New Year, Renewed Passion

 

Hello, 2024. Good to meet you.

    It's been a minute, but it feels good to type words again, and even better to start 2024 with renewed interest in a hobby that has provided so much for me for most of my life. It's a nerdy love affair that off and on has spanned just south of three decades. Hard to believe my oldest son is at the age I was when I was introduced to this wacky world of scale racing. Kinda boggles the mind when you think about it.

    When I sit back and reflect on my favorite bits from this hobby of almost 30 years, my mind goes straight to two things: The builds, and the people. While life has its ebbs, flows, triumphs and time sucks, this hobby has always personally stood the proverbial test of time. It may not always look the same, but it's there. Never far away, and always available when I'm ready to return.

No mercy, Kinwald-style.

    Looking back on my early days in RC, my influences rarely matched my activities. While most of my RC racing centered around Tamiya TCS-style racing and On-Road in general, I was hooked on RC through the countless issues of RC Car Action and the Off-Road wars of the 90's. Touring car racing was still in its infancy at the national level, but the 2wd buggy and truck battles waged by Team Associated, Team Losi, Schumacher, Yokomo and others were front and center in every issue.

King Richard.

 

At the tender age of 12, I couldn't tell you what use I had for long division, but I COULD tell you about the back-and-forth rivalry with Brian Kinwald himself and the entire Team Associated. I could also tell you about Richard Satxon's dominance in gas truck, or Jukka Steenari's seemingly unstoppable XX-4 buggy. I could also tell you about how I thought the XX CR was unstoppable, but how I was an Associated guy a heart and pined for a Factory Team RC10 B3, because that was my allegiance. This was a Ford vs. Chevy, East Coast vs. West Coast nerd turf war, and it was all at my fingertips through the pages of a magazine.

    While Off-Road was where the bulk of the hobby (and most of my interest) centered, the local (and much more geographically convenient) club raced On-Road, and that's where I started and stayed for years. It's the same club that provided some of the best camaraderie, competition and lifelong friendships that a kid could ever hope for but couldn't quite understand. That club was Burien RC Racing. The perfect place to ingite a passion.

Burien RC, our little imperfect slice of heaven.

    Racing at Burien RC was just about as unique as the club itself. The track was set up under the service department awning at Burien Toyota, while the pits were located in the service department itself. During the winter months, the track was kept under the awning resembling an oval with a center chicane. It was crude but effective, allowing us to run year-round regardless of the weather. On weekends when it didn't rain, the track was extended beyond the awning, giving more of a full road course, albeit with uneven asphalt and the constantly slick concrete service drive pad. It was low-grip, it was quirky, and it was a challenge, but it was home... and it was awesome.

    Practice would start on Saturday around 4:30pm and would run until whenever the last racer was done. Sometimes we'd actually practice, sometimes someone would bring a playstation to play in the service waiting room, sometimes we'd just shoot the shit and maybe charge a pack or two just to keep things "official". It was like some sort of self-policed daycare for adults centered around good friends, questionable conversations and toy cars.

Burien RC fun in one picture.

    It was during these practice nights and subsequent (although far less important) race days that I truly learned the importance of people and the role they have within our nerdy activity. Without good people, good friends and general banter/conversation, this hobby would be no different than sewing. Sure it serves the purpose of passing the time between life's moments, but where's the fun in that?

    Where fellow racers and questionable lessons and conversations helped shape (or warp) my adolescent mind, I found an equal, if not larger enjoyment in building the cars themselves. From my earliest days in RC, I've never enjoyed something quite so much as opening a fresh kit and tinkering & tuning until it was nearly perfect. It's a passion that has never faded in the slightest through the years. Wherever I am in life, whatever else I'm involved in or no matter how little time I have to make it to a track, I can always build and tune. There's a personal satisfaction in completing a new kit, working the bugs out, tuning and learning, and finally ending up with a competitive race car. 

So what do these have in common? 

