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June 4, 2011 6:26 p.m. CGLockRacer Reader

So I'm working on a new racing website for myself. I no longer have access to my old website in my signature due to changing computers / lost files, so I can't update it. I'm looking for feedback, constructive criticism, and suggestions. I'm an engineer, not a website designer, so I can use help.

All pages are active and most have content.

http://www.philmatherracing.com

My main goals are:

Professionalism

Easy reading

Easy navigation

I'll eventually be linking to a facebook group as well, however, I don't do twitter.

Thanks for your time!
June 5, 2011 12:54 a.m. unevolved Dork

A few initial thoughts:

-I've been guilty of it myself, but an "under construction" banner is usually somewhat unprofessional. I think it'd be best to remove it, as it tends to make people look for more flaws in the website design than they'd originally see.

-Some of the alignment could do with some work, I think the "Home," "News," etc links would look better spread out evenly across the top of the page.

-I think the icons down the right side could stand to have a clean background, or maybe have the logos modified to have a consistent background. I had to do that for a website I helped make: http://speed-werks.com/?q=node/8

-Personally, I'm not a fan of the light text on dark background. It just hurts my eyes, and isn't as natural to read as the conventional dark text/light background.

-More importantly than anything else I've posted here, I just got back from a wedding reception and have more than a few beers in me, so keep that in mind.
June 5, 2011 6:31 a.m. Zomby woof SuperDork

I would prefer to see the links that are on right side, moved to the left, and it only took up half my screen, but it otherwise looks good to me.
June 5, 2011 7:07 a.m. ncjay Reader

I would probably center up the top two lines on the home page. Do you have barrel monster's permission to use his image? I don't think I'd want him mad at me.
June 5, 2011 9:36 a.m. JeffHarbert Reader

My initial impression is that I have no idea what the website is for. "Phil Mather Racing" implies a business, but your link to "Performance Driver Coaching & Instruction" is not eye-catching at all. In fact, if this is the only service you're going to offer, it should not be a link at all - it should be right on the front page.

Your "Partners" section is inconsistent. CG Lock links to a page on your own site where you talk about the product and offer a coupon code. This is good. But the other two links just go to their respective websites. Why not give them each a page on your site where you talk about why you use their products?

Dump the "Under Construction" message. It does absolutely nothing for your potential customers.

You must have legal rights to use every image that appears on your website. This means you've either taken the pictures yourself or you have written permission to use them. If a rights holder finds you using an image without their permission, they'll likely send you a DMCA takedown notice. Not a big deal if you follow through and remove the image (this happens thousands of times per day) but if you still don't take it down you can be sued into oblivion. I'm sure you heard news stories of the RIAA suing individuals that end up with court judgements of millions of dollars against them. Pictures are no different than MP3s when it comes to copyright law.
June 5, 2011 4:10 p.m. CGLockRacer Reader

Thanks! I've got permission for the pictures or know who took them, which is why I don't have many. I have more, but didn't know who took them. I will take down barrel monster. Just though it was funny.

I'll look at cleaning up backgrounds too.

As far as the links, CG-Lock wanted their own page. SeatSnug wanted me to link to their page directly. And CarSim is my full time job.
June 5, 2011 8:10 p.m. mtn SuperDork

unevolved wrote:

-Personally, I'm not a fan of the light text on dark background. It just hurts my eyes, and isn't as natural to read as the conventional dark text/light background.

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