Topics

[Do you think that closing down the MKB website and forum, and replacing it with a Facebook Group is a good idea?]

:jerry:
I'd like to float an idea that I feel is going to split to room a little but is as follows:

Do you think that closing down the MKB website and forum, and replacing it with a Facebook Group is a good idea?

I've been thinking about this today and it has occurred to me that our home for nearly the last 10 years has probably had its day for a number of reasons, but I would like everyone who reads this to think about their responses and post to the Poll I have created to support this question.

What has triggered this was noticing that I posted a comment on Ian's RC Car thread a week or so back and since then only 1 thing has been submitted, Dean's response when he got back from holiday saying my comment was cool.

This is my opinion: :2cent: We haven't had a new member join the forum in years, and its been even longer since one joined who still posts regularly, the MKB as an American Car Club is long dead, we haven't had a club meet since 2010 (The last Pics I have) It has been valiantly survived by the friendships it kindled before and after our little spat with the AACI about fuelling a Pallet Bonfire all night!  How many of us call each other by our forum names in person anymore? None of us as far as I know.
I just feel that it's served its purpose, and very well, but it may be about time to take the poor old thing on 1 last trip to Dignitas and do the right thing.  :lazy:
In addition when was the last time any of us went to the homepage before looking at the forum, I know I haven't done this in years, for all I know it's covered in humorous pictures of Donald Trump's ill-fitting Toupee...

There are a few pros and cons to doing this, ones that I have thought of are below but please feel free to add to this list in your posts below.

Pros:
- We don't have to pay for web-hosting anymore (even if its not expensive its still a pro)
- We all communicate via facebook these days anyway (which didn't really exist when this was created) and it would make life easier.
- The group can be created private and serve the same purpose as our forum does right now, for this group of friends to talk to each other and plan events
- We would have the option of making it a wider group later if we saw fit
- These days the whole site misleads people, we're not the club our website says we are.
- Facebook works well with our smart phones (which also didn't really exist when this was created), the forum really doesn't
- We can still keep the name & logo, to remember where it all started... *sniff*  :P
- The forum can be locked for new content, with a closing message, and allowed to die gracefully when the current hosting period expires.

Cons:
- Loss of the archive forum history (as it would no longer be online)
- A bit more of our lives would be 'owned' by Facebook
- Partial loss of a faded identity (Ryan's opinion)
- Our epic smiley collection will die, only to be fondly remembered over a campfire and a few pints of homebrew :cheers:


Please all have a think, and respond with your comments, feelings and opinions below.
Poll is attached, current results are invisible until you've voted.
Cheers.

I really want this...



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chevy-G20-V8-A-Team-Hotrod-Ratrod-Custom-Van-Camper-/172214692863?hash=item2818cbabff:g:DaQAAOSwciVXQGmX

This has to be one of the Ugliest, most tasteless vehicles I think I've ever seen...  (as bad as THAT 3rd gen Camaro, if not worse!)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1965-Chevy-custom-van-Hot-rod/331725600706?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140328180637%26meid%3D0dce48d54280488f95575b40485fc152%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D8%26rkt%3D10%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D281885121778

I was thinking WTF happened to this!! then I saw the interior pics and threw up a little... :sick:

CPU / Motherboard bundle (Not overclocked)
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/msi-z170a-gaming-pro-skylake-core-i5-6600k-bundle-20-pounds-saving-bu-012-ms.html

Graphics
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/evga-geforce-gtx-960-ssc-4096mb-gddr5-pci-express-graphics-card-04g-p4-3967-kr-gx-290-ea.html

Memory
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/corsair-vengeance-16gb-4x4gb-ddr4-pc4-24000c15-3000mhz-quad-channel-kit-red-cmk16gx4m4b3000c15r-my-431-cs.html

CPU Cooler
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cooler-master-hyper-212-evo-cpu-cooler-hs-035-cm.html

Power Supply (You *May* not need this, recommended for this setup is a good quality 600w supply, but the 750w gives you a bit of headroom for future graphics cards upgrades)
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/corsair-builder-series-cx-750w-v2-80-plus-bronze-power-supply-cp-9020015-uk-ca-099-cs.html

