why the new section?

[JTRACING]

How come there is a new section? Muscle cars & Hot Rods are just street cars, no need for a separate area IMO,
We have a street car area already
If you are going make that then you should also make Tuner, Exotics, Motorcycles, Trucks etc.. sections then it becomes a pain to navigate everything

[freakray]

We had enough requests for the section that we felt it was justified.

Why do we have subforums at all?

[gionc]

Originally Posted by CADguy

Having the street cars separated from the race cars was rediculous. Separating the domestics from the imports is even more rediculous.

Since the Motorsports section has been formed I rarely go there, as I haven't built a race car in years. I've missed out on some spectacular works in progress, and the views per thread in that section reflect that it's not only me that is ignoring those builds. Lets get all genres of cars back into one section.

I'm not sure Matt is wrong: in some other boards we haven't separations and we haven't needs. For the same reason he said I lost something in the street section.

But I like to bump a thing: does the subforums kinds to be the character of the forum? its soul? I found out other boards full of hot-rods and other american amenities and also I like much more this place becouse is more "globally" oriented. Well at least I think you have your reason to do.

[MPWR]

It will be interesting to see how it works out. I was disappointed when the Motorsport section was split off of the Street/Show section- the only advantage I can think of that the split provides is that there's less traffic on on them individually than combined, so threads persist on the front page slightly longer (especially in motorsport). Other than that, nothing. Stripping off Detroit iron may slow Street/Show again (which may be a good thing, as it's has always had more traffic than Motorsport), but this seems to me like a very artificial and contrived kind of split.

I'm of two minds about it-
First, I honestly won't spend much time in the new section, as it's a genre of cars I don't have much interest in. Having them split off means I will see even fewer of them (there won't be any in Street/Show anymore that I might occasionally click on out of curiosity). But overall, I probably won't miss them. (Which is unfortunate, as it means there will be some excellent builds that I just won't see.)

On the other hand, I think this is an unfortunate and counterproductive rift in our hobby. It echoes the ricer vs mullet split that's so obnoxious in US automotive culture. Sure, car enthusiasts almost always have genres of cars that they prefer over others- but overall I think it's better to be brought together because we're car enthusiasts and modelers than divided by genres. Aircraft, armor, and ship model builders don't divide themselves with this kind of nonsense. I think it's sad that we do.

So, I guess we'll see what comes of it. I admit, I'm curious to see how much traffic it will get. Will it bring a new group of muscle car builders out of the woodwork? Or will it fissle because muscle car builders already prefer other forums to AF? Time will tell....

Incidentally, I'm also curious why this wasn't brought up as a post for discussion? Moderators are of course free to make whatever decisions and actions are best for the smooth running of the forum, but it might have been interesting and useful to have a conversation and see some different ideas and opinions first.

[675datsun]

Originally Posted by CADguy

Since the Motorsports section has been formed I rarely go there, as I haven't built a race car in years. I've missed out on some spectacular works in progress, and the views per thread in that section reflect that it's not only me that is ignoring those builds.

I TOTALLY agree with you! I know I have missed some incredible race/motorsport builds.

So, now I have to browse through 3 forums just to get an update on GTmike400's scratchbuilt hot rod???

[freakray]

The split came about because there was enough call for it from members to have it considered worthwhile.

I like the arguments I am hearing here because I can actually agree with some.

Hopefully, we'll hear from those that requested the split too so we can hear what they have to say.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by freakray

Hopefully, we'll hear from those that requested the split too so we can hear what they have to say.

Yeah, hopefully we will.

So it was split off just because a certain number of members requested it? Does that mean if we got enough people together to PM mods and suggest it, Ferraris or Porsches could be split off, too?

Doesn't it make sense to discuss these thing first? I'm not saying AF is a democracy (or should be), but isn't the community best served by community inclusive discussions when changes are considered?

[freakray]

I'm pretty certain it was discussed.

Since I wasn't the person that brought it to the admin, I can't make educated comments on this, only what I know.

[klutz_100]

Sorry to be so blunt but I don't see any benefit in this - only loss.

A more refined search function that doesn't eliminate GT as a search request parameter would be a much more useful change !!

[675datsun]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Does that mean if we got enough people together to PM mods and suggest it, Ferraris or Porsches could be split off, too?

While we're at it, we should have a section for "Classic/Vintage" autos, instead of an "old school" thread buried in the "street" section.
We can then split this "Classic/Vintage" section into "Import/Domestic"

Also, there could be a Skyline section, for all years of the model.

A Honda section would be nice as well.

I've got more ideas, just holler if you want to hear them

[tigeraid]

I'm fine with the seperate sections... the Street car section was really cluttered, hard to follow a lot of the builds because when I came back the next day, they were 3 pages back. I don't build racecars that often either, but that doesn't make me any less likely to click on the section. You guys not checking out the models in that section "because they're not your thing" is your loss. And I suppose the builder's loss for not having more responsed on the build. I clicked on both before, and I'll click on all three now. It's really not gonna kill me...

[gionc]

Originally Posted by 675datsun

While we're at it, we should have a section for "Classic/Vintage" autos, instead of an "old school" thread buried in the "street" section.
We can then split this "Classic/Vintage" section into "Import/Domestic"

Also, there could be a Skyline section, for all years of the model.

A Honda section would be nice as well.

I've got more ideas, just holler if you want to hear them

One could be ITA stuff? and it could be splitted into "Street/Racing/Muscle Hotrods" ?

[quadzero]

I'm pretty much in agreement with Tigeraid. Its hard to keep track of some of the wip's I'm following along with when they go off the page so fast. some of the topic's I follow I get notified about in my email, but alot slip thru. most of the models in the street section are "not my thing" but that is where I spend most of my time because there are truly great models there. I dont care about the subject too much, I just appreciate someone's efforts and skill more the anything. some forums I belong to have over 20 sections, most have about 10 to 15. so this is really no big deal for me at all, now I have 3 to click on also.

[winstona]

I have no problem with the split.

But today I was suprised to find out that my thread was moved from Street and Show to Muscle car...

The thing that I am not too comfortable with is that my thread is now in a lower traffic area than before where less people will see it...But anyhow, not too big of a deal...

Winston

[freakray]

Originally Posted by winstona

The thing that I am not too comfortable with is that my thread is now in a lower traffic area than before where less people will see it...But anyhow, not too big of a deal...

Winston

Premature judgement I think.