Welcome to the new Redline Derby Racing
It took a lot longer than planned but as you can see, the new Redline Derby Racing web site is here. Yes, it looks different but this update is more than just a new coat of paint.
Don't be shy, what do you think?
But before I dive into the how's and why's of the site, your feedback is more important than ever. I want to know what you think...what you like, what you hate and what's broken. Please share your feedback however you see fit and report problems as you have them.
The big differences
Obviously the site looks different and hopefully you like it. It might take you a bit to learn where everything is but it will all become second nature soon (I'm in the same boat). You'll also find the site is now more usable on your phones and tablets. The future is mobile, my friends.
The overall goal for the new design was to organize information that was otherwise hard to find or loosely categorized. You'll see over time that topic grouping will improve and make it easier for you to find posts on a certain topic. Quality topics and discussion will rise to the top.
This new web site is still a forum at its core. You can still start a topic, post replies and share all the things you've always shared...it just looks a little different and gives everyone better tools by which to manage their content. You'll see all sorts of things that are different and even missing entirely. Some features were removed to make it easier to focus on reading and writing.
What happened to the...?
You'll quickly find that some features are missing from the new Redline Derby site. Maybe you loved those features. Maybe you hated them. Just because they've been removed doesn't mean their gone...and maybe they're not gone, maybe it's just moved.
As we've done for the past five years, this web site will evolve and grow based on your feedback and support. You have to start somewhere and this is where I started when rebuilding this web site. It will never be "done" and I don't want it to. Please, please share your thoughts and complaints so I know where to go next.
A redesign for the future
Yes, the site looks different but it is now a platform for growth. Over the past five years as Redline Derby grew, it became a collection of islands. Over here was the forum, over there was the Fantasy League. Then over there was a calendar and a few other things. They were all built differently and some even required separate accounts and logins...it was a pain for you and me. And in some cases one island didn't even know the other existed. It's time we all share the same sandbox.
The engine inside this new car should help support whatever comes next for Redline Derby Racing, and hopefully that means everything will be bigger and better than before.
Change is difficult
I know that change is difficult. We all see our favorite web sites change almost daily...I don't like it any more than you do but change is necessary to move the ball forward and this is one big step.
More great things are on the way and I appreciate all your support.
Discussion
Thanks, TE, I appreciate your feedback and I totally understand where you're coming from. This is a lot of change, I know, it is for me too...and I'm still trying figuring out the best way to manage things under this new system. All I can ask is to bare with me during this initial launch period while I work to copy things over and get topics organized.
Topics that were sticky in the old forum are still in the process of getting re-stickied. The mechanisms to mark a post are different for me and I'm still finding the best ways to handle that. My work flow has changed completely. Most likely those posts will be added to a group of similar posts. These groups are listed in the right sidebar on category pages, the little pictures squares.
As far as seeing "all the posts" in a category, at the bottom of every Latest list is a "More topics" link that will page you through all the posts, just like in the old forum. In most cases, the new site still functions like a basic message board but links and things have moved.
There will be a lot of stumbling here at the beginning. It's new and different, but hopefully after the initial confusion and frustration wears off, you'll find the site is just as easy as any other.
- thanks, i'm sure you have our best interests in mind. i certainly appreciate the effort. — Traction-Event
I was able to see the right side bar pictures later in the day yesterday and that helped find some things that Brian has been referencing.
I also began to think of those areas as where the "sticky" threads went to. They do make more sense as grouping area though - just more focused.
Finding the other older threads now is key that they only show up under the latest sort list.
There is also a follow this thread button which may help you locate particular threads you want to reference or keep track of or at least get a notification if an up date is made.
The other mind set change I am having to make is that the web site is run more like an application for a smart phone format now.
Interesting that you say it feels like a smart phone app, Milton...that really wasn't the intent despite the site now being useable on phones and tablets. That's not really a feature, just a bi-product of the redesign. Anyone that's not building a current web site with consideration for mobile devices is just asking for trouble later.
If anything, the new site was designed to feel more like a media web site that has longer articles, features, mini-apps, photos as well as discussion. You guys create a lot of great content about diecast cars and racing, and I didn't feel a basic message board did much of it justice. I can now highlight quality posts with more than just a "sticky" and I think that benefits everyone, new visitors especially.
I think as we add new things to the site (and add old things back), the overall architecture will start to make more sense. Right now it just feels like I fixed something that wasn't broken, and that's frustrating, but over the next couple months as things are tweaked and new features added hopefully the bigger picture will start to shine through.
Also, I will try to find a solution that makes the "More topics" link more obvious, even if I just make it always-present rather than hidden behind a tab.
Brian, here are my comments with the new site. First things first, I don’t know jack about running a web site. Size, space, time requirements, cost….. I just login and play with toy cars. I’ve mentioned it before… I don’t participate in the fantasy league or other aspects of the web site. I’m here for the mail in races and sharing the hobby on the forum. For me that means lots of photos and comments back and forth with other members. Discussions on new cars and potential race cars. In other words I’m the guy who clutters up the threads. I like to see all the old threads and refer to them even if I do not post in them. Now I know they still exist, but I can’t see them. In the old forum format, there were posts that were “stickied” to the top of the page (mail in racer form) (upcoming events) etc. I know where to find those topics because I knew where they once were. But if a new member joined the site finding this critical information seems harder than it should be. I understand the site now tracks hot topics and trends to the top of the list, but is there a way to keep the mail in racers info close at hand or obvious? I’m not complaining, just adding my 2 cents. This is your site and you can and should run it the best/easiest way for you. I’m just glad we have a place to gather and share our hobby Chris EDIT: I did not mash all my comments together, the website did that for me? Even when I tried to edit with extra spacing???