DSMCentral Improvement request Options

[awd4kicks]

Hey everbody.

I've been pretty wrapped up trying to get my car running over the past few months along with the required family stuff. So I haven't had much time to concentrate on DSMCentral.

I really appreciate having you all on here and I definitely dig having the group together for outings and what not. With that in mind I would like to hear any and all suggestions that you may have to make this a better forum and event creation spot.

We often have very few people with running DSM's at any given time. That along with real-world duties, makes it tough to get large gatherings together. That's ok though. I'm happy to hang out with a few good pals that like to talk car junk every once in a while.

So let me hear what if any improvements that you would like to see. Maybe it's additional forums, maybe it's a different look, or going ahead with the DSMCentral garage, or stickers, or what ever. After we get a number of reply's we will post them up as a poll and make some changes based on the recommended improvements with the most votes.

Thanks for your input and invovlement. I think we should get somethings going so we can stay active before and during the cold months.

Marcus

[treydawgs4g63T]

I know i havent been on the site lone enough to actually make meaningful descisions but I have a few suggestions.

1- I would like there to be a spot that we can click on and purchase DSMCENTRAL stickers.

2- also heard that with AMS as a sponsor now we will be having more racing events. I would just like to be sure that we will have more events. Even if its just posting on the calender a "get together" in a mall parking lot or something like that.

Thanks for the space,
Travis ( TJ )

[scrapin_frame]

one thing i would love to see is a track day at a road course. i know it would be alot more expensive and quite unlikely, but i can dream..
i get the feeling most of the members here are into straightline too.

it would also be nice to have some meets organized in other places than peoria. peoria is over 2 hour drive for me.
i dont expect people to come down to mattoon/charleston to have a meet(although we do have the 1/8th mile dragstrip here) but maybe organize some meets in bloomington and champaign. i havent been do a dsm central meet since the 1st scdc.. the time before that was a winter meet in the garage of the all mighty founder like 6 or so years ago

[awd4kicks]

The all mighty founder?!?! Come-on Scrapin_Frame...

And just to make sure there is no confusion. AMS sponsored the awards for the DSMCentral Sport Compact Drag Challenge for 2006. They are not sponsoring DSMCentral in general. We may partner up again sometime in the future, but I wont hold my breath. They lost money and I broke even.

More and varied event's is good with varied locations. If we are going to have more event's I'd like to know what it would take to get more folks to show up. It seems like there hasn't been more than 5-8 people at each of the last events we've posted up about.

Keep 'em coming.

[Mitsu 77]

I for one would like to see drag events held other places than Cordova. Granted I haven't a clue as to what all goes into planning such an event but It's just an idea.

It really wouldn't have to be a "drag day" persay maybe just a post on a calender as tray said to get 10-15 of us together. It would be fun not being the only DSM that has there act together at the strip when I go.

[awd4kicks]

That's good...That's how we used to do it before I started renting the track. That's easy if we can find enough members with their DSM's running.

[treydawgs4g63T]

I just want to let you guys know that I have got my little brother in the DSM scene and my best friend Cory. We are very dedicated to the dsm scene being we are only youngsters ( 17,20,21) and would gladly show up to almost every event posted on the site.

[Zmann42087]

Compared to most of you guys, I haven't been on DSMcetral very long, but for what its worth I've really enjoyed the site so far. I live in Champaign and from what I can tell most of the members live around Peoria. That said, I'll never be the guy to attend a casual weekend meet as its just too far to drive, but one thing I am always willing to drive a long ways for is track time. I know there are a couple bigger events (SCDC, Slo Pny, etc.), but even more trips to the drag strip would be nice. I'm not suggesting renting out the track or anything, but rather just attending some "test n' tune" nights.

[AWD DSM 1]

What we really need is a farm meet.... anyone own a farm????

[turbohcar]

I'd like to see more meet dates as well now that I've got a capable vehicle. I think a few meets a year (not necessarily sponsored or sanctioned by DSMCentral) would bode well for the morale of the site.

Next year, I think a few planned out trips to Charleston's Coles County Dragway could be in order for a few of the southern members here as well as some planned AutoX's. I've never AutoXed in my life and think it would be a valuable experience to those of us that haven't.

I think a big thing before when I didn't have a running car was the fear of rejection for not having a car to enter into the proposed event. Don't be afraid to tag along and just watch and have fun! I learned this in my first DSMCentral meet at Spy's house. Chances are there are more people there that aren't bringing their DSM than those that are. I think a trip back in time shows that DSMCentral was a bit tighter group when we had more events than just tech support on the web all the time. I'd be willing to host an event or two at my place given the proper timing and planning. Heck! Why not even a small DSMCentral car show? I'm sure I could probably get permission to use the High School's parking lot on the weekend.

[Mitsu 77]

I know there are a couple bigger events (SCDC, Slo Pny, etc.), but even more trips to the drag strip would be nice. I'm not suggesting renting out the track or anything, but rather just attending some "test n' tune" nights.

That is one of the reasons I like Morocco, it's closer for the eastern IL members to make it there. Netter and I went over there a couple of months ago and it took me just over two hours pulling a trailer to get there.

