FocusRSOC News

Ford Fair 2012 - SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:31:02 +0000

From Marc..................

Good Day All,

We have been in long discussions with the Ford Fair Organisers with regards to our club stand at Ford Fair 2012.

We have been told that this year, due to a change in the show logistics management team at Future Publishing (The organisers at Ford Fair show and various media publications). Club Stands for the show will be allocated on a 'first come, first serve' basis this year.

In previous years, we were able as a club specify a 'ball-park' number of tickets, and the planners would allocate us a stand to suit our needs. This year this will sadly not be the case. The organisers have taken this stance, due to the increased level of online car communities, and have done this to ensure that nobody looses out in getting to display their club.

Where you guys come into this:
As our club has grown to be the size it is today, it is important that for health and safety reasons & even more importantly; your enjoyment on the day, that our club secures a good 'pitch' and that this pitch suits out needs as a club without risk of us being placed out of the actual show arena & away from all of the fun due to our club's size.

In order to achieve the above, what we need is to be able to place our order for our pitch & show tickets by the end of April 2012.

So what we have decided to do is to pull the current closing date for tickets forward from June 2012 and enable you all to purchase tickets up until the 27th April 2012.

Once the above date passes, Club Stand Tickets will no longer be able to be purchased from the club. Whilst we realise there will be a number of people join between April & August, there is little we can do about that due to the above. There are always people who purchase tickets, and cannot go for whatever reason, so for sale threads with people selling the rights to their ticket will appear.

We trust you all understand this matter, this still gives you roughly 3 Pay months between now and then to purchase your ticket.

Please be aware that only the Driver ticket need be bought through our club by this date.

We can provide you with the facility to order your passenger ticket(s) up to the 27th April 2012 for these to be included in your order of your Driver ticket / Stand Pass.

Passenger tickets may also be purchased after this date either directly from the future publishing ford fair site (http://www.fordfair.co.uk/) or these can also be bought at the gate on the day at a higher on the day price.

If anyone needs any further information, then please don't hesitate to contact myself or a member of site staff for further information.

Thank you for your understanding on this matter.

Marc

fordSTOC.com/fordRSOC.com
Network Admin

Club Regional Reps

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:30:53 +0000

With 80% of those that voted in the recent poll expressing that they would indeed like to have Regional Reps for the Club, we are starting the ball rolling today.

Firstly I am pleased to announce that Andy will be taking on the role of managing Regional Reps as part of his Staff duties. Many thanks to Andy for "volunteering"

Andy will shortly be putting invidual topics in each regional forum advertising the roles.

These roles are entirley voluntary, and it is not necessarily the case that every area will end up with a Rep at this time.

Official Club Events 2012

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:47:46 +0000

We will be attending the following shows in 2012 as a Club along with the rest of our Network.

Fiesta in the Park - 12th May
RS Combe - 7th July
RS National Day - 22nd July
Ford Fair - 12th August

Tickets for these events to include club stand passes will be available to buy for the Club Shop soon.

Please note that only tickets purchased through the Club Shop will let you park on the Club stand.

Further details for each of these events will be posted nearer the date

Welcome to version 4 of FocusRSOC.com

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:47:40 +0000

Welcome to version 4 of FocusRSOC.com

This upgrade has been essential to address security and overall performance and ehhancement of the software we use.

Skin / Look:

Most of you should feel familiar with the look and feel, I've purposely not strayed too far from the old look of the forum, whilst still being able to incorporate the new features and functions.

I was determined to use what was already good, whilst getting rid of unwanted graphics, buttons to create a clean look... I hope you agree its an improvement!

Please use the forums for a week or so, be open minded and THEN constructively feedback to me.

The decision to use a fixed width on the previous version was all down to computer screen resolutions. Since then, screen resolutions have improved once again and I have been happy to increase the width of the forum. For some, this will fill their screen, for other like me, I still have three inches of blank space either side, hence the importance of the balance.

You will notice I've moved the Sponsors banner to the top now, again saving space.

Mobile Skin:

I am now just playing the waiting game regarding the whole mobile side of things... whilst I do, I have disabled the Mobile skin, so using your iPhone, Blackberry etc you will view the site as you would on the computer for now.

Currently, we have a very limited functioning 'Mobile Skin', which still uses your phone's browser, but as people can see, things such as uploading images, giving reputation, notifications and viewing systems such as the garage, gallery etc are not possible... at the moment... I am being assured this is being worked on to improve function.

I am also closely monitoring a 'Mobile App', which would be a custom made App for both Apple and Android... development hit a barrier and the last I've seen is that they hope to have something by Q2 of 2012... this would obviously carry a large cost, so there are no promises.

My only issue with all this App / Mobile stuff is its future.

The only reason anyone wants an App (from what I can see) is because mobile internet speeds are poor and people want a quick responding, easy to use look and feel.

With the way mobile internet is expanding and the likely introduction of 4G speeds in the next year or so, I don't want to plough money into something that people wont use when their phone easily browses the site as they would on a computer.

I refuse to use TapaTalk and that will never be an option (before anyone suggests it).

Will keep you all posted when I know more.

New Menu System:

The menu system functions the same as before, however with the extra space I've added the Handbook button, along with some new buttons in the sub menus.

Next to your logged in username you have a drop down menu providing access to your website settings. I'd recommend you click on 'my settings' and spend some time choosing how you'd like the forums/site to work according to your requirements.

