Pros/Cons Of Starting A New Xterra "Club" - DC Area

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
We had a brief discussion at some point about what constitutes a "club" in the context of VAXC. They have a website but don't use it, because they just want to stick to Facebook. Great if you're on Facebook, but I'm one of the many people that aren't. And supposedly it's hard to keep track of discussions there. And it's kinda weird continually "hosting events" for a club that seems to exist on paper and is controlled/owned by someone, but may or may not really exist.

The only thing I think they're doing "wrong" is I think the main hub of the club should be somewhere accessible to anyone without having to give away all your personal data for sale (Facebook or otherwise).

I'm not talking about a formal thing with a president, vice president, officers, etc. More just something where anybody in the club can organize events, and any local Xterra owner is presumably a member. Basically what we do now - go offroading various places and get together on occasion to work on mods/repairs.

This also wouldn't be "competing" with any other clubs - any wheeling event should still be posted on VAXC and other intersecting clubs. They don't have to be labeled, or if they are they can be joint events. Same as it is now, it would just be in a different subforum here.

I'd propose calling it XNDC (Xterra Nation DC (area/region)), and just have a subforum here be the central place. That's if the owner of XN itself is cool with using a derivative logo with DC added for sticker purposes. It could also be mid-Atlantic, MARVA (Maryland/Virginia), Potomac, or any other geographic descriptors.

So as I see it, the "pros" would be having the main hub publicly accessible, organized into threads, and searchable via Google, etc. And maybe stickers.

The only "con" I can think of is that if the owner of this site calls it quits, then poof the club is gone. This forum software also seems a little outdated with some hiccups. Sometimes typing on my phone can make the text entry form go nuts, links require 3-4 clicks when accessing from an iPad, and SEO is a little lacking. The reliance on hosting could be partially mitigated by registering a domain that redirected here, so if the site went it could be redirected elsewhere.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Create a burner account and take over VAXC. They'll freely give you the info and I'm sure Garth would relinquish the title since he's been less than active or attentive.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
Ironically, after I posted this there was a database error and I couldn't access the site haha.

Along the cons of site quirks, it really bugs me that I'm not allowed to capitalize DC, GWNF, or any other acronym in the title. Or capitalize the first letter of a name if it's in quotes.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
This site isn't going anywhere. I know I've been missing for a while. Life stuff. But I'm here and the site will be here in perpetuity.

Regarding the site, I'm going to do some hosting upgrades this week and updating forum software in the very near future. There's a lot of updates that have to happen to the aesthetic of the site in order to accomodate the updates.

Unsure of what you mean about the text entry blowing up. Haven't seen that.

Ironically, after I posted this there was a database error and I couldn't access the site haha.

Along the cons of site quirks, it really bugs me that I'm not allowed to capitalize DC, GWNF, or any other acronym in the title. Or capitalize the first letter of a name if it's in quotes.

Also not familiar with the capitalization issues. I'll take a look at the permissions settings.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
This site isn't going anywhere. I know I've been missing for a while. Life stuff. But I'm here and the site will be here in perpetuity.

Regarding the site, I'm going to do some hosting upgrades this week and updating forum software in the very near future. There's a lot of updates that have to happen to the aesthetic of the site in order to accomodate the updates.

Unsure of what you mean about the text entry blowing up. Haven't seen that.



Also not familiar with the capitalization issues. I'll take a look at the permissions settings.

Awesome, thanks for changing the caps thing. The text thing happens only on my phone and only sometimes. Next time it happens I'll do a screen record. It's hard to explain. Sometimes when going back and editing something I've already typed in, the delete button won't do anything or it will start inserting what I type over what's already there. It's weird.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Awesome, thanks for changing the caps thing. The text thing happens only on my phone and only sometimes. Next time it happens I'll do a screen record. It's hard to explain. Sometimes when going back and editing something I've already typed in, the delete button won't do anything or it will start inserting what I type over what's already there. It's weird.
My Samsung has that issue but it's not isolated to this forum.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
Yeah I didn't mean to make the thread about site/tech issues. That was just the only con I could come up with, which is a good thing.

