I've avoided replying in this so far but feel i need to clarify a couple of things

1) the circumstances and way upnorth was formed are totally different to what is going on here, see my comments here and again i say to those involved consider the implications of it. if they genuinly believe there's a need for another site then it relies upon members using it and a lot of time, effort and energy keeping it going.

2) upnorth provides things this site can't, by its nature a national or international website is difficult to use at a regional level. Its also a DSC site and because of the stupid historical problems means some other club members don't use it. Upnorth was set up to promote all clubs/websites in the north and unify the Ducati community in the north, its then up to the clubs to use that base to get users to see value in what the club provides.

Every day i change parts of the site, add flyers for events, post pictures and try and keep it fresh, this site provides very little relevant info on events other than a few forum posts from members. the front end is way out of date and does little to encourage participation. there's no facility here to add archive galleries, i even had to host the JHP day photos as it wasn't possible here. It might not seem a lot but all of those things are what some Ducati owners want, maybe they aren't the same hardcore trackday, DD racer crowd that are here who knows?

I've worked hard with all of the clubs to try and cross promote events and help publicise mid week meets, rideouts , trackdays etc and thats something that, if it encourages people to attend DSC events , has to be good for the club. I'm sure Ray would back me up on this.

i've involved the Ducati dealers up here, they see value in the advertising i provide which is controlled something they don't get here and I've made enough comments on that. I understand why some users here don't want to go down that route and thats fair enough, i no longer try and change it.


OK, it may have been possible to do all that here but I don't have years to waste arguing the toss with committees,, trying to pander to every whim because people pay. With upnorth its simple, no paying members, the user is the most valuable asset, the website is run by me, i make the rules ( listening to what people want and more importantly responding quickly) the most important thing is it gets done and gets done quickly thats what users expect and it seems to work. Answer honestly - can that happen here? and more importantly how long would it take to get there?...................

we've had the best attended start to the season, bikes and riders out in snow, rain whatever for the last 2 weeks, DOC, DSC, UKMOC members all riding together I really don't think that would have happened without upnorth.

it really winds me up when i see the negative comments on it, its another asset the DSC can use but its seen by some as fragmenting or splitting a club, instead of being considered a regional site which affiliates to the DSC. Look to the most succesful sports we have now for Olympic medals, cycling and yachting, look at their structure it might give a few clues as to what is possible.

Sorry, rant over, thats about all i can say, if people still think upnorth is an attempt to split the club there's little i or anyone else can say about it.

Very well written reply Gizmo.

From my own point of view, I don't see any spin-off websites (for want of a better phrase) being a deliberate attempt to fragment the DSC.

If users think there is a need that isn't being addressed and feel strongly enough to create a new forum, then good luck to them.

The DSC suits my needs perfectly well

Yes, I've joined DuN and had a look a around a well made website.
Will I use it as much as the DSC - No, like the dozens of other websites (take a look in the Ducati Webring), I'll dip my toe in from time to time.

Regards - Frank

As a user of DUN and the DSC site, i also find some of the derogatory comments from certain quarters directed at DUN well out of order. I don't believe DUN is about detracting from the DSC.

In actual fact if you look at my posting history, even since DUN started i spend a lot more time on the DSC site so can't be accused of being biased.

Gizmo has offered to help the DSC in a variety of ways so lay off please. DUN is a local riders forum that doesn't offer as wide a spectrum of coverage on all sort of issues as the DSC site, and in the past nobody crticised the Ducati Essex website, (the one for Ducati riders with white stilleto's:lol: so leave the hob nailed pit boot brigade alone:P)

Nicely put Gizmo, I personally don't see sites such as DUN as attempts to fragment the club, rather they are attempting to unite Ducati owners and riders for the common good of meeting up and riding our pride and joys. DSC is a national club that formed out of disagreements and disastisfaction with the DOC, but I can't see that happening with either DUN or DDS since there simply isn't room in the marketplace for another national club. There is, as Gizmo points out, room for affiliate type sites where people can go without the worry of politics or unexplained censorship and talk bikes.