This may not be appropriate to the History forum (or any other for that matter, so mods...), but I discovered this morning that I'd been a member for 7 years and 4 hours. I believe there were only 1300 members or so when i joined. TGO has come a very long way since those days. Frankly, the site has contributed immensely to our passion/hobby.

JamesC

 

The problem is that the registration date only goes back to when Dirk restructured the site and started with all new forum software. Myself and a couple of others have been around since before this place was even called thirdgen.org. Way back around 95 or 96 I found a thirdgen site on Dirk's arizona.edu site. Way back then I didn't even have my IROC and I was just "Jim86Firebird". I chose that name simply because somebody on the forum already had "Jimbo" as their name. Once the forum started to build some steam, the name was changed to thirdgen.org and I think it got it's own server around the same time. Back in the beginning there was just 1 forum used for tech and non-tech, and because it was the old style that didn't come back to the top when a reply was made, you had to scroll back down through all the old stuff to find what you wanted. Every sunday night Dirk would clear the forum and you'd start fresh on Monday morning. I really miss those days. Back then it was small, and more relaxed, and you found it easy to make friends with the others on the board. Once the site grew, obviously things had to be handled differently, and the site had to be given a more clearly defined focus, and Dirk wisely decided to restructure the site to focus on tech only, with no non-tech board. I think that because of that change, this site has become one of the best technical automotive sites on the Internet.

so, yeah, that's my story.

 

I was on the very first boards that came out of that site as well, Jim. I remember a bunch of guys from ohio being active and always having get togethers. I sold my 89 GTA in 2000 and left the boards, and went looking for this place again back last year when I got back into third-gens....man things have changed.

My old name here still exists, but it only shows one active post and i can't remember the password. It too has a join date of summer 1999, when the new boards were created/put in place.

 

If you want to see something great, click on the following

Thirdgen.Org Message Board - powered by the Ultimate Bulletin Board

 

I think I joined back in 1998. I remember the boards looking so plain and simple compared to today. There are definately alot more members today.

 

That Moderator for the old Car Audio board was a heluva nice guy.

 

What's happened to him since ?

JamesC

 

I've been around since the "arizona.edu" days of Dirk as well.... the fall of '96 as I remember. He helped me immensely getting The Source Page established.

Funny that I saw this post tonight.... as I just ran onto some shots from the very first ThirdGen.Org Southwest Mini-Gathering at The Ball Park In Arlington, Texas earlier tonight. IIRC, this was in the late summer of '97. Let me tell you, this was a BIG deal back in the day.... Dirk drove in from Arizona, Kyle Osterholt drove down from OKC, Stephen Cranford was there with his Camaro, Dana Brandt drove up from Austin.... several of the original guys were there.



We all laughed at Dirk on this shot (white shirt), as he was dragging so much from driving in from AZ that he didn't even take time to wash his white GTA. He took a few seconds to spit-shine the RH side that would be visible in photographs. He caught flak for that all day long.



This is the shot of the final lineup that attended, except for my friend Gregg Blakely and his '91 Camaro Z28 1LE. He left before the photos were shot. As I recall from L to R.... 1) Stephen Cranford's Camaro RS, 2) Dirk Timmermann's '91 GTA, 3) my '88 GTA, 4) Kyle Osterholt's '89 TTA, 5) I don't remember this one but he brought his dad along for the day, 6) Dana Brandt's spectacular '92 Camaro RS, 7) the folks with the red Formula were from El Dorado, Arkansas but their name escapes me, 8) Brad Taylor's Camaro RS, 9) and the black RS was a fellow we collared while leaving the swap meet at the ball park.

Talk about some good memories....

 

I got here back in about September of 1996... Actually started on the other thirdgen specific site that sort of morphed into thirdgen.org. The tech data came from that other site, along with some other stuff that was borrowed... Back when Dirk wasn't even that heavily involved. It's changed a lot for sure, personally I have fond memories of squinting into the monitor late at night reading the forum when it was a black background with yellow, red, or white text... when it was all in string thread layout... Back before emoticons and search features... I wouldn't go back except for the people, it was a better group of guys, less concern over flash and more basis in performance.


Even up until 1999 or so the people were a lot of fun. I made more then one trip out east to hang out with people I talked to on here... enjoyed every minute of it and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Bring it all back... but no matter how much TC and Pablo wanted us to believe, TBI still licks crusty *****.

PS: God that webarchive link is a riot... That was back when there was a generic 'moderator' account. Dirk gave a couple different people, including myself moderation powers. I started deleting off topic discussions, and then when he upgraded the software to UBB the moderator accounts could ban people. LOL I can't even remember how many people I banned... All the uproar and argument from people who didn't even know I was a moderator. LOL Some people thought I found a backdoor or loophole, I was just using the tools of the software to keep things under control. I moderated the history/restoration forum for a couple years. I submitted a couple tech articals and a stack of promotional literature, wrote 99% of the Firebird tech data and cleaned up most of the Camaro data and increased it by at least 50%. I finally gave up on moderating back in about 2000-2002, I just lost interest in the site.

