| Author | Message | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 1661 Registered: 12-2000 |
I'm going to post a thread this afternoon called "Ideas to Fund FerrariChat.com" and we'll discus it there. I would really like to avoid charging users. I can only see that happening if I try to do this full time, but right now I have a good job and I'm only trying to meet my costs. The ideas I would like to discus are other ways to fund the site besides the current banner ads and charging users. | ||
| j scott leonard (Jscott)
Junior Member Username: Jscott Post Number: 79 Registered: 1-2002 |
Rob: When will you start letting us participate in your costs? I,for one, will put a check in the mail today. This site is very valuable to all Ferrari owners and being without it for a couple of days let us all know just how valuable it is. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 1660 Registered: 12-2000 |
Everyone may get some "File Lock Errors" today, but don't worry it's just the board locking the files while I organize the Archives folders in General Ferrari Discussion and Technical Q&A. It will be sorted correctly and easy to scan by date. | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 479 Registered: 7-2001 |
Yeah Rob, I have seen how thirsty you can be, that's why I proposed establishing a fund! | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 783 Registered: 9-2001 |
oh yeah, Jeannie drinks for free too. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 1659 Registered: 12-2000 |
Well, you guys need to inform the others how thirsty I can be. TomD saw how much wine I could drink last Thursday and JimE saw how much beer I could drink Wednesday. Don't worry about the drinks, just help me find long term sponsors. | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 782 Registered: 9-2001 |
I think this is already part of F-chat protocal. rob comes to town - he does not pay to party. Make sure you guys follow this protocal | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 477 Registered: 7-2001 |
I propose we establish the "Rob Lay Beer Fund" to thank him for his efforts on this board and for keeping in free. I will volunteer to administer the fund which will be based on your donations. Whenever there is a local Ferrarichat event, I will produce proceeds from the fund to keep Rob supplied with beer, minus of course a small administrative beer fee for myself. | ||
| Dave L (Davel)
Junior Member Username: Davel Post Number: 145 Registered: 7-2001 |
Rob your doing great!! Thanks for all your hard work to make this site a GO  | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 1657 Registered: 12-2000 |
In my case I pay for what I get and really need. I need more than a server and IP. I've had problems in the past with small hosts because they're always changing ownership or going out of business. Right now I'm with one of the largest in the world and they are very responsive and stable. | ||
| John (Jswap)
New member Username: Jswap Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2001 |
Rob, for your dedicated server, you should take a look at www.rackshack.net. They have dedicated servers for $99/month with a $250 setup fee. This includes a 60 gig drive and 400(!) gigs of monthly transfer. I am not affiliated with them except as a satisfied customer; I've done a lot of searching and they are the best value I've found for a dedicated machine. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Intermediate Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 1021 Registered: 6-2001 |
Ferrarichat has sure come a long way. Who remembers the original site format? That was old school, but i liked it and was reluctant about it changing, but this one grew on me. This is my favorite format for a forum. The best part is no stupid signatures to take up like 6 inches. | ||
| Robert Ginsberg (Chefrobear)
New member Username: Chefrobear Post Number: 7 Registered: 3-2002 |
Rob; I am in the south of France for the Summer and the only thing keeping me going while working is the pictures of my 308 GTSI QV and this Web Site when I can get on line. Great Job! Will be back in the States come September. | ||
| bruce wellington (Bws88tr)
Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 296 Registered: 4-2002 |
rob no need to apologize on a free service, you do an excellent job here, as i had to spend more time with my mother in law , while you service was down..she had a list for me and my wife remarked that i had more free time, so please see to it, this site doesnt go down again... bruce | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 1649 Registered: 12-2000 |
One root cause of the problem is how popular the site has become, all the traffic and memory usage is stressing the current shared server. Right now I have the largest (1gb HD and 20 gb month traffic) shared plan you can get. Late June FerrariChat.com is upgrading yet again to a DEDICATED Server! | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Junior Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 97 Registered: 5-2002 |
