New to the hobby Race class

[rcfisher]

1st of all, this question mostly applies to the new RC truck/buggy/car owners that would like a challenging place to run their rides. Also includes backyard bashers that may have even had a vehicle for a small bit & have been reluctant to attend a race venue, & also the new guys that have attended a race or 2 & have had to race much more experienced drivers even in what they (the racers) prefer to call the (STOCK) class. I'm here to say enough of that lacluster concept. ROOOOT ROOOOT & some Waaaaa!!!!!

And all this while you just were wanting or interested in driving on an actual prepared &/or fun track & just wanting a place to race against some individuals within your own skill level. Trust me I started there & there is by NO MEANS anything wrong with that concept!!!!!

It's just that nothing ever seems to be set up that way because the(experienced) all want every driver available to be in the classes that "we or they" run, so there is a better quantity turnout. It is perhaps then, that maybe sometimes, perhaps the new guy would like to just say, "Bite Me", you Fast or Experienced Guys, "I would like to show up to your inviting facility & try out racing if you would just let us new guys race for a bit berore we are actually required to become or establish a True Class of where we might want or wish to race".

Also to the best of the best, feel free to chime in here with all of your stories of mass experience, but from what I have witnessed, none of that has been completely beneficial in anyway as to improving the numbers of the sport or turnout from the new racer. Atleast not effectively within any of my observations.

So I guess what I am asking the new racer, the small guy, the "hey I'm just learning how to tune this dang thing" guy........is

What does everyone new that may be interested in racing, think about having a class (or 2 or 3? if needed) to Just Plain Racing With The Fellow New Guys & if only 1 class? might be a T-maxx racing a RC-10 racing a Savage racing a Duratrax Evader racing a Jammin CTR .5, etc etc......

I'm not even sure about what track I am refering to as to having this oppurtunity yet or if any, or to which track would even agree to participate.

And that is which to whom I admiringly say, BEST OF LUCK TO THE NEW GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are all who keeps this sport/hobby alive.

ANYONE interetsed please reply.This hobby does in need, need you.

[theDover]

Originally Posted by rcfisher

1st of all, this question mostly applies to the new RC truck/buggy/car owners that would like a challenging place to run their rides. Also includes backyard bashers that may have even had a vehicle for a small bit & have been reluctant to attend a race venue, & also the new guys that have attended a race or 2 & have had to race much more experienced drivers even in what they (the racers) prefer to call the (STOCK) class. I'm here to say enough of that lacluster concept. ROOOOT ROOOOT & some Waaaaa!!!!!

And all this while you just were wanting or interested in driving on an actual prepared &/or fun track & just wanting a place to race against some individuals within your own skill level. Trust me I started there & there is by NO MEANS anything wrong with that concept!!!!!

It's just that nothing ever seems to be set up that way because the(experienced) all want every driver available to be in the classes that "we or they" run, so there is a better quantity turnout. It is perhaps then, that maybe sometimes, perhaps the new guy would like to just say, "Bite Me", you Fast or Experienced Guys, "I would like to show up to your inviting facility & try out racing if you would just let us new guys race for a bit berore we are actually required to become or establish a True Class of where we might want or wish to race".

Also to the best of the best, feel free to chime in here with all of your stories of mass experience, but from what I have witnessed, none of that has been completely beneficial in anyway as to improving the numbers of the sport or turnout from the new racer. Atleast not effectively within any of my observations.

So I guess what I am asking the new racer, the small guy, the "hey I'm just learning how to tune this dang thing" guy........is

What does everyone new that may be interested in racing, think about having a class (or 2 or 3? if needed) to Just Plain Racing With The Fellow New Guys & if only 1 class? might be a T-maxx racing a RC-10 racing a Savage racing a Duratrax Evader racing a Jammin CTR .5, etc etc......

I'm not even sure about what track I am refering to as to having this oppurtunity yet or if any, or to which track would even agree to participate.

But I will definately commit to this, for the new guy....... whatever you choose to run at the time, specific prizes for your car brand or local prefered hobby shop within distance of the track that you run at! Prizes awarded for stuff such as "Most Improved New Driver", "Best New Self Painted Body", "Best New Corner Marshall", & of course some big ass trophies for serious series New Class continders. I will personally commit nothing less than $500 to this new format to any track or tracks commitment to this format! And as said before, happy to work out the details later on. unless we are all against new, younger, future,, &/or faster racers.