 

Just for fun...

Here's a few shots from my archives...
In order from top to bottom...

The Cyberbrawl 2000 crowd in the parking lot of the hotel in Nashville. Last names and usernames escape me now, but from Left to Right starting at the top we've got Brad's 91 Formula 305TBI, next is Swayze's 89 Iroc L98, my 91 Formula, Nate's (69mustang)86 Iroc LB9 auto, Andy's 91 305TBI RS, and Larry's 98 or 99 WS6 auto T/A. Andy drove his RS down from Bismark, ND and we drove down to Council Bluffs, IA where we met up with Brad for the drive to Bowling Green, KY. We left Sioux Falls at 4am and got to Bowling Green at about 10:30pm. Swayze (can't remember his proper name) was out of Louiseville, Nate drove down from New Jersey, and I can't remember where Larry came from. Other www.thirdgen.org members were at the event but skipped the raging party in Nashville. Guido had his supercharged 86 Iroc there, Matt of 305 1LE fame was driving a 98SS at the time... etc.



Next up is a shot from the Macgathering at Macgyver's house in West Virginia. I drove out on an impulse and arrived at about 10:30pm, rolling up in front of the house, driving through a puddle of vomit in the street. The first shot is of all the cars at a water park that was closed. From left to right, Red's 91 LB9 auto Z28 (pretty sure that's Denise of Bob/Denise next to her), then my formula again, this 88 or 89 Formula was a factory A/C delete, radio delete, LB9 5spd car, fully prepped for autocrossing. It belonged to a local enthusiast who didn't visit the forum much. Next is Swayze's Iroc again, followed by Tommy's 88 L03 auto Formula, Macgyvers 92 L03 5spd RS, Nates 83 Daytona 500 CFI auto T/A, Chuck's Iroc convertible, and finally the end car is a 88 or 89 Iroc L98. For the life of me I can't remember his name, but he shot the video of my Formula doing donuts in the parking lot on the way out. Danny maybe?


The next shot is of all the cars in Macgyvers parents' front yard.

Lots of fun, for sure...

 

hmm lets see here, i think i've been on here for about 2 days i think that makes me a bit of a newb

 

some would say

 

One more...

 

sniff, sniff... I remember those days....

 

Isn't that Nate's IROC?

 

I started in June, 2000, when I was looking for ways to hop up my '89 RS 2.8 I found this site through the V6 F Body board at that point (is it even around still???), and have been an active and passive lurker since. What is sad is how much changes in 6 years. My '89 was sold 2 years later, in absolutely perfect condition, to only be crashed 6 months later by the next owner That same summer, I bought an '89 Formula from the dealership I used to work for as a wholesale piece, but because I was heading to grad school that fall, sold that one as well within a couple months to buy a new Grand Am GT.

So since 2002, I've posted little on this board, but have so many fond memories of it. Since June, however, I have a new reason to be active again, as my sig shows Now, I'm 26 years old, have finished my MBA, and am the General Sales Manager for a Western MA Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealer, so a lot has changed! I've got a house (with only a one car garage, so the RS stays outside ), a mortgage, and a 60 hour a week job...but every time I hit the key in the RS, I'm 18 again I drove it to work this morning, and left my '06 300C Hemi demo at home in the driveway...

Guess which one I like driving more??? Camaros are my life, and always will be. I was one of the lucky 125 invited by GM to bring a guest to the North American International Auto Show in January, to see the 5th gen concept unveiled. Pics don't do it justice, gentlemen...its stunning in person.

But if they don't give it t-tops (which is likely!!!!), my 5th gen fund is being diverted to another third gen. Since I first saw one at age 5, I've always wanted an IROC. I love my RS, and it makes a great summer cruiser to keep miles low on my Z28...

But neither one, in my mind, is close to an IROC Looks like I need a bigger house with a bigger mortgage soon, so I can get that 3 bay garage

 

i have been a member since before i actualy owned a thirdgen. i was looking for a BB to get some questions answered, i only found one (some UK based sight) and they pointed me here. at the time i did not know what a "thirdgen" was, i just knew i wanted an 82-86 firebird. been here lurking and posting ever since.

anyway, thanks TGO.

 

I found this site 6 years ago in 2000. It has always been a good resourse of info and conversation.

 

Wow, cool reading the history of thirdgen.org I remember finding this site back in 01. I lurked for a couple years before I finally registered. This site probably saved me from turning into a rice r I was living in Japan at the time. I would see Supras and Skylines all around and wanted to get one but everyone now and then I would see a blue Z-28 on base. Every time I would see that car it would remind me of my 83 Z I had in storage back in the states. This is one of my favorite sites to go to. I have learned so much about these cars here.

 

Right you are Ken. Bummer you can't make out the NJ battleship license plate, the 'your sunk' doesn't make much sense when you can't see it...

