2025/05/14 20:24:44
Admin
I will be turning off the server that runs this forum in the next 6 to 12 months. 
I run multiple discussion forums on it and since the introduction of Facebook Groups, usage of the forums has steadily decreased. 
The result of this is that revenue from Google ads no longer come close to covering the monthy cost of running the forum.
I can't continue to fund it. Sorry.
This forum has been running for more than 20 years, which is pretty cool!
It will be sad to see it go.
Let me know if you have any questions.
2025/05/15 13:28:33
deano
hey Admin,
thanks for the warning (and sad news!)
20 years is a good wicket, so thanks for making and looking after a very useful refernce base.
 
The number of times I've searched 'escort XXXX repair' or diagram, and the forum has come back as having the answer . Sometimes its even been my own previous post, which is a bit worrying.
 
Hopefully we have helped to delay the inevitable for awhile.
 
So should we all try to finish our cars off before D day? :)
 
2025/05/15 13:57:11
escortinadriver
Agree. It, and have many forums, been on borrowed time since Facebook ruined traditional forums. Completely understand from a revenue perspective given the lack of traffic. I'm guessing when turned off, that will cut all access, as in wiped and not archived?

The hijacking of forum pictures by photo bucket all those years ago really was the beginning of the end.

Times ticking. I better get cracking and also cut and paste a lot of things in thr mean time.


Shaun.
2025/05/15 14:43:42
martymexico
It's been a great 20yrs of info sharing and long thread build projects to load up and hope they will be on here for many years to come even after the forum becomes dormant.

I don't know if I can speed up getting my project to a near complete state but will be a good final hurrah .

I do wish admin and who else is keeping the forum going all this time a huge thanks for bringing the small Ford community together with knowledge.
It shows how the masses have moved to FB , never on FB myself but might need to shift to the dark side, or start a yt channel , prolly be as long as the Binky series tho !
2025/05/15 17:16:58
Admin
deano
 So should we all try to finish our cars off before D day? :)
 

 

Attached Image(s)

2025/05/15 17:18:11
Admin
escortinadriver
Agree. It, and have many forums, been on borrowed time since Facebook ruined traditional forums. Completely understand from a revenue perspective given the lack of traffic. I'm guessing when turned off, that will cut all access, as in wiped and not archived?

The hijacking of forum pictures by photo bucket all those years ago really was the beginning of the end.

Times ticking. I better get cracking and also cut and paste a lot of things in thr mean time.

Shaun.

I'll keep all the files and the database, though I won't have it running anywhere. 
2025/05/15 17:21:09
Admin
You may be able to view some forum content after it has been turned off here - https://web.archive.org/w...w.classic-ford.org/cfp
2025/05/15 17:46:28
Drewdog
Its a bloody shame but lets face it blind Freddy could have seen it coming, the forum has been slow for a while now.
Seems all of the good small Ford resources will be gone now, fordcortina.com.au, the  Aus Mk1 Cortina  forum (although that could be a toxic place especially around Cortina nationals time) and now this place.
Funny the world seemed a smaller place way back when, the internet and forums really opened it up and , for me, without them I'll be going back to the old days. No complaints I've been doing my own thing for a while now.
 
Many thanks to all of the contributors over the years and admin for the work behind the scenes.
2025/05/15 20:58:00
cosworthfreak
What’s the yearly cost to run everything? Is it something that people could contribute financially to keep going?
 
I only ask because the forum format is so superior to the Facebook groups in my view, especially searchability and I would hate to lose everything like when the old version was turned off.
 
Cheers
Jamie
2025/05/19 08:09:26
Admin
It's around $1300 per year for hosting, domain name renewal, and SSL certificate renewal.
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