Year End Maintenance and Chat for Future Plans.

[Mike Bucy]

Over the last few days I have had database problems. Due to the size of this database it has been a real bitch to repair.

Here is what's happening over the next few days:

1) All users who have not logged in or not posted since December 31, 2005 have been deleted.

2) All post that have not been updated or viewed since December 31, 2005 are being deleted this weekend.

Since the forums start back in January of 2002 we have accumulated a large amount of data. I believe keeping the last 3 years 2006, 2007 and 2008 will continue to have valuable information.

It is also a possibility I have a second site strictly for archives. May call it V8BuickArchives.com with a link from the main site. This site would have all data from day one through 2006.

After this weekend I'm sure everyone will see a noticeable difference in the speed of searching, posting and overall performance. Please be patient through this process.

I hope everyone has a great holiday and look forward to serving the community with this forum for years to come.

Also, I'd like to get a little input from the members of V8Buick regarding the following areas:

1) Improvements.
2) Dislikes.
3) Ideas for more enhancements for the site.
4) General Input.

We have been kicking around the idea of having a monthly On-Line newsletter. This would be only accessible to V8Buick members who have donated $10.00 or more each year to the site. Some features of the newsletters would be:
1) Latest development and performance products.
2) Vendor section.
3) Car of the month. (Voted by V8Buick Members) Including a high resolution down-loadable image for an 8 1/2 x 11 Gloss Photo to hang in you garage or shop.
4) Engine and drive line tech tips.
5) Racing event news and results.

We would love to have any knowledgeable writers who may want to do some articles for the newsletter. Maybe each person have there own monthly column. Something to think about for 2009.

I do think we need more pictures and videos. This does not effect the database performance since all files are kept in a seperate file system location. I'd like to see lots of videos. Kind of the U-Tube for Buicks.

Let me know what you think!!!

:Comp:

[ibmoses]

This board seems quick compared to others.

Although the V8Classified Ads & Auctions is front and center, somehow I never seem to notice it and pretty much forget about it for weeks at a time. Maybe somehow a change that would increase the popularity of that section...


Keep up the good work!

Merry Christmas!

Bert

[wkillgs]

Wow Mike, I'd hate to see the early posts disappear, there is some great info there, especially in the tech forums.
PLEASE don't purge the old posts from the Nailhead section!:pray:

I can see purging old posts from for sale/wanted, eBay, etc. Most of the info there becomes obsolete after time.

An archive site would be great as a final resting place for the old posts! ...a nice place to visit and reminisce and remember old times.

This site needs a section with tech pages to address the repeat questions. How often do we see the same questions, over and over...and over.
It would not a forum format, but just articles. Similar to the articles found on buickperformance.com. It would take considerable effort to put it together, so volunteers would be needed to write the articles.

A big thanks for keeping this site going all these years!:TU:

[GSXMEN]

Mike - I'd also vote for some sort of archive section.

An in depth FAQ tech section is certainly a good idea.

A link inside each of the classified sections to the auction section would also be helpful. I don't know that it currently gets the traffic it could.

Your efforts in keeping this site running smoothly are very much appreciated!!:bglasses: It definitely doesn't run itself.

[GS-XNR]

I agree with Walt as per his comments below. I don't want to see the old posts disappear but as long as we have an archive site that would be an acceptable alternative. Personally I haven't found the speed of the site to be a problem but I guess as it grows it will eventually become slower, so kudos for being proactive before the problem escalates.
Harvey



I can see purging old posts from for sale/wanted, eBay, etc. Most of the info there becomes obsolete after time.

An archive site would be great as a final resting place for the old posts! ...a nice place to visit and reminisce and remember old times.

This site needs a section with tech pages to address the repeat questions. How often do we see the same questions, over and over...and over.
It would not a forum format, but just articles. Similar to the articles found on buickperformance.com. It would take considerable effort to put it together, so volunteers would be needed to write the articles.

A big thanks for keeping this site going all these years!:TU:

[Poppaluv]

All great ideas Mike! Had me scared there for a moment about the old posts! Great work BTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) :TU: :beer

[Hector]

I wish that the "V8Garage" section was organized by the model years.I would be a lot easier to find pictures of specific cars that way without going trough the whole thing.Just a tought.

[cray1801]

Mike, I'm sure we'd all like to show you our appreciation for your work, Great Job.

My two suggestions for the site; a spell check feature (since I can't spell) and a way to find local members easily (maybe state by state).

[Poppaluv]

Hoping to get a better search feature. Like exact phrases and such. Might cut down on searching through hundreds of posts and repeated questions.Please?:pray:

[carmantx]

First of all, of all the sites I've used, this is by far the best.

I have used the old post many times while searching for information, so an old post archive would be nice.
I agree on above ideas, searching or sorting in the garage by year and type. I would look in there for paint ideas.

[Rustyoldbuick]

An archive section :TU: we need one to protect all the Past post ,BECAUSE ONCE IT'S GONE......................IT'S GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are a lot of places that the old post can be deleted,that will FREE up a lot of space, you just need to chose which post?

Laters Tim:3gears: