VerticalScope Inc., owner and operator of the Internet’s largest network of automotive and powersports web sites, today announced that it has acquired Off-Road.com from Advanstar Communications Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “Off-Road.com is a great fit with our portfolio of premier auto and powersports web sites, which include brands such as Motorcycle.com, ATV.com and AutoGuide.com,” said Rob Laidlaw, CEO of VerticalScope. “We grow our business through acquisitions and we are extremely excited about adding Off-Road.com to our network. Both enthusiasts and advertisers will benefit from the content, community and cross-marketing synergies with our current network of 140 automotive sites and 65 powersports sites.”

I have long touted the principle of self-sufficiency and regularly integrate it into my work ethic as well as the work itself. From an editorial standpoint, this translated into articles that identified the lifestyle of self-reliance. This played well, as most of my life after newspapers has existed in the outdoors or automotive world, specifically the off-road and powersports industries. Therein, my passion was for the real life application and core lifestyle aspect of the industry and not the overplayed editorial advertising puff pieces orchestrated through the overzealous marketing department. I loved the down home how-to articles on the techniques and methods that would make one effectively self-sufficient when embarking upon adventure.

Last week, on the crux of moving forward on several projects and completing critical phases of others I had a hard drive failure. Fortunately, I run my primary machine with multiple hard drives for real-time backup and likewise back them up via remote backup applications such as Carbonite. Now, in updating Google Docs for several real-time client collaboration folders, I figured it a good idea to further collaborate via Google Wave, and in doing so, I began to realize a powerful platform for every facet of my life in media. From managing editorial, business, ecommerce, advertising, marketing, publishing, planning and conceptualizing, Google Wave is a very interesting and highly extensible platform that ought to be considered for its potential power in communications.

Today’s navigation throughout the web fringe takes me back to web advertising as well as overall off-road industry marketing. But let's at least stick to the web perspective for the time being. Now, from the publisher’s perspective, I have great disdain for a reliance upon ad networks, especially when it comes to fashioning a business model based solely upon advertising for its revenue stream. I have fought this venture with entrepreneurs greater than I but fought it nevertheless, basing my reasoning upon tangible principalities and subsequent results. Inevitably, the few whom I am speaking of have lost on such entrepreneurial web efforts time and again. Now let's get it straight. I have yet to make my own fortune but have managed to make a decent living making others their fortunes.

I am hereby breaking into the business of making news of someone else's hard work. I toss a quick quip and a sensational array of edgy words. It's artistry and engaging. I don't dictate onto the masses. I embrace them. I call it news aggregation. It's nothing more than a modified blog of slightly more important subject matter. Yet it's news. I am a news aggregator. It's word of mouth marketing. I merely regurgitate what I refer to as news and do unto it like a cow chews cud. The normal method of consumption is chew, swallow, stomach and dump. So goes the old ways of the news world. The newspaper is virtually dead. Now, we mouth off a bit, chew it, swallow it, and combine the final two stages into one, regurgitating facts and opinion amid social media outlets and thereby commence into the abyss of new age reporting until the fad fades into emptiness.

When it comes to technology and even social media, the Off-Road Industry (OFFROAD NATION) remains in a stooper, in part due to the archaic-minded mavens at the helm and likewise due to the snake oil salesmen who have delivered these the industry a sour taste of used car salesmanship. This remains true from aftermarket parts manufacturers to race promoters. I have my array of email accounts and keyword search tools that scan the web and more specifically the more prominent aspects of social media, scanning for anything pertaining to marketing, social media, public relations and e-commerce. Many of these search queries are focused intensely upon the overall #OFFROAD industry but delve into the #POWERSPORTS, #AUTOMOTIVE, #ACTIONSPORTS, #4X4 and related realms. Though, the update that arrived just moments ago was from one of my underground insiders, who forwarded me the content from an RDC thread, which opens as follows: