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A Community of Our Own - at the click of a button
Auto Enthusiast Forums
By Justin Wynn

Have you ever wondered, "How'd they do that?" after drooling over the latest suspension setup or sick front-end conversion? In the past, word of mouth or magazines were the only real source of information for the auto enthusiast. Although these mediums still serve their purpose, a new source of wisdom has emerged: the online forum.
The online forum can be a wonderful tool for any auto enthusiast, whether you're new to the scene or have been an active participant for years. I, myself, have learned much of what I know from these online forums and am a member in quite a few, such as s10forum.com, ohiominitrucks.com, and streetsourcemag.com. But these forums can provide much more than a source of information.
To a custom shop, these online forums can provide a wealth of opportunity. Not only do these forums provide a great way to showcase their work, but it's also a great way to advertise your name as well. Many shops, such as Afterhours Fabrication, have utilized these forums in order to advertise their latest creations and abilities. According to Dave Bosse, the owner of Afterhours Fabrication, "I've actually stopped advertising locally and just get all of my business from the forums now. I'll take walk-ins but I'm backed up for the next four to five months." If that isn't a true testament to the power of the forums, I don't know what is.
Ever get tired of people not knowing what you mean when you discuss your newest suspension or body modification? Well, with the click of a button, you're suddenly among a community of people who actually understand you. But not only can they understand you, but they can help you as well. Many leaders within the automotive world use the forums and are often more than willing to help out a fellow enthusiast. This not only builds safer, more reliable rides, but friendships as well.
Now, being an active forum participant, there are several tips that I have for you guys that are new to the forums.
-Ask questions. No matter how dumb of a question you think it is, someone will have the answer for you. You may receive some flak from the other members, but this is the best way to learn.
-Try to be friendly. Remember that there is a difference between constructive criticism and the downright bashing of someone else's ride.
-Try your best to meet some of the other members. Some of the best times I have had have been at forum meets and it's always nice to put a face to the name.
If nothing else, these online forums are a source of motivation. I don't know about you, but every time that I see progress pictures of someone else's ride being bodydropped or bagged, my mouth begins to water and I want to do nothing more than to wrench on my ride. Not only that but you'll have thousands of other enthusiasts behind you as well. And who said that peer pressure was a bad thing?

*Hey by the way, I'm thenephilm on every forum so feel free to say hi or ask questions.

Gauge Columnist
Justin Wynn