What happened to Rifledriver?

What a mess.........

We've lost a great deal of Fchaters since I've been here.

Ernie, what do you do? Are you a Ferrari mech.? How did you become a consultant? I'm truly interested.......

 

I see a lot of people coming on here and looking to use F-chat as a punching bag to some how make themselves feel better about frustrations/shortcomings in their own life. These people always get weeded out eventually. This forum is about some how adding a little bit of value. If it starts to get the best of you and you start to take things too seriously, then it's time to give it a rest. Remember; "F-chat, it's a marathon!"

I'd say most that do leave just come back under a different screen name anyway(for a while at least) so it's like they've never left.

 

Ernie,
You're not going to like this but I'm saying it:

Brian is a PROFESSIONAL FERRARI MECHANIC. He was kind enough to surf on here daily and post tidbits of help and advice, occasionally fight with those less experienced and educated that insisted that he didn't know what he was talking about, and give enough detail to help those who knew enough to benefit from his help ALL THE WHILE RUNNING A STACKED FERRARI REPAIR SHOP.

Nowhere ever, would anyone in their reasonable mind expect anyone in that position - whether it be Brian, Dave Helms, Tom Bakowsky, etc. - to spend all day scanning manuals, posting detailed how to pictures, writing full on tutorials for guys like the rest of us to know how to change a flywheel on our prized possesions when they have their own shop to run. I'll tell you right now that if I sent my car to Brian for a major and he said that it would 3 weeks and I saw him on here posting all of that crap, I would be like, "WTF, Brian? Stop posting all that crap and finish my car already."

Brian's knowledge of all of this stuff put the majority of us so far ahead of the game with his great posts. A couple of lines, a paragraph here, that was all plenty to make a huge difference. To belittle him for not posting full "how to's" and detailed pictures is way, way out of line in my book. I know, you wanted to know all of that stuff, but the guy is super, super busy, Ernie. The guy gets on here just out of kindness to help. He doesn't get business, he doesn't get paid, he doesn't get anything other than the satisfaction of sharing his knowledge. It is unbelievable to me that someone would offer more than what I can realistically expect him to offer and someone else would tell him that it's so little, so not enough, and berate him for it.

The other thing is that it is virtually impossible to diagnose something properly over the internet or the phone. It's especially hard when, in many cases, the person asking the question doesn't even know what part he's looking at. Brian, Dave, Tom, etc. cannot realistically be expected to spend their entire days trying to help some clown who's looking at an intake manifold filled with oil and asking what is the best way to adjust his TPS to prevent this from happening again. They really should just say: 1) RTFM or 2) Take it to your mechanic. They do more because they offer up some potential solutions but, really, it's all just a guess based on what someone who may or may not have a clue is relaying to them. Garbage in, garbage out.

Ernie, this part is directed at you: I know that you have given a lot of DIY instruction to the 348 crew and it is not without great thanks. However, you cannot expect that a) someone else is in a position to give the exact same and b) that the rest of us on here need all of that detail. That stuff is best left to us amateurs showing each other how we did stuff, not professionals giving us free tutorials, again for reasons I've stated already. These guys have shops to run and cars to fix. They'll share what they can, when they can. It's usually a great benefit to most of us. If it's not enough then you have to look deeper, further, or elsewhere. To berate Brian the way that you did is truly shameful and really disappointing. I've never thought of you as a bad guy on here but I can't let this go without comment. This really sucks.

And as to the bully comment. I've known Brian for 5 years. He is anything but that. He's not my local mechanic but he did do work on my cars, including a major. I'm not saying that you have to worship the ground that he or anyone else walks on or take everything that he says as gospel but you can't say that because he doesn't take kindly to people (who most of the time don't have a clue) arguing with him, that he's a bully. I used to be a pro bike racer. After I retired, I posted on a forum to help other people and 90% of the people appreciated it, 10% wanted to fight with me all day. They viewed me as some sort of threat and just chose to argue with everything. It made helping others not fun so eventually, I just said screw it. It was a lot easier than continuing to argue with people just for the sake of their egos.

Anyways, this is truly a loss.

 

Here these should answer your questions.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133338
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124766
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142329
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150812
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72446

Now if those aren't enough then run a search of the archives on fixing a 348. I would also challenge you to find just ONE post as detailed as any of the links I just posted that Brian has made, just ONE.

Like I said, I not only own my Ferrari I can fix it, and will help others learn to fix theirs.

 

Thats what I love about ya Funk Soul Brutha!

 

Hmmmmmmm funny but this thread seems to say other wise. Brian was in this thread and as usual NOTHING from him, yet another PROFESSIONAL mechanic was able to post a very detailed how-to. You find me just ONE post that Brain has done as detailed as the one ferrarifixer or myself have done, ONE.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130430&page=5

 

On that same note, ferrarifixer was permanently banned around 1 month ago now. He was also dedicated in helping out fellow Fchatters. He would do as much as he could to help you out and he would do it with a smiley face too. He and Brian will be sorely missed. Between them, they know ALOT about Ferraris and were a great assest to this Ferrari Community!!

 

your excellent posts, do not diminish some of our feelings about RD's posts. I still find great value in what he [yes] contributed.

