I was just thinking, we are always creating boards for what WE want at the DBA.
What would you USER's like to see a board for???

John

How about a better Forum software?
Something like phpbb3.

I think have addressed that before. We are sticking with what we have.

But, let's look at it this way.
What do you like about phpbb3 that your not getting here?

Why do you think it is better?

I was really asking about topics not physical elements but, we are always ready to listen.
John

I need an off topic section. I want to be able break Chucks chops without getting in trouble.

I need an off topic section. I want to be able break Toms chops without getting in trouble.

"I need an off topic section" 

I hate to admit it, but I was thinking the same thing.

Oh yea, a golf cart section.

Off topic and a Baja Bug section. The Baja's came before the Tubs. I remember the 1st sign (advertisment) for a VW. I had just returned from Korea and was stationed at MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida, and coming out the west gate was a big sign with a Red VW for only $895.00. That was unreal as I had just baught a 1953 Ford Sunliner for $2,300.00. My personal opinion of the VW at the time was, It's the uglist thing I've ever seen, not knowing at the time what a impact it would have on my life.
And like they say, the rest is history..........

1875 Dr. Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951)
1931 September 3rd, Ferdinand Porsche was born. 
1934 Porsche invented the "Torsion Bar", Porsche drew first sketches of the Beetle. 
1935 Adolf Hitler contracts Porsche to develop the Beetle or KdFWagen. 
1936  Berlin Auto Show, Hitler announces that Porsche will design the People's Car. 
1937  First road test on prototypes. 
1938  Thirty prototypes called series 30 were complete. 
1939 Land was forced to be sold in Wolfsburg so that the VW factory and city of KdF Stadt could be built. On May 28, 1938 a ceremony was held to commemorate the laying of the conerstone of the VW factory. This would become the largest auto factory under one roof. 
1940 KdFWagen official appeared at Berlin auto show. Germany goes to war.... 
1942 Kubelwagens were built, German army vehicles.
Schwimmwagens were built, amphibious army vehicle. 
1944 Allied bombing destroyed more that two/thirds of the Wolfsburg factory. 
1945  May, the war was over. Time to restart...British forces take control of Wolfsburg area and rename the city back to Wolfsburg. Porsche was called to be interrogated for connections to Nazis. He was cleared, but then imprisoned in France with son Ferry for 2 years. 
1946  1785 cars were constructed mostly by hand, they were used as army light transport 
1947  Wolfsburg produced some 19,000 cars, an exported to Holland. Two handmade convertibles were constructed. 
1948  Heinz Nordhoff was appointed chief executive to operate Wolfsburg. 20,000th Beetle produced. 3 Hebmuller prototypes were developed. Wilhelm Karmann Sr. modified a Beetle into a convertible.Henry Ford considered buying VW but then turned away...(The Beetle would go on to out sell the Ford Model T.) 
1949  January 17th: The first official Beetle was bought in America by Ben Pon. Max Hoffman became the first importer. Hebmuller started production, but shortly there after the Wulfrath plant was destroyed by fire. 696 would be reassembled by hand with salvage parts until 1953 when Hebmuller closed out. 
1950  Type 2 Transporter vans and Micro Buses went into production. 100,000th Beetle produced. 1000 Convertibles produced. Porsche celebrated his 75th birthday and finally visited the Wolfsburg plant. He broke down and cried at the site of Beetles on the Autobahn. His dream was reality. 
1951  January 10th, Porsche died. 
1952  Westfalia company begins converting VW vans into campers in Widenbruck, Germany. First official gathering of owners and their Beetles. The VW pick-up was put into production. Wilhelm Karmann died at age 82. Canada saw it's first official Beetle. 
1953  VW plant opened in Sao Paolo, Brazil. 500,000th Beetle produced. 
