View Poll Results: What is your opinion on this topic?
Racing is better now. (Brushless Motors & Lipo Cells)
102
76.69%
Racing was better before. (Brushed Motors & Nimh Cells)
5
3.76%
Racing is racing, I just don't care.
26
19.55%
Voters: 133. You may not vote on this poll
I just need to know, easy question guys.
07-30-2012, 11:29 PM
#16
I also see an issue with new racers coming in because all they seem to want to do is play video games. I discussed this with another member of an unrelated forum and his nephews wanted nothing to do with outdoors or anything other than video games. Plus there is no instant gratification. It takes a minimum of effort to set up a car, charge batteries and fix the car if it breaks and the younger generation is unwilling to put the effort in.
07-30-2012, 11:38 PM
#17
Tech Rookie
[QUOTE=
as mentioned before tracks seem to be limited, i don't really know "how it used to be" here in vancouver, but now it's tough to find places that cater to on-road with a decent track. we have maybe 3 places around town with regular events/track hours. limiting factor #3.
[/QUOTE]
i wish there was more in chicago:/
as mentioned before tracks seem to be limited, i don't really know "how it used to be" here in vancouver, but now it's tough to find places that cater to on-road with a decent track. we have maybe 3 places around town with regular events/track hours. limiting factor #3.
[/QUOTE]
i wish there was more in chicago:/
i live in chicago and i think there's like 1 track an hr way with limited races...
07-31-2012, 02:17 AM
#19
. Costs nothing, and I've rarely seen people so happy with an empty cup 
. On the MACH we once received a small plexiglas trophy with a 3d lazer engraved Formule 1 car. Really looks amazing and rewarding to receive something like that. Looks a lot better than the plastic bowling trophies.
Last edited by 2wdrive; 07-31-2012 at 02:39 AM.
07-31-2012, 05:01 AM
#20
I think the industry has evolved for the better. And I don't feel that prices have really gone up that much. When I was racing before brushless, I was spending $70 for cell batteries (then had to build the pack). Good motors were also in the $70-$100 range. What was the cost of the TC3 FT kit? $400? I bought the Futaba 3PKS for just under $400 when it came out. Tires cost about the same as they do today. I do find myself spending more on the off-road items, but that's primarily due to all the high powered electronics available today.
Personally, I believe a lot of the decline has to do with the availability of online gaming systems. Why spend $800 to $1K for a car, plus track fees when you can turn on your Xbox and race your buddies for $10 a month? Though its all "virtual", they make new friends and can work for "upgrades" on their fleet. Granted, for those of us that race, its not even close to being the same. And, for first time drivers, RC can be pretty frustrating.
I believe that if Clubs continue to offer reasonable track fees and offer beginner programs, then the hobby will continue to grow. People do enjoy getting out of the house. As veteran racers, we should continue to help out the new guys and do what we can to promote the local track/club. The manufacturers have given us everything we need and at a reasonable price. The rest is up to us
Personally, I believe a lot of the decline has to do with the availability of online gaming systems. Why spend $800 to $1K for a car, plus track fees when you can turn on your Xbox and race your buddies for $10 a month? Though its all "virtual", they make new friends and can work for "upgrades" on their fleet. Granted, for those of us that race, its not even close to being the same. And, for first time drivers, RC can be pretty frustrating.
I believe that if Clubs continue to offer reasonable track fees and offer beginner programs, then the hobby will continue to grow. People do enjoy getting out of the house. As veteran racers, we should continue to help out the new guys and do what we can to promote the local track/club. The manufacturers have given us everything we need and at a reasonable price. The rest is up to us
07-31-2012, 08:00 AM
#22
Tech Regular
iTrader: (4)
I'm in the center of the states and we have one 1/10th scale outdoor asphalt onroad track in my town and another indoor carpet track 75 miles away. Off road is more plentiful both indoors and out. The local track is only available race days as it isn't a permanent track. Practice is what I lack and it is hard to come by. Packing up and driving 75 miles each way to practice is not very cost effective for me or practical.
We raced last weekend and we had one guy drive up from another state (about 300 miles away) because he doesn't have a track there. He can go south to another state some 250 miles also. I've raced with others from the same region who made the trek just to race. It's not for a lack of desire, just a lack of venues. If we had a permanent onroad track in town, we would see more racers. I just need to win the lottery and build one...
We raced last weekend and we had one guy drive up from another state (about 300 miles away) because he doesn't have a track there. He can go south to another state some 250 miles also. I've raced with others from the same region who made the trek just to race. It's not for a lack of desire, just a lack of venues. If we had a permanent onroad track in town, we would see more racers. I just need to win the lottery and build one...
07-31-2012, 09:25 AM
#23
Tech Adept
Not so sure I would be happy with a plastic disposable coffee cup. On the MACH we once received a small plexiglas trophy with a 3d lazer engraved Formule 1 car. Really looks amazing and rewarding to receive something like that. Looks a lot better than the plastic bowling trophies.