Another fun idea would be get a group of people to caravan up to GLD for a RSD night, hell we could probably count on JVB and Chicago DSM to rally a few people in there areas and make it a rather larg DSM event.

[awd4kicks]

Wow! I'm suprised there are so many that are wnating more drag meets. That's cool!

If there are other types of suggestions though...all are wlcome.

[scorp28]

And just to make sure there is no confusion. AMS sponsored the awards for the DSMCentral Sport Compact Drag Challenge for 2006. They are not sponsoring DSMCentral in general. We may partner up again sometime in the future, but I wont hold my breath. They lost money and I broke even.

Surely they didn't expect to make money with this being their first year as a co-sponsor and relatively little advertising. That seems a little unrealistic, but then again maybe they would have if all the cars showed up that were rumored to be coming with them from up north. They really need to give it a couple of years to see if it will be a successful investment for them.

As far as the get togethers being mostly around the Peoria area, go ahead and plan one at your place where ever that may be and see how many people say they will attend. I think you may be surprised. I know I for one would think nothing of driving to Bloomington, Chambana, or Springfield to hang out with other members and shoot the bull for a few hours if I didn't already have something else planned.

I wouldn't mind hosting one but my yard is about as big as Kicks driveway


As far as the site how about giving us a few options to choose from for the color and style of the site. I mean as far as a personal selection not as an overall site change.

[SCCA Stang]

Next year, I think a few planned out trips to Charleston's Coles County Dragway could be in order for a few of the southern members here as well as some planned AutoX's. I've never AutoXed in my life and think it would be a valuable experience to those of us that haven't.

as far as autoX is concerned there are two more autoX events planned for the CCSCC this year... oct 21/22 and Nov 18/19 - both of these events are going to be held at Rantoul AFB....

for more info visit CCSCC 2006 schedule

I also recommend going to the clinics that they hold on occasion, they are really informative and you gain countless amounts worth of experience in a very short period of time... matter of fact I attended a clinic about two years ago... and attended my first real autoX in Sept and won first in my class, in a borrowed car.... I plan to attend the Novenber event and hopefully bring the DSM along with

there were 2 DSM's there, but none from DSMCentral
I would like to see more DSM's at the autoX events, so lets try to get something like that going

[scrapin_frame]

The all mighty founder?!?! Come-on Scrapin_Frame...

And just to make sure there is no confusion. AMS sponsored the awards for the DSMCentral Sport Compact Drag Challenge for 2006. They are not sponsoring DSMCentral in general. We may partner up again sometime in the future, but I wont hold my breath. They lost money and I broke even.

More and varied event's is good with varied locations. If we are going to have more event's I'd like to know what it would take to get more folks to show up. It seems like there hasn't been more than 5-8 people at each of the last events we've posted up about.

Keep 'em coming.

well i could have said "that jeffrey dahmer lookin bastard that made me push a ford"

you'll have to forgive me marcus, from now on i wont refer to you as almighty

[turbohcar]

Wow! I'm suprised there are so many that are wnating more drag meets. That's cool!

If there are other types of suggestions though...all are wlcome.

I don't think it's necessarily drag meets right guys? I personally would just prefer more get-togethers in general. Once a month would be about perfect and it wouldn't have to be at any given spot.

Please remember too, this doesn't have to be something like a cookout at Kicks' house or when he rents out the dragstrip. If ANY of the members are going to the dragstrip on the weekend or going to an autocross, post it up and see if other members would like to go with you. I think that kind of informal DSMCentral gathering would make for the best type of meets and get togethers.

If any of the members are going to an event and they want to invite others along, post it up in the Events forum and extend the invitation to all your DSM brothers and sisters. This way it's not Marcus or one of the other moderators creating all the events and it takes a bit of the burden off their shoulders.

[awd4kicks]

Absolutely. I think Scorp and Turbohcar make a good point. Anyone of us can offer up a get together and if you are already planning on going somewhere or doing something with your DSM let us know. There should always be someone looking to get together somewhere.

As far as site improvements I've got so far:
Add a button to buy DSMCentral stickers with
Offer up additional skins for members to personalize their DSMCentral

Sounds doable. what else you got?

JD

[Zmann42087]

Next year, I think a few planned out trips to Charleston's Coles County Dragway could be in order for a few of the southern members here as well as some planned AutoX's.  I've never AutoXed in my life and think it would be a valuable experience to those of us that haven't.

x2

I'm definitely interested in some trips to Coles County Dragway. I know its only 1/8 mile, but Charleston is a convenient location for me... less than an hours drive from Champaign. As far as AutoX goes, the multiple events held out in Rantoul sound enticing...

[scorp28]

I don't know if anybody else uses the feature but every time I click on "go to first urnread post" it always takes me to the very last post even if there are others that have been posted since I was last on. So how about fixing that

[awd4kicks]

OK that's good info. I honestly haven't used that option in a long time if ever so I wasn't aware of that.

99Spyder will have to be the goto guy on this one. He has already begun the sticker purchase addition and it looks like it will be good.