Cruise-in perspective, things we can learn from

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Saturday i attended a vintage bicycle get together hosted by Cincinnati Rat Rides. The turnout absolutely shocked me. There were around 100 people there and almost 100 bikes. It really got me thinking about how things have changed on this forum and the contrast between the two was honestly sad. They have NO forum, NO classifieds, and they do all their communication through Facebook and Craigslist. They post announcements and meets on CL and FB and they're open to the public. They do raffles at every show for door prizes and they raffle off a bike every year. ALL the proceeds go to Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The meet was held at a public park (granted, maybe not the ideal setting for 100 Mustangs), they had a cookout and snacks/drinks for everyone (also free), skid mark competition and the "slowest drag race" which meant the person who passed the finish line last won...which if you think about it, is pretty damn hard on a bicycle since you can't touch the ground or go out of your lane.

In the end, the turnout was amazing, all ages, no hard ass attitudes, just a group of like minded people sharing something they loved. People brought out insane custom bikes, fully restored bikes, 100 year old rusted out rat rod bikes, you name it. A kid even brought one of those Walmart Schwinn chopper bikes which are pretty much junk, but people greeted him and made him feel like he was part of the group. They raised over $1100 bucks for the charity.

Now, i'm not bashing Stangbangerz, but what are WE doing? We're coming to a forum bitching and fighting about the damn classifieds, 98% of our members only come here to sell something and then you never see them again, we fight over the DD, fight over stupid shit like what a street car is. It's all bullshit. We've lost sight of what really matters, and yesterday it became even more evident to me. The fact that these guys can bring in 100 attendants and 100 bikes, feed and entertain everybody, and raise money doing it, without a forum, was very impressive. More impressive than that was the laid back friendly attitude of the whole thing. The whole thing was organized by one guy, who very much reminded me of Vinny.

At the end of the day, a guy who didn't know a soul there walked away with a $530 raffle bike and was made to feel like he was part of the gang. That's something that just doesn't happen here, and it really needs to.

My new cruiser:
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01523.jpg

More pics from the meet:
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01522.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01520.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01519.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01518.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01517.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01516.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01515.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01514.jpg

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01513.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01512.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01510.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01509.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01508.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01505.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01504.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01503.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01502.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01501.jpg

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01500.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01499.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01498.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01497.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01494.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01493.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01492.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01491.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01490.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01489.jpg

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01488.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01487.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01486.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01484.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01483.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01480.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee275/EVIL85SSP/Cincinnati%20Rat%20Riders%20meet/DSC01479.jpg

[1baddlx]

I usually don't say much but in my opinion there is a difference here ,they don't drag race them bikes .....cool pics though

[Jake]

I didn't really see a problem with the cruise in. I met plenty of new, great people. and had plenty of compliments on my car even though it's a POS. lol. no drama or anything. there's a great group of guys on here.

[Jake]

those are some cool bikes though!

[redfirepearlgt]

There have been 3 SBZ events already this year. There have been two CS hosted events and one DP hosted event this year. I have been to five out of six of these events. Never anything short of a great time. There have been numerous informal posted get together impropmtus including one tonight at Fillmores in your back yard.

There have a been a slew of E20 T/T night invites. I have made two in spite of working second shift. I hung out. I didn't run in either one. It was equally fun to cheer on other SBZ members and give them a hand. The one man you speak of would have showed up to an SBZ event or any other even if his ride was down, just to hang out and help others while having a good time doing it.

Each event has carried a great atmosphere and good times were had by all. The key is that you have to attend them to see this.

You only get out of something what you are willing to put into it. Say its no fun or not the same anymore and never attend and it will be just that.

The truth of the matter is...time effects everything. Nothing will stay the way it was. If that were the case my beloved grandparents who have passed away would still be here and going to visit the place they live would still be what it was 30 years ago when I was 17. But it isn't. Time changed that. Yet I still go back and I find the good in going and enjoy reflecting back on the great times I had. Get the point? Have a great week.

[redfirepearlgt]

I didn't really see a problem with the cruise in. I met plenty of new, great people. and had plenty of compliments on my car even though it's a POS. lol. no drama or anything. there's a great group of guys on here.

Thanks Jake.

[SN95N/A]

I've already had a great experiance this young summer with a lot of bangerz,cruise was fun had a blast redpearl did a great job setting that up and it was a great time!met plenty of great people there,seeing two bangerz battling it out in the umtr and tnl makes for some great times also!I have a lot of great times here and a lot of great times hanging out with people from this site!!don't bash this place show up to an event and enjoy the times with your fellow bangerz!