I guess as far as the club, ultimately it doesn't really matter because I'm going to keep posting trips here whether it's the VAXC subforum or a different one. Honestly I started posting in VAXC because new people like myself in this area would visit mid-Atlantic if they were looking for Maryland/Virginia, but for some reason here it's South Atlantic.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
As we previously discussed, to really grow any group you need dedicated leadership. You're doing a great job with that right now Jay! You've done a bunch of organizing and led a lot of rides recently.

Part of the situation for me is selfishness in that organizing another club centered on the DC area basically alienates anyone from further than a 2hr drive where as a statewide club name will tend to draw wider interest in my opinion. It may be semantics but the devil is in the details.

I would also push, and have pushed, to breathe some life back in to the VAXC and build activity there. It's in a unique state and needs some folks that are active and interested in order to thrive. Right now you could take it and build it to suit you because so much of it is broken down. You would also have access to all the reach it currently has and isn't taking advantage of like FB as well as the Instagram account and the subforum. Less effort would have to be expended drawing folks in initially. It would just take a little advertising of the activities and encouraging folks to join in here.

These are my personal feelings on the situation. I've seen lots of clubs, groups, forums, ect get destroyed because they keep splintering when they need to pull together. If you want to give it a go with the VAXC I'll rally behind you.
 

JeffPro4x

Hot Pipe
Super Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
Glenside, PA
Might I suggest checking out CORE? While not Xterra specific, they do a ton of runs and there are some Xterras in there. I know Andrew pretty well and he and his wife are solid people.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
As we previously discussed, to really grow any group you need dedicated leadership. You're doing a great job with that right now Jay! You've done a bunch of organizing and led a lot of rides recently.

Part of the situation for me is selfishness in that organizing another club centered on the DC area basically alienates anyone from further than a 2hr drive where as a statewide club name will tend to draw wider interest in my opinion. It may be semantics but the devil is in the details.

I would also push, and have pushed, to breathe some life back in to the VAXC and build activity there. It's in a unique state and needs some folks that are active and interested in order to thrive. Right now you could take it and build it to suit you because so much of it is broken down. You would also have access to all the reach it currently has and isn't taking advantage of like FB as well as the Instagram account and the subforum. Less effort would have to be expended drawing folks in initially. It would just take a little advertising of the activities and encouraging folks to join in here.

These are my personal feelings on the situation. I've seen lots of clubs, groups, forums, ect get destroyed because they keep splintering when they need to pull together. If you want to give it a go with the VAXC I'll rally behind you.

Thanks. Happy to be doing something. Your comment about alienation is what I thought about when I mentioned maybe another name. I didn't want to alienate the MD guys, and I don't think I've met anyone from actual DC. That said, it's not really the same with VAXC and the MD guys because VA is where the trails are. Trail-centric geography vs people-centric can't really be alienating.

If we want to just "be" VAXC that's cool with me. I have lots of experience with websites and would donate time to running that, but the Facebook stuff would have to be somebody else.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I agree with the sentiment. I always thought it was strange to be the VAXC but let anybody be a part of it. Then it's not just VA. I kind of like the ring of XNDC. Because DC is so small in geography it almost welcomes the surrounding area automatically. That DC in general tho. You think DC you think NOVA, Baltimore, Delaware. They're all kind of the same thing.
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
I'd be into/join any one of the above. The only trail real trail ride I've found on paper in Merry-land is in Oakland [ I have not been there ] and I've only seen maybe 3 X's with any type of trail mod's , one being MINE . I guess Cenk and I could start the 2 person Md chapter of the XN/VAXN/DCXN- LMNOP !!
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
Thank's for the info/link Jeffpro, that was an interesting read . Leave it to Md : $10 per person [ $12 outta state] in vehicle and reservation's required:cool: I'd still like to go once and check it out . Especially the 150ft hill climb and the slag pile's. You can yearly pass for$75/100:confused: but you still need reservation's for ORV's. Okay Jay look into it:D Just remember were all just friend's that happen to drive Xterra's , organized event's not allowed and only 10 people per-party ?? Could it be an Xterra party. What if we're just some Xterra enthusiast's ???
 