Total Cost: £729

Re-used stuff:
SSD drive for Windows install
Other Storage HDDs (I even have spares if you need more)
Case
Windows 7 + other software (antivirus)
Case Fans etc
Peripherals etc
Monitor

Everything on that list is currently in stock with Overclockers (ETA on the graphics card is 24/11).
All components are from manufacturers I use myself and would recommend.
"Skylake" processor gives you a PC with a state-of-the-art backbone, with this you will be able to build on this for years to come without having to replace the heart of your machine.
Building and configuration are included :up:

And it seems the idea I had turns out to be the most expensive way possible of doing this...(but very cool IMO)

So I was going to start with some nice looking Chevrolet Valve covers (just 1), something like this :

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/pro-141-933/overview/

or this

http://www.yourcovers.com/valve_covers_11029.php
Which I would mount on a board and hang on the wall, using some nice looking perimeter bolts to hold it to a back-board of some kind...
This is the 1st price hit as these are $269 a set and the only thing to do with the other one would be to make another clock!

Then i'd buy a kit for a Nixie Tube clock using the large IN-18 Tubes with the 40mm high numbers, this is £70 approx., and doesn't come with the tubes (only the 2 small separator lights):


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171933370131?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=157

Then comes the final price hit... the tubes!!
These apparently vary in price from £24 each if you're happy to take some Lithuanian guy's word that they work, and they have not been Date checked or matched for number positioning, brightness or shape (because apparently these vary a lot)  they go up to about £50 each from more established places with the above checks done...

eg - http://www.ebay.de/itm/IN-18-Nixie-Rohre-HIGH-DATE-CODE-Rohren-tube-tubes-f-Uhr-clock-NEW-matched-NOS-/221896738497?hash=item33aa1386c1
or http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=26_28&products_id=21

The tubes would then protrude from the top of the valve cover (the intake manifold side if it was mounted on an engine) and tell the time & date in an awesome way, with the PCB and other gubbins hidden inside the cover.
it'd look really cool, but my god approx. £450 cost price is a lot for a clock... but at least it wouldn't tick all the bloomin time!! :mad:
even still I don't think i'll be making one, but the idea is parked here incase I want it in the future, someone does have the cash or likes the idea.

Does anyone know if Rich's place is still in business down in Watford? i've been trying to call them all week with no answer, the line just rings out and the website http://www.americantechnique.co.uk/ has gone??? :pass:

I can see on ebay they are still listing stuff but everything else has gone...? any ideas?

Watch This...

Release Date - 10 Nov 2015

GTA V is 25% off at the moment in the steam sale...still £40 though

(If you plan on playing Online at all (like @ a LAN :;):) I'd recommend the Game + $1.25m Cashcard option as this will set you up with a High-end (10 Car) apartment and have enough cash to buy the Armoured Car at level 12 which will be almost immediately + some left over for guns etc)

Does anyone know if these are made in White / Red as I want to use them for Reversing / Rear Fog Lights on the IROC so I can have both Reversing lights and 2 rear fog lights. :cool:  these fit a standard 1157 dual filament (like a Rear / Brake light fitting)

I've looked but can't find them as an 1157, I can only find these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3157-3457-3057-60SMD-LED-Red-White-Turn-Signal-Stop-Rear-Switchback-Light-Lamp-/371205102967?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item566d8c5d77

Also if these are made in Red / Amber could you keep red rear lights on older cars and still have amber indicators? :chiny:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dual-color-Switchback-LED-Turn-Signal-Parking-Light-Bulbs-1157-134-1016-1034-66-/151150417878?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

current blank Tax disc before September this year?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TAX-DISC-UNUSED-NIL-UN-PERFORATED-31-08-2015-EXCELLENT-BLANK-UNUSED-COLLECTABLE-/161711128104?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item25a6bbfe28

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32780624

:chiny:

