The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Firstly, not really a query but a call for some opinions and suggestions.
Would it be possible to somehow encourage more forum users to join the club. It is really useful having the 'Buying advice' thread open to non-members but once a car is purchased then the advice given freely here is invaluable and this is a really well organised forum. Both of the other main clubs require membership before you can post to them and many people give up their free time to make this club almost a really useful place for many of us. Unfortunately my circumstances don't allow me to contribute my time at the moment but I have done something similar in the past and I know how time-consuming it can be.
I realise that some people are stretched for money and indeed buy these cars to get access to cheap motoring but the cost isn't massive and it would perhaps help to improve the facilities on offer.

Secondly, would it be possible to list the stock situation of club parts.

Thirdly, is there any way that the spelling checker can be changed so that it does not try to make us use that bloody stupid American way of spelling.

On the first point often very well respected members of this forum give very good advice for free yet they are not club members.

I like the way this forum is open to both members and non members, it's all about saving cars and encouraging new owners, having it as a club members only forum would act as a barrier to that.

There are of course many benefits of being a member of the club which come as a extra bonus.

To keep an accurate and up to date stock list of the lines the club supplies would be a daily task for someone, sometimes more than once a day. That person would need access to a cellar in the midlands and a loft in the south west, or would involve two people local to each, neither of whom have much spare time as it is and already contribute to the running of part of the club.

An enquiry regarding individual item availability is usually turned round expediently.

Not which clubs you refer to, but CT has a pretty busy board (unlike one of the ones I think you are referring to, no idea about TRR or SOC) and having a freely open board is a great helping to recruit members. No forum access and people won't hang about and will go and find another source.
Good to have separate areas for club members though, and one forum I use allows paid members to see adverts 28 hours before the great unwashed, something that I believe is a handy perk.

On the first point often very well respected members of this forum give very good advice for free yet they are not club members.

I am in no way suggesting that non-members should not have access to the forum. As you point out some people who are not members act as 'consultants' who almost always give out advice rather than ask for it. That's a big plus.

I started with Triumphs some time ago, firstly with Spitfires ( Loads of help from the forums and get the bits almost anywhere), and then a Herald (still a lot of help and a pretty good supply of bits) but now I'm into Dollys it's very different.

Dolomites are perhaps the least supported of the marque especially 1850s (and more especially automatics) which, despite being fairly rare, don't seem to fetch much money. This club is a real gem and I think people are not always aware of the advantages. I didn't know that members could see adverts before others (although I'm sure that it's shown somewhere) and there are some really useful articles in Dolly Mixture.

The club supports the forum and without it I think that there would be even less Dolomites on the road.

Sounded like you were saying just that....restrict forum access to members only.

Well it would save me a lot of time....

Some people aren't members for very good reasons. In my case this is my favourite forum but I have a lot of other Triumphs
besides just dolomites, as well as other non Triumph classics.

Totally agree about the yankee doddle spelling chicken, or should that be rooster...

Jonners

There's a spellchecker?????

Steve

Sounded like you were saying just that....restrict forum access to members only.

Sorry you got that impression, it wasn't my intention.
I was hoping to start a bit of a discussion but that didn't happen either so I'll shut up.

How many cars have you got?

AlanH wrote: Thirdly, is there any way that the spelling checker can be changed so that it does not try to make us use that bloody stupid American way of spelling.

I think this may be a lap-top "thing " .The MacBook "Speel-chucker" seems to be American English. The RISC P.C. doesn't show one at all.

Sure its part of your browser setup somewhere...

My fleet...nah too many...but at least 5 Triumphs of various sorts. Once I was up to over 10 dolomites....

Dont worry about us. We dont usually take offence. Most of what we type is done with a smirking face...

Jonners

Alan,

Sorry I've not responded to your e-mail regarding stock, I'm overwhelmed with work at the moment and like now just pop on for a moment for light relief whilst the coffee cools!

The subjects you raise have been discussed at the AGM on at least two occasions now, and were you able to attend the next one it might be a more productive forum for you to get responses; all the decision makers in one room at the same time can't be beaten in my book.

From what you have said to me off line, it eludes to on line sales to me, which if quantities were included could work, especially as we now have paypal set up...even if publicly it just registered when a line was out of stock...

No idea when the next AGM will be though...Martin?, Andy?, Bruce? Must be a good time to get a date published....

The AGM will be in 2015. The food will be good.