I'm not one of the original #1-100 but I think I know what Randy means. When I got on here I quickly began making friends and trustworthy contacts. Now when I log on I don't see my "group" as often and I don't feel as comfortable as before, almost like an outsider again. I'm not saying the growth has been a bad thing, I'm just saying maybe the larger mass of newer members has overshadowed the smaller, tighter earlier "groups" that were formed. Let's face it, with only 200 or so members the groups would have been 10-20 people who got tight. With 9000 members those groups may be more like 100-200 people, which makes the original groups look (or feel) small and less important. I'd bet that in the early days if you posted a comment you may only get 10-20 remarks, but you KNEW ever person that left a remark. Now you might get 75-100 remarks but only know a handful of the responders. I know this would offer the opportunity to make new friends, but it also contributes to the loss of the close-knit community feeling, IMHO. The growth of this site has turned me more into a lurker and less of an active member.

[ February 17, 2007, 09:13 AM: Message edited by: n2o ]

It's just you.

since I'm new I will just keep my mouth shut.
just kidding randy, I have meet randy a few times.
he got to see mine, I got to see his.( bikes that is..)
and he is a great, great guy. we have bid againest each other at local police bike auctions, he is a tough competitor all around. but I dont think he is tring to be rude or un-kind. plus the man can cook well....

same as on any other message board. i've been a member over at www.neo-geo.com (est in late '99 and has about 11k members now) since nov 2001 and have roughly 3000 posts. up until about a year ago, i just had to check in at least two to three times a day, but now i don't really care anymore. sure, there's that one funny noob every once in a while, but other than that i feel exactly like you feel about vbmx.com.

Member # 127 here, I down with everything about this site. It's an excellent place to hang-out and it's got something for everyone. That's hard to find now-a-days.

I've been around the scene VMBX seen since day one. I got squeeked out on the original 100 for not being fast enough on the trigger, but I've been a part of this community since day one.

I started racing in '80 and stopped racing seriously about 2001, but I still ride and occasioaly race at my local track Chandler BMX. I started working at ABA in '95 and have even put on one of the original old school bmx museums at the ABA Grands in '96. Several years before Rockford. I started collecting BMX stuff back in '89. Those were the go 'ol days for sure. I didn't know any one else that collected at that time.

Now fast forward to '92 ABA Grands, I meet up with Gork and Scott Barrette who are putting on the first ever old school bmx gathering( I don't think Scott and Gork get enough credit for this). We exchange numbers and I now know two other people that collect old school bmx. Then through Scott Barrette I meet meet Darren Chan, Hutch and Shadow out of OKC, OK.

Anyone remember Retro Rag #1??? A small zine Gork and myself put out in '96 at the ABA Grands old school museum??? A select few have a copy of this zine. We originally made 200 copies with a brown cover and they were all handed out at the '96 Grands. It had every single collector Gork and I knew. There were a total of 16 people were listed and shown on a map of the USA. From the origainal 200 copies we did a reprint of another 200 with a blue cover becuase of phone calls I recieved at the ABA offices of people that had heard about the Retro Rag and wanted one. We ended up doing a third printing with a white cover and we also made a Retro Rag #2. Bob Osborn even sent us a check for $20 to subscribe to the Retro Rag and he told us to keep up the good work. I was shocked to say the laest and I couldn't even believe he had heard about the Retro Rag as he had disappeared from the Rcae scene for yaers only to service again in the last few years.

Also, after the '96 ABA Grands original Retro Rag was put out, some guy named Bill Curtin called me at ABA because he was into collecting and had heard about the retro Rag and wanted a copy. The rest is history and now I work with the guy! LOL!!!!!

[ February 17, 2007, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: Thumperpilot ]

I think I know where Randy is coming from. Being one of the newer guys here, I can't really speak directly for this specific situation; but I can certainly understand it.... At first I was a little taken aback by the post; but, then I realized it happens in many walks of life.

I was reminded of my teenage subdivision in Virginia. It was a new development consisting of just a few streets... and not that many kids. We'll we rode around on our bikes as so-to-speak kings of the neighborhood. We built jumps, knew all the trails in the woods, etc. etc. We even had this one giant area full of dirt piles that was our home-made BMX area. Well, over the years the neighborhood grew... and grew. Eventually our jumping spot became tennis courts and a pool. New groups formed and we became just faces in a big crowd of many, many kids.

Now, I'm not saying the vintagebmx.com vets/you guys are simply faces in a big crowd... as I think us newer members respect the knowledge and opinions of the old schoolers around here (pun-intended). Of course there are times anyone of us might disagree on certain issues... and maybe sometimes people go along to easily; but, for the most part I think the respect is true and worthy.

So, anyway, back to my point, I think it is natural to have those feelings... sort of being part of a small town that grows up around you.

I also want to point out that, as a newer member here, I'm grateful to be a part of it. It's also great to have vet members welcome and make a place for us here.

[ February 17, 2007, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: area211 ]

Its a bit different but thats what happens with popularity. Alot of new people are finding us and thats great. I dont know half of the folks posting but thats ok. We'll meet a good portion of them in Rockford this year.