. On the MACH we once received a small plexiglas trophy with a 3d lazer engraved Formule 1 car. Really looks amazing and rewarding to receive something like that. Looks a lot better than the plastic bowling trophies.Also saves you the embarrasment of having the national championship trophy look cheap next to some of the individual GP trophies (Yes, I'm looking at you, NOMAC
)
07-31-2012, 10:00 AM
#24
Okay, I'm one of the racing is racing guys. That being said, I've been racing for 25 or so years. My take on the current scene vs. the old scene is as follows:
Battery and motor maintenance is GREATLY decreased, expense is relatively the same. You're replacing things less frequently, but they cost significantly more, so that's about equal. It's good that we've cut down battery and motor maintenance, because now the cars are more complex in set-up. So to me, yet again pretty equal. Overall, there's still the quest for horsepower and a dialed chassis. The factors have changed but we're still looking for the thing. That's good in my opinion.
As far as turnouts, the economy is no help, but hardly the only reason. This hobby has always been cyclic in interest. Look at the last two big sweeping trends in the industry. In the 90's electric Off-Road was huge, it dominated the market. Enter the Touring Car, and on-road exploded. Big race turnouts at carpet races here in the US were gigantic, and parking lot tracks were EVERYWHERE. Then came the scourge of shortcourse, and an exodus of On-roaders to the new trend on dirt. It's just how this hobby has always gone. Eventually the pendulum will swing back to On-Road. In some places it's beginning to. There are racers dumping SC trucks, and picking up TC's and 12th scalers, and I really hope that continues.
Battery and motor maintenance is GREATLY decreased, expense is relatively the same. You're replacing things less frequently, but they cost significantly more, so that's about equal. It's good that we've cut down battery and motor maintenance, because now the cars are more complex in set-up. So to me, yet again pretty equal. Overall, there's still the quest for horsepower and a dialed chassis. The factors have changed but we're still looking for the thing. That's good in my opinion.
As far as turnouts, the economy is no help, but hardly the only reason. This hobby has always been cyclic in interest. Look at the last two big sweeping trends in the industry. In the 90's electric Off-Road was huge, it dominated the market. Enter the Touring Car, and on-road exploded. Big race turnouts at carpet races here in the US were gigantic, and parking lot tracks were EVERYWHERE. Then came the scourge of shortcourse, and an exodus of On-roaders to the new trend on dirt. It's just how this hobby has always gone. Eventually the pendulum will swing back to On-Road. In some places it's beginning to. There are racers dumping SC trucks, and picking up TC's and 12th scalers, and I really hope that continues.
I am stunned to admit that for the first time (Maybe ever) I agree with your post. One of of 4,000 is not bad I guess
07-31-2012, 01:50 PM
#25
Tech Master
iTrader: (19)
My $.02 for what its worth.
07-31-2012, 06:57 PM
#26
Btw there is a second but the neighborhood is beyond rough and I wouldnt go there for that reason and no running water.
As for the hobby I can atleast say one major thing. The money needed to start out in the hobby today is way less than what it was when it was when you ran brushed. Granted it may not seem that way at first.
I remember when 1200 mah was huge and you had to drop more money on batteries and motors. Then you had to put new brushes, springs, cut comms, etc. I remember the days when you were getting ready to go through a qualifier and you would be on the stand and they would call for a lineup and then everyone would turn on their cars and hope that 4 minutes later we didn't dump. I remember thinking how are we ever going to get more than 4 minutes. Now you can run so long on these packs.
My only gripe in on-road I still have a bunch of foam tires left.....
Btw---On-Road
Kits--not that much change in price
Battery---You can be competitive with a 50-60 dollar battery--used to be 100 plus with NIMH or NiCD
Motor--You can get for the same price as the older FireHawks etc. $60 range
ESC--Novak Cyclone TC $140 new....--Speed Passion GT 2.1 $130.
Thats mod or stock--To me its cheaper cause there is no maintenance anymore.
Last edited by NolanP; 07-31-2012 at 07:08 PM.
07-31-2012, 10:11 PM
#28
RC Racing is the best it's ever been...... Motors, batts, product in general is simply better...... From model airplanes and Helis to Mini-Z....it's simply better overall..... And with electronics taking over, it's in everything now.....
..... They say the economy, but I say, when you want to be in a hobby, you'll spend the money..... And another thing, when the attendance is down, I think sometimes its because the competition in your area is that good..... Because we're doing less in the pits and more tuning, drivers are getting better.... That's why stock spec especially in sedan blinky is so popular in my area (Jackson, nj)..... I've seen on a weekly basis the middle of the B Main be only 7 sec. Off TQ..... And sometimes that can bum some guys out and it can become a little cut throat and make some people bitter at times..... I know when I race with my Buds on Sat., I have to bring my A game if I want to compete...... You say we race for fun but sometimes it gets the better of us .... And racing is competing.....
....... Look, I don't want to get off topic..... But again, the hobby is the best it's been and there is something for everyone..... I've been racing for about 10 years and when I got in it, I had someone take me under his wing but right away he told me you have to start getting your own stuff and eventually work on your own stuff and I have enjoyed every minute of it...... Like was mentioned before the Club scene is what saved this hobby, I read somewhere once that only 1 per cent participate in organized racing..... It's a lot of work with many thankless hours involved running a club race but the end result is priceless and some of us need this in our lives......
