Did a little tweaking..
 

A little oversized but used the car color in the forum header.
http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/sampleforum.JPG

Another very sloppy "photo-chop"(shut up I know), but you get the overall idea of a different color scheme. Anyone else wanna take a shot? ;)

Hmm, I'm starting to like the second pic from the left below as a main image, but I'm sure it's copyrighted.

http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/sampleforum2.JPG

Just a tip, that top image is too tall, shorten the height a little, so the forum will move up... less strolling is better :)

i'd recommend a banner size of 468x60 so people can use it as a "banner link" on their personal websites.

they both look better than the mazdaspeed that is there now. I prefer the former though (not sure about the black background).

I shrunk the image down a bit but may still be too large. Thanks Dan and pmac. :)
Tried a black/red because of the OEM site. I have no real design input to Jason but a desire to make this a class-act forum. Take a screenie and have at it in an image program, guys. :D

I could not sit and see you guys having fun with photoshop! ...So I join the bandwagon! :D

I think a darker look works better:

http://www.home.no/xeos/rx8forum.jpg

Notice the Mazdaspeed RX-8 that "jumps" out from the tachomenter!
I copied the look and colors from the official Mazda site. The reds are variations of velocity red... :)

I used printscreen to get the base image of the forum so all sizes should be right.

Daaammnn!! Very very nice!
But we need a stock RX-8 for the time-being.:D

Hehe, maybe we can make a poll out of this? :D

I like the Mazdaspeed version. I think it looks great with a little styling! ;)

Darker site looks cool...

But my cote goes for a 'standard' RX8 - not the skirted and spoilered version...

What's not to like about such subtle spoilers!? :D

Anyway, I made another version:

http://www.home.no/xeos/rx8forum2.jpg

Hm... I have too much time on my hands today :)

very nice. :) quite well done Xeos... i like it.

:p all you whiners about scrolling: try it on 800x600 rez!!!! :p :p :p!! :D heh heh heh

I like the silver mazdaspeed version best so far. I think that any new design should definitely have the 10,000rpm tach in it! :cool:

Thanks :)

Hehe, I'm running my desktop in 1600x1200 :D

I can wiev most of the forum on one page.
You can't beat a big monitor when you want high resolution :cool:

I like! :D
8 X 6 or 1024 X 768 are still pretty much standard rez. :)