As for posting more..well, right now the three of us (billhalrick) are working on the Rock and other little projects for you guys and time is short. But, Believe me when I say, we are here. I am here 'bout everyday.

Evolution happens.

Thanks for letting me be a part of it!

Thanks for the input, most are seeing the point.

My number, your number, your credentials, your background, whatever....all that don't mean squat. This community has always been diverse, but it blended.

Maybe I need to reach out more. Maybe I need a hug.

I just want my buddies back.

Hey Area211, you gonna be at the Indiana gathering next weekend?

I am new here, but am a long time member of another automotive forum (16,000+ posts). Newbs get beaten up pretty good over there, but there is always great new members who bring value to that hobby. Just because someone is new to a site doesn't mean the don't belong, can't be one of the guys, or add value to the hobby the site exists to support.

I don't resent the comments in this thread at all. In fact, I think it is pretty cool that this many original members are still here and active. I just ask that you take give some of the new guys a chance. Our passion for this hobby is stong as well and without new people out there sharing racing stories and memories, and keeping these bikes nice, who knows where it will go and for how long.

Chris

Damn it, someone go give Randy a hug or a cookie...

Randy

I for one am greatful guys like you helped keep this site around. Gave the Heads a reason to evolve.

Without guys like you I would not be in here catching up with my old friend and meeting new.

Thanks to this site you now know it was not me. If it was on a cruiser I would have already been behind you.

Drop-in on some of our posts. You will have a good time. We are always looking for new friends. Some great thing may come from it.

This BBQ i am throwing for my old rider friends started as a BBQ to get together with Reilley1 and Johnny Johnson. New friends I made from this site.
Now it is history in the making.

A new friend!
Gary Haselhorst

It's different than the oldschool.com days, but not worse. The ßît¢hîñ' and complaining has increased, especially about petty bike deals; that is probably an indication of growth and popularity.

We all seem to keep coming back, regardless...

i get Randy's feelings. lots of guys that were daily posters in the beginning no longer post at all. we see many of them at rockford (Ray Beard, Ben Jerry, Marc Tardiff come to mind). Always great to see them again, but i miss yapping with them here.

I have never posted much anyway, but I am in here at least once or twice a day.. a lot of guys have come and gone through here though. I do read the older members posts first.. for the most part.. but some of the newer members are posting stuff that's been covered, and covered and covered.

Randy... I know the feeling well! It's not a bad thing at all, but as somebody said it's kind of like you feel like an outsider in your own house, or that what was the majority is now the minority. Tough to put into words really. This thing sure has taken off huh?

I hear ya Randy..

The best thing I like is when I post and a bunch of new guys treat you like your new here! LOL!

Or when a new guys starts complaining about how the site run! That is classic!!

Thanks Gary, truly.

Mike, Jason, Tim, Gino and John....good times

BMXerPete, Kathy, Ed Porter, Blazer, olbuzzardEd, Boone....more good times

Lets go bust Tony out and shake this joint up

Well not that my opinion matters because i'm "new", but I think the comments are kind of elitist. Kind of like people thinking that others aren't as "hardcore" as they are. Or like older people saying that things aren't as good now as they were in the "old days". Things change, adapt or don't, but deal with it. I can understand the comments about the tightness of a smaller group, but I always say the more the merrier.

I wasn't here at the beginning, but we all feel the lulls in the action and topics.

100 members is a long way from the 10,000 now, I am sure it feels a lot different! I'm just glad it is here, thanks to those of you who got the ball rolling.

One thing I've learned here is that with each new member comes a new story, and a new photo album. Eventually that photo album runs thin too, as do the stories. But along comes another, and some of those storys fit with the others and the picture gets bigger with each new piece of the puzzle.

But I have no doubt some of the topics have run pretty dry for those who have been around. The beginners first memories and topics are about Tuf-Wheels in the freezer. Eventually, they want to know the difference between a Gen 1 and a Gen 3 hub. And then they too have to face the new guy who remembers that Tuf-Wheels get straightened in the freezer.

Fortunately, the sport had enough people, manufactures, and parts varieties, to keep it interesting. And there is enough knowledge here to keep it all straight. And ...there are enough photo albums and stories yet to be pieced together, and mysteries to be unraveled to keep it going for a long long time.

Everybody here is pretty moto in my book, even Ted

Yeah, Ted is allright.

What I want to know is what became of Laplander! Or Coach.

Randy, count me as a new member but an old bmx enthusiast. Stingrays all the way baby!

I totally respect those that built this little home and hope we properly show that respect. If not, my sincerest apologies from us newbies.

I live about 4hrs from Rockford and have good intentions of showing up this year.

My friend, we'll sit down over a couple drinks with as many of you old timers that happen to be around. I'll buy the first couple! And you'll quickly realize this place you guys started is a magnet for bringing together old family you never realized you had.

BMX is THAT cool, IMHO.

I'm glad to have found some brothers in arms, cause in my lil burb there are about 3 of us that I could contact on a regular basis. And I know all of their stories and bikes, already.