This post is more for my benefit than for anything else. I’m not looking for attention, honest, I just wanted to bookmark a place in my own personal history that I could refer to down the road.
On April 5th, 1999, I signed up for this obscure upstart car forum which focused exclusively on the Pontiac Fiero. I think I was about the 50th member at the time. (Membership is up over 17,000 now.) I had bought my first Fiero (which I still have) three years earlier back in 1996. (I’m now up to four.)
The forum evolved over the years. Membership grew, different sections were added, including “Totally O/T”. Friendships have been created, insults have been hurled, quite a mixed bag of ups and downs over the last decade.
And now 10,000 posts later, exactly ten years and one month to the day I signed up, here I sit wondering where all the time has gone. I’ve seen my dear mother pass away, and shared my tears with you all. I’ve had my best friend suddenly pass away (long before his time), and related to you my anguish.
It hasn’t all been pain and sorrow though, far from it. I’ve been with Anne for over eight years and watched her children grow from pre-schoolers to teenagers. I like to think that I’ve been of some benefit to them. They’ve certainly enriched my life. And yes, I have to admit it, one of the highlights of my entire life has been the acquisition of Frankie (our husky). If you’re not an animal/dog lover, you just wouldn’t understand.
It’s kind of ironic that the same year that Pennock’s Fiero Forum celebrates it’s 10th anniversary, Pontiac itself now appears about to be relegated to the history books. It’s still debatable whether the mother corporation, General Motors, is even going to survive. Who would’ve foreseen this ten years ago when Cliff started this forum?
Cliff Pennock, I gotta mention Cliff. Thank-you Cliff for having the foresight to start a forum based around a car which had ceased production eleven years earlier! You must’ve known there were thousands of like-minded crazy people around the planet who loved these little plastic cars. This forum has been absolutely invaluable in the collection and sharing and disbursement of Fiero related material over the last decade. The vast source of information to be found here has no doubt saved untold thousands of Fieros from the scrap heap.
It’s long overdue Cliff, but I’ve sent you a token of my appreciation. I truly hope you can keep this forum going for at least another ten years. I figure it’ll take me that long to get all my Fieros in running condition.
And thank-you to all the friends I’ve made here over the years. I value your perspective, be it on Fieros or world events, and I appreciate the opportunity to be able to express myself here as well.
Okay then... post number 10,001 is coming up shortly. Let’s do this again in another ten years.
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03:31 PM
PFF
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motoracer838 Member
Posts: 3751 From: Edgewater Co. USofA Registered: Jan 2006
Congratulations Patrick, Time really does fly bye don't it. I can't believe I have been checking in here for three years and have owned the Formula for three and a half now. I always enjoy your perspective on the topics and am glad you are a member here.
I hear ya about the dog, I just have cats now but think of my departed friends every day.
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03:49 PM
Boondawg Member
Posts: 38235 From: Displaced Alaskan Registered: Jun 2003
Wow, ten years. I almost joined aorund the same time but didn't. I lurked and waited for the forum to get bigger and after most of the work on my car was done.
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04:52 PM
DRA Member
Posts: 4543 From: Martinez, Ga, USA Registered: Oct 1999
------------------ Dealing with failure is easy: work hard to improve. Success is also easy to handle: you've solved the wrong problem, work hard to improve.
I've been here almost as long as you. There have been a lot of folks come and go, but you're one of the originals. (Not many of us are still here.) While we don't frequently see eye to eye on political subjects, I did find a common ground with you a few years ago, and have enjoyed being a part of the same forum.
And I thought 2000 was something to celebrate. My wife thinks I spend too much time on here. I don't see how you could spend that much time on here. That's dedication right there. And you guys with 20K plus. How in the heck did you achieve that? There needs to be some kind of award or service pins. Except for pontiackid. He'll post in every thread! I mean there has to be some rules to the award. Congrats on the 10k milestone!
Congrats Patrick, . Hmm....., in ten years you have not managed to not let political remarks in unintended threads get under your skin ? , j/k, really. Sometimes it does go too far.
And thank-you to all the friends I’ve made here over the years.
Yikes. You are right. It has been TEN YEARS!! I joined in December, I think, of 1999.
My, you've CHANGED! Ha.
But in reality, you HAVE changed. Not that you needed wholesale changes in who you were. But still. More life experiences. Different people in it. And some "fine-tuning, tweaking" level changes happen.
That was fun to stop and look back a little.
I agree with your conclusion. That was fun. Let's do that again.
while, i do not know you very well Patrick, i give you salutations and cheers on your 10k posts.
i have not been here long, i probally have made more foolish posts than useful around here, and i certainly don't post that often but i would also like to give thanks to cliff, i belive i sent him a little something last year. ill have to get to doing that again when i have money and a job.
may there be another ten years and 10k posts to you sir!
LETS ALL PARTY! HAHA LOL
edit to add:holy cows! its been three years since i joined, omg
[This message has been edited by red84sematt (edited 05-06-2009).]
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07:32 PM
PFF
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May 7th, 2009
ryan.hess Member
Posts: 20784 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Dec 2002
evidently so--unless you are referring to the very early board I have only heard about.
quote
On April 5th, 1999, I signed up for this obscure upstart car forum which focused exclusively on the Pontiac Fiero. I think I was about the 50th member at the time.
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02:20 AM
Patrick Member
Posts: 36429 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
I want to thank everyone who’s posted in this thread. It’s interesting (and gratifying) to note that several of you are members who I’ve crossed swords with in the past. When you think about it, most arguments we have here are rather silly. I’m glad to see that we can let that nonsense go and just be regular guys shooting the breeze.
I honestly think if most of us were sitting across a table from each other that we’d get along just fine. It’s so easy to misinterpret the written word. That’s honestly been my biggest frustration here over the years. However, I’m probably as guilty of this as anyone. We need to learn to cut each other a bit more slack.
Not that we’re doing it all the time, far from it, but life’s too short to be fighting about... nothing!
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Originally posted by ryan.hess:
Are you one of the original 100?
I went through the membership list last night and worked out who signed up before me. It turns out there were 65 people who became members here before I did. Two other people signed up the same day as me. Since I can’t tell the time of day that anyone signed up, I’m either member # 66, 67, or 68. Only Cliff would be able to tell for sure.
So yes Ryan, I’d be “one of the original 100". Do I get a T-shirt?
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Originally posted by rogergarrison:
Posts: 25040
I still win..............
I had no idea that Roger had posted so many pictures of Hooter gals.
Heh heh, thanks again everyone!
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01:34 PM
DL10 Member
Posts: 2350 From: Bloomington IL Registered: Jun 2000
They’ve certainly enriched my life. And yes, I have to admit it, one of the highlights of my entire life has been the acquisition of Frankie (our husky). If you’re not an animal/dog lover, you just wouldn’t understand. 
hes not to far behind you ! And he only started in Sept 08 
. Mean your getting slow Patrick 
jk lol .
Many more years of your informative ways. 
