for me the forum is my friends network, having only moved to this area recently i don't really know anyone. i get on well with people from work, but i'm still getting to know people. i tend to find i have more in common with the people on the forum than i do with normal people. its been good because i've met people like bullet magnet, who lives near by.
my wife calls me a car geek, this is possibly why i don't know that many people. i took a friend from work with me on the air field day, and although e had fun, i could tell at times he was a little bored, and he wasn't that bothered about driving. i'm friends with his girlfriend as well, and i know she would have had fun as she likes cars as well, but i think my wife would have frowned at that one
i've made more friends through car forums than anywhere else. its such a shame most of you don't live closer, would love to go down the pub with you lot for a laugh and talk cars and random stuff.