Supporting your track and hobby shop is a start but your going to have to put in the work and listen...... And practice, practice, and more practice to achieve success...... Every hobby has it challenges or it wouldn't be a hobby...... I say the product is good, customer service is good and the club scene is willing to help you get on the right track..... And with everything else going on at the local track or flying field, what you put in is what you get out.....
..... They say the economy, but I say, when you want to be in a hobby, you'll spend the money..... And another thing, when the attendance is down, I think sometimes its because the competition in your area is that good..... Because we're doing less in the pits and more tuning, drivers are getting better.... That's why stock spec especially in sedan blinky is so popular in my area (Jackson, nj)..... I've seen on a weekly basis the middle of the B Main be only 7 sec. Off TQ..... And sometimes that can bum some guys out and it can become a little cut throat and make some people bitter at times..... I know when I race with my Buds on Sat., I have to bring my A game if I want to compete...... You say we race for fun but sometimes it gets the better of us .... And racing is competing.....
....... Look, I don't want to get off topic..... But again, the hobby is the best it's been and there is something for everyone..... I've been racing for about 10 years and when I got in it, I had someone take me under his wing but right away he told me you have to start getting your own stuff and eventually work on your own stuff and I have enjoyed every minute of it...... Like was mentioned before the Club scene is what saved this hobby, I read somewhere once that only 1 per cent participate in organized racing..... It's a lot of work with many thankless hours involved running a club race but the end result is priceless and some of us need this in our lives......
Supporting your track and hobby shop is a start but your going to have to put in the work and listen...... And practice, practice, and more practice to achieve success...... Every hobby has it challenges or it wouldn't be a hobby...... I say the product is good, customer service is good and the club scene is willing to help you get on the right track..... And with everything else going on at the local track or flying field, what you put in is what you get out.....
07-31-2012, 10:49 PM
#29
RC Racing is the best it's ever been...... Motors, batts, product in general is simply better...... From model airplanes and Helis to Mini-Z....it's simply better overall..... And with electronics taking over, it's in everything now.....
..... They say the economy, but I say, when you want to be in a hobby, you'll spend the money..... And another thing, when the attendance is down, I think sometimes its because the competition in your area is that good..... Because we're doing less in the pits and more tuning, drivers are getting better.... That's why stock spec especially in sedan blinky is so popular in my area (Jackson, nj)..... I've seen on a weekly basis the middle of the B Main be only 7 sec. Off TQ..... And sometimes that can bum some guys out and it can become a little cut throat and make some people bitter at times..... I know when I race with my Buds on Sat., I have to bring my A game if I want to compete...... You say we race for fun but sometimes it gets the better of us .... And racing is competing.....
....... Look, I don't want to get off topic..... But again, the hobby is the best it's been and there is something for everyone..... I've been racing for about 10 years and when I got in it, I had someone take me under his wing but right away he told me you have to start getting your own stuff and eventually work on your own stuff and I have enjoyed every minute of it...... Like was mentioned before the Club scene is what saved this hobby, I read somewhere once that only 1 per cent participate in organized racing..... It's a lot of work with many thankless hours involved running a club race but the end result is priceless and some of us need this in our lives......
Supporting your track and hobby shop is a start but your going to have to put in the work and listen...... And practice, practice, and more practice to achieve success...... Every hobby has it challenges or it wouldn't be a hobby...... I say the product is good, customer service is good and the club scene is willing to help you get on the right track..... And with everything else going on at the local track or flying field, what you put in is what you get out.....
..... They say the economy, but I say, when you want to be in a hobby, you'll spend the money..... And another thing, when the attendance is down, I think sometimes its because the competition in your area is that good..... Because we're doing less in the pits and more tuning, drivers are getting better.... That's why stock spec especially in sedan blinky is so popular in my area (Jackson, nj)..... I've seen on a weekly basis the middle of the B Main be only 7 sec. Off TQ..... And sometimes that can bum some guys out and it can become a little cut throat and make some people bitter at times..... I know when I race with my Buds on Sat., I have to bring my A game if I want to compete...... You say we race for fun but sometimes it gets the better of us .... And racing is competing.....
....... Look, I don't want to get off topic..... But again, the hobby is the best it's been and there is something for everyone..... I've been racing for about 10 years and when I got in it, I had someone take me under his wing but right away he told me you have to start getting your own stuff and eventually work on your own stuff and I have enjoyed every minute of it...... Like was mentioned before the Club scene is what saved this hobby, I read somewhere once that only 1 per cent participate in organized racing..... It's a lot of work with many thankless hours involved running a club race but the end result is priceless and some of us need this in our lives......
Supporting your track and hobby shop is a start but your going to have to put in the work and listen...... And practice, practice, and more practice to achieve success...... Every hobby has it challenges or it wouldn't be a hobby...... I say the product is good, customer service is good and the club scene is willing to help you get on the right track..... And with everything else going on at the local track or flying field, what you put in is what you get out.....
