jaredtebo

Hey Ryan and all rc tech readers. I do not come on these much, but this was a pretty interesting topic. I did enjoy reading most of these posts. To give my 2 cents.

Rc is a hobby to most, just like car racing, motocross, golf...it is also a sport to some, just like the others I mentioned. For me it is a sport and something I truley love. There are a small few that make a living.....let me make that clear to the people...small few!!! I am lucky enough to be one of those few. I really enjoy it and would not trade it for anything. I am very blessed for my situation.

It is very tough though like Ryan said. By the way congrats on the 10 year deal....I thought I was crazy to do 5 years. There is so much more work put in than most think. We all race multiple classes and have to drive alot. We have to always have nice looking and great working cars. I can't go to the track and have a dirty car with worn out tires and just have fun a drive around. I have to be Jared Tebo everytime I go to the track. Most people don't see that. If I get beat on a club night....it is like a wild fire on the websites and it isn't really that good. Then all the traveling and racing at the big races. The real work is at home.

For an example: The 1/8 worlds. I only ran 1/8 buggy for the 2 months before the worlds. I built 3 new cars for practice and for racing the worlds. And we can't just throw a car together. Then I spent 100s of hours at the track. The month before (october I drove 7 gallons of fuel) I was at the track over 40 hours a week for 3 weeks straight. Went to Thailand to practice. Not to party and just have fun. At the track all day long working on my car and driving all day!!!!

Like JQ stated. It is all about what you want. To me the time was worth it. I had a great week at the worlds and almost got my first 1/8 title. I know how much time and effort I need to do. The companies also know how much time and effort we spend. The drivers that do the time, they make the money. It isn't like big time money, but we are not in a big time industry. If I win every race, Kyosho isn't going to sell a million cars, and I will not make a million dollars.

Look forward to 2011 and seeing everyone at the races. Thanks to all that support rc and give us a chance to do what we love to do.
Jared Tebo

slaytanic

iTrader: (20)

What a great song! Thanks for getting it stuck in my head!

ct#67

I obviously don't know you personally JT, but I have got to say what a well thought out post mate.

I have been following this thread since the initial post and with a bit of luck, your post will draw a line through it for all those that can't seem to understand that the current crop of high profile drivers out there, yourself and Ryan included, are not millionaires and you don't just turn up on race day, zoom a few laps, wave at the fans, smile for the camera, win a trophy or two and bugger off back home to your multi-dollar homes and spend your days between the next big race, just playing about on a full scale RC complex in the backyard and counting the vast piles of money you have earned.

As you and JQ have explained quite plainly, it's all about hard work. What you put in doesn't naturally equate (financially) to what you get out. And this can be applied to almost any sport that has an engine involved, but especially RC competition.

Another point you raised and what a lot of people should remember or try to think about, the next time they see yourself or any other high profile driver out practicing or racing a club meeting etc and before rushing home to condemn whoever it is, on a forum or suchlike, is that anyone can be beaten by anyone.

Having formerly raced motocross at a pretty competitive level, this fact of racing life is a hard one to accept.
And for those that have only stood by the side of a track and not been on the bit that matters, its easy to say this or that about someone who spends their daily life doing nothing but what is a hobby to the critic.

Thats the nature of any form of racing, but especially a key fundemental of what RC racing is all about. The fact that we (joe public) all have access to the same parts etc that you guys use, with the odd exception to R&D parts of course. So with a good set-up, half an idea of what to do and some racing luck, it is possible.
So to criticise, is a failure to understand or appreciate the fact that that particular RC "star", might just want to have a fun days racing and treat it as such. Or they are just plain envious and it's easy to criticise from that side of the fence.
It is a pity that's the way it is, but that's the nature of the beast when you reach a certain level of competition.
Which makes me wonder how well many of the wannabe "RC pro drivers" out there, would handle that kind of pressure everytime they went to the track?

