[Announcement] Please all read.
27-03-2008, 08:34 PM
#1
[Announcement] Please all read.
Dear PassionFord members,
As most of you will know, I have been at the helm of Passionford since its conception way back in 2003. I started this site along with Julien at a time of frustration in the RS online Scene when another well known Forum was suffering extreme technical difficulties with traffic... Most of the members moved across and joined me in what was back then, a small forum where we enjoyed a laugh and quite a lot of technical discussion. Well, had I known how much that small forum would grow and what a trial running the forum could become, I am not at all sure that I would have bothered. That said, it has become a fantastic community and I have met some fabulous new friends and customers through it, so the positives certainly outweigh the negatives.
Passionford is growing extremely fast now and in order for it to continue doing so it needs to be maintained at a very high level, and that means a great deal of investment in fast servers using companies capable of handling large bandwidth usage. My own business is also growing fast and thanks to my beautiful new wife Nicole, so is my family
so this leaves me with very little spare time to devote to worrying about Passionford as much as I used to, so it is with a strange mixture of sadness, yet optimistic excitement that I am pleased to announce to you all that PassionFord has been acquired by Internet Brands, Inc., which operates leading automotive web sites such as CarsDirect.com, GreenHybrid.com, NewCarTestDrive and Wikicars.com not to mention well known and popular web forums such as Scoobynet, AudiWorld, Corvette forums and the RX7 club. Some of those forums enjoy over 10 thousand members online at once, so rest assured that IB are extremely well versed in running a busy web forum.
The plan is to maintain PassionFord as a stand-alone site, while leveraging Internet Brands’ technology and content resources where they can enhance the site. Having already transferred us over from France to newer faster servers in the UK, our upgrade to VBulletin complete and all membership schemes back in place there is nothing left to do other than allow the forum to grow and become great again. The webteam at IB have proven their capabilities and intentions beyond a shadow of a doubt this last month or two so I hope you will welcome them here with open arms. They really do have the forums best interests at heart and even in the short time they have owned it I am sure that you can all feel the benefits.
I am also pleased to announce that I will also be staying on as Administrator and will continue to play an active role in the community and in the growth of the site. PassionFord, after all, is my baby and I want to see her continue to grow. I can be contacted about trade advertising again where required on advertise@passionford.com
Last but not least, I want to thank our Webteam. They have put an enormous amount of effort into running this forum and have done an incredible job of a thankless task. You have all supported me without question and I can’t thank you enough for it guys. The community would not exist without your help… you have played a massive part in making the place what it is today.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email them to me. There is an FAQ about the acquisition below, and we’ll be discussing the topic on the forum too if required. Also, beyond any questions you might have, I'd really love to hear any ideas you might have for how to better serve the PassionFord community and promote us going forward.
Thank you all.
Stewart Sanderson
As most of you will know, I have been at the helm of Passionford since its conception way back in 2003. I started this site along with Julien at a time of frustration in the RS online Scene when another well known Forum was suffering extreme technical difficulties with traffic... Most of the members moved across and joined me in what was back then, a small forum where we enjoyed a laugh and quite a lot of technical discussion. Well, had I known how much that small forum would grow and what a trial running the forum could become, I am not at all sure that I would have bothered. That said, it has become a fantastic community and I have met some fabulous new friends and customers through it, so the positives certainly outweigh the negatives.
Passionford is growing extremely fast now and in order for it to continue doing so it needs to be maintained at a very high level, and that means a great deal of investment in fast servers using companies capable of handling large bandwidth usage. My own business is also growing fast and thanks to my beautiful new wife Nicole, so is my family
so this leaves me with very little spare time to devote to worrying about Passionford as much as I used to, so it is with a strange mixture of sadness, yet optimistic excitement that I am pleased to announce to you all that PassionFord has been acquired by Internet Brands, Inc., which operates leading automotive web sites such as CarsDirect.com, GreenHybrid.com, NewCarTestDrive and Wikicars.com not to mention well known and popular web forums such as Scoobynet, AudiWorld, Corvette forums and the RX7 club. Some of those forums enjoy over 10 thousand members online at once, so rest assured that IB are extremely well versed in running a busy web forum. The plan is to maintain PassionFord as a stand-alone site, while leveraging Internet Brands’ technology and content resources where they can enhance the site. Having already transferred us over from France to newer faster servers in the UK, our upgrade to VBulletin complete and all membership schemes back in place there is nothing left to do other than allow the forum to grow and become great again. The webteam at IB have proven their capabilities and intentions beyond a shadow of a doubt this last month or two so I hope you will welcome them here with open arms. They really do have the forums best interests at heart and even in the short time they have owned it I am sure that you can all feel the benefits.
I am also pleased to announce that I will also be staying on as Administrator and will continue to play an active role in the community and in the growth of the site. PassionFord, after all, is my baby and I want to see her continue to grow. I can be contacted about trade advertising again where required on advertise@passionford.com
Last but not least, I want to thank our Webteam. They have put an enormous amount of effort into running this forum and have done an incredible job of a thankless task. You have all supported me without question and I can’t thank you enough for it guys. The community would not exist without your help… you have played a massive part in making the place what it is today.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email them to me. There is an FAQ about the acquisition below, and we’ll be discussing the topic on the forum too if required. Also, beyond any questions you might have, I'd really love to hear any ideas you might have for how to better serve the PassionFord community and promote us going forward.
