How Stangnet Began

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues
5 Year Member
Dec 29, 2017
3,962
2,943
153
Long Island, NY
I was always curious to the backstory of how Stangnet began, and evolved to what it is today.
I see a lot of “Founding Member” tags……
was this a group where everyone knew each other and started this up?
Like I said, just curious….. so figured I’d throw this out there.
 
I have no idea how it started, it was around before I was, most forum sites kind of started over around 2k with forum style updates.. I do remember something about pro3i and MM a little later on when stangnet was kind of selling parts, bought a few pro3I and mac parts threw the storefront. so many sites over the years. So long ago and so many memebers have come and gone now.

I was on corral first I think, when it was the old bbs? Style forum, had aol back them, think I had a different SN at first, had this one way too long lol, my avatar pics got to be from around 2000-2001ish?. Most regulars where on all the different sites, think local wise in tri-state area. NJ pa de.etc for mustangs by me it was mainly SSOTN or a lot of the old Street racing/dragracing sites that are long gone where everyone kind of new each other or met and sold parts etc. I knew lots of locals from all of them, mostly from buying used parts or selling them, big part of the forums for me was finding budget parts back then. I don't think I bought any new performance parts until I was well into my 20's lol. Sadly a lot of people I met over the years and became friends with threw these cars have passed away at young ages. I'm 41, started on most of the sites around 15 or 16 since I bought mine before I could even drive. I learned to drive a stick with a super fubar clutch cable in my coupe. I thought a heavy ass clutch was normal lol. Used to go to nmra every year it was at atco, and met a bunch of ppl from that off the sites. There where guys i would give parts for free and the same in return or help at the track if needed. I kind of stopped visiting most forums when they all got bought up by that Canadian company and social media started to win out over forums though and I took a break from cars for a bunch of years when a few friends and my father passed around the same time frame.
 
I first fell in love with the Mustang after seeing the 94 SN models. I was only 11 at the time, but that car seriously had me wishing to be able to drive, but drive a Mustang. Fast forward to 99 when the first new edge model came out. I was head-over-heels! It was also around this time that the internet was really taking off (granted is was only AOL and dial-up at that point). I took my passion to the net and read/joined ANYTHING Mustang related. I found stangnet in either 99 or 00, I cant remember. I had my first account a few years. Didnt participate much because everthing-Mustang was still 5.0.

Then comes 2002 and I graduated high school as the valedictorian and my parents ABSOLUTELY BLEW ME AWAY when we got home a few hours later and there was a brand new MINT 2001 Oxford White GT sitting in the driveway. I ditched my old account and started fresh. 23 years later and I still miss that thing with every fiber of my being.
 
I came along after I bought my 96 GT in 2003. I joined to get tips on performance and upgrades and this was the first forum I joined. I then had memberships at the other popular forums but always hit this one more frequently. The biggest thing back the was this section. It would be lively until all hours of the morning. I worked nights so I'd get home at 130 or 2 and the "Night Crew" would be here. It was like a chat room of insane idiots. :crazy::cheers:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ronin38
I came along after I bought my 96 GT in 2003. I joined to get tips on performance and upgrades and this was the first forum I joined. I then had memberships at the other popular forums but always hit this one more frequently. The biggest thing back the was this section. It would be lively until all hours of the morning. I worked nights so I'd get home at 130 or 2 and the "Night Crew" would be here. It was like a chat room of insane idiots. :crazy::cheers:
Now it’s more of a “stop in here and there” for the insane idiots!! (Present company included). :cheers:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ronin38
This kinda turned into a “how I first got here” thread, which is cool too, so I’ll share my story. Although I’d still like to hear how @MRaburn got this all going.

First car at 15years old was an inline 6, ‘66 Mustang. My dad taught me all the basics on that and before I had my license, then I found a ‘65 Mustang with a 302 and a 3spd. (Just knew I wanted more speed). The 6cyl was originally an 8, and the 8 originally a 6. We started swapping parts to make ‘‘em both right which taught me a lot. Front end and rear end all swapped to match the right engine.
Then swapped the 3 spd trans for a 4 spd top loader in the ‘65 and I drove the $h!t out of that car. Loved that car………. Til an ‘86 GT stole my heart in about 1992. Drive the p!$$ and $h!t out of that thing!! So much fun!!!!
Had a hiccup and bought a Trans Am in between, and then back to my Ford pickup truck (Lowe Depot runner) when I bought my house, but….. Fast forward to 2017 and I had the opportunity to buy another ‘86 (although aero swapped) and I’m right back to being fully immersed in Mustang heaven. I love this car, but definitely want to add another 65/66 to the stable at some point. (And then then I can hang in that part of Stangnet town too)! I honestly can’t believe it’s been that long already since I joined this site.
…… and oh yeah…… still daily driving that 2002 f150 at only 107,000 miles!!
 
Now it’s more of a “stop in here and there” for the insane idiots!! (Present company included). :cheers:
It beats face book, the majority of those groups are filled with guys looking to only make quick profit off the hobby, spamming merch or horrible advice for the most part.
 
It beats face book, the majority of those groups are filled with guys looking to only make quick profit off the hobby, spamming merch or horrible advice for the most part.
For sure. I’m not into any of the other social media sites (although I do check out Instagram hers and there) I stuck around here because of the knowledge you can gain when you ask a question, and for the general camaraderie from most on the site. The help you get when you ask a question is far batter than any google search!
Even differing opinions in one area, can eventually turn back to, we all love Mustangs!
 
  • Like
Reactions: rednotch
Lol I still don't understand Instagram and refuse to use anything you can't browse before being forced to sign up. Then again I don't use a phone or apps for the internet. Even on tablets I force it to show desktop view.
 
I stumbled upon stangnet when I became a mustang owner.
I bought my first and only stang in 07 and found this forum shortly after.
I'm grateful to be here and thank whomever started this site.
It rocks and keeps my stang rolling.
 
Lol I still don't understand Instagram and refuse to use anything you can't browse before being forced to sign up. Then again I don't use a phone or apps for the internet. Even on tablets I force it to show desktop view.

Ive been on IG for about 3 years and have posted a single thing. IG is my source for eye-candy only lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: rednotch
We need to page @MRaburn and @timeless2 in here.
Isn't there a list of folks with the Founding Member badge, too?

As for me, like others, I found this site when I bought my 2011 GT. First year with the new Coyote engine, and it was the fastest car I've ever owned.
I also stick around for the insane idiots... Hey Noobz, can we get a badge for that? :jester:
 
Ive been on IG for about 3 years and have posted a single thing. IG is my source for eye-candy only lol
I got a mid 20's girl for that.. Don't know what the hell she sees in me but she started it and I ain't complaining.


I have the badge but like I said pretty sure most got that when forums switched software around 2000... Have it on most sites that are still around and they where up before I joined.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ronin38
Well.... when a daddy bulletin board loves a mommy bulletin board very much they share postings and then 9 months later the parts truck shows up with a new baby bulletin board.

:shrug: I'm guessing this in how SN started.

HOLY :poo:......you're so not funny. Keep your ass in the kitchen
 
I started out on newsgroups in the late 90's. Rec.Autos.Manufacturers.Ford.Mustang

Eventually I went over to forums. Corral, Stangnet and Mustangworld.com were my big three forums.
 
I came across it googling info about replacing a power steering rack 5 years ago. Glad to be a part of it, even though I haven’t driven or down anything with my car in quite some time.