Having been out of cyber-circulation for the last few days, I was surprised
to read the range of feelings about VTR's apparent restriction to its site.
To be honest, I haven't even clicked on it to see what the fuss is about. I
feel that VTR's recent decision is probably understandable, but then I speak
from a strictly UK perspective. Many Standard-Triumph clubs here have
restricted site access and I endorse that decision. Essentially those same
Clubs rightly feel they have to give their members something that is unique
to being a member (apart from a magazine) - and I don't see that as being
elitist. If this is to be a private part of a website for emails, tech
sessions, queries, gripes or whatever for members only - then so be it. So I
guess I'm saying VTR has (IMHO) done the right thing in principle but if
other posts are to be believed, perhaps it might have been better to have
approached authors of material on the VTR site in advance to see if they
agreed to their articles 'going restricted.'
The bottom line here, as I have commented in the past, is that the vehicle
parc is slowly diminishing year on year and as in the case of pre-WW2 models
and makes, there are now so few of them around that the individual clubs
that used to cater for them have had to join together with former
*competitior* clubs to survive. With respect, anyone who thinks this can't
happen to a Standard-Triumph club wherever it is located - and especially in
a much larger continent - is rather foolish.
If VTR seeks to increase its membership, surely a better way is to
demonstrably plan for its longer term survival, like ten years plus out from
now, give new enthusiasts a few handy tips on the open area of the site -
e.g. the grade of oil to use in dashpots and other such tasty morsels - with
the assurance that even more helpful information is available to members
only.
Jonmac
(Honorary VTR member)
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