It's not hard to see that our humble hobby is struggling to grow. At best, we've stayed stagnant in terms of racers, and an argument can be made that we are regressing. I've raced for nearly 20 years now, and what i see just isn't working anymore. 90% 40+ racers and local pros aren't going to pay the bills and keep the hobby progressing for long. The answer? It's simple: New racers. So how do you find and retain new interest?
My boy Nick Colander has an idea.....
This post really got me thinking about the current state of RC racing, and we can do on not only a local, but national level to attract new racers and fresh talent.
First thing's first: attitudes need to change. This really isn't a hard one to figure out, to be honest. What prospecting hobbyist wants to sit around a group of grown men in a constant state of "Manstration"? Now, I get it.... this hobby is all about competition. Racers get competitive and oftentimes that competitiveness creates intense situations on and off the track. Getting hacked in a race is never fun, and sometimes that frustration makes its way back to the pit area. Words get exchanged, and thoughts come out salty and coarse. It happens. Just keep in mind, the idea of "collateral damage" applies here.
Image you come back to the pits early from a heat race with a broken car and a mind full of curse words. You were hit accidentally by another racer who was trying to make a pass, and the two of you tangle. After the race you confront him in the pits and give him a piece of your mind. You bluntly release your frustration to the racer in front of the entire pit area, with zero regard to those that may be listening. Now imagine that two of those many people that just heard you explode was a father and son visiting the track for the first time..... Probably will be the last time you see them visit as well. Because of a lapse in judgment, you just may have killed the hobby for two people before it even really started. This may seem far-fetched, but I've heard it happen many times, the most recent just two weeks ago at our last club race. The racer in question, was just a few feet from my unsuspecting son, who was hanging out with me for the day. Before you have a scale-meltdown, ask yourself: Is it really worth it? Is it worth the anger for a radio control car? Are there better ways to handle the situation? Is the risk of alienating a racer worth the satisfaction of dumping your frustration off on someone else? Food for thought.
I'll be honest, I never gave much thought before to the issues our "niche" faces in the coming years. I suppose being a father and taking a few years off gave me a fresh perspective on the problems that plague the growth of our hobby. My son wants to race, and I want to make sure he has a place to do so. It means the world to me that he wants to experience the thrill of scale racing, but I won't put up with adults acting more childish than a 4 year old without a nap. It's simply unacceptable, especially in this day and age of endless entertainment and interactive options.
I'd also like to point out that while the issue of new blood can be catastrophic to our sport over time, it's completely preventable and fixable. We as racers need to change the culture we created in order to thrive and grow, and the easiest way to start is changing the way we carry ourselves on the drivers stand and in the pits. RC racing is such a kick-ass hobby. It provides so many skills, and countless experiences and life lessons. That's why we all got into in the first place, right? let's give the next wave of enthusiasts the opportunity to have those same experiences.
Having said all this, I'd like to recognize those at Seattle RC Racers and Tacoma RC Raceway for bucking the trend and encouraging new members. It makes me proud to be affiliated with both clubs in some capacity or another. Both have solid novice programs and chances to move up and progess within the program. Still, even with all this, we can always do better. We can always find new and better ways to promote this amazing hobby and our respective clubs and cultures. Let's never settle for what we have. Let's grow. Let's be better than yesterday.
Let's stop showing potential members how serious we can be, and instead show just how much fun we can have. Lend a hand, smile, and get someone hooked!
Note: Big props to Nick for getting the ball rolling and starting the conversation. You can find him on Instagram @rcnick
Peace & Fast Laps
-JRoy386
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