OK, lets review the terms of this forum -again!, ORIGINALITY/HISTORY - sorry to yell Options

[Pat Garvey]

You know, I don't like being an asshat, but several of you are testing me. Guess what - you lose!

Though we love to talk about concours 'd elegance(please note the spelling), it is not the primary function of this forum.

The primary function is to disseminate info concerning originality anf history of all 914's.

We love to hear about all the documented nuances of all 914's. They educate us.

We love to hear your tricks for making a a concours 914, so long as it keeps the car ORIGINAL, as delivered by the Fatherland(or even the dealer).

But here's the rub. Modifying a 914 and then calling it "concours" is NOT original, nor does it have any relation to 914 history. It is, in fact, "modified", and not suitable for this forum.

To those that I piss off, sorry - take it to the garage. I will no longer tolerate discussions on this forum that do not pertain to ORIGINALITY or HISTORY. It's my job to keep this forum clean & I will do so.

I will close all topics that do not conform to these rules. You have other venues.

To those that would say I'm stiffling discussion, just remember that this forum was created & designed for ORIGINALITY and HISTORY!

Sorry to be a hardass, but until you replace me, these are the rules. Pretty simple too.

Pat
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[underthetire]

Pat, I didn't mean to upset you. I was a responder to the whole gauge thing. I was just trying to give the poor fella an idea he may not have thought about. I just hit view new posts and didn't realize it was in you forum. I think the whole rant was a little over the top, and a nicer way to handle it would have been a post just saying this is off-topic and will/has been moved to the garage. I understand you are trying to keep your forum clean from non original 914 stuff, thats what the garage is for. Alienating the riff-raff is not a productive way to keep the forum alive, the riff-raff may want to build an all original car one day. I know its not easy or popular sometimes to be in charge of something like this, so I will thank you for doing it and move on.

[Tom_T]

Pat, I didn't mean to upset you. I was a responder to the whole gauge thing. I was just trying to give the poor fella an idea he may not have thought about. I just hit view new posts and didn't realize it was in you forum. I think the whole rant was a little over the top, and a nicer way to handle it would have been a post just saying this is off-topic and will/has been moved to the garage. I understand you are trying to keep your forum clean from non original 914 stuff, thats what the garage is for. Alienating the riff-raff is not a productive way to keep the forum alive, the riff-raff may want to build an all original car one day. I know its not easy or popular sometimes to be in charge of something like this, so I will thank you for doing it and move on.

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To be clear on this - being your target of (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif) regarding the gauges post - I think that you know Pat (as do Murrry & some others responding here), from both our various direct PMs & my past posts since "joining" 914world earlier this year....

...that I am clearly trying to do an original restoration of my early-73 914-2.0 to the condition as it was - or should have been as a factory original example, including items "mysteriously missing" from the Appearance & Performance Groups' options when I bought it "37 months old" in Dec. 1975. This to the extent of spending an extra several $1000's to replace & restore those "missing Items" - rather than just fixing it up as-is!

I have depended primarily on the Originality & History forum for guidance in this matter, which unfortunately is inextricably intertwined with the CW & concours d'elegance questions, because that is the current day arbiters of of the originality question in actual practice at the PCA & other similar events. To try to separate them is splitting microscopic hairs IMHO.

Your & others' advice here has actually reshaped my approach on my 914 from a repair/repaint to yet another non-original color with other non-OE mods contemplated - to this more purist approach - although I still want to drive it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

I have posted several other things here - such as SS HE & OE Muffler questions, to which you have responded & participated without this heavy-handed approach used on the gauges question. Furthermore, you yourself & other respected CWs here have posted other things which would have failed your "test" for O&H standards used on my gauges post, & reiterated above by your opening statement. That "feels" to newcomers to this originality & CW world, like a double standard between the old hands & less knowledgeable newbies. You know, we're only human & maybe don't always know how to best state something to get the proper result. We will make mistakes, but would far prefer a mentoring approach to guide us, over an approach of: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif) !!!!

The time & effort expended by & informational needs of various posters & those who reply should be respected, and not shut down completely on a whim because a moderator has had a bad day, got rubbed the wrong way by a poster/replier, etc. Quite simply, there are much better ways to handle these things which are considerate of all parties involved. I agree with the above quoted comment, & stand by my similar comment above that there were at least 2 more helpful ways for you to have handled this post: either redirect the running commentary along proper lines without shutting-down nor moving it; or by moving it to the garage.

The latter would not have gotten my question answered in a way to preserve the originality of my 914. No offense to the excellent technical knowledge of the folks over at the "Garage" section, but for the most part they're not concerned too much with preserving the originality of 914s, as they are with doing updated & improved versions of 914s, AX/racers, etc.

You replied to my earlier SS HE question that those are generally accepted upgrades to 914's in the CW world, which was both very helpful & very reassuring to me! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
So I have to also ask, why could you not have replied in a similar manner & helpful spirit to my gauges post as to what were available factory options, special orders & acceptable dealer accessories that would pass O&H & CW muster, as my post asked?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

If concours d'elegance questions cannot be asked/answered at O&H - then where? And if it's to go elsewhere, then you & other CW experts need to put that aspect of your questions/posts & replies to others there, and not muddy the waters here for the rest of us neophytes please. However, I think that O&H is & has been the best place for it for the reasons stated above.

Out of respect for & deference to you and your expertise & wishes, I will attempt to re-craft wording for my gauges questions which will hopefully meet muster per your stated limitations - when I have time to do so. Hopefully then, you will provide guidance as needed to that subject matter, rather than simply foreclosing all further discussion. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Thank you for your future consideration in these matters.
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