1954  The fist Karmann convertible was built. EMPI was started. There were 2 four seater Ghias built, but the project was reviewed and then dropped. 
1955  April, Volkswagen of America was originally formed. 1 million Beetles produced. Karmann Ghia officially went on sale. 
1956  April 19th, the last Transporter was built in Wolfsburg, production moved to Hannover. 
1957  Karmann Ghia convertible went into production. 2 millionth Beetle produced. Double cab pick-up went into production.
1958  Volkswagen of America became a direct subsidiary of Wolfsburg. 
1959  Transporters received a fully synchronized transmission. 3 millionth Beetle produced.
1960  Volks-Liner,a 17 foot wooden boat powered by a 36hp Beetle motor, was introduced. Only a few were produced. high roof Kombi were introduced. 4 millionth Beetle produced. 
1961  September, The Type 3 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto show. Dec., 5 millionth Beetle produced. 
1962  Squareback and Fastback go into production. Heinz Nordhoff dedicates Volkswagen of America headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Oct.,6 millionth Beetle and 1 millionth Transporter produced. 
1963  Sept.,7 millionth Beetle produced. 
1964  First Meyers Manx/fiberglass buggy.
1964  June, 8 millionth Beetle produced. December, 9th the millionth Beetles produced. Last year Wolfsburg would prduce the American Beetle. All Beetles in America would be produced at the Emden plant. 
1965  September, 10 million Beetles produced! 
1966  First official year that VW of America imported the Type III. April, 11 millionth Beetle produced. December, 12 millionth Beetle produced. 
1967  Last year for split windshield Type 2. 
1968  April, Heinz Nordhoff died. 
1969  The "Thing" is unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show. 
1970  Last year you could buy a convertible Beetle in standard format, only convertible Beetles in Super Beetle format were available. The Super Beetle was produced. 
1971  The "Thing" went into production at the Puebla Mexico VW plant. 
1972  February 12th, Beetle 15,007,034 rolled off the assembly line, breaking the Ford Model T record for total production record. 
1973  The "Thing" was imported to the US. The first car ever imported from Mexico to the US. 
1974  June, Beetle 11,916,519 was the last Beetle produced in Wolfsburg. Beetle production in Wolfsburg ended forever! January, Karmann Ghia production ended. Golf and Scirocco were introduced. 
1975  Last year for production of the "Thing". Total sales were just 25,000. The last year for Super Beetle production. Rabbit production is begun. 
1976  The Vintage Volkswagen Club of America was formed. Polo and Golf G.T.I. unveiled at Frankfurt Auto Show. 
1977 Last year for the standard Beetle in the US. Only Super Beetle convertibles remained. 
1978 January, Last official German built Beetle was produced at the Emden VW plant. 
1980  January 10th, Karmann finished producing the convertible Beetle. The last 4,572 conv. Beetles were sold in the US. Jetta and Rabbit Pickup were introduced. 
1981  20 millionth Beetle was produced in Puebla, Mexico. 
1982  Quantum was introduced to the US. 
1983  Second generation Golf was introduced in Europe.
1985  Rabbits became Golfs in US. Second generation Golf and Jetta introduced in US. 
1987  A 1966 Beetle, owned by Albert Klein, was driven 1 million miles. Fox was introduced in the US. 
1992  Vento was introduced. 
1993  Fox production ended. 
1994  January, Volkswagen unveiled the Concept One at the Detroit International Auto Show. 
1995  Sharan Van was introduced in Europe. 
1998  January,Volkswagen unveil the production model New Beetle at the Detroit International Auto Show 
1998  March 14th, Eastern Canadian VW dealers officially begin sale of the New Beetle.... 
1999 March, After months of waiting for the awesome turbo New Beetle, some VW dealers in the US will have taken delivery. The 1999 model will boast a turbocharged 1800cc 4-cylinder engine with 5 valves per cylinder that pumps out a respectable 150hp at 5,900rpm and 155 ft-lb of torque at 4,200rpm. This is a 35hp increase in horsepower over the standard 2.0 liter gas engine.