With a bit of a living room re-jig on the cards in the near future, and having just had a relatively cheap RC weekend I've decided to upgrade my TV from my "has a niggling injury" Panasonic 37" to this:

http://www.johnlewis.com/lg-55lb650v-led-hd-1080p-3d-smart-tv-55-with-freeview-hd/p1391160
and this
http://www.johnlewis.com/yamaha-ysp-2500-bluetooth-soundbar-with-wireless-subwoofer-black/p1776543

The TV is going to be wall mounted between the windows in my front room.
I decided not to go to a 4K TV just yet, mainly because there are currently NO broadcasts on Freeview HD in 4K (I don't have sky, and I don't think even they do) and you can still not buy True 4K Bluray Discs. Also my Internet connection is still too slow to stream a video on Youtube or Facebook without me getting a serious case of 'bufferface' so I can't stream 4K content either.

The Yamaha soundbar choice was a simple one, albeit more expensive than I would have liked, aside from glowing (professional) reviews online this was the only one sold by JL that has both Ethernet and RCA (2-phono) inputs as well as Bluetooth streaming and the usual optical & HDMI connections.  Because my PC is not in the living room anymore I wanted the choice of playing music there either by plugging in my iPod or Bluetooth from other devices as well as streaming music content from my PC / NAS storage in the future.  This one is also designed to sit on a shelf, so because the TV will be above a Radiator I have to fit a shelf or Rad cabinet to deflect the heat away from the TV, it made perfect sense.  The wireless subwoofer is a common feature across most soundbars but is handy because I can plug it in behind /under the Sofa where it is out of the way.
+ Its Yamaha... they know audio stuff  :rock:

Because its bonus month @ work I decided to buy myself a pressie or 2 :)

A Logitech G502 Proteus Core mouse, loads of buttons and the best 'enthusiast' choice from Logitech at the moment, this was needed because my old one broke after many years of service (I didn't hit it this time)
A new Sennheiser Game One Pc Headset, my old headset snapped about 2 months ago and has been held together with glue & tape ever since which was not good.
And an Overclockers mouse pad the size of the moon!!

Ian, do you have control over the size of displayed avatars?

I'd prefer them to be about 50% bigger than they are now, maybe 75% bigger but what you don't want is the avatars dictating the screen space taken up by a 1-line post too much.

Example: Dean's avatar, I can *only just* read the meme-text  :tongue:

Is this something that is adjustable? also for your own avatar at the top of the forum screen?

Hey guys,  I'm selling this Wardrobe:
(I can't remember if I've said about this before, so apologies if I have)



Looking for £45
Dimensions are (WDH) 930x620x2090

Colour is fairly similar to Ikea's Birch Veneer.
Was bought from MFI in about 2000 is very sturdy and heavy (the sides are 2 bits of 18mm board put together) and will flat-pack for transport.
Is in great condition apart from 1 small rust patch sorry, bit where the laminate has peeled, this is *just* visible in the pic, on the front edge about 18" from the top on the right hand side.

Inside is a full height clothes rail so it will take long dresses, trenchcoats, Cloaks etc without scrunching them all up at the bottom, and has a sturdy shelf 320mm from the top of the wardrobe.  Inside depth is 570mm which is deeper than most wardrobes these days and is more than capable of hanging a full-on 80's style shoulder-padded jacket without squishing it...


Epic!!  :cool:
let me know if you're interested, I can dismantle the wardrobe if required (no extra cost obviously) or you can learn to put it together by doing it yourself  :tongue:
Buyer will need to collect, probably in a fairly large vehicle.

[6 years]

I was just digging though my car pics folder to find an old pic of Jamie's Camaro and did a bit of sorting out while I was there and realised a very sad and surprising thing...
I have folders setup for show weekends and meets starting from the All Clubs show in 2005, the first one I attended, but they stop with Yanks weekend in 2009!!

I have no weekend photo folders showing us lot camped out, chilling with a cold beer and cool cars in what will be 6 years by the time this summer's season starts...  :sad: that's a real shame.

A lot has happened since 2009, but this is not an appeal for photographs, well not old ones, it's an appeal for new ones.

