Car, bike fans invited to new, free online social network

Owners or even just fans of cars, trucks, pretty much anything with engines, are asked to be part of MotorSpaceNW.com, a new free online social network.

The free site for vehicle enthusiasts went live in September, and allows registered members to be part of a connected free online community with a shared love of autos, motorcycles, trucks, and all things motor-related from the past, the present or still in development.

MotorspaceNW.com was created by the Digital Products Division at The Spokesman-Review, and was created after seeing a growing interest in SpokesmanAuto, which appears each Saturday as a section in the newspaper, and is available anytime online SpokesmanAuto.com.

“Clearly the Inland Northwest is a car-lovers’ haven, with classic car shows, auto auctions, drag racing and all kinds of motor-related activities most of the year,” said Shaun O’L. Higgins, director of sales and marketing. “It made sense to capture all things motor-related in one place — including a vast marketplace of new and used autos.”

Already 176 members strong, MotorSpaceNW.com appeals to not only car nuts around the country, but also those who are into RVs, NASCAR, collector cars, drag racing, the scooter scene, and more. The site features new daily postings, and users can share pictures and videos and check out local “motor” events.

They can also search member profiles to find common interests and forge new relationships. Examples of profile questions include: Favorite Car, Favorite Car Movies, Club Memberships, Favorite Auto Web Sites, “Things that drive you nuts when you see other drivers doing them,” and Auto Racing preference: (NASCAR, Formula 1, etc.).

Other site features include:

• Groups — Discussion groups focus on specific vehicle types, car categories, as well as themes such as “Wish I Had a Cool Car.”

• Blogs — Regular postings about cars in general and auto humor is shared by Brandon Seiler, a local car fan and area writer. There’s also space for all members to easily create their own blogs and start writing, or comment on other postings. Current topics include gas prices and electric cars.

• Forums — Users can search topics like “Classic Cars,” “Car Buying/Leasing,” “Scooters,” and “My first car was a …” to find places to express their interest and/or share in discussion with others.

Visitors to SpokesmanAuto.com and MotorSpaceNW.com can also find free auto racing games, weekly NASCAR round-ups, the ability to buy and sell new and used cars, keep up to date on car industry news, and even calculate payments on their next auto loan.

MotorSpaceNW.com and SpokesmanAuto.com are only two of many digital offerings created and maintained by the S-R Marketing Division’s digital development team, headed by Kathleen Coleman, Director of Online Business Operations and New Product Development. Other web sites in The Spokesman-Review’s digital lineup include Awayfinderonline.com, which features travel tips and a guide to regional road trips. Information about golf and regional courses is offered at GoGolfNW.com, and more than 25,000 businesses listings are provided at the award-winning BizFinderNW.com, an online directory service.

The newspaper’s primary web site, SpokesmanReview.com — whose content and design are managed by the paper’s newsroom, under the direction of Ryan Pitts — is the No. 1 regional news, advertising and information site, with about 3.5 million page-views per month. It received the Online News Association’s “General Excellence” award for medium (100,000 to 1 million monthly visitors) news sites in October 2005, honorable mention in 2006 for Best Overall News Site in its circulation bracket, by the Newspaper Association of America’s Digital Edge awards.

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