They wouldn't give a sh*t how much money they were "supposedly" making, they'd just want to be left alone and wish for it to be just a hobby again.

jbranham50

iTrader: (1)

JQ, You're 100% correct! By also reading what Jared wrote, kind of what I already knew, about 40 hour practice weeks is just something I'm not as fortunate to be able to do. I do work very hard though to race at the level I do race at, one because I want to compete with the best and win but also because I LOVE to do it. I feel very fortunate to race at the level that I do race at and be provided with the equipment to do so.

I understand the commitment that guys like Ryan, Jared, Cody, JQ and many others make each year to travel, be away from family and friends for periods of a time, the 100 billion hours spent in the garage wrenching and testing. There is a lot of sacrafice involed to make this a profession but like many of you have stated "I would do it too if I had the chance".

I give a lot of respect to the guys who do make a living racing RC cars and hope one day that this is the norm and that RC can support its sport, drivers and fans like SX does.

tp

iTrader: (1)

Jq is the man! You are absolutely right, hard work is what it takes to get good results..... I have put in as many hours as possible in between working full time and our crappy weather. Lol i plan on working even harder this year now that i know i will be racing you alot more!

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the races

Tp

DS Motorsport

iTrader: (2)

I agree on the practice and the mentality to win part.
But I think the money part is a lot more important as you say it is.
When you want to practice every week, and compete at the big races you will need a lot of money, more then most people are able to spend.
Until club level or so most are able to have the budget needed to compete.
But when you get to a national and european level the budget needed to compete will go through the roof.
I race 1/10 onroad and on such a level you are looking at 10K euros (14K$) a year, this is quite a lot for the average guy, and even more for a 22 year old student.

houston

iTrader: (96)

Who are you kidding you lil turd?!

You don't even practice but you go to worlds and finish 13th , you are amazing taylor!

tell your old man I said hi!
Cabin fever?

JQ

HAHA, yes me too. The last 3 years or so my focus has been elsewhere, but now I am back trying to make it happen! Going to be working hard to get to the top and get some wins, and most importantly destroying you and earning chicken fingers. At this point I owe you some.

JQ

I disagree. I started fooling around with RC when I was 16, because then I had the money to buy a car. I started racing when I was 17, and when I was 19 I went to USA for 3 months, got up to speed, and then I got all sorts of sponsors.

I did all that with money from my summer jobs, as I was going to school I wasn't working full time. I bought second hand cars off the local top drivers, and used my money wisely. My main focus was to get max track time, and make the best of what I had.

I live in Finland, where we have a 5 month season, and not a very high level of competition.

So I really do think that anyone with the possibility to live with their family, have a summer job, can make it in RC.

But the trick is to start early, so when you reach 20 you are already at he top and getting paid :-) I didn't get the memo.

I started too late, but now I hope I managed to create a situation where I can race a lot and still have a future eventhough I'm 27 :-)

houston

iTrader: (96)

you are a good guy Joseph , great rapport and charisma make you special (not short bus special ) , i think (or hope) you will have a long standing career in the RC field and are able to keep yourself in the black.

good luck with your endeavor bro

gonna be at the nitro challenge?

pitpop

TP is going to practice?! God help us!

calrosse

Hey everyone, well I don't really want to be a PRO DRIVER I just want to own the facility that brings in the Big GUYs to race. Thats what I want, and that is what I am saving my pennies for.

Love this thread, gives alot of insight on what you guys have to go through. Thank you.



Schuyler

bgbelden

iTrader: (8)

Find a job you enjoy so much that you would do it for free, and if you get paid doing it, it's just icing on the cake.
I pay to race, i would love to be paid to race.

DuckStang

iTrader: (14)

Very nice. Thanks for the good read, really enjoyed all 9 pages. Thanks for a "peek" inside a pro driver's life. I had no idea, my perception went 180 degrees.

bgbelden

iTrader: (8)

I don't believe an Rc car that can travel as fast as the speed limit, spins at 40,000 rpm, burns the same fuel as dragsters and can seriously maime and injure anyone in the way, should be considered a "toy". Lego's never put a knot in my chin or cracked a skull.
Just like any sport, you need endurance for the hour long main and the watery eyes, shaking hands and emotional ups and downs of every lap while you compete for the victory. doesn't sound like childs play to me.
P.S. I hope all the big dogs make loads of money.