Continued
growth of useful, good quality support and services for V8 enthusiasts
Work on upgrading the V8 Website design is in progress with
the aim of further improving access to information.
Posted: 311210
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Brief V8
Register report for 2011
As we roll into 2012, how are we doing in terms of providing
useful and topical information together with good quality support
and services for MGV8 enthusiasts? This end of year review highlights
the key points:
V8 website - continued flow of NEWS items
A continued flow of NEWS items with topical information has
included a series of items on the biofuel concerns for classic
car owners, news of changes to the MoT test certificate, the
DfT consultation on its MoT exemption proposals, the introduction
of the Continuous Insurance Enforcement measures, prompt reports
on the impacts of the UK Budget and Autumn Statement on motoring
enthusiasts and many more news items for MGV8 members and fellow
classic car enthusiasts. The NEWS webpages were introduced in
October 2009 and 153 NEWS webpages were uploaded in 2011 ( three
a week on average) compared with 211 (over four a week) in 2010.
Particular thanks to Chris Hunt Cooke as he is a major source
of useful information on DVLA, DfT and biofuel news and also
other developments in the classic car world through his close
contacts with the Federation for British Historic Vehicle Clubs
(FBHVC). See the NEWS archive. More
V8 website - the new Information Gateways
The Information Gateways were launched in September 2011 as
a way of improving access to the wealth of information on the
V8 website - so there is an "index" Information Gateway
webpage with key topics listed with a link from each topic to
an information gateway webpage for that topic which has many
links which can take visitors to the information on the website.
So in a couple of clicks you can get at the information you
need. For example "Replacement tyres" - the information
gateway for that topic takes you to articles on the choice of
tyres, an explanation of the tyre sidewall markings, alternative
tyre sizes and information on Winter tyre choices. You can reach
the Information Gateway via the rollover button on the RHS of
the V8 website homepage. More
V8 website - activity level and size of website
There were 484 new webpages created and uploaded in 2011 and
each was listed in our useful Recent Changes log - that's around
9.3 new webpages or material webpage changes a week. That is
slightly down on the previous two years - 573 (2010) and 559
(2009). The V8 website is now quite a large website with 3,864
webpages and many images and other files (for example many PDF
information files or MGV8s for Sale adverts) so has reached
1.43GB on the webhost's server. Recent
Changes log
V8 Bulletin Board - increased activity
The V8BB has carried 444 threads in 2011, up 8% on 411 in 2010,
and the encouraging feature is the quality of the postings.
Fellow members provide thoughtful and detailed information or
clarifications in response to queries posted by either fellow
members or visitors. As we operate an "open to all"
system on the V8BB, new visitors and members are not subjected
to tedious registration and login procedures. We feel that extends
a warm welcome to potential and new MGV8 owners so they can
see what the V8 Register offers in terms of technical support,
advice and information. That approach seems to encourage many
of them to join the V8 Register and MG Car Club. The V8BB is
closely monitored to ensure the quality of the postings is maintained,
so any grumping or flaring and postings from people who fail
to reveal their name opting, instead for a "tag" or
knickname, are removed promptly. V8BB
Difficulties with the V8 website and the V8 Grapevine website
During the second half of the year two problems developed. The
first problem caused all the response forms on the V8 website
to cease working which particularly affected the Online V8 Shop
because the forms are needed there to enable members to provide
their colour and size choices for V8 Regalia and also to claim
lower member only prices on V8 Publications. So the V8 Shop
has had to be closed but temporary arrangements are available
- just contact the V8 Webmaster for details. The second problem
was a fault in the system providing the detailed vehicle and
member search options on the V8 Grapevine which we are trying
to resolve.
New MGV8 registrations in 2011
During the year 178 new registrations were recorded on our "welcoming
new members" webpage compared with 202 (2010), 172 (2009)
and 174 (2008) so that was close to the four year moving average
of 176. Total registrations of MGV8s are now 3,345 -
MGBGTV8s, V8 Roadsters, MGBGTV8 conversions, Costello MGBV8s,
RV8s, ZT260V8s and SVs. More
Two workshop notes series. Fellow members contributed
33 (26 2010) new notes in 2011 - eighteen V8NOTES and fifteen
RV8NOTES. The overall total of these useful service and maintenance
tips is now an astonishing 786 in 21 volumes. That underlines
the focus the V8 Register has had for over 34 years on providing
members with good technical support services.
V8NOTES & RV8NOTES
MGV8s for sale webpages have been less active in 2011
with some 16 cars advertised for sale over the year compared
with 40 in 2010. It remains the leading place to advertise an
MGV8 for sale and a popular online resource for enthusiasts
wanting to get an MGV8. The MGV8 wanted adverts have been popular.
MGBV8s for Sale & RV8s
for Sale |