    In racing, without cars there's no people. Without people, there's no cars. They go hand in hand regardless of the scale of racing or the discipline you practice. I've been immensely fortunate to race against some of the finest On-Road racers the Pacific Northwest has produced and raced some of the most fun On-Road cars that the industry has produced. It's been 28 years of memories that will last a lifetime.

SSI, in all its Vegas glory. Pre-whipping.

    With the onset of Covid in 2020, coupled with positive changes in my personal and professional life, RC car racing just hasn't had the accessibility that it used to, and that's ok, to be honest. Priorities change, situations change, even interest and energy levels change. 2023 was possibly my leanest year, with only a handful of laps at a racetrack over the course of 12 months. The lack of allocated nerd time has me itching like a hooker with crabs. I miss the hobby. I miss the people, and I miss the cars. So, with a new year, comes a new vision for me within this sport: We're taking it back to the roots. We're going to have fun with the time allocated. We're going build new cars, try new things, meet new people, and get back to what makes this hobby so great, in my opinion.

You never know who you'll
meet at a RC race. Tonya Harding?

    Going back to the early days of this hobby for me, On-Road was my love, but Off-Road was what I followed. Although I've dabbled with buggies several times over the years, I've never truly given it a fair shake and my full attention. That changes this year. Now being a permanent South Puget Sounder and Tacoma RC Raceway being my new geographically convenient option, I feel like it's only fitting to switch gears and renew an old interest. I'll probably suck for a while, but that's part of the fun of jumping into something new. 

    On-Road is what I know, and when the opportunity presents itself, I'll be there. In between those seemingly rare occurrences, I'm going to enjoy the new surroundings, making more friends, having more questionable conversations, and making more memories with this most awesome of hobbies. It feels good to be excited about RC again, in whatever capacity I find myself in. 

My brand new Schumacher LD3. 

Hello, 2024. Good to meet you. It's gonna be rad. Thanks to those that read this and to those that I call friends through RC. 

-Jesse

416 Days: The 2021 SeaTac Rc Raceway Season Opener.

 

One year, one month, twenty days.

Thirteen months, twenty days.

416 days. 

    However you slice it, that's a long time to wait for anything, let alone something that we take for granted as much as beer in our fridges or sports on tv. When the Seattle RC Racers club last convened on March 11th 2020 for a Wednesday club race and the penultimate round of the Hangar 30 indoor season, little did we all know that would be the last we'd see of Northwest on-road RC racing - and each other for over a full calendar year. 

    What followed was a seemingly-endless barrage of zoom calls, remote learning, at-home work, stress, anxiety, and frustration. It's no secret that the covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives and the world itself in ways we couldn't-and still can't begin to comprehend. Simple tasks suddenly seemed near impossible, and pastimes we enjoyed without a second thought, became distant memories of a bygone time. Some found solace in extra time with family, yet others struggled to see the next day. To say that the past 13 months were taxing and downright scary would be the understatement of the 21st century. Make no mistake, we're still in the middle of a virus-induced shitstorm, but a light at the end of the tunnel is appearing. 13 months after we left our hobby sport behind to an uncertain future, racing was finally back on May 1, 2021. 416 days.

Jake Danilchik going hard into turn one.

 

    The 2021 Seattle RC Racers outdoor season opener at SeaTac was quite possibly the most anticipated outdoor club race since the very first meet at the newly-christened permanent facility nearly five years ago. This wasn't a numbers game, however. This wasn't a record-breaking turnout, or a big-race atmosphere. No, this was different. This was a race day full of relief and peaceful excitement shared by those that attended both in a racing capacity and those that stopped by just to say hi to friends again. It was a tangible feeling that permeated the pits unlike anything I could ever remember in the 25 years I've been a part of the Northwest RC racing scene. This was special, so I feel it deserves a post worthy of such. Due to scheduling conflicts, I was not a racer, but merely one of the countless current and former racers that took in the day's events as a spectator. These are my thoughts on what was on paper, just a club race, but for those in attendance, it was much more than that.

