[GoinManta]

At the Rt66 show, a conversation on how far we have come on the net, the clubs and how they did or did not adapt to the net, etc.. came up.

Seeing that I can somewhat remember the beginnings of Opel info on the net, I figured I would take a stab at it.

A VERY short version goes like this.. I am keeping it short for everyone to fill in and add history, from thier perspective.

First start ~1992 ? - The Car&Driver AOL message board

When it start? When was it last actively used? (~1994).

E-Mailing lists ~1994 ?

Armory mailing list.. - The first I beleive - Chris ?? started it.. When? I know its still used a bit. But havent heard much from it in a long time and think I left it with the end of my OpelPrez Earthlink account.

EGroups which become the Yahoo list - 1996? to Current

OpelGT.com - ~1999 ?

Gary could you chime in on its eveloution and such.

Clubs online:

OANA - (Registered October 7th 1997). Currently a webpage on Hemmings, with some links and stuff.. nothing really new in 3 years) - Effectively a non-existant club. Exception is the Carlilse Meet, which we register as OANA due to Carlilse regulations. But after our 10th next year, I will switch the registration to OMC. A whole article on the OANA is in the works.

OMC - 1997 (Rick Graham registered the domain opelclub.com in July 1997.) Webmaster history, etc.. (Gary?)

Websites:

The early websites.. can anyone remember them ?

Sadly, I think I have forgotten more than I rememember from back then. I will defaintely have to dig through the old OANA newsletters for a lot of the info. Proof that printed Newsletters are more valuable than given credit for in the digital era.

Charles

 

[Gary]

OpelGT.com - ~1999 ?
Gary could you chime in on its evolution and such. -Charles

I think it was February 1998 when I registered opelgt.com as a page for the New England Opel Club and an Opel links/photo site. It has been through several evolutions from the original site to a basic forum/message board, (I did not like the way Yahoo/eGroups handled posts and pictures) to where it is today. I never thought that we would get more than 1,000 members and look where we are now. It has been a lot of time & $$ over the past 7 years.

 

[GT Tim]

I apreciate the time and$$ I have finally found others like myself.Thanks

 

[baz]

charles do you know "oana" is copy write protected?
http://www.oananews.org/

 

[GoinManta]

Is this all ? Come on.. can we get some storys or something..

Also any timelines from a personal persepective would be cool too.

Hard to write an article this braod without any extra input. Don't make me have to make up crap

BTW, Gary the effort you put into this site I know is greatly apprecaited by all, and I dont think we can all say that enough.

Charles

 

[jmowens]

Amen!

Just a little back pew (lurker) Amen on Charles' words of thanks to Gary. As someone who hasn't owned an Opel since '90, I don't have much to say on the boards, but this site is a daily joy to me! Thanks, Gary, and all who make this a great site!