I'll throw down a post here while I'm on my way to work on My Kyosho Cars to run at the R/C pro Finals this upcoming week. (I'm honestly bitter at Neo-Buggy because this news was not supposed to be released until I actually am done working for Kyosho. I still will be working for and Representing Kyosho to the fullest for 2 more weeks until the 14th. I also do not official start with Tamiya until the 5th of January.) During the interem I am going to go home to my family in Ohio and spend the holidays with them!
As far as why I made this decision. Many people like to speculate reasons which I guess is all that you can do when you don't have any of the details. My number one reason for wanting to make this switch is time. Tamiya is willing to give me more time to work on my cars, more time to go out and practice and learn and more time to go race. At Kyosho I was in the office from 8-5 Monday - Friday with an occasional thursday off to go practice. It was basically life consuming to be working on 2 cars over a week after work to prepare them for the next weekend race or next big race. I also was never able to get into any kind of practice rhythm where I could learn set-ups really good.
Now I will have more time and really be able to work on my racing. I have a drive that most pro-drivers do not have and now that I will have the opportunity to put my time to my talent instead of putting it to a computer screen and a telephone I feel like I will do nothing but improve. I also feel like I will improve how I will be able to help everyone around me. I feel like I will garner a new understanding of how these R/C cars work and be able to pass that along to everyone else. And if you know me I don't keep any 'secrets' like many people do. You ask me, i'll tell you how it is.
One of my current co-workers put the change into perspective really well for me: He said "It will be good for you (the change) once you stop learning it's time to move on"
I feel that Kyosho has been nothing short of a Miracle for me. If it wasn't for them I would be slaving away in a kitchen being a culinary chef (not all bad but i'd rather be r/c racing!) However, in the past 2.5 years I have learned a lot but have hit a wall in my mind. Tamiya is offering me the opportunity to learn programs and have the time to just learn more! The opportunity is very exciting for me!
As for the Tamiya vehicles. I have driven the Truggy one time. I ran it at Revelation raceway. I had ran my truck the weekend prior on Sunday and had a fast lap of 37.2. When I drove the Tamiya truck on Thursday I got a 36.6. I don't know how much the track affected anything but it at least let me know that the truck is very competitive and i really loved the way it felt. I'll be sure to share everything with anyone when more information becomes available.
You all talk about the uphill battle. Yea, maybe there is one, and I LOVE IT!! I love the challenge and absolutely love being told I can't do something! Obviously this is just motivation for me to prove everyone who says so wrong! (With a big 'ol smile on my face!) haha
And for all of those curious. This was 100% my decision to leave Kyosho. They did not 'clean house' or anything of the sort. This came as a shock to everyone in the office. I did this for the opportunity and what I feel is a great oportunity to make myself better! For 2009 I have aligned myself with a sponsor sheet full of only the companies that I want to run for. I feel extremely confident in the upcoming year and can't wait to kick it off at CRCRC! Hopefully with a new prototype buggy and the opportunity to repeat as Champion!
Thanks everyone for reading this and for the positive words. For those Naysayers, thanks for the motivation!
