Pistonheads: Behind the Scenes!

[TTGuy]

Looking at the website, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the pistonheads consists of a few guys in some make-shift office typing whatever comes into their head that day directly onto the main page! Yet, with relatively well-worded news stories and reviews, and given the popularity of the site, surely there's a large team of subeditors etc checking everything before it's published online?!

Simiarly, the forums - very old fashioned looking, no fancy logos, pictures or cool graphics - all looks like it was designed by a student who has just completed a first year computer language course and has kept everything as simple as possible!

Is this online image intentional? Designed to fool the public into thinking that the whole thing is run by a few guys in a shed, when in reality pistonheads is probably a relatively large corporate organisation with HR and marketing departments?!

So, basically, how does pistonheads work behind the scenes?!

[ImDesigner]

How complimentary of you.

[KaraK]

I for one love the "low-gloss" style of the forums - makes them that much more inconspicuous at work!

[schmalex]

I like the forums being plain. There's nothing worse than trying to decypher genuine input from within flashy graphic and little statements. That is the one thing that drives me away from other forums

[Shaw Tarse]

Another vote for the "simple" look!

[0a]

TTGuy said:

Looking at the website, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the pistonheads consists of a few guys in some make-shift office typing whatever comes into their head that day directly onto the main page

Amusing!

[Wacky Racer]

Don't fix wot ain't broke.

[ikarl]

Wacky Racer said:

Don't fix wot ain't broke.

absolutely

I for one, hope it doesn't change!

[StottyZr]

Valid question tbh.

I'm happy believing its being run by a few enthusiasts from a fancy shed

[300bhp/ton]

TTGuy said:

Simiarly, the forums - very old fashioned looking, no fancy logos, pictures or cool graphics - all looks like it was designed by a student who has just completed a first year computer language course and has kept everything as simple as possible!

Personally I like the look and feel, it's refreshing to have such a simple clean interface and website.

Big flashing logo's, images and all that tat just make pages load slow, esp on mobile devices. Crowd the page and make it less pleasant user experience.

[CBR JGWRR]

StottyZr said:

Valid question tbh.

I'm happy believing its being run by a few enthusiasts from a fancy shed

Plus 1.

[paulrussell]

There are two people in management, three writers and four techies I believe. There could be more, but I haven't seen them in the forums.

[PHuzzy]

By the sounds of it you'd like an all access backstagedoor pass

[rpguk]

It started that way and the site has been a gradual development from those days with I'd say lots of old legacy code holding things together. It works and PHers are not fans of change so rebuilding everything from scratch would be a nightmare and not appreciated (just look at the classifieds saga!)

I for one would prefer any budget to be focused on editorial rather than technical improvements as that is where Haymarkets strength is.

Except the search, maybe a few crumbs in that direction would be wise I'd love to know what the big technical barrier there is.

[Pixel Pusher]

Here's one of the PH office.

You'll notice Paul on the phone and unless I'm mistaken, that's Stuart standing at the back there.

[StottyZr]

Pixel Pusher said:

Here's one of the PH office.

You'll notice Paul on the phone and unless I'm mistaken, that's Stuart standing at the back there.

[MattDell]

Pixel Pusher said:

Here's one of the PH office.

You'll notice Paul on the phone and unless I'm mistaken, that's Stuart standing at the back there.

The core PH team is smaller than that.

Oh, and do compliment Switch on his perm if you're at the Autosport Show this weekend.

[Grenoble]

Imagine a tin can linked up to an abacus as the server room, with an etchasketch as the failover.

[C3BER]

Started with Ted coding away to create a bespoke site and when Ted sold it he hid the code book.