[sean]

I get what your saying. I agree with it too. I see us heading in the right direction with the help of chad and some other people. Hes not bashing hes saying if a bunch of bike riding and building people can get this many people to come out without a forum like we have then theres something we could learn from that. I would love to see a cruise for cancer, or whatever cause (where we go for a ride ) then end at a location where theres food and door prizes and money raised. The problem is the numbers prob wouldnt be that many. Its hard to put together something like this let alone doing it on a date where a lot of people would attend. I would love to do some get togethers where we do some positive things for good causes as a group.

[06V6Andrew]

i understand also...there are too many people who just get on here to sell parts and they don't want to be a part of the rest of the community.

[mustang8998]

Yet, more whining.....

[06V6Andrew]

Yet, more whining.....

and when stuff likes this comes up people put comments up like this...this leads to other things happening and then eventually another "Getting Banned???" thread gets started. Me personally i don't care it's you all's opinion but it won't stay opinion and it will turn into name calling and other stuff making more banned members.

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Yet, more whining.....

How is this adding anything constructive to this?

Yep, i'm whining. I met a bunch of guys who make more out of what they have than we do, have more fun doing it, draw in more people doing it, and raise money for a charity while doing it, without the bickering, without the fighting, without the useless sarcastic jab posts. It's disappointing that we can't do the same, so i'm whining about it.

[chris91]

I think you answered this yourself already. They have no forum for there to be any bickering, fighting, etc. Forums change a lot of peoples attitudes and they become keyboard warriors.

[timdsellers]

When you have a lot of people, you have a lot of different personalities who believe a lot of different things. There will always be immature people and people that just want to sell stuff. That doesnt change what the core is all about.

[Katmandu]

I had no idea Stangbangerz had it's own page until just a minute ago.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stangbangerz/187093831341862



.

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I think you answered this yourself already. They have no forum for there to be any bickering, fighting, etc. Forums change a lot of peoples attitudes and they become keyboard warriors.


When you have a lot of people, you have a lot of different personalities who believe a lot of different things. There will always be immature people and people that just want to sell stuff. That doesnt change what the core is all about.

I think you both made good points, maybe the problem is moderation of this forum? It wouldn't be the first time someone has complained about that would it? And i think for a while it DID change the core, because look at how many of the old timers have stopped coming around because of it. Half the guys who were here when i joined aren't around anymore and there's more reason to that than growing up and moving on.

Anyway, this is all constructive criticism. I can see how people would take offense to this, but if nobody points out the problems then the problems won't ever be dealt with. I don't mind being the bad guy.

[Pitbull1052]

I think you both made good points, maybe the problem is moderation of this forum? It wouldn't be the first time someone has complained about that would it? And i think for a while it DID change the core, because look at how many of the old timers have stopped coming around because of it. Half the guys who were here when i joined aren't around anymore and there's more reason to that than growing up and moving on. Anyway, this is all constructive criticism. I can see how people would take offense to this, but if nobody points out the problems then the problems won't ever be dealt with. I don't mind being the bad guy.





David that's the whole reason I didnt come on here for about 6 months until here recently. Just seemed like it was nothing but an alternate craigslist and bitching and arguing.........

[mustang8998]

How is this adding anything constructive to this?

Yep, i'm whining. I met a bunch of guys who make more out of what they have than we do, have more fun doing it, draw in more people doing it, and raise money for a charity while doing it, without the bickering, without the fighting, without the useless sarcastic jab posts. It's disappointing that we can't do the same, so i'm whining about it.

It wasn't aimed soley at you, David. It really wears on me anymore. I've tried to steer clear of posting stuff, in these sort of threads. My better judgement didn't take over this time.

[Rick93coupe]

IMO you can't compare what those guys are into to what we're in to. Horsepower and racing type hobbies come with ego's and competitiveness. Find a website or group of guys dedicated to model trains and they all get along to. You'll never hear "come get some of my Choo choo muthafuka"!

[06V6Andrew]

IMO you can't compare what those guys are into to what we're in to. Horsepower and racing type hobbies come with ego's and competitiveness. Find a website or group of guys dedicated to model trains and they all get along to. You'll never hear "come get some of my Choo choo muthafuka"!

Damn that sounds pretty good though... i think i am going to use it when my car gets done!!! "Come get some of my CHOO CHOO muthafuka!!!!! Yeah!!!!
:cool1: