There's no money in racing. It's mostly in bashing.

How many of you know the origin story of Traxxas? The old Traxxas, not the new. When Traxxas first started everybody told them the way to make money was to have a high end racing buggy and top drivers to win with it. So they did that. Came up with a pretty decent car and got a few top drivers to run it. After a year of running like that they realized there was little to no profit in it. So they did some market research and found hobbyists were looking for something to play with that was cool, fast, and didn't need a super smooth surface to run on. Oh and nitro, because nitro was super popular at the time. The vehicle they came up with was the T-Maxx. They made so much money on that thing they swore they would never go racing ever again. The T-Maxx also revolutionized the basher and after market segments.

Traxxas is also responsible for adding 2 new classes to the racing world

Guy buys a T-Maxx. Racer sees his buddy's T-Maxx. Buys his own. Brings it to the off road track. Other racers see it. They buy one. Now they're racing T-Maxx's. Racers being racers start to make improvements. Someone figures out just take a 1/8 buggy and put truck tires and body on it. Manufacturers see this and start making their own versions. Today we call it Truggy.

Traxxas lends sponsorship to a new version of off road trucks. They release versions of some of the trucks in the series calling it the Slash. Racer buys one. Racer brings it to the track. Racers start making improvements. Manufacturers see this and make their own version using buggy parts. Today we call this Short Course Truck.

We can sit here and bitch all we want about how the racing segment is being ignored, but we're not the ones driving the hobby any more. It's bashers and impulse buyers. We as racers need to be thankful for what we have and support it as much as we can. RC racing on ESPN is never gonna happen.

I think that depends on when someone started racing. Majority of the guys I’ve race with that started in 80/90s have only raced. The ones that started more recently seems to be more of a mix.

The SRT is proof that once upon a time, traxxas knew how to make a race car.




They had some good models, but the heavy weights, AE and Losi, were dominant and they couldn't keep up. And there was no money in it. So they started making marketing decisions and realized bashing was where it was at.

They gave us the bandit/rustler, stampede, and eventually the T-Maxx. 30 years later and those platforms, despite being dated, are still making them money.

Absolutely. I know quite a few bashers, some of them former racers. Even the ones that never raced enjoy building, modifying, and tearing down their models, and would make great racers. I watch them play with different diff oils, and droop settings to find traction or to launch better wheelies etc.

They have said they think racing is cool, but they find it too technical and like being able to do what they want to do. Until there is a racing class that'll let you do big air back flips, go 80 mph, and do football field long wheelies, most people will remain bashers.

And the Traxxas Fiero was proof that they know how to copy a car (from Tamiya)

Technically every design is copied at this point. Competition is doing what the successful guys are doing or keep losing. Literally every modern touring car or buggy is nearly indistinguishable to a lay person. But there is some irony in traxxas copying tamiya, because they went on to become patent trolls.

I started in the 90's, but there wasn't any local tracks. It wasn't until I met a contract painter from out of state that I found out about the tracks. This was in southern Louisiana.

The Skatepark Project - Founded by Tony Hawk

Public Skatepark Development Guide

https://www.redbull.com/us-en/skate-...in-los-angeles - A major player shining a light on it.

I think it would benefit NASCAR, INDY, IMSA, WEC, etc... if they got directly involved in RC Racing, but it's up to the RC manufacturers to convince them it is worth their time and effort.

I believe it's worth their time, because they need to find a way to encourage kids to become apart of racing, especially now that it has become a lot more technical. RC can be a gateway into that world. Setup theory that applies to RC also applies to 1:1, working as a team both on and off the track, working in the pit, etc... are all skills that can be taught using RC Racing as a fun way to teach while allowing the kids to get first hand experience. A lot of racers get an early start and those racers need a team/crew, so why not get potential crew/team members going at an early age as well?

I have heard that people involved in 1:1 racing are into RC cars. Imagine the impact they could have if they showed up at events to give these kids tips and to drive the point home that what they are learning at the RC track applies at the 1:1 track.

Its a good idea, but maybe too little too late. Kids have that now through sim racing games. And varous motorsports do use games/sims to scout talent. A case could still be made for RC where the hands on and wrenching aspect comes in. But for the actual racing, it'd be hard to compete with 1:1 sims, at least for people aspiring to become real racing drivers.

For stepping outside of the hobby. Traxxas proved it can be done. The difference is, they did it to promote theirbrand, not necessarily racing. But they do get people into the hobby. If AE or Losi started doing what traxxas did, that may get more people into model racing.

I'm not talking about using RC to recruit kids to want to be race car drivers, I'm suggesting that RC be used to recruit kids to want to become a member of a race team and/or crew member.

Racing isn't just for grease monkeys anymore. Take a look inside the pit area/garage at an IMSA and/or WEC race, there is a ton of crew and a lot of them never turn a wrench and only collect/monitor data.

Since RC is fun, hands on, and since a lot of what works on an RC car works on a 1:1 car it may help inspire them to want to pursue a career in racing and/or the automotive industry, but there needs to be something to help point them in the right direction, so why not RC. Some of these series' already visit schools, why not do some classroom and then use an RC to demonstrate what they just learned.

Speaking of sims, thinking of going with this one. Anyone have one?




You guys suggested a billionaire to help save RC, call Penske.

Having just found this discussion, please let this old fart put in his 2 cents.
I have been racing RC since the late 80's and have seen a lot of tracks come and go mostly because the racers become board after the new wears off.
Change in RC is a good thing and I don't see enough of it. In the meantime, we, the racers, are a fickle bunch and it seems we all want something different and go away mad when we don't get it.
I have several opinions on what needs to be done but I can also agree, there is no money in this hobby. With that said where I grew up the is a track that opened their doors in 1986
and still has weekly races almost 40 years later. I do not know what their secret is but they're doing something that works.
All I can say is support the local guys and most of all, have fun and do not take it so seriously. Remember, we're not racing for a million dollars and if you are going to get your undies all wadded up over a $5
trophy, you can have it. Thank you and keep it shiny side up.
PS, I am an oval racer so options are few and far between but that's OK.

With professional gaming and sim racing there is serious money going on. I do see people around me being sensitive for it.

I started in 2011. There’s was a track, fairly well know. But had a reputation towards non racers. I started led racing in 2020. Mostly went because I’d been hearing that the track wasn’t gonna be around much longer, closed less then a year after I started

You're not gonna get kids into RC when you can get into a kart at 5 years old