What happened to Rifledriver?

His knowledge and common sense really helped all of us. This is a serious loss to the community. Thank god for the Search function so his help over the years is not lost. Thank you very much Brian.

 

Very well said. A BIG +1!!

 

Unfortunately I think you're right. His time would be much better spent hosting a tech forum without all the b.s.

Bottom line is you can get good advice here but sometimes you need hip waders to get to it. And, frankly, the personal attacks can get pretty juvenile.

 

There IS such a place...........

It lost it's previous owner, so the Top Dog spot there is open......it's just a bunch of guys sharing info......the Basic Concept.

 

Think he is reading this?

 

I've said it before.....and I'll say it again....the TECH forum should be for pai subscribers only. Might cut down on BS......and up Rob's revenue.

 

I doubt it Dr. Tommy.......once this place 'gets your goat' it's hard to take, IMO..

I have this internal filter, nowadays....back in ancient times I'll admit Peter Goeszinya really pi.....ed me off and I was gonna drive to Fredericksburg, TX looking for him!

He drove an Enzo, would not have been hard to find I'd think.....

Then "POOF" he was gone from here and never returned......

 

The thought of a confrontation between a Common308Owner and an Enzo driver is of course pretty laughable now.......

And AllanLamo, I took all kinds of abuse from him yet we'd exchange PMs and such......

Matteo isn't the only one on the Internet that had a strange persona.....

 

Brian did visit FChat yesterday.

I too hope he returns; he is truly an asset to the community.

 

+100

 

I hope so as well.

Frustration can occur in many ways. Just hope the good ones see the value they provide, wade through the junk and continue on.

 

The problem with just about any free access internet forum is that people who post are truly anonymous, and that knowledge empowers them to be completely without regard for the consequences of what they say or who they say it to.
The poster "Ernie" who it appears was the last person RD responded to, is typical of the ***holes who demand absolute attention to themselves and are completely obnoxious in doing so. Some people can brush off that kind of braggadocio behavior, understanding that those kinds of posters are probably meek little men married to large women, who are beaten by their wives with wooden cooking spoons on a regular basis. But sometimes it just gets to you, especially when it is clear that those aforementioned ***holes will always be there to spout and spew vitriol at will.

I agree regarding payment for membership, except I believe that the entire forum should be payment based. It is remarkable how a mere $15 will weed out 95% of the ne'er do wells and leave this forum to enthusiasts to enjoy and be enlightened by their fellow paid-up members. I understand that certain advertisers might be tempted to leave, but I suspect their market is really limited to the subscribers anyway.
It would be interesting to know whether the total subscription revenue would eclipse the current income from subscribers and advertisers, if Fchat were to become subscription based entirely.
I must confess that I have been tempted many times to leave Fchat, but the encounters with the dreck of this forum are limited enough and well overcome by the constructive posts, but every once in a while a particularly nasty poster, like "Ernie" make me rethink my position.

I miss RD and his clearcut style. He was a great asset that is now lost, similar to another great contributor, Marcel Massini.

Rob - take note! You should understand how your forum has changed. If you wish to be left with the lowest common denominator, continue as you are, but if you are proud and desire quality, make some changes. There are many thousands of people who will gladly pay around a buck a month for the pleasure of convening online with like minded people.

 

This new thread kind of says it all:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153745

also:
those persons in that last thread WERE paid subscribers?

Ya' I remember that post as his last: talked to him the other day too about service and he seemed really nice and just what I thought

We all should have slammed IMO those that got on his case about the obvious things he tried to tell others. I mean how many time can he [I loved this post of his] do this:
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

GOOD idea.

 

I'm with Kds and 410SA...paid subscribers only.

Sorry to see Brian Crall leave, his posts were always worth reading, and he personally assisted me on a couple of occaisions. His sharing of knowledge was always greatly appreciated.

 

Is that thing an alpaca? Why is dude beating on it?

 

Maybe he'll provide his technical advice over on ferrari-talk which is more oriented to the hand on folks.

 

I'll up the ante on that and suggest that tech be limited to Rossa members. That will really weed out a significant number of Aholes (but not all). If you don't own or repair Ferraris (or are serious about getting one and want to check out the sorts of common problems that show up on a particular model) then you have no real reason to be in that section. If you fall into one of the above categories, you can definitely afford a lousy $50 for the information in that section. {No offense to anyone that actually can't afford the fitty but still can't get through a day without perusing the Tech QA}

 

I personally pay the sub. fee for the really good conversation. Things like:

- Should I be hosing a girl with a boyfriend
- Should I be hosing a boy with a girlfriend
- Thinking about an Otis Spunkmeyer franchise

 

That's right is was me, and I'm not scared to say it, which is why I posted the link.

