I think this forum is OK. I’ve often wondered if in the ever changing world of multimedia it will always have a place but it seems OK for the present. I know things sometimes get a bit heated but as people above have said, it’s all (usually) in a good cause. Let’s face it, if we didn’t care, we just wouldn’t bother to post in the first place, and just occasionally, someone will come up with gold–completely out of the blue. There was a ‘then & now’ picture from Membury which I liked very much (for instance) this week.
The only thing I really don’t like though, is when someone joins the forum (in fact any forum) makes about 37 posts in 12 Months and then doesn’t like something, so then PM’s a load of nastiness to people along with the message that he doesn’t want you to respond because you’re obviously mentally deficient in some way, because you don’t agree with him, and informs you that you need your ‘lights punching out’. Of course I did respond to this, why wouldn’t one..? Although I didn’t cross the line and say what I really wanted to say, which would have been very coarse indeed, because I didn’t want to breech the rules. However, I did suggest we meet to discuss matters. Of course, he didn’t respond because I suppose he considers me mentally deficient.
Like everything in life, you kind of get out, what you put in.

And here’s Graham at his wonderful best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T70-HTlKRXo

Well Monty P were my favourites for many years and still are in many ways.
Sadly without Graham Chapman I feel it’ll be like a circus (‘scuse pun) without it’s performing elephant.

Here’s a little piecette from The group which still makes me smile–and it’s a lot of years now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s9SYX7TSJ0

Andy.

Rob, I agree with that.
If you can actually get the bonnet lifted or get young people close enough to the thing to actually see the mechanism at work, it often makes a big difference. One of the reasons I like these static engines that you see running on trailers (Merlin, Griffon, Napier Lion) is that they make a lots of noise, you can actually see things working and they are often quite close to audience. I find anything that becomes ‘alive’ attracts a crowd of people–with a fair smattering of youngsters. Maybe that’s a way forward.

I’ll tell you what I think Mr Eye On The Sky, I think you’ve got more sense than many here twice your age.
I observe similar things to you about demographics. I often sit and look at the audience at collection airshows and see an ageing audience.
I don’t see many black or Asian faces either. So we have a largely white, ageing demographic.
A.