And that is which to whom I admiringly say, BEST OF LUCK TO THE NEW GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are all who keeps this sport/hobby alive.

ANYONE interetsed please reply.This hobby does in need, need you.

This is 09 guys & its about time time that we play it right. LUV.

OK, but isn't that called Novice Class? You know, run what'cha brung?
Not trying to be a smart@ss but....is that what you mean? Our Onroad track has Novice Class. Some tracks don't even have enough newbie entries for that class. Maybe I'm reading this wrong???? Elaborate please.

[touringdriver]

i think the class your speaking of rcfisher is theNOVICE CLASS!!!!. which i believe don't exsist much anymore. IT SHOULD! so more power to your crucade...... they pay to play not to get lapped 10 times each race. we all started this hobby wrecking every 20-30 feet. if you didn't your lying.

[theDover]

Originally Posted by touringdriver

we all started this hobby wrecking every 20-30 feet. if you didn't your lying.

20-30, Pffft! Please....8-12 for me.

[Georgeshobby]

as a person who should've raced in that class this past year, I would say a resounding "AMEN!" And, as everyone knows, I was attempting to wreck the entire way around the course! The 2 previous posters have helped me IMMENSELY in at least looking like I can make it down the straightaway!

[higs]

Have you been reading my journal??? HA!

Complete newbie here. I have attended one practice session to watch, a used evader purchased off ebay on the way, and ZERO experience on racing, tuning, preping, etc a R/C vehicle. I am excited for the opportunity, but nervous about what I am facing with my first event entry...

This sounds about perfect for someone like me if it isn't already in place.

[rcfisher]

Deleted the cash statement. I can't do that for all & any track.

[rcfisher]

Originally Posted by theDover

OK, but isn't that called Novice Class? You know, run what'cha brung?
Not trying to be a smart@ss but....is that what you mean? Our Onroad track has Novice Class. Some tracks don't even have enough newbie entries for that class. Maybe I'm reading this wrong???? Elaborate please.

Yes. pretty much the novice class. But it seems that most of the time the first thing a track does is divide them up by what they brought into seperate novice classes. Then it ends up with not enough to run & they get mixed right back into the regular classes. So I guess if it needs to be, then call it the Run What You Brung class if that is less confusing.

Also. Not having enough newbie entries is exactly why I posted this.

[theDover]

Nah, like Jakes for an example, Novice is filled with 4wd, 2wd, and Trucks. No separation. Onroad is gonna be a little different, (maybe) depends on turnout, but I'm sure we will still group all of them together.

[porter]

The thing is, at jakes it is run what you brung, but you end up with some guys out there with way too much motor. A novice class needs to be limited to 27t stock at most 19t, or brushless equivelant to either. I would say RTR 17t are ok, that way a new guy doesn't have to go spend another $30 for a stock motor just to see if they like racing or not.

I know "we're all there just for fun" but I still believe it makes a lot funner for the new guys if they have a vehicle they can keep better control of. And also know in the back of there head that the person standing next to them isn't running 5 times the motor they have, and thinking that's the only reason why the other guys in front of them.

I watched Brian Stifflers new girl friend run for the very first time ever on a closed race course. Brian turned the epa down on his speedo so the car drove like it had a stock motor. In heat three she was cruising around the track in complete control of her vehicle. There was only one jump that was giving her all kinds of problems because I think the esc. was turned down just a bit too low, but I truely believe had it not been for that jump she would have TQ'ed the novice class on her very first race night, simply because she could control her car. While the other guys had much more motor, and tended to over jump alot of obsticals, over shoot turns, and just had a heck of a time keeping control of there cars.

It's all just a learning curve. Some pick it up fairly quickly (ala Traver Mullens, for the nitro guys who know what I'm talking about) and some may take a little longer. In my opinion as I've stated several times, and will most likely repeat several more times. If you start out a little slower, the more you can learn. If you go out balls to the wall, slaming your car into every corner, pinning full tilt over every obstical, more than likely your going to have nothing but trouble, get frustrated and maybe walk away from the hobby.

