Ideas for the next group build...

[deltableh]

Well, I've really taken a liking to these group builds, and it seems that I'm not the only one, so I figured we could start a thread to discuss ideas for future builds. I've been bored in more than a few calc classes this year, and have thought of a few ideas. So here's what I got, feel free to comment on them, and also, add your own. If I can, I'll update my post to include everybody's ideas in this post, in bold.

HEMI POWER: Build would involve HEMI powered cars. Considering the availability and cheapness of Revell and AMT kits that the engines can be scavenged from, this build would involve HEMI power. The car doesn't have to be a Mopar... it just has to be powered by a HEMI; drop the engine into whatever car you feel like. The cars would not have to be street legal.
GUMBALL 3000: Build would consist of cars done up in the style of a Gumball 3000 race. This opens the build up to every type of car imaginable, from compact Smart cars to Enzos and SLRs. If it's street legal, then it can wear Gumball stickers.
AMERICAN MUSCLE: Though we missed the 50th anniversary of the Corvette, this build would involve the classic muscle cars of the United States. Corvettes, Mustangs, Mopars, modern or old school, it doesn't matter. Build it stock, slammed, build it to drag or to cruise. Your imagination is your only boundary.

Thanks in advance, everybody.

[MPWR]

More?

Why?

We already have two seperate group builds underway, and it will be months before either is concluded. Sure, everyone can come up with their own favorite category of cars that they'd love to see people build- but the more group builds we have, the fewer people will participate in them. It's like a year or two ago when people (often newbies) would suggest a new contest that they thought would get a bunch of people to build their favorite kind of car- it simply doesn't work. Remember the great enthusiasm there was for the drag car contest? Remember how many builds there were?

Two is more than enough for this forum at this time. When one or both is concluded (and we figure out what that will look like), and if there is sufficient interest, then perhaps a new one will be started.

Incidently, "everyone suggest your favorite" is a poor way to choose these things. Everyone will suggest their favorite- and when their favorite doesn't get picked, they won't build. So you have a contest/group build with two or three entries. What's the point? You can more easily start your own group by PM with two of your friends here who want to build the same thing you do.

[deltableh]

I didn't say these would have to start right away. Frankly, I think two underway is plenty. I just figured there was no harm in throwing ideas against the wall to see what sticks. Then, if or when people want to have another group build, at least we have something to draw from.

And I know this is just me, but if one of those three doesn't get picked as an idea to be a group build, it doesn't mean I'm gonna go pout in a corner. If the build doesn't interest me, then I won't build, but I'm not gonna exclude myself just because it wasn't my idea.

[MPWR]

Did you watch the selection for the motorsports group build last year? Everyone went nuts suggesting everything they could think of. Alot of people were disappointed that their pet categories weren't chosen. So in the most democratic way possible, a big inclusive category was chosen- and no one was inpired enough to build for it.

Ideas for group builds are not and will never be a problem. Good ways to select them are harder. Organizing and running them are harder still. But dreaming about ideas for next time or next next time generally hurts builds going on now. People who otherwise might build will often decide "well, this one isn't exactly what I want, maybe the next one will be better. I'll just wait until next time".

Let's worry about next time when next time comes. We will almost definately discuss it when the time comes. But a MUCH more important topic is "how do you want to see it run?", and "what do you want a group build to be?". "What to build?" by comparison is an easy issue.

[deltableh]

Originally Posted by MPWR

But a MUCH more important topic is "how do you want to see it run?", and "what do you want a group build to be?". "What to build?" by comparison is an easy issue.

Well, I do have calc in 8 minutes... I'll get thinking

(that was a joke about calc, by the by)

If that's the direction you want to take this thread, that's fine with me. Ain't a threadjack if I don't mind the turn of events, aye?

[klutz_100]

I agee 100000000000% with everything Andy said (for a change )

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

I agee 100000000000% with everything Andy said (for a change )

+1...but I usually do agree with Andy.

[MPWR]

Thanks for the votes of confidence, guys.

Unless there is real interest and enthusiasm for discussing these subjects right now, I'm given to let them lie for the time being. Around the time that the 7 Group Build will conclude in July, I'm going to ask a number of discussion questions about the 7 Group Build and group builds in general (i.e., What did you like about this build? What didn't you like? Would you rather join a group build doing one kit, a narrow category, a broad category, etc?). None of these questions will be "What do you think we should build next?". People participating in and opinions expressed in these discussions will definately have an impact on what the next build will be. I will probably again discuss some build topics with a handfull of interested people offline by PM. There may be an open vote between between a couple of topics. But there will not be a big open democratic 'nominate and vote' style topic selection. That method has been fairly and vigorously attempted here in the past with poor success.

deltableh, I certainly don't want to dampen your (or anyone else's) enthusiasm for group builds here. It's great to see enthusiasm for it- it seems like it could be a good model for a regular group event on this forum. Meanwhile however, it's still an idea in trial here. All this stuff will come up again soon enough, and if there's sufficient interest there are going to be more group builds. Hopefully as we do it, we'll be able to nail down just what works here, and avoid what doesn't. But for now unless there's real interest in going over organisational stuff, I think it may be best to just let it be and let people concentrate on building.

[drunken monkey]

i think that it might be nice to have a sort of regular competition.
that way, you can think of a theme and then because it's your competition, you can provide the prize (sort of "cost" for having people build what you decide).

that way, I can have my toyota yaris group build by tempting you all with a Gunze Jaguar or something...

[deltableh]

Originally Posted by MPWR

deltableh, I certainly don't want to dampen your (or anyone else's) enthusiasm for group builds here. It's great to see enthusiasm for it- it seems like it could be a good model for a regular group event on this forum. Meanwhile however, it's still an idea in trial here. All this stuff will come up again soon enough, and if there's sufficient interest there are going to be more group builds. Hopefully as we do it, we'll be able to nail down just what works here, and avoid what doesn't. But for now unless there's real interest in going over organisational stuff, I think it may be best to just let it be and let people concentrate on building.

Well, I wish I could concentrate on my building... it's just I'm 6.5 hours away from my workbench, here in Alfred for college. I did come up with some ideas about how we could get the builds organized (this is what happens when you can't build and/or are bored to death in a class), but I'll PM that to you, since it's probably more of an off-board discussion