    After being stuck working all day and hearing reports of a delayed start and weather intervening, my initial thought was one of dampened expectations. Would the race go on as planned? Would it be a "one & done" with rising Covid cases and uncertainty surrounding a pending rollback in our state's reopening phase? Would it be a race anyone past our core group would attend? All of these were valid concerns, and as the day wore on, each question was squashed in order with swift positivity. After work I headed straight to the track and took in the rest of the day as a casual observer. Walking up the sidewalk, hearing the hum of cars in battle, and seeing the canopies littered around the perimeter invoked a sense of stepping back in time. At a time when nothing seems normal except abnormality, witnessing everyone enjoying the hobby and each other's company-albeit distanced just felt right. It felt commonplace, yet new and racing we may have taken for granted before felt exciting one again. The collective smiles shone through the masks like sun through a rain cloud on a spring day in Seattle... A perfect analogy for what laid before us.

Worth the wait.

    Yes, the early AM hours brought precipitation, as is expected with a typical Northwest spring day. and just as typical, was the clearing that happened by noon and the prime conditions that followed. While the track was not sprayed because of the time needed to dry, many would argue that it simply wasn't needed. Grip looked natural and forgiving, yet demanding. Asphalt racing in it's finest element: imperfect perfection. This isn't some turf track, this is a driver's surface, and those that rose to the top on Saturday were evidence of that.

    While the final attendance wasn't that of a massive turnout, it far exceeded my expectations and I would bet to guess, many others as well. With Canada's borders still closed to anything but commercial traffic, our friends from BC were sorely missed, and it's a safe bet their numbers would've pushed us well into "Summer Sizzler" territory. What we did see however, was nearly every core club racer that frequents
our scene, as well as some faces from our northern partner clubs, NORA and Galaxy RC Racers. They brought the Euro Trucks, USGT's, sedans and some fresh excitement as well. Brian Bodine racing outdoors was a welcome throwback, and racing Modified Touring, no less. Some older faces in Ritchie Reynolds, Mike Crosier, Mike Clifton and Brett Sisley gave the event a feel reminiscent of the glory days racing the parking lot havens with Fantasy World Hobbies. While the famous "bus" wasn't in attendance, the good vibes were palpable, and that's what mattered most. It was a sight and feel that makes asphalt on-road racing in the Northwest uniquely nostalgic and simplistically complex.

Brian Bodine with a TC... What a wild world
we live in.

    If the past thirteen months has taught us anything at all, it's that nothing is certain past right now. Even the most seemingly-miniscule blip on our world's radar can bring life as we know it to a grinding standstill. It's a sobering thought, but also one that forces deeper thought into what we spend our precious time on. I'll admit, the time away from racing and competition was a welcome break, but what I soon missed more than I thought possible was not the driving, the tuning, or the racing itself; it was the people. My dear friends that I suddenly could only see through a screen instead of in the flesh. Those simple conversations and passing moments we all take for granted were instantly snatched from us in such a way that we've never seen before-and hope to never see again. While there will always be more pressing matters and more important uses of our valuable time than racing toy cars, the friendships we forge and the memories we make are as irreplaceable as anything else we encounter in life. 

    416 days after our world stood still, racing was welcomed back with open arms and immeasurable happiness. While it's clear there's still much work to be done in order to finally put this virus in our rear-view mirror, to have racing back is an important step toward to a more normal reality. It's a step that was embraced by those that participated, spectated, and a step I can't wait to take myself in the coming weeks.

Brett Sisley prepping for Q3.

Jeff Johnson held it down for SSI.

All smiles under the masks.

One of the few track shots I took: USGT B-Main.

Team Periwinkle, complete with banner for that 
premium, professional look.

Jake & Alex Danilchik talking shop with Brian after Q3.

Thanks to those that attended, and a special thanks to Todd, Korey, Jake, Alex, Brian, and everyone that volunteered time and effort for us to return to competition! Racing is back, kids.... 416 days in the making.

-JRoy

Thank You.