Mel, you missed the biggest improvement ever made to VWs.

1964? First Meyers Manx/fiberglass buggy.

Talk about off topic.......
Nice VW history though.

I see John has created an Off-topic board.  I'll put up a Baja Bug board right after Mel gets his buddies in the Baja to start posting to the Baja, Mexico board I created a long time ago :-D

Do we have more than just Yellermanx looking for an outlet to his golf cart desires?  I saw a ton of golf carts and side-by-sides at Silver Lake over the last 2 weeks. 

Paul...

"Do we have more than just Yellermanx looking for an outlet to his golf cart desires? "

Paul I wasn't serious.  Just messing with Tom.

NO GOLF CARTS!!!

Maybe we could dedicate half the site to golf carts?  Or just start "Golf Cart Archives" with a Golf Cart ID system for those who don't know what kind of golf cart they have. Maybe a registry for each type of golf cart.  Local golf cart events?  Oh - we could do a "Golf Cart Build".  I heard Tom does nice golf cart interiors! Paul...

"I heard Tom does nice golf cart interiors!"

Hey, How about a "quote" tab?

A "quote" tab would be a nice feature.  I just took a look at the latest mwforum release and quote isn't there.  I don't think it would be too difficult to create it.  What message board has a good quote capability I could model it after?

I did see a "yt" tab for adding YouTube video to posts in the lastest mwforum. That would be a good reason for me to upgrade! Paul...

check out the samba.

How bout a way to inbed videos and easy clicky type emoticons.  May not be correct computer lingo.

Golf carts rock. 

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=fast+golf+cart&hl=en&emb=0#q=fast%20golf%20cart&hl=en&emb=0

John,Paul
Remember years ago in the first incarnation of the archives we had a page called X File of the month where we showcased one of the unidentified buggies and asked for the publics help. If we could get old timers to chime in on either their company or a worker that worked there this could help solve a few. yes no ??
Maybe a link on the home page for x of the month so it's easy for the barely pc literate (like me)
Bart

What can be done to control the screen width of the forum posts on this site.  Some messages roll off the screen and it's really a PITA to read of view.

Just an idea, thanks.

Boston Bob E.

Bob, that issue is related to the posting of large width images.  One way to control this is to only allow a max width photo to be uploaded. I don't know if that's possible though... I know it is possible to limit the overall size of the file, but not necessarily the physical size as in the width.

Paul? Do you want to weigh in here?

Jay

I think one of the upgrades to the forum software allowed automatic resizing of the image to make it fit nicely in the page.  It is on my list to bring us up to the current forum software.  We also get easy linking to YouTube video.

Paul...

Thanks for the great web site! I especially like this section, and the opportunity to suggest improvements.

I'm on a relatively slow broadband connection. With some of the build threads getting quite long, with lots of photos, (which I really like!), the load times are getting quite lengthy. It would be helpful to have the option of only loading/displaying new posts on initial load, and then if older, already read posts are needed load the entire thread.

Thanks for the opportunity to add my 2 cents.

Rob

I don't know if this is possible to do with this software or not. Paul would know.

Along those lines, there is the option for the author to go back and by clicking on the "attach" button that they clicked on to post the picture, they can simply toggle the embedding, so the picture is now a link that the user would have to click on to open it up. This may be a suitable alternative, but it's labor intensive.

Another suggestion would be to possibly  change the page layout so that it only shows something like 5 posts per page. This would let the page load more quickly, and allow you to choose the last page in the thread, thus minimizing the loading of photos you've already seen. Unfortunately, a simple change like this would affect all posts, even those without pictures, so John and Paul may not want to make a change like that.

I guess there are a few ways to work around loading all the images.

Hopefully Paul will weigh in with information on your idea, Rob. That seems like the best answer if it is possible to do.

Jay

Actually ManxRob and Jay the features you both mentioned are included in the  forum.
Where you see a post thread title that says .....  (3 new)

Click the (3 new) link    it will take you here.

http://www.dunebuggyarchives.com/forum/forum_overview.pl?act=new;tid=1377

For example, on this thread.

You will be taken only to the new posts to that thread and it automatically toggles the Emmbeded images
into links to give a you a compact view of the new posts.

You can click the embedded photo links at that point and open them if you choose.

So, that was easy.

John

Hey that is cool. Glad you weighed in john. It's good for reading, but if you want to reply, apparently you will need to let the page load fully, but this function should work well for those on lower bandwidth connections.

Jay

Wow!, That works great!

By clicking the highlighted 'X new' rather than the highlighted 'topic' I get only the latest unread posts. So I then only have to manualy open the attachments.

Like Jay points out, I have to open the whole topic in order to make a post, but I can live with that.

Thanks!

Rob

Call me a nitpicker... cal me anal-retentive, but might you consider revising any lists that are posted state by state - so that they are listed alphabetically? Example; State Vehicle Registration: AK to WY.

Just a thought...

I can't control that. The forum software posts in order and moves posts based on how many entries I think.
John

DJK II and John,
I've aggregated an alphabetical hyperlinked list and made it a sticky so that it will stay on top. I un-stickied a bunch of individual state stickies. John, I think you were trying to keep the posts in Alphabetical order by making them sticky in the first place. I also added a few missing items that I only noticed when making the index.

I've left the topic on how to use the board sticky as well as the newly created alphabetical index. This way, the discussions will be free to move around as they are replied to, but it won't matter with the index.

Have a look here: http://www.dunebuggyarchives.com/forum/board_show.pl?bid=50;pg=1
Jay

John,

Thanks for the quick reply.

Jay,

Sweeet......

As an aside, why do I see nothing posted for California? Is it so simple (of a process) that none of our memebrs ever have an issue at DMV? Personally, I find our "public servants" at DMV to be of the variety that cannot/ will not think outside of the box, nor try to do very much that is constructive in any way.