Thank you all.
Stewart Sanderson
Last edited by Maria.; 23-08-2008 at 01:21 PM.
27-03-2008, 08:34 PM
#2
: Why did Internet Brands buy PassionFord?
Internet Brands mission is to empower consumers to make better decisions about buying and maintaining their most important purchases, such as cars and homes. PassionFord’s users offer outstanding advice and support for Ford owners, shoppers, newbies and veterans alike, which should be a very good fit with the rest of the Internet Brands Automotive sites.
Q: Will PassionFord become part of another Internet Brand site?
A: Internet Brands plans to keep PassionFord a separate, thriving site and to continue expanding its content, community and traffic.
Q: Is Stewart Sanderson going to continue at PassionFord?
A: Yes. Stewart Sanderson will continue his current level of involvement on the site and in the community.
Q: How will the acquisition help PassionFord?
A: The main benefit will be having more infrastructure and technology resources behind the site. Better servers and hardware means better performance for the site and admin tools. And more technology resources means faster bug-fixes, quicker turnaround on site changes and more frequent updates in site software, like vBulletin or photo-posting applications.
Q: Will my PassionFord log-in or password change?
A: No you will still access PassionFord as you always have.
Q: Will the gold membership scheme continue to work?
A: Yes, the gold membership scheme is back in place right now and will continue indefinitely.
Internet Brands mission is to empower consumers to make better decisions about buying and maintaining their most important purchases, such as cars and homes. PassionFord’s users offer outstanding advice and support for Ford owners, shoppers, newbies and veterans alike, which should be a very good fit with the rest of the Internet Brands Automotive sites.
Q: Will PassionFord become part of another Internet Brand site?
A: Internet Brands plans to keep PassionFord a separate, thriving site and to continue expanding its content, community and traffic.
Q: Is Stewart Sanderson going to continue at PassionFord?
A: Yes. Stewart Sanderson will continue his current level of involvement on the site and in the community.
Q: How will the acquisition help PassionFord?
A: The main benefit will be having more infrastructure and technology resources behind the site. Better servers and hardware means better performance for the site and admin tools. And more technology resources means faster bug-fixes, quicker turnaround on site changes and more frequent updates in site software, like vBulletin or photo-posting applications.
Q: Will my PassionFord log-in or password change?
A: No you will still access PassionFord as you always have.
Q: Will the gold membership scheme continue to work?
A: Yes, the gold membership scheme is back in place right now and will continue indefinitely.
Last edited by Stu @ M Developments; 28-03-2008 at 10:02 AM.
27-03-2008, 08:56 PM
#7
Ahhhh wicked Stu!!!
Glad that it has finally been all sorted out
I'm sure Pf will grow from strength to strength, just gotta try and get the peeps that wondered off when Pf was having its Critical Errors.....
When you have a minute pal, any chance of sorting me out, so i can crack on with this years shows? lol
Glad that it has finally been all sorted out
I'm sure Pf will grow from strength to strength, just gotta try and get the peeps that wondered off when Pf was having its Critical Errors.....When you have a minute pal, any chance of sorting me out, so i can crack on with this years shows? lol
Last edited by BillyCabrio; 27-03-2008 at 08:57 PM.
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27-03-2008, 09:08 PM
#11
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so how does a change over like this happen then ?
i take it it means you have been bought out for a sum of money ?
just asking as i've never heard of this happening before
i take it it means you have been bought out for a sum of money ?
just asking as i've never heard of this happening before
27-03-2008, 09:10 PM
#12
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Glad things are progressing nicely for Passionford, it's a credit to you Stu and I must say it's a pleasure having met you in person and dealt with your company, wouldn't have done either if it wasn't for PF! Thank you! 
Best of luck to you and Nicole mate
Best of luck to you and Nicole mate
27-03-2008, 10:32 PM
#21
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
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Wow!! Think it sounds like Congratulations are in order!!! 'Daddy' Stu!! 
Congratulations you two!!!
And as for PF, well... with you & nik at the helm stu, it can't go far wrong can it!!
Congratulations you two!!!
And as for PF, well... with you & nik at the helm stu, it can't go far wrong can it!!
28-03-2008, 12:30 AM
#29
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Well done for building a fantastic resource for Ford Fanatics, it is great to see a reputable company throwing their weight behind such a popular forum.
Congratulations on the expanding family.
Congratulations on the expanding family.
28-03-2008, 07:57 AM
#33
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Congratulations Stu & Nicole ...
And congratulations on creating a board that has changed many peoples lives, it has had a big impact on a lot of people, and I have met lots of really good people and made some good friends Via PassionFord, long may it continue!
...And congratulations on creating a board that has changed many peoples lives, it has had a big impact on a lot of people, and I have met lots of really good people and made some good friends Via PassionFord, long may it continue!
28-03-2008, 09:41 AM
#38
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Glad you're not stepping down Stu & as I said on the phone the other week, conratulations to you Nicole Dont forget to name the baby A.J if it's a boy 
Dont forget to name the baby A.J if it's a boy