Brian is an very knowledgeable mechanic, but, he is a bully.

Most of the threads I have read where he answered a tech question, were either very vague or he wouldn't give any concrete answer. Then when asked for a specific solution, in detail, he would not give an answer, or he would tell the person to take it to a shop. Then what I really don't like is when he tells people to "stf up", and "you don't know wtf your talking about.",and then does NOTHING to enlighten the person so that maybe they WILL know wtf they're talking about. Myself, and others have had plenty of run-ins with Brian's bad attitude. The first one I had with him was in the $15,000 F1 pump thread a while back. In short is was about the cost of the pump, and I ended up being right. Then there was another one, years back, in regard to setting up cams, and even recently touch the same issue. In particular about setting up cams on a 355. Brian was asked how to do it, and guess what......the usual NOTHING! It seems to me that he likes the fact that he knows more than you, and won't share it because then he won't have anything on you.

He likes to through is weight around, and I for one have had it.

As for me,

I am a consultant because I have given out LOADS of advice on fixing Ferrari's in particular on 348s, FOR FREE. I have given out VERY detailed technical advice that has helped out plenty of 348 owners, again FOR FREE. The biggest one being the removal of the engine for an engine out major, which has saved many owners thousands of dollars. Any little bit of knowledge I have about my car that can help out other Ferrari owners I gladly share. Just another example, the stupid problem with the alternators dying on 348's and 355's. Again I posted a VERY detail how-to, pictures included, with some info from another f-chatter in regard to better parts. Total cost to me was $100, as opposed to the rip off price at the dealer of $1,000 (+/- $100) for just the alternator with the same junk stock parts. Did Brian give any helpful hints in the thread......NO! Run a search on fixing a 348, and you'll see how many times I have helped out people. Sadly I am limited to what Ferrari owners I can help out. If I had exposure to more Ferrari's than just mine I would be able to help out plenty of owners of different models.

Brian on the other hand has NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING, as detailed as I have given. Here is another one. The rear main engine seal on a 355. A PROFESSIONAL mechanic needed help on which way it went in. I, yes ME, gave, again, a VERY DETAILED explanation as to how to do it. Brian did eventually chime in and gave his usual, very short, two cents.

If you are gonna be a consultant, then HELP out the people that ask for help, and DON'T be a bully because you have more experience, and knowledge than most of the people. With out a doubt Brian is a better mechanic than me, but as I said before he is a bully, and I had had enough of it.

Brian if you come back all I ask it that you be nice, and if someone asks for help then give it to them and quit being so secretive, and quit being such a bully. Other wise what's the point in you being a consultant? There are plenty of other consultants that help out owners, and yes some of them are professionals.


Now if you want to go on defending him fine. But as for me, I could careless. Brian hasn't ever helped me solve any of my issues, so it won't faze me. Not only do I own my Ferrari I can fix it, and I will continue to help other owners learn how to fix theirs.

 

LONG AND STRONG ERNIE.

I have never had any dealings with Rifle, but I read his posts and, strangely, came away with the same impression as you mention. I was just too chicken to admit such before your post.

 

We have lost the most knowledgeable contributor to Fchat.

My hats off you you Brian..thanks so much for you help in the past. I'll seek out your bizz address and send you a nice bottle of CC, or something from the great white north. You deserve it for all the FREE knowledge you have passed on to all of us.

Thanks.

Tom.

 

Shame he has left Fchat. He did contribute alot when I 1st joined Fchat, but I also sensed a lack of enthusiasm over the last 6-8 months which is fair enough IMO. Just had enough I think. Life goes on and it is not the end of the world because Brian is not here with us anymore. He is a big boy and if he 'wants' to return to Fchat, then that would be fantastic. If he doesnt 'want' to return to Fchat, then so be it.
Cheers to Brian for all his helpful advice over the years!!

 

teacher will appear when the student is ready: one persons 'bully' [no insult to you] is another's understanding of insight/advice.

I've always seen his advice, and PATIENCE in most cases, as showing his true colors of trying to guide someone....if the person doesn't want to hear the news, then tough....don't get on someone's case, especially when they have a vast amount of knowledge.

if you check out his clutch thread on a simple 'nut' and the 'mechanics' of what holds it in place, and why: O M G!!!!! I've never seen such a thread.
Husker, nothing against you: ALPACA!?!?!?! lol, nooooo, LLAMA [or am I beating a dead-horse to death still?]