Date:         Fri, 4 Apr 2014 09:29:43 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: This Community.
In-Reply-To:  <01317670-1914-41EC-8B5A-D10CC41DE918@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

You can't keep an old specialty vehicle running without groups like this
along with the vendors who supply and even make parts for them.  I've
depended on lists like this for my MGBs and the EVC I once had (and am happy
to be rid of).

Before the inter-webs were invented I would collect the various MGB club
newsletters, compendiums published by the specialists, etc., none  of which
were indexed.  I would spend a lot of time researching a particular problem,
sometimes to no avail.  I estimate I have over 10,000 pages of MGB tech
articles, and these were much simpler cars!

These lists had or have professional mechanics on them too, all of whom
freely shared their knowledge, and this makes them especially useful.

Stuart
Member 2000-2006 & 2012-present

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Alistair Bell
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2014 8:19 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: This Community.

While I know I'm not in the same league as Dennis and Mark, I'll take the
kudo anyhow :)

It's interesting to recall life with a van before the list. I joined the
list late '94 early '95 with my '82 diesel westy. The list was a godsend,
helped me very much. Before the '82 westy I had a '72 westy that I managed
to maintain fairly well but struggled with some things, like syncing the
dual solex carbs. That task was finally done right by an ex VW mechanic who
gave me some tips etc.

And in many ways the list mimics talking to the old mechanic. That and the
banter makes this list very special.

Alistair