It would be great for us lot to all get together, friends, cars, wives, girlfriends, kids, dogs, the lot! (in no specific order!! :secure:) at some shows this summer, camped away for the weekend as a big group, so that we can all make a new folder of photos for 2015 shows and have some memories to put in it.
Most of us still have the cars to provide the backdrop, the BBQ is still about but the most important thing is that all our friends are there (and that someone remembered a bottle opener :tongue:)

What do you say Ladies & Gents? there's plenty of notice for a couple of weekends away this summer, most of us should be able to find the cash for supplies needed for a weekend away camping, and it'll be a great laugh.
It doesn't have to be Billing "like the old days" (although its convenient, and there's stuff for kids to do) but one of the bigger show weekends would be better I reckon.

Lets have some suggestions eh?

2009

Hey guys,
At some point, hopefully before summer gets here *I think* I will be ordering this lot from Summit, as you can see it'll be a BIG box because the headers include a Y-pipe.  The shipping is nearly $200 and then the usual taxes on top  :rolleyes:



The timing of this is dependent on Santander's share price, so won't be happening right away, but if anyone wants to get anything Big from Summit and is interested in sharing a box to hopefully reduce the shipping cost a bit let me know.
(I haven't checked the UK suppliers yet but they're normally pricey)

[Lilliput UM1010 10.1" Touchscreen USB Monitor]

Lilliput UM1010 10.1"  Touchscreen USB Monitor

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lilliput-UM1010-10-1-034-Touchscreen-USB-Monitor-/321645326097?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lilliput-UM1010-10-1-034-Touchscreen-USB-Monitor-/321645326097?

Item is in Like-new condition, full working order and includes its stylus pointer which frequently gets lost by others.  Ideal as a second monitor for VOIP programs while gaming, or would also work with some In-car entertainment systems (note 2 USB ports required)
•10.1" TFT LCD WVGA/VGA Colour Display
•Native Resolution: 1024X576
•Widescreen 16:9 Aspect Ratio
•Single cable connection to PC (requires 2 USB ports)
•Also comes with a Mains power adapter but I have never used it, its used for making the screen brighter but it works fine without it.

Payment via Paypal preferred, UK Buyers only, local collection also ok.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oculus-Rif.../321645302584?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oculus-Rif.../321645302584?

This is the HD second generation of these headsets and includes head tracking technology.
I'm Selling mine on flebay if anyone is interested, and if anyone needs their interest peaked... People have been hooking these things up to their drones to fly in 3d...

https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&...t+drone+flying\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&...t+drone+flying

[Hyundai Coupe SE 2.0 (2003 '53 plate)]

Hyundai Coupe SE 2.0 (2003 '53 plate)



2+2 Coupe, also back seats fold down for increased luggage space.

Black with black leather seats

41,500 miles

2 owners from new, I have owned it from 6 months old.

Well Maintained with MOT and last service September 2014 (New front brake pads)

2 new tyres this year.

No known problems, selling due to moving onto my next bucket list car

All original fittings, Full Service History using Genuine Hyundai parts.

Extras

Electric Aerial

Trafficmaster SmartNav Navigation System (Voice directions, live re routing for hold ups) PAYG 85p per route – no system upgrades necessary

Bluetooth hands free phone kit.

Test drive/ view now - Available end of December


£2250

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOXQo7nURs0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOXQo7nURs0

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-30286466\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-30286466

This is a worrying Trend, clearly this is aimed at Midlands equivalent of the the kind of folk with modified small hatchbacks who meet near the Network Rail Offices in Milton Keynes regularly, but this seems to be a sweeping statement including all types of car enthusiast meetings that use public roads?

(I can;t watch the video at work)

Has anyone seen MKC gritting yet this year?

I'm getting a new battery delivered tomorrow and want to take the car out.

I plucked this link from Facebook, thought I'd share it here because its interesting.

http://news.distractify.com/jake-heppner/52-colorized-historical-photos-that-give-us-a-new-look-at-the-past/?v=1&img=3c7d17\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://news.distractify.com/jake-heppner/52-colorized-historical-photos-that-give-us-a-new-look-at-the-past/?v=1&img=3c7d17