Van Nats 2017 Did they happen?

Did the Van Nationals at Port Fairy, Vic happen?
If they did you wouldn't know it based on this forum!
Nobody went?

I find it hard to believe it was a non event and nobody has anything to say or show.
I really hope this is not a facebook thing...

Regards, Smooth

yes they did, someone took over 600 photos, but we all had to return to work on tuesday,
it will take time but i am looking forward to the post from the nats.
many pics and the hard to find on other sites....... results

Yep couldnt agree more Smooth. Just like "Video killed the radio star", Facebook has cut down these regular forums including this one. Sad but true.

Sure will be cool to see some photos and hear some stories from the event.
I query the lack of interest on the forum. There was no build up to the Nationals and then nothing over the weekend and now the couple of days following.
No doubt people are busy etc. But I hope you see where I'm coming from and of course it shouldn't be up to just one person.

I hope everyone had a good long weekend at the Nationals.

Don't tell me a bloody Escort won again...

Regards, Smooth

All l know is top 3 was skid row jaffa the player and defantley agree with what has happend to this forum its so dead at times nothing interesting to read hardley anyone posting any new material l check the forum every day to see whats new more than half time l dont bother signing in unless something to read F%rking facebook
A differant story on mysandman site

It's sad that the forum is so underutilised. It certainly doesn't look good for the Van scene or the club for one of the largest Van clubs to be so inactive on their official forum. Maybe a publicity officer or promotions person should be elected to spark life into it?

I've seen this sort of thing in the past and it doesn't bide well for the scene or club.

On a separate topic. While I agree "Skidrow" is a neat little small Van it is getting rather boring being told over and over it's the best Van (even if it actually is).
All I can think of is that the same judges or judging system is being used over and over. I don't begrudge the win. Other than it's not a good move for the Vanning movement/scene for the status quo to remain. It is frustrating. disheartening and yawn boring.

It is a sorry thing that any of this should even be a subject of discussion.

That's not to say I don't want to see photos of hear the stories, I'm a Vanner I live for that sh!t!

Regards, Smooth

Hey James,
Couldn't agree more on the disappointing state of the forum of late.
2016, Saw the Vic crew attend the Dunolly Car Show for the weekend. Over a couple of posts we
put up 32 photos of the weekend and didn't even provoke a single response..... So we hear your distress as we don't do waste book either.
However, we all need to rise to the challenge and put more $hit on the forum together.......
P.S. Get the Van out and see you at Tumut for the weekend and catch up for a chat...

Van On Joe!!!

G'day Joe,

Mate, I visit the forum everyday. I never ever seen the Dunolly Car Show thread. I don't know why?
Anyway I searched for it the bingo! I looked through and nope never seen that before. So sorry, I would have posted something had I seen it.

We can't just blame facebook. It has to be a general disinterest in the forum from members and viewers. Is it a reflection on the club members or Vanning in general?
As for Tumut, I heard about only as recent as your post a couple of days ago. I have my parents visiting from Norfolk Island and a brother from Ballina among other things I need to attend to around here. I seriously thought about the cruise down but it's not a good fit for me at the moment.

I watched one a Daz's video's on YouTube and got the vibe of the attendee's at the Nationals.

Anyway I hope you all have a great time.

Regards, Smooth

It is disappointing how quiet the forum has become, Joe and I have discussed it on numerous occasions and I am at a loss as to what the answer is...

So much effort can be put into posts and when you get little to no response, it can be disheartening.

I spend untold hours in creating the newsletters for the club, and the last one I posted in December did not even get one response on here...  Should I continue putting in all that effort?

HQVAN wrote:It is disappointing how quiet the forum has become, Joe and I have discussed it on numerous occasions and I am at a loss as to what the answer is...

So much effort can be put into posts and when you get little to no response, it can be disheartening.

I spend untold hours in creating the newsletters for the club, and the last one I posted in December did not even get one response on here...  Should I continue putting in all that effort?

I don't know the answer either but I do have ideas.
Maybe content could be rewarded by reducing membership fees. You contribute to the forum or club runs/event and for every effort your membership fees reduce.
You bring new paid up/signed members to the club you are rewarded. Club jacket, "T" Shirt, Patch, Sticker, Stubby Holder etc could be contribution rewards.
Forum sponsors could be obtained for monthly prizes and their banner ads could be running on the forum.

I always would read your newsletters Karl, but until they are in .pdf format they are far to small and unreadable on my screen.

Regards, Smooth

this is only my

i would not be looking at facebook as the enemy we should look at as a tool to increase the quality traffic to the forum

facebook has that instant gratification from small quick interactions from push notifications knowing when you get a like or a response to a post

but it is very difficult to find information over a period of time and there's a lot of overlap with posts and a lot of it is uninteresting

the forum takes far more effort  most people only use it on a real computer not a pocket miracle making posting a picture a far more drawn out process not saying it cant be done on a phone i regularly use my phone to post pictures here but it is not just an upload button i personally use a chrome browser it works just the same as my lap top

but the forum is fantastic as a log of events or a build or just a topic these are the strengths that we need to emphasize on facebook about the forum the technical section is a gold mine same as the van history

and a few more build threads wouldn't go a stray i might be able to help with that one at the start of next year if all goes to plan  


this is only my 2 cents

i have been slack too, busy driving the van but i am looking at a/c during winter so i will endeavor to put up my progress ,
first move is 12v electric compressors

serendipity wrote:i have been slack too, busy driving the van  but i am looking at a/c during winter so i will endeavor to put up my progress ,
first move is 12v electric compressors

OOOOoooo what's the compressor for

air con

serendipity wrote:air con

soft

i have been toying with electric a/c for a while but i have given up its all to hard for the reward
i can tolerate the heat its only 6 months of the year

sorry to bring this back up but i was thinking i know i have been warned about that
but could we some how use a facebook log in to sign in to the forum ?

that would help eliminate the first hurdle of using the forum

and is there an easy way to link a thread example my your van thread to facebook ? i be happy to sprook it my self if i knew how
but my strengths lie elsewhere


just a thought

Wasn't aware of the van nationals myself but most forums (mostly vintage truck) I check on are a bit slow with the same complaint about facebook. i don't do facebook so i'm a bit behind.