Changes at MotoringFile

drew Sep 15th, 2006 Link

right on gabe. and congrats on whatever is causing this “change” too!

Brian Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Thanks Gabe for all your hard work with the site. I know how hard it can be to keep up with a personal website, let alone a site that thousands have come to rely upon for the latest news. You have done a great job and I look forward to seeing what DB does with the site.

Nick Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Thanks Gabe. I appreciate all you do for us. DB–don’t fumble the hand off (:

JD Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Thank you Gabe for creating an maintaining such a wonderful site on the new MINI. This is the website I refer anyone to that is looking for more info on the MINI. You have done exceptionally well in keeping us MINIacs informed and entertained!!!

Vanwall Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Gabe -
How can the MINI community ever thank you enough, for your indefatigable quest for more scoops, your matchless design talent, or your peerless writing and editing? I’ve often wondered how you and Matt made all the pieces fit together without going starkers - you’re an inspiration for us all. Motoringfile from the beginning has always been a thoughtful, informative, and fun place to visit on the Web, and has become the de-facto “paper of record” in the MINI world, and I do mean world-wide. I hope you have more time for your and yours, as you’ve obviously spent a lot of it - prolly too much! - with us MINIacs. The MINI world is all the better for Motoringfile’s unmatched contributions - that’s a fact. I could say good luck, and write when you find work, but I guess this entry is that letter home!

Db -
Big shoes, pal, big shoes, ‘zall I gotta say. But, I have a feeling you’ll do well, grasshopper. ;-)

              BCNU
            Rob in Dago

Neil Sep 15th, 2006 Link

This is a sad, sad day for MINI. I miss Gabe already.

Rollin Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Gabe,
Good luck in your new job, and I still owe you at least a pint if I ever get over to Chicago.

Know DB will do a great job!

Rollin

MINIAK Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Congratulations and good luck to you Gabe! I wish you well in your endeavors! Do you get to be the new test driver for all of the Mini’s? ;)

BP

eto Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Gabe,
thank you for all the work you have put into Motoringfile. This site was born from your passion for the MINI, and I know that passion will continue under the control of DB.

J/C Sep 15th, 2006 Link

This is a sad, sad day for MINI.

I see the opposite.
The Art Director position should prove to be an excellent opportunity for such a creative soul.

As for Don, I have no reservations that he can step in. He already runs The Top MINI Podcast site in the world, is the forum administrator for SCMM (one of the largest MINI enthusiast clubs in the Nation), troubleshoots various commercial websites, AND still has time for parental responsibilities! (He passed up going to the Monterey Historics so he wouldn’t miss his son’s first day of high school.)

DB will step up to the plate with a pretty good batting-average, I would say.

Charlie Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Good Luck in your future endevors and thank you for what you have started Gabe!

Rocco Rocket Sep 15th, 2006 Link

From what I understand he’s not going too far away. He’ll still direct the content and contribute to the story line.

It’s not sad it’s growth.

Yegor H. Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Thank you Gabe and good luck!

tsukiji Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Good luck in your new endeavor & many thanks for developing MotoringFile into the MINI site supreme.

allenski Sep 15th, 2006 Link

thanks Gabe for starting a great informative and good looking MINI sight.

Glen Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Gabe:

Your work helped me decide to can my BMW SUV (X3) and drive a MCC instead. What more can I say. I love my new ride. It may not be perfect, but it’s as close as humans on earth can achieve. Thanks to you and others here for helping to point that out.

rkw Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Thanks, Gabe. It is quite an achievement that you singlehandedly made MotoringFile a fixture in the MINI community.

Good luck to DB. Here’s a comment I’ve been meaning for Gabe but now you will be the one to handle it. Readers sometimes try to post links that have underscores in the path, and the markdown formatting messes it up. This happens with surprising regularity… a lot of websites use underscores in their paths! Is there any way for you to keep URLs and markdowns from stepping on top of each other? I know it is possible to use HTML, but it should also be possible to toss in any arbitrary valid URL into a comment, and the result should be a good link.

Bilbo Baggins Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Thanks for everything you have done to make this the fantastic site it is.

King Gabe has retired(sort of). All hail king DB.

SrBlanco Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Thanks Gabe for all your hard work over the years and good luck in the new job.

As much time as I have spent browsing this site I definitely owe you a pint or three next time I am up there to visit the ‘rents.

Cheers!

DB Sep 15th, 2006 Link

It’s not sad it’s growth.

Exactly! I’m looking at it the same way. Like he mentioned before, he will still be around, just not as often as he has been.

Good luck to DB. Here’s a comment I’ve been meaning for Gabe but now you will be the one to handle it. Readers sometimes try to post links that have underscores in the path, and the markdown formatting messes it up. This happens with surprising regularity… a lot of websites use underscores in their paths! Is there any way for you to keep URLs and markdowns from stepping on top of each other? I know it is possible to use HTML, but it should also be possible to toss in any arbitrary valid URL into a comment, and the result should be a good link.

