This month, I am going to start by referencing an article “Greenstag” posted for us. In January 1987, a popular motoring magazine reported on the growth and success of the Stag Owners Club and as a part of article, the magazine talked about the changes with the club newsletter.
As some of you will be aware, it started out as 6 pages of A4 stapled together for a handful of members and over time developed into a professionally produced 60 page magazine distributed to 4000 members (in 1987). The magazine included; news, reports, information, accessories, spare parts and technical know-how for the keener DIY members. (Sounds pretty similar to what landed on my mat yesterday!)
In those 22 years, the growth of new members has most definitely slowed from 120 per month (24 this month) but what else has changed in that time? Kingpin seems to have gone on holiday, the pictures are better, some of the parts and spares are more expensive and the letters page seems to have lost a bit of its edge but I doubt it is materially different in format or content despite the elapsed years! Somewhat different to the media driven world we live in.
In the last two decades, the way in which we find out facts and information, buy things, make and confirm arrangements, share pictures and videos, write and speak to each have changed beyond recognition. This is mostly caused by the internet in one way or another and things like; e-commerce and banking, social networking, email and instant messaging, blogging, skype, facebook, wifi and 3G technologies have, whether you like it or not, have changed the way, the time and the places that we communicate.
The SOC, thanks to the Committee and Carl Fuss now has an established web-site and a thriving forum. The website has growing area sections and lots of general and supplier information. On the forum, we now have an events list, a For Sale section, private messaging, real-time answers to your questions with a good mix of humour, photos, videos and global contribution. None of this replaces human interaction or the need for some form of posted newsletter. We hope that someone is planning a fundamental review of the magazine soon – please see numerous forum posts on the subject, particularly following the late delivery of last months magazine.
Anyway, enough of all that, what has been happening on the forum this month? You may recall me telling you about our number 1 thread – “Check, raise or fold” which is about Julians decision to scrap or restore his Stag. Well, over the past 23 months, this thread has been viewed nearly 10,000 times and has over 250 separate comments as well as pictures of the car throughout the restoration. Some of these pictures were from visitors to the business doing the restoration and have made it a really popular project. Yesterday, he collected the car, it looked fantastic and we look forward to reading about how Julian is enjoying his new pride and joy.
There have been a few recent Forum members get-togethers and when I post this article tonight, I expect to read all about and see pictures of the Prescott hill climb event that some of you will have visited today (10th May). On a daily basis, there are numerous technical questions being asked, poor running problems described and various pictures of things like sill corrosions, new hoods and cylinder head problems posted for your horror or education. You can guarantee lots of detailed answers and responses to most points and questions asked.
To wet your appetite to have a look or join-in, a selection of todays topics include:
And over the past month, we have discussed:
On that last point, Russ “Kryten”, or “King of the green” as he likes to be known may well pop-up in the magazine soon as an alternative to Kingpin. This could take the form of some specific articles or edited copies of some of his posts to peoples problems. He has suggested he is prepared to have a go, so why not pop on-line and encourage him?
If you don’t already know how, you can access the forum via the SOC web site at http://www.stag.org.uk/index.aspx or if you get stuck, email me at stagforum@anvuk.com and I will help you get on-line.
We hope to see you on the forum soon
Graham
As some of you will be aware, it started out as 6 pages of A4 stapled together for a handful of members and over time developed into a professionally produced 60 page magazine distributed to 4000 members (in 1987). The magazine included; news, reports, information, accessories, spare parts and technical know-how for the keener DIY members. (Sounds pretty similar to what landed on my mat yesterday!)
In those 22 years, the growth of new members has most definitely slowed from 120 per month (24 this month) but what else has changed in that time? Kingpin seems to have gone on holiday, the pictures are better, some of the parts and spares are more expensive and the letters page seems to have lost a bit of its edge but I doubt it is materially different in format or content despite the elapsed years! Somewhat different to the media driven world we live in.
In the last two decades, the way in which we find out facts and information, buy things, make and confirm arrangements, share pictures and videos, write and speak to each have changed beyond recognition. This is mostly caused by the internet in one way or another and things like; e-commerce and banking, social networking, email and instant messaging, blogging, skype, facebook, wifi and 3G technologies have, whether you like it or not, have changed the way, the time and the places that we communicate.
The SOC, thanks to the Committee and Carl Fuss now has an established web-site and a thriving forum. The website has growing area sections and lots of general and supplier information. On the forum, we now have an events list, a For Sale section, private messaging, real-time answers to your questions with a good mix of humour, photos, videos and global contribution. None of this replaces human interaction or the need for some form of posted newsletter. We hope that someone is planning a fundamental review of the magazine soon – please see numerous forum posts on the subject, particularly following the late delivery of last months magazine.
Anyway, enough of all that, what has been happening on the forum this month? You may recall me telling you about our number 1 thread – “Check, raise or fold” which is about Julians decision to scrap or restore his Stag. Well, over the past 23 months, this thread has been viewed nearly 10,000 times and has over 250 separate comments as well as pictures of the car throughout the restoration. Some of these pictures were from visitors to the business doing the restoration and have made it a really popular project. Yesterday, he collected the car, it looked fantastic and we look forward to reading about how Julian is enjoying his new pride and joy.
There have been a few recent Forum members get-togethers and when I post this article tonight, I expect to read all about and see pictures of the Prescott hill climb event that some of you will have visited today (10th May). On a daily basis, there are numerous technical questions being asked, poor running problems described and various pictures of things like sill corrosions, new hoods and cylinder head problems posted for your horror or education. You can guarantee lots of detailed answers and responses to most points and questions asked.
To wet your appetite to have a look or join-in, a selection of todays topics include:
- Castle Combe classic track day
- Piranha ignition wiring
- Help with an oil pressure gauge
- Tuning Carbs
- Valve shims and sizing after regrinding valves
- Diff Advice
- Adjusting automatic gearboxes
- Hi torque starter motors
- Group purchase of wind deflectors
And over the past month, we have discussed:
- Rear wheel bearing spanners
- Special interest stags
- Paint contamination
- Viscous coupling or electric fan?
- Relocating the alternator
- Diff mounting bushes
- Overfilling the cooling system – can this be done?
- Alternate header tanks
- Vented disks and 4 pot callipers
- Seat back foams
- Mags arrived but where is Kingpin?
On that last point, Russ “Kryten”, or “King of the green” as he likes to be known may well pop-up in the magazine soon as an alternative to Kingpin. This could take the form of some specific articles or edited copies of some of his posts to peoples problems. He has suggested he is prepared to have a go, so why not pop on-line and encourage him?
If you don’t already know how, you can access the forum via the SOC web site at http://www.stag.org.uk/index.aspx or if you get stuck, email me at stagforum@anvuk.com and I will help you get on-line.
We hope to see you on the forum soon
Graham
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