Home page updates, plan for minor changes
You may have noticed a minor change to the RLD home page...namely the latest Racing forum and stuff from the calendar have been added. Hopefully this makes that info a little easier to check in on and can highlight some things that are otherwise somewhat buried. And that's it, nothing too fancy but hopefully convenient.
The rest of the story...
Many of you regulars know that I tend to struggle with updates to the website. I have lots of big ideas and lots of plans but they rarely manifest even after many, many years. Such is life and I'm disappointed in myself that it's such a challenge for me, BUT I'm hoping even this little minor update can change my tactics a little bit. I was always looking for the Big Bang releases that are worthy of shouting from the mountain tops...big ideas with lots of moving parts, and well, those get complicated. ...and then I'd get discouraged, or distracted, or my car gets wrecked and I have to buy a new car (actually happened last week!)...in short, life, right?
Anyway, something as minor as this little home page change will hopefully be the start of smaller updates that trickle out as I have time. Some of them may be noticeable and others might just be QOL things that I need to do for myself. But I want to keep up on it and try to get things happening on more of a regular schedule...maybe monthly? Hard to say but a goal is always good.
It's funny because I do this stuff at my job everyday and I don't struggle, but here at home when it's my baby, it's harder for me to be casual about it. I want it to be right and not bite me in the ass later and/or upset the community. The infrastructure around here is pretty fragile after 16 years so I get scared to try things and that's not good.
But I'm also trying to remind myself that *this* is my hobby and my contribution to the greater good here. I don't really race or host anymore so what do I do? I'm supposed to keep things here running well and trying to improve things. I know that no one is really complaining about anything (or if so, you're doing it quietly) but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be more proactive about it.
I know to many old-timers here this sounds like just another semi-annual "Brian says he gives a shit" post and nothing significant comes of it. I know that's my pattern and I'm not proud of it. Hopefully starting with regular, smaller updates will help before I try go big game hunting.
As always, your support and patience is appreciated. I'm very thankful for everyone that contributes and helps keep RLD a pillar of the diecast racing community.
And please, please...don't be shy about feedback regarding this site. Your complaints, your ideas, your "I wish it did..." and "Can it do..." suggestions are always welcomed and considered. Just PM me or send email.
Discussion
A web masters work is never done - nice job on the home page - much better layout. I've had websites dumped in my lap because I said I knew a little HTML. You are doing an ace job - thanks.
- No one has called me "webmaster" in a very long time, lol. Probably still a good title for a solo person managing everything. — redlinederby
I am sure I can speak for everyone...
Thank you so much for all that you do! Our hobby would be so so so much more difficult if it weren't you and your site. We are eternally grateful !
Thank you for running this site! It is really such an awesome community and I am so glad I got into the hobby and can enjoy hotwheels as much (maybe more) as an adult as I did growing up. Now Idk if this would be feedback so much as a question of curiosity but has there ever been any thought of transitioning to using Discord? If this has been asked before I do apologize. I have tried to search the topic before but didn't find anything. Maybe I am biased due to coming from the gaming world and all related communities run through discord. It really is just the modern day forums and would be able to do everything that we have here in a bit more streamlined and searchable format. This is simply just a question of curiosity.
- I believe there is (or are many) Discord servers up for diecast racing and collecting. I'm just not a fan of Discord at all, it doesn't work well as a reference point over time, IMO. Great for Right Now announcements and fleeting convos. I also don't like splitting the RLD experience between places...tracks here but forum over there, etc. Not to mention RLD predates Discord. — redlinederby
We need a way to search the forums. A key work search would be nice.
- There's a search in the footer...it just uses Google. It used to be more prominent but Google Ads discouraged me way back when, but you're right, I should add that to the main forum page. — redlinederby
- Cool, thank you! — JBlotner42
Here is a thought for a possibly useful feature - when I click on my account icon (on the home page) I end up at my page for email and current activity and at the bottom of that page are all the races I'm subscribed to - would be cool if I could have them sorted by the mail-in due date or sorted by the race/event date.
I appreciate this site. The one thing I wish, is that there was an on going report card(review) for race host.