AutoPuzzles, the idea, began early in 2005. I was a member of a small automotive internet community that only continued to grow smaller over time as it had no anchor site or real draw to hook the public. We had one member who was a wiz at naming cars of all makes and models. His Name that Car posts were legendary. Having been a forum programmer of Name that Car posts myself in the past I really admired his puzzles and thought they deserved a much larger audience. To me the question of getting his puzzles the audience they deserved was answered with the idea of creating a site that was themed around automotive puzzles. It allows us to promote the puzzles while at the same time creating a forum community that is active with lively, educated minds. What better way to create an automotive themed community worth being a member?
In late 2005, early 2006, I then approached Karn with my idea and, with some hesitation, he saw it as a website of which he wanted to be a part. From day one, this site has been a project of his and my doings. He is the engine for the puzzles and the automotive esoterica, as well as the controller of the main site, I am the engine for the forum, dealings with the various web providers, ads etc., and I am the contact with the hosting company, Go Daddy.
Upon my contacting GoDaddy in early April 2006, the webspace for AutoPuzzles was purchased. On April 16th the forum was installed and began functioning. Throughout April and May work went on behind the scenes in creation of the main site. In June the site was created and we officially launched it on the first day of July 2006. In the first 6 months of the site we have gone from 3828 hits for the entire month of June to over 50,000 hits in December 2006.
Where all this leads is hard to say. We would like to see the site continue to grow and with those thoughts in mind we have added a new administrator. I am sure you are all familiar with Porridgehead. His contributions in the Feature sections and his arcane automotive knowledge, as well as his wit, seem like exactly the kind of resources we need to tap to continue the sites growth on an upward trajectory.
We welcome input from any and all as to innovative and inexpensive ways to grow this site. If you feel you have some good ideas please share them with us. Either in this thread, via pm or an email to the webmaster would do the trick.
Thanks for being a member here at AutoPuzzles. We really appreciate it.