   

    Well, here we are. It's October 18th, 2019, and here I sit writing my first words in nearly eight months. While there isn't just one singular reason for my lack of literary mutiny, I think we can all agree that a new post has most definitely been long-overdue. No one has ever accused me of being fashionably on-time, so I suppose its only fitting for the cliché "better late than never" response, but I digress.

    Since my last post in February, a literal plethora of change has happened in my life, both on and

I tried for years to secure TCS gold, and this year I finally got it.

off the track. I wrapped up the Seattle RC Racers indoor season championship in Formula One in March, followed by a successful switch to outdoors, racing Tamiya M-Chassis cars again. It was a welcome divergence from the usual classes I would contest, along with the challenge of taking a previously-lambasted M06 RWD chassis and making it a contender. That, coupled with a win at the Tamiya TCS NW Regional, and a TQ-Second place finish at the Seattle RC Racers' annual Summer Sizzler, meant 2019 was by far and away the most successful year ever in my mediocre career.

A surprise 3rd at CTS4 at SeaTac. 

I also saw, felt, and experienced the breakup of my marriage of seven years, the fallout that came thereafter, and the ensuing divorce which I'm set to embark on. To describe these highs and lows over the past eight months as "contrasting" would be the understatement of the century. Having said all that, sometimes these moments and experiences have a way of showing us what's truly important in life. Things like family, friends, and positive reinforcement. A healthy hobby doesn't hurt much either.

    I've long maintained that RC car racing is as much of an escape as it is a exercise in mechanics, concentration, and competition. A simple escape from the dregs of society and the ludicrous stresses of everyday adult life. The world is rough out there, so the least we can have is an activity to bring a small slice of heaven to our world every couple weeks. Over the years, I can point to just about every facet of this great hobby as a reason for my unequivocal love for it. Based on my situation in life or my attitude at the time, it could be the mechanical side of things; sitting at my desk, immersing myself in my car. Sometimes it's the raw competition that gets my blood pumping and my heart happy. Sometimes it's all of the above, as I bet to guess is the case for the majority of racers out there.

    But at this juncture in my life, the more I step back and analyze my situation from an outsider's perspective, I realize it's really the people that keep me going; the friendships I've forged and the people I look forward to seeing when I head to the track. When things go awry and life seems insurmountable, its invaluable to have those good souls in your corner. So, with my current love for toy car racing being centered around the racers themselves, I thought I'd thank some of those that have helped keep me "on track" and keep RC great.

Korey Harbke
    You'll never find a fast guy quite like Korey. I've been around enough hot shoes in my RC career, but none are quite as approachable and helpful as Sushi-Boy Harbke. It's his ultra helpful and down to earth nature that keeps the belief alive that just because someone is fast, doesn't quite mean that they've forgotten their roots. So thanks Korey, for being the exception to the rule, and having fun at the track.

I make it my personal mission to irritate Stuart 

whenever possible.

Todd & Stuart Mason 
    This father/son team is a force at each track they show up to, and while Stuart is the young local phenom of the PNW on-road scene, the elder Mason is the glue that keeps Seattle RC Racers going. His tireless efforts to keep top-notch RC racing in the Seattle-metro area are inspiring and his choice of alcoholic beverages are hilarious, which confirm his status as the Felix Unger of 12th scale's "Odd Couple". So who is the second half of this duo?

You don't see Brian with a manual very often.

His reaction is priceless….

Brian Bodine
    Playing the part of Oscar Madison in 12th scale's "Odd Couple" is none other than Brian Bodine. Brian has raced just about every class that's ever been offered in his countless years in competition, is one of the fastest, yet still has the uncanny ability to throw an off-the-cuff comment that incites laughter from those around him, not to mention the unique ability to get under Todd's skin with a TQ and a friendly jab in the pits. The beer to Todd's cosmopolitan, if you will. They're truly a sight to see. Thanks fellas for making intense competition fun!

