History of Lateral G

[srh3trinity]

Thanks to all that have been involved in making this such a great site. It is amazing how helpful these sites and the contributors are. Also, when you don't see any true PT rides running around your town and everybody looks at you funny when you try to explain what kind of car you are building, it is nice to be around people that "get it."

[fleetus macmullitz]

Originally Posted by srh3trinity

Thanks to all that have been involved in making this such a great site. It is amazing how helpful these sites and the contributors are. Also, when you don't see any true PT rides running around your town and everybody looks at you funny when you try to explain what kind of car you are building, it is nice to be around people that "get it."

Very well said.

[XcYZ]

Originally Posted by will69camaro

Wow I'm user #79. Got in a lot earlier than I thought. I do remember this site coming off pro-touring.com. Always curious where Scott went to, knew he hadn't been posting.

Saw his car on power tour back in 2010 I believe but never got to meet him (just saw it parked).

I'm still around and I read what's going on. I just lurk and enjoy.

As many probably know, I stepped back from running the site and site ownership. I was overwhelmed with trying to balance my family, career, and the demands of running this site. I can't begin to explain the volume of hours it takes to maintain every facet of this site. From the SQL, software licensing, hosting problems, server loads, members having technical problems, advertising inquiries, advertising renewals, creating/changing banners, feature cars, drama between members, vendors problems, etc, etc, etc. It's a full time job.

The site was never about me. It was always about the community. I didn't feel the need to make a big announcement when there was a transition of ownership. I stepped back and felt the weight lift. I focused on my family and other things that I love. Primarily photography, but that's another story.




Now as for the history of this site, it goes back a loooooong way. I was one of the original members of PT.com (like #180 or something). It was in it's infancy. The movement didn't even have a common name. Every magazine had a different label for us (and Frieburger hated us). There were constant flame wars about how big the wheels had to be, bitching about two tone paint jobs - all that meaningless stuff.

I finally got fed up one day, and instead of complaining to Larry, I decided to just go do my own thing. By then, I had become good friends with Jody, Jeff and Brent and asked them, hey if I start a website, would you want to hang out? I registered the specific domain name Lateral-g.net on more or less a whim in the early summer of 2004. It had the basic premise of what we were all about (anti pro-street) and it had a G in it - for Gulbranson. lol

I started with phpBB, and freeware message board that at the time was preloaded in most Cpanel webhosting accounts. It just exploded. I think we got up close to 400 members in 4 months. By Thanksgiving of '04, I knew that the phpBB wasn't going to cut it, it was complete garbage. I tried everything to port the SQL database over to vBulletin, but just coudn't make it work. So I pulled the plug and we started over from scratch. Zero members, zero posts. But I'm glad I did it.

As things started rolling along, the membership snowballed, and all of a sudden, the PT movement was THE place to be for magazines and television. Lateral-g.net was mentioned in countless magazines and on TV. It just mushroomed.

We made every effort to make this place a positive place. Talk to each other exactly how we would if I were standing in your garage. I never once had anyone complain to me that we're too civil and down to earth, but got constant feedback on how much people enjoyed the positive, genuine feel of our community.

I'm proud of the team that I assembled that helped guide me grow the site. In the beginning, every one of the Mods that helped me were parents. Once you have kids, life really gets put into perspective. I'm sure everyone that is reading this and has kids knows exactly what I mean. I listened to everyone's thoughts and input and never took a decision to kick anyone off here lightly. I learned to have thick skin. I learned that there are always 3 sides to every story. I learned that there are really great people everywhere - just take a moment and hear their story.

I've had so many adventures around the country because of this site. I've made so many great friends because of this community.

[Stuart Adams]

Scott , thanks for bringing me along for the ride. Great to hear from you. Hope all is well. Miss ya dude.

[fleetus macmullitz]

When you hear from the founder...that's post of the year material.

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by garickman

Very cool thread! Just one question, If Jody is user number 7 then who the heck is 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6?

1 XcYZ
2 jonny51
3 907rs
4 zbugger
5 pushrod 243
6 bschein
7 camcojb
8 lvcamaro
9 The Rookie
10 keith

Some are still here, others are not with us (literally) and others haven't signed on in a while. But that's the top 10 by user id.

[protour73]

Outstanding thing you did starting this site Scott!!!!.... and fantastic job Jody has done after passing the torch to him. A dynamic duo!!!

This is my favorite car website because of content, but more for the people on here. Great knowledge, but even greater people......friends!!

...and I would be remiss if I did not THANK YOU again, for choosing my car as one of the feature cars here. Besides being published in CHP, it has been one of the highlights since finishing the major part of the build on my car.

Thanks Scott and great to see back on here... I still wish I could see your car in person!!!

Originally Posted by XcYZ

I'm still around and I read what's going on. I just lurk and enjoy.

The site was never about me. It was always about the community. I didn't feel the need to make a big announcement when there was a transition of ownership. I stepped back and felt the weight lift. I focused on my family and other things that I love. Primarily photography, but that's another story.
--------------------
I'm proud of the team that I assembled that helped guide me grow the site. In the beginning, every one of the Mods that helped me were parents. Once you have kids, life really gets put into perspective. I'm sure everyone that is reading this and has kids knows exactly what I mean. I listened to everyone's thoughts and input and never took a decision to kick anyone off here lightly. I learned to have thick skin. I learned that there are always 3 sides to every story. I learned that there are really great people everywhere - just take a moment and hear their story.

I've had so many adventures around the country because of this site. I've made so many great friends because of this community.

[glassman]

I have to be honest. As a relative newcomer, theres probably not a day that goes by (when here) that i wish i coulda found it sooner. The 90's were very difficult for me financially, raising three kids, buying a company that was bankrupt with virtually no money. So when things begin to turn around for me in 99' ish, i began playing with cars again after being absent for 15 years. Boy, i could of used this type of info while building my stuff through the last 10 years.

But, hey, i'm here now, love it and look forward to what we have in store for the future. I've been on almost every day since joining earlier last year. Just a classy place to be with like minded people.

[GregWeld]

Well I remember when the site used to have a chat room!



Love ya Scott....


Charley? You suck. See ya at Thanksgiving.


I'm not sure what I'd do without all of you. And that's all I'm going to say.

[DaleTx]

Originally Posted by XcYZ

We made every effort to make this place a positive place. Talk to each other exactly how we would if I were standing in your garage. I never once had anyone complain to me that we're too civil and down to earth, but got constant feedback on how much people enjoyed the positive, genuine feel of our community.

Mission accomplished! Thanks to you and Jody for all you're hard work on the site...past and present.

You've got a good thing going here