The 'messenger' and 'notifications' icons now only show a number when you have new messages.

Topic Hover -

The feature we previously used became defunct, however the software has a built in one, albeit I know not as quick, it does add additional function... over to the right side of every post you will see a icon as below, click on that:

To show this:

Like -

I know this system changes quicker than an F1 Pit Team... Reputation as it was previously called is now 'Like'.

Don't worry you've not lost your rep, and the count or 'score' as some would prefer is in your user profile. It is no longer displayed below your username when posting, however you can quickly see by hover over someone's username

It works in exactly the same way, but much like Face~~ache~~book you 'like' posts.

Follow Content -

Clicking on the 'Follow' button at the top right is a great way to keep track of new posts... you can even subscribe to an entire forum section.

FocusRSOC.com Official Facebook & Twitter Page -

Please visit http://www.facebook.com/FocusRSOC or http://www.twitter.com/FocusRSOC and 'Like' us... its another good way to hear about Club News!

Quick Reply -

You will now see when replying using the quick reply, there is no longer a page refresh and your reply will appear straight way.

My Media Button -

Ever had to search through all your posts to try and find a picture or file you previously posted? Then search no more!! By clicking on the "My Media" button all your previously uploaded pictures and files will be shown.

Other Additions -

There are hundreds of small additions/improvements, that you may come across, all done to make the experience of using the forums quick and simple.

What's Next...

I am currently still working on the new Classifieds System, along with an Ebay style feedback system... its a work in progress, however I hope to have it ready in the next few months.

Finally

I'm the first to welcome feedback, so long as it is constructive... please bear that in mind.

Twitter & Facebook

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:51:25 +0000

Hi all,

Whilst I can confirm I've not only just discovered Facebook and Twitter, I do acknowledge we have been slow to make more use of them.

The main issue, as always, was time... to post a Club News article on here, and then Facebook and Twitter, whilst not difficult, was cumbersome.

Fortunately, making use of the already built in RSS Feed (orange Icon near the top right of the screen) I am (he says) able to post once on here, and that article is automatically posted to both Facebook and Twitter.

I will look at improving the RSS feeds for those interested in the up coming update.

Some of you may have already noticed we now have a new Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/FocusRSOC

And our Twitter Account:

http://www.twitter.com/FocusRSOC

Join us on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with Club Developments.

Jim

New Club Sponsor - XS Power UK

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:17:36 +0000

Hi all,

I'm pleased to welcome aboard Jason from XS Power UK - http://www.xspoweruk.com

Here's a little about them:

Quote

We are new to the Focus scene but have been into the performance tuning business for around ten years now, we hope to bring some new products to the RS Scene having just developed a Titanium system for the RS MKII - testing next week.

Along with titanium decats as well as in stainless, we have also recently become UK dealers for Dreamscience and SFS Performance so we can now bring Carbon / silicone and more tuning goodies to our customers.

We have also been dealers for XYZ Brakes and can offer brake upgrades for the FocusRSOC Members too.

Our website is undergoing a revamp to show these products,

We also Sponsored Steve Whittaker in 2007/08 and help build the record breaking Daywalker ( Supra Drag car ) And smashed Europearecords with the first ever 7 second toyota supra @ Santapod, we built it using all out goodies including a Sierra RS radiator lol

Welcome!!

Regards

Jim

Advanced Warning - Website Updates

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:08:45 +0000

Hi all,

I want to provide you all with advanced warning of up and coming website updates.

In order to maintain security of the software, they are both vital, as well as bringing much improved features and useability.

Due to the nature of my spare time, I am currently unable to provide an actual date, other than to say it will be within the next fortnight. I may well only be able to provide a few hours notice when I do come to begin the updates.

I predict the Club will be offline for about four hours, meaning no-one will have access.

I plan to have in place an announcement which will cover in reasonable detail, all the new features and changes.

Regards

Jim

Merry Xmas To You All

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:34:51 +0000

Just a brief post to officially wish you all a very Merry Christmas from the Staff Team.

For you enjoyment, and to show we don't take ourselves too seriously ............

JibJab_Order_4520217_Movie.mpg 27.29MB 39 downloads

web - http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/aetD3reNTiVnuLjl

Twitter Updates

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:44:18 +0000

We will post any relevant info in this topic

New Club Sponsor - Streamline Carbon

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:46:07 +0000

Hi all,

I'd like to welcome aboard Chris from Streamline Carbon as a new Club Sponsor

Here's a little about them:

Quote

Welcome to Streamline Carbon, where you will find an ever increasing variety of hand made carbon fibre parts designed to suit the car enthusiast, the racer or both. We are particularly unique as an independent composite company in that we design, manufacture and retail our product ranges here in the UK, entirely from under one roof with no compromise and devoted entirely to the performance car market.

When we say �You are buying direct from the manufacturer� we are literally speaking. All of our products are produced in house, using advanced autoclave technology and pre-preg epoxy resin systems ensuring strong, light and durable components for your road, track or race vehicle.

Please use our online enquiry form to identify products you would like to see introduced. Suggestions are used to identify the introduction of new tooling to expand our component product range. Our focus is customer service and unrivalled component manufacture, and the enjoyment of supplying an enthusiast driven market.

Our sponsor section of the forum will be continually updated with product development, current availability and benefits we can offer to the club members.

Regards

Jim