Blog : Seven years and counting…

Keith Adams

The first AROnline blog in June 2004, and we've been chuntering since
The first AROnline blog in June 2004, and we've been chuntering since

Sometimes it’s been a real pain in the arse transferring the content from the original AROnline website into the new WordPress-based system. I’ve transferred literally hundreds of pages so far, and it’s fair to say that I’m finally streamlining the process to such an extent that I am able to copy/paste and edit with my eyes closed. But I must admit that I’m beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel – or at least I was until I started delving deeper into things such as Blogs and News.

But yesterday, I decided to bite the bullet and roll back to June 2004 and bring those pages over one at at time. And I have to say that it’s been an enjoyable – and nostalgic – process, seeing the past seven years of my life replayed in hyper-speed. My move to Classic Car Weekly, then Practical Classics and Octane. And the cars… the cars. I can’t believe how many I’ve had along the years. It’s so many. And you know what? Quite a few of the cars I’ve owned over the years, I’d completely forgotten about. How sad is that!

The site has changed beyond all recognition during the seven-and-a-bit intervening years, but one thing that has remained consistent is the passion that you the readers have for our cars – and how encouraging you’ve been. The line-up of names that have written blogs for AROnline over the years is huge, and as the MG Rover saga played out, the opinions were straight from the heart. It’s been interesting watching how, with the passage of time, the subjects have changed and many names have drifted away as the pain of loss has subsided. And other manufacturers’ cars have been bought.

But we’re still here, fighting on, and commenting along the way – as well as offering a huge historical archive that will stand for as long as there’s an internet to host us.

What would be nice, though, would be to have some more guest blogs from you guys. In the early years, AROnline received so many quality submissions that we actually struggled to find space for them all. And that’s what made – and makes – this place so special. The sheer variety of opinions and the passion you all have about our cars. So if you have anything you’d like to get off your chest, do jot it down and send it across to me – email kadams@aronline.co.uk – or post it on the forum.

The blogs can be found on the archive section of the site – the drop-down menu to the right – and I’ve posted back to June 2004. It’s interesting to see that my first blog was about eBay, which is surely the website that has cost me more money by unearthing so many fascinating cars along the way, and we’re all still here after all these years. Another interesting game is using the search function (on the left at the top) to pinpoint some of the people who’ve contributed along the way. Try it, you’ll be amazed.

Keith Adams

3 Comments

  1. My dad had a long line of Austins, Morris’s and so forth up until he could take no more and bought a Volvo. I love this site and visit it at regular intervals – the history of car making within the UK is pretty much here, a story of what if’s and miss opportunities. Fascinating!

  2. We do appreciate all your hard work and that of the other contributors to this site. It is an invaluable resource.

  3. Hi Keith, as a long time voyuer (5+ years) but a recent contributer! To AR Online, A few words to say thanks & appreciation for all your hard work.
    Was involved in running CCC’s in the 80’s / early 90’s
    (Pre internet / PC’s / cellphones etc! Newslettters were typed, photocopied & posted..? Long drives up / down M1/M62/M6/M4 etc. to meet greet & discuss / show of our latest prize
    motors!)
    AROnline needs us and we need AROnline, I intend to get more involved, what about you?

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