All the so called "Fast Guys" you know now started out in some form of novice class. And I'm pretty sure all had a motor limit. Scranton, and Mikes both, you vetrans out there know what I'm talkin about, so chime in if you feel so.

It all goes back to where the newbie purchased his gear from and if the hobby shop took the time to try and explain to the newbie, what it takes to learn how to RACE an R/C..... RACE.... not BASH, 2 completely seperate sides of the R/C hobby.

Well, I think that's long enough. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong or right I think this is a topic that realy needs to brought up and talked about in Topeka.

[porter]

For the nitro side I think it's a little more difficult to limit the engines. I'd say if you have a RTR monster truck, 1/8 B or T then cool, run in the novice class. If a guy shows with a fully blown Kyosho MP9, O.S. speed, etc. and says this is there first time and he has the stuff that the hobby shop told him to purchase to race with us....... Then no, they have to run in at least the intermiediate class.

Make sense?

[theDover]

Originally Posted by porter

All the so called "Fast Guys" you know now started out in some form of novice class. And I'm pretty sure all had a motor limit. Scranton, and Mikes both, you vetrans out there know what I'm talkin about, so chime in if you feel so.

ABSOLUTELY!

Back when I first started we didn't have these RTRs that are soooo readily available. They are EVERYWHERE!
I started in Scranton with a used Traxxas TRX1 (hoorah) and a Futaba Magnum Sport Radio that came with a MC210B Reversable ESC. Bought a couple 1200 and 1400 NiCds and a stock 24deg. motor. Whalah! We're not talking about anything close to the speeds of today. I raced in the Novice class for like 3 or 4 months believe it or not. I new that I couldn't race Novice a couple of times and jump right in with the "Fast Guys". I had people there to tell me what I was doing wrong or right. SLOWLY started to upgrade. By upgrade I mean tires, *NEW* 1700 NiCds () and worked my way into the Stock Class.

Now times were different back then. I was a young teenager and I still remember the times to this day where I felt very intimidated by the Fast Guys. Like asking questions where the answer may have been quite obvious to them but frustrating for me. Or even small details or tips on driving or chassis or motor maintanance. I don't want to say this expecting pity or anything like that but there are a few people still around to this day whom may have made me feel inferior or belittled in the past. Did I accept this to fit in? Maybe, Maybe Not. But I can say this....those people made me a better driver, knowingly or not, because it pushed me to a specific learning curve. And those people are still my friends to this day. I am really happy that all these years later, we are still showing up at the track BSing with each other and still racing.

Now I say all of this because I do realize that I'm not "that" racer anymore. A new and/or a younger generation of racer is now here. And they are the ones with all the struggles, questions, and inquiries I once had. I want to be the guy who helps the other out. I want to be the guy that that person comes to with a question. Not for self glamorization but knowing still to this day what it was like and just plain out right being the nice guy. Helping someone else.

I think this is the reason I want to be so involved with the Onroad track. Given such an opportune place to catch the eye of the next generation racer. I know that all you veterans know that NE Kansas has not had a track here, ever, that has had as much exposure to our hobby as that Onroad Track does, Huh? You all know it. Thats why I'll sit back and take these pop shots any day about a kiss@ss Porter.

I do believe we need to grow our Novice Classes back on every track around. But I also believe these RTRs are not making it easy and they are readily availiable in every form of racing. I say this because these cars are more powerful compared to the ones I started with. Could this be a reason??? I leave that to the other vets. Its hard to maintain that class when your average Newbie starts off with wanting to backyard bash or street race with it first, then decides to race and brings these ballistic RTRs and other kits to the track. I don't blame the LHS for that. Thats what the consumers want. SPEED! How can you turn them down?? Then they want to come race it. How can you turn that entry fee down???

I may have gotten a little off point but thanks for reading.....hope this starts other discussion.

[theDover]

Well....
What is obvious, and you veterans know this is to be true, we all started out with MUCH slower kits and MUCH slower power than these guys are today. Was it slightly easier to for us to learn how to drive? Maybe, Maybe not?
Technology definetly has changed, drastically. Maybe thats the point I'm trying to make. Who knows?

[touringdriver]

Dover your still slow! gear up dude!

[theDover]

Originally Posted by touringdriver

Dover your still slow! gear up dude!

I know old man, I know.