Site PROTOCOLS

[Guy Croft]

This is the private website of a professional race engine builder (me) and you are a member by privilege not right. It has its own unique set of rules (Protocols) that you will NOT find on any other forum and they have helped this site to gain world-wide respect. Many forum owners have told me they wish they had set such a set of rules in place from day one. I set them up because the kind of things written on other forums REALLY annoyed me - abuse/profanity/illiteracy/content/style - you name it. Terrible!

The value of this interactive site is measured entirely by the quality of its technical content. Its primary function is to encourage people to get involved with competition engines and cars and to teach them about such preparation. If you don't believe in sharing technical information and helping others (whether amateur or not) and if you belong to the 'knowledge is power' or 'trade secrets' fraternity this is definitely not the site for you. The benefits of joining here will become obvious if you want to learn about competition engines.

Most members respect one-to-another and do great features, but as the membership grows I am STILL finding that some members think this site is a typical free-for-all forum. It's not. I know it's human nature to 'let-loose' on the internet but don't try and do it here. There are strict protocols regarding how you conduct yourself here and I abide by them too.

What do members think of the rules? This is typical, from an Australian member who wrote to me: 'I am impressed by the requirements for becoming a member of this site, and from a brief look at the site the benefits are obvious.'

These are the Protocols:

1. This is an elite site
It is kept jargon, slang, argument, fun-free because it is designed to be a focal point for useful information AND NO MORE THAN THAT.
If there are no new posts it means no-one has much to say on that day and that's fine. I don't encourage people to post just 'to get the numbers up'..
This is certainly NOT a forum where you can have a laugh and a chat and an argument or make fun of others. It is not a forum where you can just write whatever you like. This is a place to show off your skills alongside mine and definitely not the place to give a second-rate account of yourself. Think about it.

2. If you want help - ask nicely.
A lot of top professionals take time out to write here to help others. We need them. I don't know everything, never claimed to. As far as I'm concerned I write for others' benefit simply because I think it matters to help people. I don't like gratuitous requests or being taken advantage of. I don't get much free time. My name is Guy or GC when you write, not 'mr no-name'. I get upset when I - or others - help people and that help is never acknowledged with a 'thank you' or worse - even a follow-up on the project. You are very likely to be ignored by me if you do that.

3. Don't write posts that contain links and lots of 'abbreviations'
They are likely to get deleted without notice. I don't want this site filled up with links. Links to other sites, to videos etc may only be used with PRIOR permission by email or PM from me, and then when no other method of conveying the information is possible. It has been the practice in the past for members to use links to other websites like the appalling "turbo-one-two-four" site to display photos by the quickest means. This is forbidden without my express permission as indeed links are. DO NOT use Photoshop/bucket and other image hosting - use the site INTERNAL photo upload facility please it is accessible below the text box and you can easily navigate from it to your computer photo archive. You are very likely to be banned if you break this protocol.

4. Put a clearly defined title that leads the reader to the subject.
You will see that I have been editing titles so that the 'search facility' is more use. Please don't over-post with new topics if adding on to your last one will do. Otherwise it will become impossible to find a particular subject and everything will get repeated. I edit titles and posts so don't be surprised if there are alterations.

5. Posts from English-speaking people are expected to have proper capitalisation and be literate.
I'm number blind - a form of dyslexia - but I do my best and yes, sometimes I need others to help me. So don't come crying to me about dyslexia. I know all about dyslexia and I know the difference between making an effort and being lazy. Get a friend to help you. Or there are plenty of Microsoft editing tools available to correct spelling and word 'case'. Just go to 'format' - 'change case' and it can do most of it for you, and spell check on the toolbar will highlight most irregularities.

6. Do not write in lower case throughout without the faintest attempt at punctuation.
THIS INCLUDES YOUR REGISTRATION INFORMATION.
I'm not joking. The ONLY exception is the member from a foreign, non-English speaking country, who clearly is doing his best with the English he knows and to whom - as a rule - all assistance will be given.

7. Don't 'text' to this site
No way am I having 'texting' - ungrammatical junk to this site from a mobile phone.

8. Do not use objectionable language.
Do not use swear words, or overly subjective - tacky - racist - sexist - infantile - unsubstantiable remarks to make a point. In subject, topic or signature. Read your post back and if you find 'unacceptable' in place of a word you used, change it, my site word censor (set by me) has objected to what you said. Jokes/jibes/remarks about the opposite sex - of either kind - are forbidden - however mild and amusing you may think they are.