The Canadian Connection
    It's a well-known fact in the Pacific Northwest, that if there is a race to be held, and the name of the game is fun competition, you can bet the Hosers from the Great White North will make their presence known. Thanks to Alex for the "GripWorks" pop-up shop, to Keith, Nospoom, Tiny, Jesse G, and John Tsang for the great attitudes and awesome racing. You guys give us an international flavor at our club days, and leave us with a lingering ketchup chip smell and a sticky maple feeling...… Although, that sounds a bit dirty.

SSI
 

Island life.

If you've ever been to a local on-road race, been privy to my Facebook exploits, or have stumbled upon our newly-formed YouTube channel, you may have heard of SSI: Shitshow Island. What started as a group of friends pitting together at our Hangar 30 Wednesday series, has literally become it's own living breathing entity of swear words, debauchery, and chaotic ineptitude.... and it's perfect that way. Complete with Two blow-up palm trees, those of us that pit on the so-called "island" are less interested in having deep, technical conversational exchanges as we are having a bitchin' time making fun of each other and attempting to imitate actual competent RC car racers. Thanks to Mike Boyle, Jeff Johnson, Tim Cook, Andrew Cartwright, Jerry Boyle, Sara Mendoza, Jake & Alex Danilchik, and anyone else who's contributed to the symbiotic disharmony that is Shitshow Island over the past couple years. You all are the real heroes and a big reason why Northwest RC racing is so rad.





Kyle Bradshaw

Making videos is fun. Seeing people enjoy our

janky video show? Priceless.

I've been privileged to call many fellow racers my friend, but few continue to be a positive pain in my ass quite like Kyle Bradshaw. One of my very good friends, Kyle has more than done his part to keep me centered amidst the chaos that my life has entailed these past several months, along with continuing to keep the Wednesday Hangar 30 program humming and grooving. Above all this, the SSI YouTube channel we have created has become yet another avenue for ridiculousness where we share with the world, our uncanny ability to create complicated disorder from simple toy cars.

Have a watch, you won't be disappointed! Well, maybe just a little.....
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj0xXzZ8lMFi3KbL855khLg


    While this is more of a personal post than I would've normally posted, I think it's important to give credit where credit's due when it comes to those that have helped someone out during a difficult time. With the help of good friends, family, counseling, and countless other resources, I feel like I'm in a space in which I'm truly happy to be. Every day is a challenge, but having a healthy hobby and surrounding myself with positive people make the lows manageable, and highs all that much more enjoyable. RC is rad, kids. So are the people that race it. Enjoy this hobby for what it is, but also what it can provide, I know I have.

-JRoy

The American Formula: CRC WTF1-FC16 Build Tips

    Besides it having the best chassis designation in the game (WTF?!), the Calandra Racing Concepts WTF1-FC16 is arguably one of the best formula car kits on the market for a variety of reasons. Ease of adustability, parts availability, simplicity, a strong racing pedigree, and a modest price tag all make this a chassis that's hard to beat. While it's designed for all types of racing surfaces, it shines brightest on carpet. And why wouldn't it? CRC sells the very carpet that this car competes on.

Best name in RC, end of story.

As with any car though, there's a certain amount of massaging needed to extract the full potential out of the WTF1. Below is a step-by-step guide that I've come up with based on my own build. Now, on to the car!

Ony tighten the center pivot enough so that there is minimal play,
but the pivot ball is still free.

Bag 1: Center Pivot

    This is the first step in the build, and it's a simple one. The instructions do a good job of describing how to esure the pivot stays free. I tightened the ceneter pivot and used a wrench through the ball stud, moving it around in all directions until I was satisfied with the movement. This is a critical pivot point to the car, so take your time, and make sure it's a free as possible.

It's extremely important to make sure
that the rear pivot assembly is free of any binding.
Take extra time to make sure the links feel smooth and free.