True true. The auto-linking feature of MarkDown does mess up those URLs with underscores. The only workaround I have found is to either do it the old-fashion HTML way

(< a href = )

or do the link the MarkDown way

[ Text for link ] ( http://example_site.com/ ) = Text For Link

Just without all the extra spacing I’ve put here

bluzeke Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Motor On Gabe.

BTW . . . did they tell you your first job as Art Director revolves around the use of the color . . . LIQUID YELLOW !!! ;-)

Paul Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Gabe, Congrats all the way around - good luck with the new job!! And DB, I know your care and feeding of MF will continue to keep us all very happy! Thanks guys ;)

Kennedy Sep 15th, 2006 Link

I happened to stumble across this yesterday on one of those “corners of the web” you mentioned above. I have been visiting the site for over 3 years now and when order-time for our ‘05 MCS finally came last year, I only truly began to appreciate all of the information that was available via the MotoringFile.

I guess this is when you know that you’ve built something really great. When your plate gets too full and there are too many other things to look after, that rather than shut-down you have the option of getting someone to still take care of the day-to-day. In that light, congratulations not only for your new job, but the success that has become MotoringFile over the past (nearly) half-decade!

Carol and I will offer you some congratulatory beer and free pretzels next year at MOTD BrewSwap ‘07. In the meantime best wishes for the new job.

As for DB, he has been running a successful campaign over at WhiteRoofRadio for over a year now. I would imagine we won’t even know the ship has changed over crews.

-Eric and Carol

Doug Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Good luck in the new job, and thanks for not leaving us out in the cold. Let me know the next time your in Saint Lou, or I am sure I will spill some beer with you and Jonathan at The Dragon. You will be at The Dragon won’t you???
Remember, not all who wander are lost…….motor on,
Doug

Jack Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Gabe, Thanks for a job well done, it has always been a great place for be to get a MINI fix as I have not had my own unitl now. It is awating shipment to the states as I type, I will still be faithful to the site.

Jack

Weegas Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Gabe thanks for all of your hard work. I’ve been reading your site since before I have a MINI and it helped convince me (with all of the great information) on exactly how to configure it. I wish you the best going forward and I’m sure DB will take good care of things here. Good luck Gabe and DB.

Jon Sep 15th, 2006 Link

Sad to see you go, but glad you have a great person to fill in for you, and also glad to see you have a new opportunity for yourself.

Wish you and DB the best. Don’t be a stranger Gabe…

WingNut Sep 15th, 2006 Link

DB who?

dickdavid Sep 15th, 2006 Link

DB is a great man for the job.

Thanks, Gabe for creating such an awesome site.

alpinamike Sep 15th, 2006 Link

I thought DB was the busy one ;)

Francis(MiniMac2005) Sep 16th, 2006 Link

Congrats Gabe! Maybe now you’ll have more time to motor with the rest of us??? Then again… :)

db Sep 16th, 2006 Link

DB who?

If I had a nickle….;)

Osmodious Sep 16th, 2006 Link

Gabe,
Not that you need another voice issuing praise and gratitude, but thank you for your hard work over the past few years making the best MINI site on the web! The format of this site is so much better than any of the other car (MINI included) sites I frequent…with the ability to just surf by and quickly check for updates, but also the ability to easily track-back to follow up on posts. I hope it continues in this vein…

Best of luck in your new opportunity, I imagine that it will be a huge success if you apply even 5% of the care you have lavished on Motoringfile!

Os.

Nathaniel Salzman Sep 16th, 2006 Link

Wow Gabe, that is awesome news! The same thing happened to me about three weeks ago, so I can relate to your excitement. So from one A.D. to another, I raise my sharpie in salute. Here’s to you! You’ve got such a great sense of style and brand awareness, I can’t imagine you being anything but gloriously successful.

It’s bittersweet to hear of your transition out from behind the wheel of MotoringFile. But I think we all know that even in Db’s capable hands, you’ll still be the soul of MF. You’ve made a remarkable impact upon the landscape of the MINI community - fostering a place that’s become the real interface point between the MINI brand and the enthusiast community. That’s pretty amazing in my book. BMW should throw down some early retirement benefits for you or something.

But most of all, I just really appreciate how MotoringFile has always been executed with style, energy, and above all, class. So it’s good to know that you’ll still be around and contributing. It certainly wouldn’t be the same without you.

Are you going to teach Db how to win at “games of chance?” He’ll have to come by breaking news somehow. ;-)

And wait a second, does this mean that now you’re eligible for “post of the month?” How am I supposed to compete with that? ;-)

If you ever find yourself in Lincoln or Omaha, I owe you a pint or two of Empyrian Ale my friend. Cheers, and best of luck in your new gig!

NS in NE

Nathaniel Salzman Sep 16th, 2006 Link

As for you, Db, I can’t imagine anybody better suited to take the reigns than you. Are you still going to let Gabe read the news on WRR?

O(=^=)O Capn Sep 16th, 2006 Link

Eh, I just see it continuing on as the same old favorite website that it always has been. Db, good choice. He will continue to do fine. It’s not goodbye, just different.

DB Cooper, never thought of it before, very funny.

peter@m7tuning Sep 16th, 2006 Link

Congrats from all of us here at M7.

