Need for a dedicated Speedster Forum ?

[TRDxB2]

Hoping not to offend anyone's point of view but it appears that "Speedster" interest has a place in the Forum. Giving proper direction on what one should start with versus what should be left intact as a "Model T" should be important to all of us.
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Racing has always been a part of Ford's Legacy and the popularity of Model T's during their era was the catalyst to make it an affordable method to participate in that endeavor.
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Building a "speedster" implies a vehicle that is lighter and faster then its original form. Changing suspension, engine modifications, vehicle shape and weight. The shape is constrained by the desired seating (for 1or2), fuel tank size/shape, steering configuration, dash board(gauges), windshield, spare tire, head & tail lights, battery size/location and etc..
--Thinking that starting separate topics under that Forum could be initially started to try and keep discussions more focused under that topic with drifting into other areas
noted below.
TOPICS
--Model T Speedster History (Races & racers, aftermarket suppliers & products This is a particularly important topic for all to understand the role that Speedsters played in keeping Model T's restoration alive and well over the years.
--Speedster Body building & styles (single seater, track, stutz style, boat tail) How and what to start with and what not to use (restoring the Model T instead)
--Speedster Seating arrangements, seat building etc
--Speedster Fuel system (tank, location/position,pump) etc
--Speedster Steering configuration, lowering methods and dashboard etc (I've found that one effects the other)
--Speedster Spare tire location, mounting methods or not
--Speedster Windshield/windscreen design and mounting
--Speedster Electrical System (Headlights, Tail Lights, battery size/location, starter, required gauges
--Speedster Undercarriage (lowering, radius rods, transmission, brakes, other)
--Speedster Other

[Bryant]

I agree I would even go as far as saying even more subjects that relate to model T’s. start with original only room. Then speedsters,TT trucks T tractors, the general discussion and dare I say T hot rods. And so on. I would think for it to work they would have to create a whole new platform for MTFCA. Where there’s a will there’s a way.

[Caswell]

I'm for it, as the starter of the other thread I'm not offended if it branches off. I'm surprised how many hits the other thread has in such a short time.

[TXGOAT2]

An excellent idea, in my opinion.

[TRDxB2]

I agree I would even go as far as saying even more subjects that relate to model T’s. start with original only room. Then speedsters,TT trucks T tractors, the general discussion and dare I say T hot rods. And so on. I would think for it to work they would have to create a whole new platform for MTFCA. Where there’s a will there’s a way.

From what I can tell there is an amount of work involved in creating categories and sub-categories in the software being used for the Forum. I think that in doing so it might reduce some of the replication of past discussions. Having said that, there is the problem on what the high level categories need to be to keep things focused. Looking at past discussions there are numerous discussions on magneto's, coils, HCCT, Timer's that would imply a high level topic (room) for discussions on Ignition Systems to also include switch plates and distributors and related. No doubt one on "Engine Related" for carburetors and various performance modifications.
-There is an inherent danger in creating to many categories and sub-categories causing a user to drill down (clicks) to see some information. The Forum does have a very good "advanced" search tool but I wonder how many members use it or understand how to use it effectively. Its much easier to pop a new topic with one's question for discussion rather than to see if it was already answered. On the other hand having some additional Categories and letting the existing Topic Heading manage focus may help.
-I have designed many user interfaces around the "process" that the intended application was being designed for. There is a difference in what a Forum is designed for versus one that responds to Frequently Asked Questions. This is not to say that a different application is needed, just how it can be used to work the process

[Mark Gregush]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/modeltspeedster

[Bryant]

Who do you contact to make it happen? If it could happen? Because personally I won’t be joining Facebook. Whatever the topics I believe the first and foremost should be the preservation of originality of the Model T. Then a technical room. After that a speedster space. Something for Trucks and Slowsters. A Custom corner. A spot for connecting (art/pics/memories ect.) anyways Iam on board

[DHort]

There are already 9 subforums on this site. I only use 3 of them. If I have a Speedster post I will title it Speedster. There are about 10 groups or more on FB. For me personally, that is enough.

[perry kete]

Speedster ..... Model T
Tractor ........ Model T
Trucks ......... Model T
Boats .......... Model T

All Model T's and we already have a Model T General discussion heading

[TRDxB2]

Speedster ..... Model T
Tractor ........ Model T
Trucks ......... Model T
Boats .......... Model T

All Model T's and we already have a Model T General discussion heading

The Forum IS "MODEL T" at the highest level already. Categories are intended to direct focus to a subject area so uninterested parties don't need to skip over their content. Just for example: Wouldn't it be helpful if Classifies and/or Vehicles were just sub-categorized into For Sale, Sold and Wanted to Buy and no further.

[Rich Eagle]

Don't forget the airplanes.
There are a million ways to make the forum better. Will we agree how and who will do it?
Boy, I've got lots of ideas.
Rich

[Mark Gregush]

Whatever the topics I believe the first and foremost should be the preservation of originality of the Model T.