That was about a block from the race track in Bowling Green. Nate is just crazy all around, but Nate and I also have a history of playing off each other's crazyness. At Macgyvers gathering we were the only two doing dry pavement donuts in the parking lot, at Cyberbrawl we were both doing burnouts down the road exiting the track. He kept honking and yelling to video tape his burnouts and the traffic kept moving out of our way, so finally he pulled in front and burned em for a solid 60 seconds. I've got the whole thing on video but an animated gif is easier to upload on dial up. If you watch closely you can see the rubber and asphalt bouncing up off the windshield. The white 4th gen Z in the right lane was not amused, as it was rush hour traffic and Nate fogged out the entire intersection. The smoke didn't clear either, I drove through it.

Another highlight that didn't make video or pics was one morning in Nashville Nate decided his Iroc could beat Larry's WS6 T/A. They raced from light to light, and eventually Nate ran a solid red for the win... in broad daylight in heavy traffic. It's cool though, cause we got our breakfast and Nate got the bragging rights.

 

I think I registered in 99 or 00 officially.

However I poked around here for a couple years prior.

Damn site, I had none when I started now I got three, guess I just like pain.

later
Jeremy

 

I joined last week but this son of a bitch took over my mind and is making me come here and read through this stuff for some reason. I also remember that a few people changed their s/n when it went over to the new board. I wish we had the old archives somewhere.

 

My names not Ken, might have me confused with some else, but my name is Douglas I remember Nate telling my the story about blowing the red light for the Win! He had some hilarious stories when I got to meet him in 01 on my trip around the US.

We almost got ourselves shot pulling up in front of Tonys and setting off his car alarm at like 1 AM after we couldn't find a open Philly Cheese Steak place.

 

Everybody with July 1999 came here from the original board.. (I can't even remember what it was called then but I was on the original board for about six months before it changed to thirdgen.org.

My post count is kind of low because I went a few years without checking in and it got reset somewhere along the line.. .......

Does anyone recall the national TGO get together in Norman Oklahoma ? I was there

 

Ah yes, the good ol' days with the bright yellow text on a black background.... when almost everyone's user name took the format {name}{car}, i.e. Jim85IROC!! Even I called myself "Willie Topless 87Z".... or something like that!! After years of typing it in (you had to manually every time you posted, I believe), I finally got tired and shortened it....


Does anyone recall the national TGO get together in Norman Oklahoma ? I was there

Ya!! I wasn't there but Phil 87 IROC (see, here we go again) did go and he shot about two hours of video. I have a copy!! And do you guys remember the t-shirt??? I probably own the "newest" 1999 t-shirt around.....

 

Willie, I still have 2 of those shirts even though I wasn't able to go to the gathering. I wear them every time I go to the GM Nationals at Carlisle!

 

Been here since about late 97 I think... somewhere around there.

 

Well, I've been here since April and I LOVE IT! I wish I would have been around since "back in the day", but I would like to thank all responsible for starting this site and getting it off the ground. You have obviously worked very hard over the years, but your efforts have provided all of us "newbies" with a very comprehensive and user-friendly place that promotes the cars we love.

 

Hey, brother.... I remember that one too. It was HOT! I believe you got the "long distance" award, didn't you, Jim? That was the first time I took my Notchback anywhere after we got it.... and it dumped the radiator on me. Right then I was SO glad I had rescued it from the scrap heap.... Thank goodness Kyle Osterholt had an extra; that really saved us.

I've got pictures of that meet hiding somewhere, too.... some great cars were there, including an original 3rdGen Firehawk.

Willie, I've got a few of those shirts hanging around as well.... that's my black Notchback GTA on the RH side.

 

Yea it was in the 100's. Good thing my A/C was workin' good then

I travelled 1000 miles, but there was someone else from eastern Canada that came 1500, so he beat me

 

I've browsed since 1998 or so and joined in November 2001. I've only had Fast355 since November 2005 (changed internet providers, lost password, lost email, etc, lost previous name)


That is such an asinine statement

 

I got on the internet Christmas 1998. Couple hours later, after the **** sites (lol), I found thirdgen.org.

Have had several thirdgens and still have my '88 GTA I found over the 'net in Montgomery, Ala. in March 1999.

jms

 

As was that.

 

And a guy could get away with just using his real life first name (Drew) and there weren't 700 people trying to use the same name...

Placed side by side with the other available technology per year the TBI system was a cost saving, EPA satisfying, effort. Not the zenith of performance that some TBI owners would like everyone else to embrace. Most of the time a good running TPI will also get better gas mileage and run better (more efficiently and user friendly) then TBI any day of the week. The simple change from the TBI to an old style Quadrajet makes a late 80's - early 90's Chevy pickup a joy to own and operate. But that's just my opinion, shared by the majority of people who have owned both. You don't have to like it.

 

I hate carbs and tuned port. MPFI is good, but the TPI manifold sucks. 300 HP can be made with TBI without much effort. TBI has 450+ HP potential, nothing wrong with it IMO.