Gabe thank you for everything and I wish you all the luck in your new endevour.

Don I’m sure the future will be very exciting, and if we can be of any help, please call me any time…

peter
Team M7

Taylor Sep 16th, 2006 Link

Pretty awesome to see it all come together, Gabe! Congratulations!

Let’s hope it will be a long, long time before you’re sticking your credit card in the receipts slot….

badburro Sep 16th, 2006 Link

What more can I say that I hasn’t already been said? Congrats on your new endeavors. I’ve been an avid motoringfile reader before the name change to motoringfile.com and have been visiting the site daily. In fact, your experience with selling your MC provided the impetus for me to sell my 03 MCS and pick up a 06 MCSc. Thanks again, Gabe for all you’ve provided to MINI enthusiasts around the world. I look forward to following the “new” motoringfile daily.

Paul L Sep 16th, 2006 Link

Like Batman and Robin. Only this time it’s Robin’s turn to wear the utility belt!

Gabe, best of luck as you move on to bigger and better things. DB, no doubt the MINI community gives its’ full support as you take over.

Cheers!

Yoda Sep 17th, 2006 Link

Gabe, seeing less of your name on posts and articles makes me feel something is missing.

Greg W Sep 17th, 2006 Link

Who would have guessed that when new MINI was introduced to the USA that it woul be an unprecedented success. And the passion and foresight of Gabe to start the MF site. But when things gain momentum, like a snowball it becomes unstoppable. The time and effort needed to run this site must be enormous and I guess unless it puts bread on the table you gotta concentrate on your day job.
Best wishes to all from down-under New Zealand.

Trick Sep 18th, 2006 Link

Congrats Gabe! I’m certain you’ll have a great time over there.

Congrats to DB as well on getting the MF reigns.

Gabe Sep 18th, 2006 Link

Thanks everyone! Like I said above I’ll still be writing some content, and doing reviews so you’ll still see my name around. It just won’t be as much as in the past.

Now I’ll try to answer a few specific questions from above:

It’s bittersweet to hear of your transition out from behind the wheel of MotoringFile. But I think we all know that even in Db’s capable hands, you’ll still be the soul of MF. You’ve made a remarkable impact upon the landscape of the MINI community - fostering a place that’s become the real interface point between the MINI brand and the enthusiast community. That’s pretty amazing in my book. BMW should throw down some early retirement benefits for you or something.

Sounds like a fantastic idea to me! They know where they can find me :)

But most of all, I just really appreciate how MotoringFile has always been executed with style, energy, and above all, class.

That really means a lot - thanks.

If you ever find yourself in Lincoln or Omaha, I owe you a pint or two of Empyrian Ale my friend. Cheers, and best of luck in your new gig!

Thanks - mental note as been made!

Good luck in the new job, and thanks for not leaving us out in the cold. Let me know the next time your in Saint Lou, or I am sure I will spill some beer with you and Jonathan at The Dragon.

Noted! And yes I plan on being at the Dragon next year.

Carol and I will offer you some congratulatory beer and free pretzels next year at MOTD BrewSwap ‘07.

Okay, beer and pretzels, noted!

As much time as I have spent browsing this site I definitely owe you a pint or three next time I am up there to visit the ‘rents.

I’ll gladly accept :)

Good luck in your new job, and I still owe you at least a pint if I ever get over to Chicago.

thanks!

Heather Sep 18th, 2006 Link

best of luck to you gabe, you deserve all the world has to offer !!!

and welcome don…

db Sep 18th, 2006 Link

As for you, Db, I can’t imagine anybody better suited to take the reigns than you. Are you still going to let Gabe read the news on WRR?

Thanks! And yes, Gabe will still be reading the news. Unless he gets too busy, then I think Todd or I will be able to fumble through it. ;)

whiteroofradio.com » Woofcast #95 Sep 18th, 2006 Link

[...] Updates and changes. Gabe explains the changes at Motoringfile and does a mini-review of a BMW he test drove. Todd does go on and on AND on about the JCW and his GP (again), then tells me not only that I can’t handle a JCW, but then caps on the Cooper a bit (again). Let him have it gang! He was warned. [...]

MotoringFile » Archive » White Roof Radio #95 Sep 19th, 2006 Link

[...] Updates and changes. Gabe explains the changes at Motoringfile and does a mini-review of a BMW he test drove. Todd does go on and on AND on about the JCW and his GP (again), then tells me not only that I can’t handle a JCW, but then caps on the Cooper a bit (again). Let him have it gang! He was warned. [...]

Pretty Tonie Sep 19th, 2006 Link

Gabe,

Are you a raging alcholic? Why doesn’t anyone offer you a bagel or something?

Gabe Sep 19th, 2006 Link

Are you a raging alcholic? Why doesn’t anyone offer you a bagel or something?

No I’m really not that much of a drinker… but if you’re offering I’ll take a bagel! Actually I prefer fresh fruit more than anything - I’m thinking something like a pluot or a mango?

alpinamike Sep 20th, 2006 Link

Like on Sienfeld, Gabe(george) will also have to be locked into the executive bathroom to write for motoringfile ;)