JeffPro4x

Hot Pipe
Super Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
Glenside, PA
Thank's for the info/link Jeffpro, that was an interesting read . Leave it to Md : $10 per person [ $12 outta state] in vehicle and reservation's required:cool: I'd still like to go once and check it out . Especially the 150ft hill climb and the slag pile's. You can yearly pass for$75/100:confused: but you still need reservation's for ORV's. Okay Jay look into it:D Just remember were all just friend's that happen to drive Xterra's , organized event's not allowed and only 10 people per-party ?? Could it be an Xtrra party. What if we're just some Xterra enthusiast's ???
$10/person.

Come to PA where everything is private. Rausch is $53 for a driver plus $20 for annual membership. $12 + membership for passengers.
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
Well this just doubled the likelihood that I'll never wheel at Rausch....
TerryD , you'd probably have to sell a kidney if you got the minion's with you to wheel there . I don't mind the $5/10 even $20 for a vehicle for a day or even a yearly fee but charge for each time you go there or have to make reservation's WTF . Can they make it more of a pain in the A$$ just for a drive thru the wood's. Rausch seem's to be more about profit , what a shame. :(
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
I understand they have insurance and other stuff to pay to keep a place like that open but that just drives the cost up over what I feel like I can pay after driving 4+hrs to get there.

You're looking at $200 for a weekend of wheeling if I bring my family before you count food, gas, ect.

I can drive the same distance to Harlan and wheel and camp all weekend for like $40.
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
That said, yeah, I'd like it to be cheaper. But it's still a great time.
Didn't know they rent the land ! I've been giving Jeff [ Adreniline Offroad ] a hand once in a while and in turn he's let me work on Odo in one of the garage bay's and givin' me a hand too . Anyway he said I should really go there , it would be enjoyable.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
va4x4_v3smaller.png
As an update to this idea, I'm still not sure about calling it a "club" yet, but I registered va4x4.org. My goal with it is to try and consolidate info from various places so that there are resources for people to go offroading if they want to. I want to do trail maps with .gpx and .kml files for those that want them, basic trail info with photos and videos, and I'm brainstorming a way to get a comprehensive listing of trail rides in the area, not specific to any one make/model vehicle.

When I've tried finding the same info myself, I'm running into search results from 10 years ago of places that don't exist or have drastically changed, and I'm running into sites with paywalls that want me to pony up $$ just to see if the info they have is worth anything or not.

One of my main goals is to get solid data on these places. For some, there are authoritative sources publicly available; for others I'll be recording the data myself, so that's part of the fun.

And yes, I have stickers coming. Stickermule is running their deal for 10 stickers up to 3" wide for $1, so I ordered a handful. Kinda small, but for $1.06 after taxes shipped why not.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
As an update to this, I've been casually working on this here or there the last few months. I even had a consultation with an attorney on liabilities, formalizing the organization, etc. Now that I have free time again and home more due to winter, I'm still exploring this. I have a site built a little bit and am working on adding trail data. So far I have at least routes for all the trail recordings I have, and have three routes recorded in full as a time lapse. Here's one where I have at least the data and video done: https://www.va4x4.org/trails/peters-mill-run/

I also added the ability to register and make build threads. There are groups, status updates, and I hope to build something out specifically for the purpose of people being able to link up to go offroading. Here for example is my own build thread: https://www.va4x4.org/members/ffxcores/profile/

Very much open to any feedback! And if you have recordings of any routes I don't have and want to donate them, I'm happy to have them!

My main goals are:
1. Get data and info for people to be able to get out and find info on trails
2. Let people meet up with other people to go ride on the trails
3. No ads or other commercial crap
4. ???
 
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