How is a speedster preserving the originality of a Model T?

The Ford Model T Speedster page on Facebook is very cut and dried, it is Ford Model T base speedsters, and frankly, anyone that does not look, is missing a lot of good content. But oh gee, you would have to sign up for Facebook first and that moderator has to let you into the group to see the content.

[DLodge]

There are already 9 subforums on this site. I only use 3 of them. If I have a Speedster post I will title it Speedster. There are about 10 groups or more on FB. For me personally, that is enough.

What Dave said. Every time a section gets added to the forum, it generally becomes another section I don't read. The solution is not to add a separate section for every sub-topic, sub-sub-topic and sub-sub-sub-topic, but rather for everyone to start using the subject line for its intended purpose. If the subject is a concise statement that tells me what the post is about, I am able to see whether or not it's something I want to read. Adding new sections just dilutes the forum. (The subjects I like the least are the ones that just state a name, e.g. "Fred Jones." That could either mean someone wants to contact Fred Jones, someone wants to know if Fred's carburetor work is good, or Fred died yesterday. If I know Fred, the last one worries me.)

Let's follow the Model T version of Occam's razor.

[Bryant]

Whatever the topics I believe the first and foremost should be the preservation of originality of the Model T.

How is a speedster preserving the originality of a Model T?

The Ford Model T Speedster page on Facebook is very cut and dried, it is Ford Model T base speedsters, and frankly, anyone that does not look, is missing a lot of good content. But oh gee, you would have to sign up for Facebook first and that moderator has to let you into the group to see the content.

Mark the originality is a page dedicated to just that. The speedsters is a whole different page.

[Bryant]

Hey I guess it’s whatever.. as long as members can handle any subject involving Model T’s than the general discussion forum is just fine.

[jab35]

I'm with Dave and Bryant, but if the category is created I'm fine with that too. I enjoy reading the speedster posts along with all the others here in general discussion. If it were a separate category, I wouldn't look at it much. Again, I'm fine with either way and just hope I don't ever have to use FB to get Model T information and chatter (please don't suggest Wood Bands for 'chatter' ). Respectfully, jb

[Ron Mac]

I think a dedicated speedster section would be great, but I also understand that it creates more work for the moderator to keep everything in the right place.

[PeterN]

Personally I prefer fewer sub-forums and think, as stated by others, that a proper subject allows us to determine if we want to read it or not.
Because of this thread, I decided to look at the VF sub forum and there are a few posts that would have fit in quite well here and probably generated great discussion. Instead they have very few replies if any.

…but most importantly I am grateful for the forum and the moderators for keeping it going.

[AndyClary]

One speedster thread reaches 75 posts and we need another forum? Hardly seems an issue. I’m a speedster guy so I feel speedster threads are too few. But it’s ok to have the weekly water pump thread.


Andy

[halftracknut]

sorry post in wrong place

[frontyboy]

Let me chime in, seems it was easy to add the off topic pages and the others that were added when the web site was redone. It's not a big deal to add another for speedsters.

I think as there are so many speedster guys here and it would be well supported. Lots of members are either building or contemplating building one. It would be a natural extension for our members.

Since were all about model t's why not embrace speedsters. There is a very active group in the northwest for instance that has no good way to communicate ideas and information. I'm guessing there are other groups of speedster enthusiasts that would join in as well. If the club and web site really does support model t's why exclude speedsters?

I vote to add place for speedsters.

frontyboy

[DHort]

fronty boy

There is a previous post whose subject is 'Speedster'. What does that mean? The author was looking for photos and thoughts on lowering your car.

Would it not make more sense to use subject of 'Speedster - photos and thoughts of lowering your car'?

If you wanted to ask about a dizzy on a speedster why title the subject line 'Dizzy's'.

Would it not make more sense to use the line 'Speedsters - distributors'?

If everyone would start the subject with the word Speedster like they do OT, then it would be easy to find posts regarding speedsters. No real need for a separate sub forum that gets lost at the bottom of the page of sub forums.

[YellowTRacer]

I sure agree with those that are saying "just get the title correct/explanatory". We don't need a separate dedicated forum. I easily pass over titles that I know won't interest me and click on the ones that do. So easy!

Ed aka #4

[ivaldes1]

The world is full of lumpers and splitters. In this case in my opinion splitting would be bad.

[John kuehn]

For what’s it worth it would turn out like the other forums. There would be some on the dedicated forum and about the same on this one of the same subject. It would turn out like the rest of them.
Just the way things turn out. My first supervisor that I had told me that if he could keep 60% of his sections employees going in the same direction he was doing pretty good!
Boy was he right!

[oliverguy]

maybe off topic, but I find the Model T Facebook pages pretty poor. Posts are littered with personal opinion and a lot of the information in inaccurate. This forum has been around a long time & doing key word searches yields a lot of information.

Be careful about the multiple categories. The AACA forum did that and there is hardly any traffic on the subforums.

Bryan