OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Graeme M on September 01, 2016, 08:37:54 pm
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Dear all,
The time has at last come for me to close OzVMX. I am no longer interested in vintage dirtbikes, and the effort of managing the forum, website and Facebook page are more than I wish to continue with.
The Facebook group is utter shite - I am so regretting ever starting that. It will be closed by the end of September.
The Ning site I never look at and have no idea how it is going, but Ning has now told me that they are increasing the fees for it to well over 2 times as much as I currently pay. Given how hard it was to get support to continue OzVMX this year, it seems unlikely I can raise $1500 in future. The new pricing takes effect from 1 October, so I will close that site at that time.
I should like to close the forum at that time as well, however I have renewed the server account for one more year following the donations received a few weeks ago, so the forum will remain active until July 2017.
Thanks for all the kind comments, support and interest over the 12 years OzVMX has been going. It's been fun most of the time and I had some great times when I was an active competitor in the VMX scene.
Please note I will be out of town over the next week, so will be only looking in intermittently.
All the best to you all.
Graeme M
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All I can say is THANK YOU, for all your hard work, over the years.I have enjoyed & learn't how to opperate a computer just so I can see the forum lol it's a pitty I can't spell any better lol. Jimson
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huge thanks to you Graeme as aside from all the bs and politicking, an enormous amount of assistance and knowledge sharing has taken place and I hope you are proud of what the "baby" grew into...all the best
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Thanks heaps for the unseen and uncounted hours you have put into this forum for us all to enjoy Graeme.
I only hope you can pass the torch onto someone else before having to close it.
All the very best
Krikey
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Thanks for the top ride Graeme. Your forum is and has been a part of so many peoples lives over the years and has left many memories. Thanks for that!
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You've made the ozvmx community a smaller place,with many people connected to new and old friends now united.
Thank you for that.
Alison WA
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Thanks greame
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Gosh--golly gosh, been my morning & evening Fix for what seems like years now. Thanks Graeme for running the site-- i tend to forget the work & cost involved as just hit it & 'there it is'. Gonna have ta talk to the wifey now!!. Frequent a 'vintage yamaha friends' site in the US which i love but took me a while to get accepted with my Kiwi Methods lol--the old fix it but don't spend any money trick!!. Seem to do the most incredible resto's up there. anyway this isn't a plug for them so much as a thanks from me to you. Cheers Morley. ps, on 'that' site i'm RT325 which is code for my RT2 with a 64mm DT1 crank, just another cock up that worked quite well. Then went the other way with a 250 [DT1MX cylinder come to think] & fitted a 360 70mm stroke crank. Long story going nowhere.
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A BIG THANX Graeme for all your great work behind the scene, it has been a most valuable and pleasant experience and we are all the better for it, I wish you all the best in the future
cheers pete
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It's been a hell of a ride - much appreciated Graeme!
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huge thanks to you Graeme as aside from all the bs and politicking, an enormous amount of assistance and knowledge sharing has taken place and I hope you are proud of what the "baby" grew into...all the best
Second that- thank you for an invaluable resource for information and entertainment . I hope it will live on with new captain . Glenn
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A huge thankyou to you Graeme, l have received so much valuable information from this forum, it was all l had to go to for VMX information when I switched over from roadracing a few years back. I will still contribute to you financially as l am sure plenty of pennies have come out of your own pocket.
Without this forum to draw on, where do we go now?
Very best regards, John.
PS, if you're not into VMX anymore, what are you into?
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I was one of the originals on this forum and for years loved mixing on here with many of the great people involved in VMX. I made many friends (and sadly, some enemies) on here and well remember some of the great discussions such as the Suzuki footpeg saga, the never ending American Eagle/Sprite/Alron thread and many more. I loved going in to battle over things I felt needed nutting out and sometimes got a little heady and would have a hissy fit and leave. I always came back, that is until the last time when after me venting my spleen on some long forgotten subject I got a PM telling me that nobody cared about pre 75 any more and that I and my fellow pre 75 enthusiasts were old dinosaurs. I was a bit taken aback and went away to think about it for a while. Unlike before when I'd come back after a cooling off period, this time I never came back. Oh, I did come back for the occasional post or two but unfortunately the mojo was gone. Certain elements in the sport had ruined it for me and had almost destroyed a good friend of mine with their constant barrage of criticisms of his rule decisions which made me realise that the sport I had started in Australia in 1988 and dedicated nearly 30 years of my life to had changed for the worse. I felt a stranger. I'm only back here today after being told of the sites imminent closure, to thank Graeme for the huge effort he put into this forum and the other offshoots of it. At one time it was the best VMX forum in the world but now it's a mere shadow of it's great years. Sadly, OZVMX's time has come.
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Thanks Graeme :)
My first steps back into dirt bikes a few years ago was though your forum.
All the best for the future.
kdx Geoff
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Thank You Graeme
This forum has supplied me with many hours of good VMX support. You have made VMX a better place and I thank you for that. Best wishes in what ever your new road takes you.
Cheers Slake
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Thanks Graeme is been a very enjoyable 7 years i have had with you and the Forum
i hope you enjoy the next chapter of your life what ever it is..
The stig
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so....who or what will rise like a phoenix from the oxvmz ashes...
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All the best Graeme for your patients and dedicated work, to keep OZvmx running all these years, its has been a great site, a wealth of
information to all that took part in it, great contact for all, it will be a shame to see it go, but, time to close and move on. All the best to you, Remember Graeme, Rust never sleeps. CZ Rider.
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There is far too much information and resource on here to simply shut it down, Grahame I am grateful for all you have done and invested but it would be criminal to shut this site down. It's literally a world wide point of reference for many, I feel your doing the whole community and your hard work a disservice by closing it. I think a more appropriate post woul be "EOI for new forum owner/manager".
Cheers, Brendan
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Thank you Graeme, for your enormous contribution to the sport, you have provided many hours of pleasure mixed with information and opportunities over the past years, and to think I was member number one way back in 2004 if my memory serves me correctly!
I sincerely hope your new direction in life is satisfying and fruitful.
I, like others here have suggested, hope that this site lives on since this site has been an invaluable source of information, debate and links/introductions to some good friends.
Having recently re-entered motorcycling in the form of Vinduro, I have once again become a regular visitor here and will sorely miss it, but fully understand your need for a step back/out of the sport since I have done it and returned.
Hopefully you will one day rediscover your mojo and participate in the sport again, but until then I hope you can kick back, have a beer for the hell of it and take life as it is meant to be taken at our age.....at a reduced pace!
Best wishes, Tony Brown.
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I do agree Brendan, OzVMX is a premier reference point for many and it will be a sad day when the doors close but close they must. The FB site is a waste of space filled with 80cc stuff and people trying to flog off heaps of crap that they havnt a clue about. It wasnt that long ago when Graeme's interests moved to flat track and we all have a natural progression in life and its a good thing.
This website has changed and perhaps its a reflection of the vintage MX scene we now see but its changed. If someone was to offer Graeme for the website That would be a good but still its not Oz MX as it once was. i think perhaps an archive of the existing info would be a good solution but as a going concern. Hmmm i think its limping.
Thanks Graeme , for everything.
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I agree with all of the above but where is Dave going to sell all his bikes now? Cheers J PS bur seriously Graeme thank you so much for your efforts and to all on here who contributed so much even Ji Gantor.
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Has been great to be a member of this forum, I don't contribute much but read every post. Thank you all.
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I dont know the first thing about how you made this happen and sustained the site to become what it is, but I have found a great deal of knowledge and made some great connections interstate and abroad that would otherwise not have happened. I have enjoyed contributing to fellow enthusiasts, sitting in on the banter, finding a precious part or helping out others with a crucial piece to thier puzzle.
Like many of us, this site is a daily visit for me to see what is happening in the VMX world in Oz and will be sadly missed. So thanks Graeme for your contribution to Aussie VMX, and all the best with your next venture mate.
Cheers Jason
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Thank you Graeme for a largely thankless task.
Note, true words Firko.....
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Thanks Graeme for your huge efforts and ditto the Firko comment.
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Thanks Graeme. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience 8)
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Wow, big shock. Hats off for maintaining your interest (and no doubt patience ) in our daily vmx fix Graeme, if it no longer floats your boat stepping away is a much better solution than rolling along at half pace, many, many thanks and much respect.
(Puts on computer gumby hat) If you do close it down will it still exist like say, a full collection of locked threads ? Or will it disappear entirely ? Because the staggering amount of technical info and guidance on here really shouldn't be lost without trace. As a Husky rider (well, more of a wobbler) I have found the tech assistance invaluable over the years, with sage advice appearing from right round the globe.
The petty bickering I won't miss, but those recalcitrants appear long gone anyway.
I tend to agree that vmx is in a transition at the moment : it is occurring in historic roadracing as well, but they still haven't nutted out that a split is overdue.
Anyway sincere best wishes in your preferred pastime mate....maybe you could keep just ONE bike in the garage for the odd mad gallop when you need to shake the cobwebs out... 8)
Regards GD
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Thanks Graeme, I hope what ever is now taking up your time is giving you lots of pleasure
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Thanks Graeme (http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx172/mike52_photo/Many%20jiff/big-smiley-0021.gif) (http://s753.photobucket.com/user/mike52_photo/media/Many%20jiff/big-smiley-0021.gif.html)
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Thank you Graeme for your years of work and dedication to this site and others.
Sorry to see it go but we all have changes of priorities on our lives, all the best for the future
Cheers
Brent
PS I still reckon you need a Freeride! ::)
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Will be a sad day but got a lot of fun and met heaps of great people through this site.
Thanks Graeme
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Thanks Graeme for being the custodian of this forum for so long.
As many have noted, this forum has been a wealth of information & inspiration for fans of old dirt bikes. You've also been a great example of how a forum should be run.
Best wishes with your other pursuits.
Tex
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Many thanks Graeme, The wealth of knowledge and imformation available on this site is second to none and I used to enjoy reading
the new stories every day over a cuppa tea
Enjoy your new passion in life.
Stewart
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Thank you Graeme for your years of dedication to keeping OZVMX up and running. I don't do facebook or any of that shite so OZVMX has been my go to for my fix of vintage mx and related club info for years. Sadly, most of the related clubs don't provide much info here anymore and many of the stalwarts of VMX don't participate either. No doubt in part to the unrelenting nit picking and arguments that USED to frequent here from time to time. Seems the antagonists have found somewhere else to shovel their wares of negativity and no longer participate here because there is nothing to nit pick at.
The archives have been invaluable for me at times and it would be a shame to see them disappear from the web forever.
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Its all been said by the other forum members, I cant add much. Through the time you have always maintained a dignified, selfless, mature and responsible outlook, even when some tried to turn things personal. But anyway, wow, what a great ride its been, thanks for all of your efforts over the time Graeme, I cant even imagine how much time and resources you have put into this, enjoy a well deserved rest, regards, Bill
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I can only echo the same comments, creating this site has brought many people together from all over, there are club sites we can go to for local info but this site has made me more aware of what is happening in places from W.A. to across the ditch and it has been great to find other like minded people.
Clubs have also benefited from promoting their events to a wider audience.
Yes, just like any club there is always a dickhead to be found but the forum is really only what it is due to the great postings from the many characters that have frequented this site, and just like any club people move on which isn’t really a reflection on the forum/club itself, it’s just a sign of the times.
Thanks for creating this site Graeme and thanks for all your patience, the VMX world is a healthier place thanks to your efforts.
I don’t think the Ning site will be missed that much and if I read right we have 10 more months of talking shit before you pull the plug on this forum?
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like Firko said, and a big thankyou Graeme, good effort mate. cheers Worms
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thanks for concept , the vast amount of comment & knowledge contained within this site , I understand completely where you are coming from , but change is inevitable and a little revolution now and then is a good thing-- a heartfelt thank you for your dedication and hard work over the years --happy trails to whatever you do next ;)
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I only just stumbled across this posting and I am made very sad to hear about the closing of this institution. Graeme you brought together a large amount of people to help create the Australian and NZ VMX community, even though you have not been thanked enough for all your hard work and effort you will now and for ever more be recognised as a major contributor to VMX. Thank you one last time and I hope that all your future endevours are just as successful.