SO, Cali members; what gives?

Hmmm. Well I added cali, so that just got made last night. Not sure how it got missed as a state when John started all the posts, but never the less, from what I hear Cali is one of the toughest to register a buggy. I've read elsewhere the difficulties involved for those in Cali.

Jay

Jay,

Thanks. I haven't gotten around to dealing with the DMV issues - yet. But I do know (from prior experience) that one needs to have their ducks in a row, so to speak. Have all documentation in hand, have the - printed copy - regulations/ vehicle code in hand.

Basically, just make sure to have your act together. Then again, I had one of hell of an adventure in July - when I had to register my former Military 4x4 Fire Truck in NYS.

Talk about public servants wanting to go postal...

I wanted to let the guys know that I started to get some help with my buggy build, But now its on the back burner. Ive been hit with sugar diabetes and liver failure all inside of 2 weeks, I think the sugar is starting to get under control, and feb 2 2010 i had a liver trans plant  so now its only time. It wont be long and i will be asking for help and advice on my build. 

   thanks jim s 1837

Hey Jim,
I'm glad you are on the mend! When you are feeling up to it, there will be plenty of people here to answer your questions and help you plan your build. Rest up.

Jay

OK, Bart and I were discussing X-files here in this thread: http://www.dunebuggyarchives.com/forum/topic_show.pl?tid=2657;pid=16464

If you read it through Bart was mentioning the X-file of the month, which he thought was a good thing.

I got to thinking that maybe instead of an X-file of the month, maybe there is a way to have a random loader pick from the X-files and load one of them.... kind of like the random image loader.

If it IS possible for a random X-file to be viewed on page load, if someone was to add their comment to the linked discussion thread, it would refresh that discussion to the top of the forum anyway, so although there may be various images loaded in any given month, I would think this would still function, discussion wise, as it had with the XFOM yet be less site maintenance in the long run.

Thoughts?
Jay

Could a random or weekly X-file buggy show up at the top of the forum page instead of the DBA banner? I think by the time most people have gotten there they know it's the DBA. Personally I think it's a great idea, there seems to be a huge list of x-files and scrolling through them all might not appeal to alot of people who might be "in the know"

brad

Huge x files ? You guys have no clue how many x's are out there, It is way worse than anyone knows. The estimates that you've read in publications are way off. I've been documenting bodies since 1983 and every week I find something different. - especially since I've been on the internet (1997)
Foreign buggies - I haven't even begun to dive into those, I have some info but just the USA variations are mind blowing.

You bet... And I hate to say it... There are more than I have time to post up. Paul and I dug in good last year, but it's been difficult to leverage time this year.

I've STILL got my list of to do's for the DBA and it grows quicker than I can attack it.

Jay

I just wish I could get auto replied to my subscribed posts. The setting wont "set" for me. I posted this in COMPUTER HELP but didnt get a response.

a tab with dune buggy links for parts. a tab for us to post our name and photo of buggy by location so we could find others near us easily

I think a general cleanup of the tabbed pages would be nice. Right now thay are all oversized fonts that look very 90's-ish... which was fine when screen resolutions were averaging 800x600. Monitors have grow up since then and smaller fonts are easier to read.

the avatar limitations need to be reviewed and increased. my 80x80 5083 bytes (under the 6000 80x 80 limit) cannot be uploaded because it thinks it exceeds the constraints.

the option to receive email notifications is frustrating as there is no field designated for emails....

lots of cleanup opportunities.......

All I want is two giant funnels.  One to funnel everything KNOWN into one place, and one to funnel everything UNKNOWN into one place.

I want a Buggy Selecta!

Like Bug Selecta:
http://www.typ-17.de/media/content/bugselecta_2012.htm

But for fiberglass buggies. I know just creating the body shape database would be an incredible amount of work, and maybe it should be just Manx and Imp and a couple other of the most common body designs. With maybe the option to change parts of the body such as just the tail or front fenders with again, just the more common versions.

Some samples of ones that talented folks came up with on their own





A Baja Bug I did in a few minutes tonite from the BugSelecta page. Baja Bugs are under the "Specials" tab.


There was talk about it on the Samba started by LoCashJohn nearly 10 years ago. Our fearless leader and founder on DBA John indicated he was working on it then. What ever happened to that?

HAHA! The red one above is mine. I did it back when I first restored my Manx.

It represents when my car looked like this...

Original Restoration

Now it looks like this...

Current Restoration

All Pics

I just checked and John hasn't posted in exactly 2 years from today. Hope all is well?

Might have to send him an email to see how things are going.