GranSports.com Makeover

[Chris]

The winter months are starting to set in so it's time to work indoors some more and dress up the GranSports web page.

This year I want to make the page more 65 GS specific while still leaving areas open to showcase the Buick GS years entirely.

This year I'll also focus more on building on the "technical document" area and also put more of the sales lit and advertising stuff on-line.

I promise to also make a new screen saver this year, so if you'd like your car to appear in it, please send me a message with the pictures you'd like me to use and I'll try to incorporate them into the screen saver.

Looking for any suggestions, so please send them on.

Thanks,

Chris

[65specialconvert]

hi guys!!! yeah i know,my 65 aint a G.S. :)but it does have a 67 340-4 8)since 65 is my favorite year ill be trolling around here,anoying you as much as i do on v-8 ;Dcant wait to see what happens on this cool site...jamie

[Mark Ascher]

Chris,

How's the update coming?

Mark

[Loren At 65GS]

Hi Mark,
You get around.

Loren

[Mark Ascher]

Loren!

If it has something to do with the 65 GS, I'm out there looking.
Besides, some of the best people I've ever met and me have these in common!

I haven't been to the GSCA site in years though. And I'm not a member of BCA, and don't crawl around their site too much - not enough 65 specific topics.

Mark

[Mark Ascher]

Chris,

Looks fantastic!

Mark

[Chris]

Thanks Mark.. tons more polishing needed, but it's finally coming together.

Any feedback you might have would be appreciated   ;D

Chris

[WkillGS]

It's looking good Chris!!
I'd like to suggest a section devoted to reproduction parts....listing where correct parts can be purchased, as well as a critique of those parts.

I have yet to sort thru my collection of Buick stuff for items I can contribute here....I presently need to devote my free time to getting my Kubota (aka my snowplow!) back together.

I'd also like to see some pics of Marks 4 speed project here! How about it Mark?

[Mark Ascher]

Chris,
Here's a couple of things:

How about a separate forum for projects? Or, a "Restoration" forum?
Walt's idea about parts is an excellent one.

An FAQ section similar to your intro that describes the GS specific parts with photos.

In addition to factory Buick literature and information, I have a pretty large file of other articles, etc. that some might find interesting or useful.

"Forum" on the home page is misspelled!!!

Walt, I'll post photos of my GS if we can see more of your cars!

Mark

[Chris]

You've got it guys....  thanks for the feedbacks.

I'll try to get the changes and stuff added this weekend.

Thanks again guys and please share anything 65 related that you can.. this site is for us 65 guys!   ;D

Chris

[Mark Ascher]

Chris,

It's been awhile since the last post on this thread. Do you have any plans for any updates?
With a particular persons permission, I'm going to post a few pics of some parts of a 65 GS
recently unearthed that was almost an untouched original. Not a savable car, but great for documentation.

Mark

[Chris]

Hey Mark, I hope all is well you and your family.

By all means "Mr. Admin" please feel free to build out any sections or expand anything that is existing.  If anyone has any ideas they'd like to pass onto Mark, please share and I'll look to you all to keep things moving till I can focus on the site again in a few months.

The Forum area is really open for expansion and you what works best for the users.  Things I'm looking to add in the coming months are:

Site Calendar - FYI for shows / events and Live chat windows.

Live Chat - Yep.. it's been there for a while, I've got some new code that should dress it up and make it manageable.

Expand out the tech doc. area - GS Supplement manual etc

Add a magazine reference area - Mark if you have the cover scans with dates and pages of the 65 GS articles, I'll like to build an entire  page dedicated to sending folks in the right direction to locate this material.  For copyright reasons I want to stay away from putting the whole magazine or article on-line and just feature the cover with a paragraph about the article.

65 GS Race history - Section focused on those 65's that took the tracks in the 60's 70's & so on...

More information on colors and other options like we had before.  Section for decoding your plate and a portion of the registry information that guards the VIN numbers and privacy of the members while sharing some general information about the cars still around (amount, colors, options etc).

Now for something I've been thinking about for a while... I'd like to start the prework to organize an event to try and bring at least fifty 65 GS's together in the year 2015 to celebrate the fifty year anniversary of our cars. 

I've debated if we try to do a cross country event and have people join us along the way "Pro-tour Style" and / or if we open this up to all makes and models of 65's and organize with other clubs. 

The other thought is that we organize with other clubs and turn it into a fund raising event that benefits our hobby in some way.  I'd be very interested in hearing anyones thoughts about this.

I know this might sound ambitious.. but everything starts with a "I wonder if"!    8)

Thanks,

Chris

[Mark Ascher]

Chris,

We are doing ok, thanks for thinking of us. Just going through a speed bump in the course of life.

If there is anything I can use to educate myself in building out or expanding, let me know.
I'm new to the admin thing.

I will have to go back to my magazine reference list and pull everything I'll need to scan.
Not a big deal - just time consuming. I can also help with a little info and images on race histories
as well. I know someone else who could provide great images of some 65 drag cars.

I like the idea of expanding 65 GS data as you suggest. The 65 442 site has some great information
about the uniqueness of that divisions car that we should exploit for the GS.
I also like how unique parts are shown.

I think the 50th Anniversary idea is great. I might have my car done by then, so 2015 would
work out swell. I'd be willing to help plan and/or organize it with you.

Mark

[Loren At 65GS]

I too like the 50 th anniversary idea . As an old guy , hope I am still around.LOL
The site has come along way since my first look.
Kudos , to you Chris.

Loren

[Chris]

Thanks Loren.. we've got more work to do and your comments help motivate us to keep at it and move it along.   ;D

What your ideas on the anniversary tour?  Should we try for 50 Buicks or open it up to any car or truck built in 65?

I think a "cross country" relay would be more successful if we opened it up to any 65's and rally the Buick guys to make a showing and participate.  Each regional club would be responisible for managing the tour across their state and of course anyone who wanted to make the trip across multiple states would simply join those groups during that segment of the journey.

I want the 65 Buick guys to stand out and be noticed either way... it's about time we gain some overdue respect.   :D