Obviously, it's not my forum but I am shocked just how far off topic the Off Topic section is. I thought it was a great idea, a place for cars that didn't fit the H.A.M.B. guidelines but were still within spirit of the H.A.M.B. Post 65 Muscle Cars with period modifications, Cragar wheels, slap bars, lace paint. Street Freaks, flopper bodied funnies, race history etc... I know it's unlimited, but still I am totally shocked to see threads about LS swaps, E.F.I, and Mustang II front ends.
Off topic is…… off topic. Ryan originally stated he doesn’t watch it, nor really do I. Every once in a while I guess. It’s there to enjoy what you want ….. or not.
I think it’s a plus for this site, it’s nice to see what else everyone is working on or has. I doubt that the site will be taken over by OT content but it will increase its usage.
There is off topic and unrelated. The H.A.M.B. is about preserving and replicating the past/history, trying to build period Hot Rod and a period correct Muscle Car are in the same spirit. Doing LS Swaps, E.F.I conversion, Pinto front ends have nothing to do with preserving or replicating history. I am in a few vintage F****Book Groups for vintage racing, and little by little people started posting unrelated automotive photos and topics, and they have killed the groups the people with great old photos and stories don't post or have left because they don't want to wade thought all the B.S. There are threads in the Off Topic section I find interesting, but I don't have the time nor do I want to go search pages of Modern Tech-NO rod stuff to find a thread. I wouldn't join a air cooled VW forum and start posting and asking questions about the Chevy Corvair because they are both air cooled. As I said before It's not my Forum however, I have been a member for ten years, and I also remember how poorly those of us who were ground zero of "Hot Rod Revival" of the mid 1990s and early 2000s by the Tech-NO rodders.
I don't think a comparison can be drawn between how the HAMB is administered and what happens on other forums, especially anything to do with facebook. The 'Off Topic" section here is separated so as to keep traditional things on track, and our moderators do an excellent job of keeping things real.
The key to the whole thing and why it works is that it is in its own sub category. If you don't want to look at it simply stay on the main page. The plus to it is if you are having trouble with your late model car it is a place to ask people you know and trust to help figure it out. Ryan kinda blamed me or gave me the credit (however you want to look at it) for the new off topic area and told me recently that it was the best thing we ever did and wished he had done it ten years ago. Case in point, someone starts a build thread on the main board and there are parts of it that are off topic. rather than deleting or locking it, it simply gets moved to off topic and there are a lot less feathers ruffled for deleting a guys content. If anything the off topic area help keep the main board even more pure. which is a good thing... FYI the only rule there is no electric cars...
Excellent explanation, Mark. I think that the new "off-topic" section may actually bring in some folks who otherwise might never look at the HAMB/ Jalopy Journal and then we have the opportunity to bring them over to the dark side..
I don't know why Robert is complaining. Off-Topic is a more appropriate forum to post his "stock car stuff", rather than posting it on a Traditional Hot Rod and Custom forum.
One thing I like about the off topic section is that cars like my 64 Fairlane will retain the overall look of pre 1966 but has plenty of modern performance parts on the 289 like aluminum heads, intake, ignition and a Caltrac rear suspension, 8.8 axle ***embly along with four wheel disc brakes. It’s nice to have a place to post about improvements or activities that include the car without getting someone’s ******* in a wad.
We are all gearheads, i am cool with off topic cars, I love pre 65 er everything but I live in 2024 so all those things you mentioned exist and many of them have been adopted because they are good. I don't want to see an LS in a 1931 Ford roadster open hood car but I don't think I care if it's under the hood of a 1957 Chevrolet that's a daily driver. Our car hobby is shrinking everyday and sites like this help influence the hobby and hopefully bring in new people... Someone may go into the off-topic section to look at boogey Vans that has never been to this site and then next thing you know they go down the hamb wormhole and they are building a flattie T roadster on 32 rails. Lets not get to in particular on what can be in the off topic section.
Oh Ryan you need to look at your beautiful creation! Lots of good stuff, OK and some not so great stuff also. A lot of stuff that is a year or two over the line but cool none the less. Sometimes I’m reminded of a line from the Sopranos 'I tried to get out but they ****ed me back in” Thank you Dan
It's free, just like Jalopy Journal & the Hamb no one is forced to look at it but I'm sure Ryan kept getting bombarded with off topic threads and it's simpler to move it and satisfy some of our members. HRP
Yeah, honestly... I don't plan on policing it much as I don't plan on using it much. I just don't have much interest in off topic stuff other than 60s, 70s, and other era race cars... At the end of the day, the same truth remains - if you are here for anything other than traditional hot rods or customs, you are likely to leave a bit disappointed.
I completely agree with you & several others! I never really understood the mentality of NOT being able to "Scroll On By" if you see something you don't like. I love my HAMB friendlies & my Non - HAMB friendlies. With the addition of the Off Topic section I can post about them if I wish to so that the friends I have made here can see what else I am working on. God Bless Bill https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/
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