74, and a few 1974 SDs, TAs and Grand Prixs, I also own a 2004 GTO, and my 2005 daily driver. I love the 05. Gobs of power, and fantastic handling. I love my 1965 also, driving it once or twice a week. So the forums will be a great help.

[teeraven]

Came to read this thread after getting the email. I've been aware of the big companies buying up a lot of forums. I'm registered on over a dozen forums and there are maybe 6 I try to check the latest posts on every day or two.

I'm a Pontiac nut, but I'm into pro touring types of cars and post more on those forums. The problem I see with forums specific to one make or one model is the attitudes of the so called "Purists". It happens more to me in person than on the web, but I get tired of constantly hearing how I ruined my Firebird because it has 18" wheels and a 455 instead of the stock L6. We'll see what they have to say when my 69 is done with it's turbo 6.0 lol.

There are still plenty of people out there who want a more period correct car, but more and more people want to incorporate new technology into old cars to make them safer and more fun to drive. I think the Pontiac community needs to start embracing more modern builds or people building those cars will continue to shy away from Pontiac websites and events. It will only get worse in the futures as the guys who lived during the 60s and build period correct cars for the nostalgia continue to die out. While I love Pontiac engines, I love LS engines as well, and you can't deny they're better all around. I do personally hate gen 1 small block chevy's and I do hate seeing them in a Pontiac. But I keep my mouth shut about it and I'd rather have people who own those cars getting involved in the Pontiac community than not because they don't fit the mold.

It's a great idea to add sections on here for late model Pontiacs. I currently have a 01 WS6 and a 89 GTA with a LS1/t56 swap and a few other mods. It never crosses my mind to post stuff about my newer cars on this site because it just doesn't seem to be what people are into here. The sites more specific to late models will always be the place to go for info, but hopefully having more and more sections here for the late model stuff will gradually get more people posting. I guess the one problem is, no matter what Pontiac model you have from the 70s or earlier, they are all very similar and a site like this is the best place to share info. The problem with late model stuff is that the different models are more different. A 02 TA for example has more in common with LS Camaros and Vettes than it does all the other Pontiacs of the same time frame. The LS specific sites will always be a better source for info, but hopefully this can at least be a place people come to come together as a Pontiac community.

As for the advertising. I'm surprised to find out this site doesn't make much from advertising. That makes me want to start checking you guys for more of the stuff I buy. This is a fantastic forum for older Pontiacs, and hopefully will be for newer ones in the future. Unfortunately most of what I buy is more aftermarket or custom stuff than restoration stuff. And the problem I have with all the big name restoration parts websites is that I can always find the same parts from a different source for significantly cheaper.

Just trying to give some feedback from this Pontiac guy. Hope it's helpful

[66pontiaccat]

Dear Fellow Pontiac Enthusiasts, Owners & Collectors :
I would like to urge You to Please go into the following web-site & Sign The Petition To SAVE PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION !
I know that many of You are probably saying that it is over, However, A very good point was brought up in This Web-Site, & That Is "There Is Strength In Numbers" !
That is why I am asking You to please go into this web-site : www.savingpontiac.org
Please, read it & then sign the petition to SAVE PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION...
REMEMBER, TOGETHER, WE CAN SAVE PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION AND/OR
RESURRECT IT ONCE AGAIN...IT IS "NOT" OVER UNLESS WE ALLOW IT TO BE OVER !
Thanking You so much in advance, & Thank You for letting Me post My comments which may be benificial to all of Us. I welcome Your feedback.

Sincerely & Respectfully,

(66pontiaccat) Advocate to SAVE PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION

[deadbug]

I came from LS1GtO.com after I was hit head on. Got the GP a year later, but we have been acquainted since 1984.

I have heard the same stuff about vehicle fan sites becoming corporate money sites. I don't wanna see that happen here.

Indian Head interests will be ignored by corporate money hounds.

[deadbug]

Yes... so many Pontiacs, so little time...

[bullheimer]

knowing the difficulties involved with hosting this website, and financial strains of a lawsuit as per hotrodders.com, i have to say thanks so much for your dedication and trying your best to keep it real. i dont visit much as have been broke for so long. but when you need opinions or FACTS on yaks, then this is the only place to go. period. but this article has convinced me on one thing, when it comes to buying any poncho parts, i will throw away any other parts catalogs. buying py parts is the best way to support the website. like Duh!

[1967SC]

Thanks Chris,I appreciate all that you and your staff have done to promote the hobby.

[unruhjonny]

this is one of only two Pontiac Forums I regularly visit, and for the last several years, this is the primary one that I have visited.

I figured that financing was via PY sales, but why not try to have the site self-supporting?
Why not put it out to members to supper the site through a 'premium membership' which would maybe give larger PM box, and other nominal features like a bolded/coloured user name...
I have been a part of sites that make premium user specific subforums, but I don't think they're a good idea, because that serves to seperate...

Just an idea

[JLHarper]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

this is one of only two Pontiac Forums I regularly visit, and for the last several years, this is the primary one that I have visited.

I figured that financing was via PY sales, but why not try to have the site self-supporting?
Why not put it out to members to supper the site through a 'premium membership' which would maybe give larger PM box, and other nominal features like a bolded/coloured user name...
I have been a part of sites that make premium user specific subforums, but I don't think they're a good idea, because that serves to seperate...

Just an idea

Great idea.....PY owner has been very gracious and put up with a lot of grief over the years, hosted this forum, free classified ads, plus funded Pontiac related events.

It was posted that majority in the CH for example don't even OWN a Pontiac!

A $50 annual fee?

It would be nice if ALL members gave PY a shot at parts being ordered too.

Couple of guys that run business's related to the hobby come on here and post with intention of finding new customers and don't even give them the courtesy of a quote/order...thats pretty sorry imo

A few even compete with PY and do it on this forum...that's even worse.

Just my two cents....but think everyone should consider calling PY FIRST for parts/services.

THANKS PY!

[Ccass]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

I figured that financing was via PY sales, but why not try to have the site self-supporting?
Why not put it out to members to supper the site through a 'premium membership' which would maybe give larger PM box, and other nominal features like a bolded/coloured user name...
I have been a part of sites that make premium user specific subforums, but I don't think they're a good idea, because that serves to seperate...

Just an idea

That comment I made about the ad revenue not being much was not a cry for monetary help. As I said before, we're doing fine. I was simply offering information to show you that our support of our member base is NOT affected by political pressure put on us by advertisers. That is literally the opposite on the corporate sites.

We too have considered the 'Premium membership' program but really there isn't much value in any of those features. We already give all that to our members for free!

We do have the Pontiac Journal that does generate a little bit of revenue for the forums but we feel at least you get some real value in the information and discounts included in those mailings. Again, we certainly don't count on that revenue to keep the forums running.

[unruhjonny]

if the membership cost was lower, say $25 then more people would go for it;
some sites do different levels, which could be deonted by say the user name's colour, or a title if the subscribers would like...

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by Ccass

That comment I made about the ad revenue not being much was not a cry for monetary help. As I said before, we're doing fine. I was simply offering information to show you that our support of our member base is NOT affected by political pressure put on us by advertisers. That is literally the opposite on the corporate sites.

We too have considered the 'Premium membership' program but really there isn't much value in any of those features. We already give all that to our members for free!

...

oh, ok.

I know that I have actually been 100% intenetional of steering people who come to me for suggestions ect to go first to a Pontiac-only supplier before another company...

[Ccass]

Originally Posted by JLHarper

Great idea.....PY owner has been very gracious and put up with a lot of grief over the years, hosted this forum, free classified ads, plus funded Pontiac related events.

It was posted that majority in the CH for example don't even OWN a Pontiac!

A $50 annual fee?

It would be nice if ALL members gave PY a shot at parts being ordered too.

Couple of guys that run business's related to the hobby come on here and post with intention of finding new customers and don't even give them the courtesy of a quote/order...thats pretty sorry imo

A few even compete with PY and do it on this forum...that's even worse.

Just my two cents....but think everyone should consider calling PY FIRST for parts/services.

THANKS PY!

I appreciate the thoughts of financial support but that's NOT what this topic is about. Again, We're doing fine! Sales are great! The support of the PY Forums membership has always been great! Rather, this topic is about the future of the hobby in 5 years, in 10 years etc.

My plea is simply to combine the technical and social resources of the Classic Pontiac hobby with the technical and social resources of the Late Model Pontiac hobby. Currently, there is a real line drawn in the sand by both classic and Late Model owners. And it's very evident on the internet as most Late Model owners choose to share there resources on Late Model sites and most classic Pontiac owners choose to share their resources on PY's Forums. This is fine for now but if something isn't done, it won't be fine for either group individually down the road but combined, that's a different story.