Yes, I would be nice if he spent all his time clipping pics and posting step-by-steps, but that does not diminish the value I received from him.

BTW: If some newbie [put myself in this cat. since I don't have the space or time to repair my own] were to ask for the Nth time the same question, I'll bet you might get tired of answering over and over and pointing to the correct link...or do you have endless patience in that area? Somehow I think this is the comments being made. He is of value, he did contribute, there are unsolicited posts here actually showing he DID something. Can't we just [all get along] give credit and leave out the "he-didn't do it like I did?"

 

Hey Ernie, Maybe RD won't convert now either?

I cannot fathom how anyone feels as though they have the right to put demands on someone offereing valuable advice for free.

This board took a hit when RD left. End of story!

 

i know that place...i might go take a visit.

 

Ernie,
Why don't you post a poll as to who is/was considered more valuable to Fcahtters, you or Brian? I'm not a bettor, but I would predict Brian wins by a landslide. Your last comments to him were totally off base. Frankly, I'm surprised he stayed as long as he did with all the amateur idiots arguing with him constantly. So, I want to personally thank you for getting rid of arguably the mosty valuable consultant here.

Best,
Dave

 

With this sort of post, you are just going to drive away another valuable and VERY helpful Ferrarichat consultant. We dont need any more of that bollocks. As much as some do not want to believe it, Ernie is really helpful here on Fchat. He has helped me out numerous times and I constantly see him helping out fellow Fchatters, as we all try to do. Brian has more experience as he works on most, if not all model Ferraris. But Ernie still makes a difference here on Fchat IMO and it would be another loss to Fchat to see someone like him get upset and leave the Fchat ranks. Sorry to see Brian gone, but as I said before, he is a big boy and if he sees fit to return and continue helping out Ferrari owners with wonderful FREE advice, then that would be fantastic.

 

ferrarifixer is gone too? wtf?? i big help for we boxer owners. maybe phil or brian will go to the other site where real owners roost.

 

Sadly, yes. He was a HUGE help to most on here also, including the Boxer owners. There was an "issue" with an Aussie mod at the time and ferrarifixer was sent packing. Been around 1 month now. Not 100% sure if he is even allowed back, but you never know. He is another good guy that was very generous with his time for Ferrari owners on here. Even if he is re-instated, he may not want to come back. Thats the sad part about all of this.
One day, we may be lucky to see rifledriver and ferrarifixer back in action here on Fchat. One day........

 

I agree with Ernie's statement: "Brian is a very knowledgeable mechanic, but, he is a bully."

Here is an example of unprovoked flaming by Brian:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148780&highlight=troll

The first thing Brian said in that thread was: "He's a troll. He has 3 posts. He comes here every couple of months and makes some comment questioning 360 or F1 reliability and takes off for a while to sit back and see what he stirred up."

Brian included the image below. The poster said nothing to deserve such sudden flaming.

Then he added "Because you have asked the same question 3 times and have been provided good answers buy a multititude of people and have been directed to a large quantity of additional information all to return with the fanciful statement that the car uses an Alfa Romeo trans. Forgive me if at some point I begin to think you are not serious in your quest for knowledge."

Before I saw that thread, I called Brian on the phone to ask for a substitute for a Shell fluid specified in the manual, but he abruptly said "READ THE MANUAL, PUT IN WHAT IT SAYS". But I DID read the manual and it says to use something that is not available here. I was going to use his shop to service my car but he made that impossible now.

Yes, his departure is indeed a loss to the community, but the complaints about him are also valid. I'm sure there are other people with the same sentiments.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

thank you pap. well, that ban is just fuggin stupid!!!

 

OK I'm going to call out B.S. on most of these posts. It's not Ernie's fault Rifledriver is "gone". We all need to be big boys here and quit getting our feelings hurt so doggone easily.

For example, you think it's fun for me to come on this board and take abuse from all you anti-Christians (Darth, Nikolai, etc.) every time I look up? Some of the stuff that's thrown out there is pretty darn bad. And I was really hurt about some of you guys comments about my Otis Spunkmeyer franchise. I'm long and strong Otis. And then hazing me about the fact that Toyotas are NOT trail-rated (which they aren't by the way). But I don't sit around moaning about it. And you guys owe me no apologies. I can take it like a man.

I get really tired of this "Oh you hurt my feelings, I'll just take my toys and go play somewhere else." HEY, GO RIGHT AHEAD THERE HOT SHOT.

GET A GRIP.

I'm going to have to side with Ernie on this one. I'm not going to go begging and pleading some jake leg to get back on this board because he supposedly is a Ferrari mechanic. I'm not impressed. I don't give a crap whether your the second coming of Enzo - you don't come on here talking smack like Rifle did and then expect everyone to fall at your feet. Grow up a little will you already?

Sheeez.

The board's for fun. Seems like a lot of people fail to realize that.

 

Moderators, can you close this thread for like 24 hours? Give everyone a chance to cool down?

James in Denver

 

Yeah, God forbid someone else get their poor little feelings hurt.

GIVE ME A BREAK PLEASE ALREADY.

 

Your response speaks volumes.........

 

what is the average age here?

 

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19025456.500

 

It does seem like Junior High School.



Why can't we all get along?