I found out my wifes favorite color is peach | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Advanced Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 2655 Registered: 2-2001 |
I think you guys have summed it up well. For me at least this is the fastest FC has ever loaded on my comp at home (56K, I know too slow, I'm working on conning the old man into cable). Thanks again Rob. | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Junior Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 234 Registered: 2-2002 |
Yes, but I'm better at writing them than I am at getting them published... | ||
| Tyler (Bahiaau)
Member Username: Bahiaau Post Number: 277 Registered: 12-2001 |
Rob, thank you for all your efforts. | ||
| Joseph Caretti (Pino)
New member Username: Pino Post Number: 37 Registered: 4-2002 |
I think we all understand that things happen (we deal with Italian cars, after all) and are truly appreciative in all that you have done for us in the past, present, and future. Thanks again Rob! | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 1646 Registered: 12-2000 |
Bill, you write books, don't you? | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Junior Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 233 Registered: 2-2002 |
I'm sorry to admit that I strayed while you were away. It started innocently enough. After hours trying to access Ferrari Chat I decided to take a look at the Rennlist. Moments quickly became hours. I was captivated by the sinful pleasure of it all. Frustrated, I jumped into my car and started driving. Soon, I was in the red light district. A Porsche dealership beckoned seductively up ahead. I entered and was approached by a salesperson with a wicked smile and a glint in his eye. I should have run as soon as I realized that he didn't cast a shadow, but I was already hooked. I agreed to a test drive. The next thing I knew I was flying down the road in a 996 TT, reveling in the insane pleasure and sinful extravagance of it's turbocharged six cylinder engine. Then I heard the faint sound of ripping canvas in the distance. Embarrassed by my unfaithfulness, I pulled up on the throttle and glanced over as a wailing 275 GTB/4 slid by me. Instinctively I gave him the thumbs up. He looked at me with disgust and sneered. Ashamed, I abandoned the German whore at the side of the road. Saved from a life of shameless degradation, I vowed never to cheat on Ferrari Chat again. Rob, will you ever forgive me? | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 766 Registered: 9-2001 |
no problem Rob - no more dinners in NY though | ||
| Andrew (Mrrou)
Member Username: Mrrou Post Number: 348 Registered: 3-2002 |
some people are addicted to nicotine..im addicted to ferrarichat.com | ||
| Harlan Mott (Hmott3)
Junior Member Username: Hmott3 Post Number: 126 Registered: 12-2001 |
No need to apologize for the free service you provide us being unavailable for a few days. I think we all lived, the shaking and hallucinations has subsided now that I have read some posts. Now that I have my fix the stomach cramps and cold sweats should stop soon. | ||
| Cmparrf40 (Cmparrf40)
Member Username: Cmparrf40 Post Number: 272 Registered: 3-2002 |
Its OK Rob, my sex life actually improved during this period, hmmmmmmm do I spend too much time on Ferrarichat? | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 1642 Registered: 12-2000 |
I reloaded the General Ferrari Discussion back up this morning, so lost all the new messages posted yesterday, including my "sorry sorry sorry" post. In summary, everything appears to be back 100%, even FerrariAds.com has all it's original ads. Please look around the site and test out messages, even old ones in archives hidden away in dark corners to make sure everything is cool. Once I make a new back up, then everything will be set in stone from that day. The board went down around noon on Friday, May 31st. The board didn't come back up until last night and not 100% until today. My last back up was May 28th, that's why all messages were lost between the 28th and 31st. The problem was caused when server problems at the host caused our database to be corrupted. I didn't find out about it until Saturday and I called the host right away. They were very slow (2 days) getting the database reloaded from their back ups. Once the database was fixed, I was able to load the board back up I do to recover all the messages. I'm talking to the host right now to determine the root cause of the network problems and also how to avoid the database from being corrupted. I will also be buying a lap top in early July so that I can be more responsive. The board has only had an outage 2 times in it's over 18 month history and both times I was on vacation. I promise no more vacations until the lap top! I'm really sorry everyone about the outage and trust me that I will do everything I can to make sure it never happens again in the 100+ year future of FerrariChat.com. Regards, rob |