New Main Page

1) didn't see it mentioned but i also only skimmed the thread: click "Community" and it takes you right to the forum main page. I like that better than the old way.

2) i miss the older "barn door" red. completely subjective

3) the layout/design looks kinda kooky but DOES strike me as highly functional. this imho is consistent with just about any design done in the mag. (basically, i'm saying that J.G. is a weirdo but the character is appealing. it carries over to his layouts). after my initial 2 second hWA?!, I like it

4) if this leads to a search function that is better than the current iteration, i'm all for whatever.

This page was in a test environment for weeks, but still changed significantly when it was moved to the live server.

Most of the issues that popped up are from different user settings, like long usernames that mess up the spacing on text in some areas and the incredible variety of screen sizes and resolutions that 200,000 unique users can have. It's hard to make one solution that can work for everyone.

And yes, I genuinely appreciate y'alls patience.

Theres a main page??? Who knew...

I did notice the red border on the 4m page is a lighter shade i like it.

I changed my home page from the main page to the forums.

dyintorace wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: I'm glad my bookmark goes straight to the forums.

Bookmark this link (http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/latest-topics/) and it takes you right to the latest topics. Even better.

Awesome! That's exactly what I needed. (..and what needs to be on the front page.) I didn't know you could link directly to this. Now that I have the direct link, there's really not much of a reason for me to go to the main page.

I used to moderate a forum, and when they took the "latest topics" box off of the front page, traffic fell off enough that they decided to put it back.....on that website, at least, most of the conversation was responses to "latest topics."

Wow there is a front page:-)

I always go straight to the forums.

I hate the new red - burns my eyes.

I do like the main page, not any better then the old one - just different.

Did I mention I hate the new red?

this thread actually made me go see the main page... I'm bookmarked directly to the forums...

I concur that it will take some getting used to. Scrolling sideways is ...um, 'odd' is a good word, but aside from the need for a wider screen than I have currently, I think I'm gonna like it.

I have a wide screen, definitely like the new set-up, the community tab to the forums is better than scrolling down a page and a half for discussion board which was a pain. Also, I always had issues with the articles and matcching pictures on the home page unless I forced myself to scroll over them in order which was a pain to match up.

CHANGE OR DIE!!!

It looks fine to me.

Marty! wrote: I hate the new red - burns my eyes. I do like the main page, not any better then the old one - just different. Did I mention I hate the new red?

this. I too prefer the previous shade of red. I'm another one that is bookmarked directly to the forums. I check the front page just to see if there are any new updates to project cars.

New layout? I like it. I do like the old reb better. Good job GRM!

The main page looks alot better now, except for a couple things. The tabs look weird, the moving text and the border makes them annoying to read. The "in the latest issue" box has a font that is too small to read. And the big box in the middle with the articles just doesnt work, it is a major downgrade from the way it was done before. Other than that it isnt bad though.

Too many boxes!

And the new red is very... named web color (Like "blue" instead of getting creative with a better hexadecimal combo).

My complete guesswork theory is that the red is nominally the same red used in the magazine. Except print color != web color. They reproduce differently, and for any given print color you generally need to desaturate and darken a bit to get the same perceived color on the web. Whenever a print person says "use XXXXXX", smile, nod, and then change it to what actually looks right in a browser.

Geekery: It's the difference between subtractive color (print, where pigments reflect light) and additive color (monitor, where there is an inherent light source), along with the difference between the CMYK color model used for print vs the RGB model used on-screen.

Of course, all of it is pretty much a crapshoot anyway, given the wide variances in monitors, the fact that absolutely nobody properly calibrates their monitor, and (at least up until OS X 10.5) the difference in Mac and PC gamma.

But that's my guess on how we ended up with this particular retina-searing red.

Long story short, look for a darker red banner soon. The fonts and boxes should be tweaked soon, too.

JoeyM wrote:

dyintorace wrote: Bookmark this link (http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/latest-topics/) and it takes you right to the latest topics. Even better.

Awesome! That's exactly what I needed. (..and what needs to be on the front page.) I didn't know you could link directly to this. Now that I have the direct link, there's really not much of a reason for me to go to the main page.

Happy to help.

I think someone just spilled beer on the old server and they had to run down to CompUSA to buy another. Since no one backs up anymore, they just copied some elements from my old Geocities account and BOOM new home page.

Or they thought like me and wanted a bit better functionality in the main page.

I never used the old one much.. .. . I actually have the forums direct linked from my page... . (Please don't change the link)

Hay I know. How about GRM having a web page design contest?

Anyway it is still free. The people are great!!! The Magazine is excellent. No worries I am sure it will get sorted.

"www.grmotorsports.com/board"

All you gotta know. Ignore the bar to the left. A 24" LCD helps with that. On a laptop or blackberry this page is damn near unpossible.

If you're on a blackberry or netbook, why don't you use the mobile site? Loads faster, works better on small screens

Looks perfect on my netbook

93gsxturbo wrote: "www.grmotorsports.com/board" All you gotta know. Ignore the bar to the left. A 24" LCD helps with that. On a laptop or blackberry this page is damn near unpossible.

m.grassrootsmotorsports.com will make your blackberry much happier.

So I was about to complain about the red / pink banner background at the top of the screen. Just for the S&G's I hold up my most recent issue of GRM to the screen and they actually match!!!!! Exactly!!!! Did something change here? I always thought that it was more red? Now I have to go dig up some back issues and see.