Post Script:
As Firko and a few others have alluded to, a few bad apples wont stop me from enjoying my VMX
Kevin
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Well this is a bit of a shock , even though I have dropped off posting on the site in the last year or so due to the trend to a more modern era of dirt bikes I have enjoyed this site and thank you Graeme for you tolerance of some of us . Like uncle Firko said the movement has passed me by . I'm still stuck in the early 70's .
I will miss Ozvmx
Thank you for your vision Graeme .
Iain #54 .
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Thanks Graeme for the ride ;)
I've been a die hard forum member for the last ten years
Gezz time flys , I found a old family friend on this forum who I haven't heard or seen for 25 odd years
Lost all contact with him a kiwi bro 8) brent j so if it wasn't for you our family wouldn't know where he was ( bloody Darwin ;D ) I have found so much help and info on here it's made life a lot easer ;) all the best in the future .
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Thanks so much for all your kind words. I am away from home on family matters (been quite a year for that) with access via phone only and I hate typing on that!
Just to clarify, I am closing the Facebook group and the Ning site as soon as I get back home. The forum will remain active until July next year when the current server subscription expires. I will have to think about what happens then - perhaps I will keep it online but not active...
And as far as what I am up to rather than VMX, well in dirtbike terms its modern dirt track but my main passion now is trying to change the world. Got Buckleys of achieving that but I believe I have to give it a shot. The things you end up doing eh?
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Goodonya Graeme. Your stewardship should give it a good shake.
Thank you.
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thanks graeme keep in touch
always a spare bike when you come to brisbane/maryborough
AL #145 Julia #F67
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Thank you Graeme - we can only guess at the work involved in managing these services that have benefitted so many over the years. Your efforts and interest in making this a great source of information and a focal point for the VMX community are commended.
We wish you well and hope you get back to enjoying your passion for all things VMX eventually - without the stress!
Cheers
Steve & Jo
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thanks for all the work and time you have put in to keep this page on track
will miss it realy has some great photos as well
jim
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Huge thanks Graeme ;) Really I am lost for words but we all are getting older leaving just memories of our hey day. and the world will keep turning. Cheers
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Big thanks Graeme for providing us with this forum. It has been a wealth of knowledge for more than old bikes. The brains trust on here is wide and varied. Hopefully someone may pick up the torch, like a vmx club perhaps. Even if they sold advertising so it pays its way.
I'm sure a lot of old bike tinkerers will be lost as we won't be able to run in from the shed and search or ask for a solution to whatever problem besieges us at the moment.
Unfortunately everything changes and/or comes to an end, the next generation never carries the torch the way the previous generation want it carried. What was meaningful to them will be irrelevant to the next and so on.
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This is no good at all,its the only place to come that isn't ruled by the young know it alls with phone hardwired to their hand.
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Thank's Graeme for giving us this place & for putting up with the crap that went on from time to time ;) :) :) :) :) :) :), I find the way this forum is set up in bike brands,For sale, Tech etc sections is great if you need to look back on something, FB is just not floating my boat,trying to find something previously read on there is a nightmare,which page was it on again :( :( :( :( :( :( :(.
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Graeme M is there a process or anything we could do to support you in keeping this GIANT knowledge base open in the coming year ?
Thanks
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I have been thinking the same thing, there must be a way of saving this site. In this case I think it would have to be an individual or organisation to take over the whole lot. I believe that Ning sites can be converted across to say Joomla and Siteground only charge about $5.00-$7.00 per month for hosting Joomla sites. It would need to be a very enthusiastic person or group to dedicate the time required. I would and I am sure others would donate some money to keep OZVMX going. Any retirees out there that can afford the time and have endless patience with our lot?
Kevin
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I recently posted on the ozVMX forum and issued an email to all members of the ozvmx.com website that I would be closing all of these sites and the Facebook page. However, I have had several people/groups contact me in regard to possibly taking over from me and I am in discussions about that possibility.
As a result, all three sites will continue for now until discussions have resulted in an outcome one way or the other. At that time I will inform everybody of next steps. I do expect some changes to occur.
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legend... ;)