9. Content
Keep cool at all times even when things go wrong. This is a website for informed opinion and fact, not guesswork. Stick to the facts as a rule and present them in an enjoyable readable fashion. Use your sense of humour sparingly and wisely. Be aware that mine is fairly thin where engines are concerned. PLEASE Don't use silly phrases. You're chuckling to yourself (no-one else is) and use technical descriptions properly, don't write in racetrack bar slang: in other words write 'bhp' not 'brake' if you mean bhp and don't say things like c-ra-z-y, s_illy horsepower or runs like a d_og. My advice is be_like_me. Copy my impartial technical style and you will gain my respect instead of incurring my wrath.
Please avoid 'flowery' language and try to stick to straighforward factual style. Many members are not fluent in English and colloquial expressions and colorful adjectives will simply not be understood. Do NOT underestimate the extent to which that can drive readers away - they don't have a clue what 'you're on about'.

10. Mention of internet auction and other commercial marketing sites (including your own unless it is a legitimate business activity and mentioned in your signature line only), social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Myspace is prohibited. The use of YouTube and Google/other video hosting sites for incar/race footage and other useful technical stuff has been relaxed and is now OK but only BY PRIOR PM/EMAIL PERMISSION FROM GC by PM OR EMAIL ONLY.

11. Referring to Vendors
Some parts of the GC Virtual Workshop are of course intended to showcase my work and benefit my business, but apart from GC V/W I do not allow even myself to be drawn into discussions of a price-oriented or commercial nature in the forum. I handle things like that by email or other means. You must NOT to refer to any vendor (company, person selling parts and services, based UK or anywhere else) 'by name' (or in such a way as they can be identified either indirectly or directly) unless you are just saying 'they supplied something' or are going to pay them a compliment. Do not talk about vendors' prices here. At all.

Don't post 'what do you think about this?' referring to A vendor's product. Have the good grace to write to them and ask them why they do it that way. Or buy the thing and test it and report your results in proper technical way. Otherwise the products will get picked over without any constructive appraisal of their methods. Not good, I don't like it when it happens to me, don't do it to them.

Do not make critical or remotely damaging comments of any kind here about the quality of any firms or individuals' products! Every firm gets things wrong from time to time and yes, there are some bad apples in this business but they definitely don't want to see it published on the internet at GCRE.com, and if they do they will get very annoyed with me.
There are legal and ethical considerations in this regard and it is always possible to write a post in an interesting and factual way without 'naming names'.

If you are let down by a supplier, what you should always do first is take an issue back to the supplier in writing, if there is no satisfaction then, you should go to a lawyer, not to the internet. Just be careful please.

12. Copyright
Enfringement of copyright is potentially theft. Of course everyone makes mistakes and the infringement is often inadvertent and if the item is taken down swiftly no-one gets upset. I am VERY strict on this. Don't post photos, pictures, reports and text from other authors or other websites without copyright permission - and if you have permission I must have sight of it by email before you post.


If you are not sure, just ring me. 01522 705222 You will find that I am always willing to listen and offer advice.

13. Selling!
From time to time someone offers a resume of their car on this site with nice pics and then quietly mentions inthe topic that they are 'selling the car'. Or thinking of it. DO NOT do this here. If you're actively thinking of selling your car please do not go and write an article in 'Readers' Cars (eg) it just demeans the value of the post and just makes the site look like a free 'flagship' for your sale. If you're selling - or even thinking about it kindly remember I pay for this site for the good of all and it's for committed enthusiasts so confine your posts & photos etc to the sale to the 'Sales Section'. Of course cars get sold but if I shall bin any overt attempts in this regard and potentially the member too.


In summary. There are no lenient 'Moderators' here.
There is GC - me.
1. I own the site.
2. I make the rules.
3. I don't like rudeness and stupidity.
4. I don't have much of a sense of humour after nearly twenty years working with race engines. I treat my work with the utmost seriousness.
5. If you get 'ratty' about something I write in reply to your post - expect to have your membership terminated very swiftly. This is my perogative and yes, I use it at my discretion - not yours.

If you break these protocols, based on old-fashioned English good manners and courtesy - you'll be warned once at most then booted off.