Bag 2: Setting the One Piece Links

    This step was admittedly time consuming, and I took the better part of an hour making sure the links were free, but only because this is probably the single most "pivot"al (pun intended) step in the entire build. Again, CRC does a good job of describing things. No need to tighten the link screws, just having them threaded into the link is enough to keep the link from popping off. Take your time and double check the alignment of the motor plate relative to the main chassis, as this will cause binding and clicking if it's not correct. It will also bind up otherwise free-moving links. Adjust this through the slots in the center pivot assembly.

From here, you can see the side spring resting just at the chassis plate.
Make sure this is even on both sides.

Bag 4: Tweak Plate

    This step is fairly straightforward, but there's a couple tips here out of convenience. With regards to the side springs, the manual doesn't mention it, but when threading the set screw/spring assembly into the tweak plate, make sure that the side spring just barely touches the chassis when layed flat on a table. Make this adjustment equal to both sides, much like you would on a 12th scale car.

Note: Before you install the tweak plate, go ahead and install your body mounts to the plate itself. The mounts are located in Bag 10. The mounts are nearly impossible to screw in if you wait until the end of the build per the instructions.

You can see the o-rings on each ballstud. This reduces slop.
Also, I used the rearmost hole on the motor plate to mount the shock.
This reduced the amount of rear droop.

Bag 7: Center Shock

    This is probably one of the smoothest shocks I've ever built, but as with other parts of the car, I did massage it a bit. On step 2, it shows the o-ring going into the shock body, followed by a plastic shock plug. When installed, I found the plug to be a bit long on the o-ring side, which squeezed the o-ring around the shock shaft too much, causing a lot of drag. a couple swipes on an emery board and a cleanup with a hobby knife, and all was well. Note: Take off small amounts as needed, just enough so the o-ring will still seal, but doesn't drag excessively. Add a little green slime or 1UP "blue" grease to the o-ring during install. Also, when I mounted the shock, I added a soft o-ring to both ball studs. This takes up any slop from the ball cup to the stud.

In this picture, you can see the steering stop,
which takes the place of the inside mounting screw.

Bag F: Front End

    On the various parts in this bag, I came across some flashing and mold lines that needed a quick cleanup with the hobby knife before assembly. With the front arm mount (1543) in particular, make sure the bottom surface that mates to the carbon lower arm is as flat as possible and free of any flashing. This will give you a more accurate/consistent reading for your ride height, etc. I also took some time making sure the lower arm ball socket (1547) and pivot ball (1546) were as free as possible. There isn't a ton of movement in these parts, so as long as they move easily and are equal side-to-side, you should be good here. Instead of the kit plastic caster shims (1550), I opted for 3x1mm aluminum spacers instead. These weren't as tight as the stock shims, which freed up the upper arms quite a bit, albiet with a very small amount of play.

Note: This is one of the few cars that does not include a steering stop, which in the event of a crash, saves the knuckle from being ripped from the car. CRC does now sell a stop kit, but I decided to make my own from some parts I had laying around. I used a 7mm spacer, a wide washer at the base of the arm moulding, and a 3x16mm screw that threads into the kit-supplied 3mm locknut on the bottom side. 

Bag F: Servo Mounting

There's three different ways to mount a servo in the WTF1: 

Vertical (Standard/mini servos)

Horizontal (Low-Pro servos)

Flat (Airtronics/Sanwa 94761)

    For those of you like me who run standard or low-pro servos, there's an infinite amount of ackerman adjustment, but the mounting is a bit unorthadox. Unless you're using a super narrow servo, a standard-width servo will not fit in between the facory mounts and carbon plates. What I did was mount my low-pro servo horizontally with tape directly to the chassis, then use 4 screws threaded into each mount to center the servo inbetween the mounts and secure it against side-to-side movement. It's certainly a different way of doing things, but no less effective. 

With a standard-width servo, you won't be able to use the carbon plates.
Instead, secure with servo tape and screws.

It's unorthadox, but it works. It also makes adusting ackerman easy.

From here, you can see the 10g weight,
nestled in the center against the battery.

Battery Mounting

    The WTF1-FC16 will accept both inline and cross-ways battery mounting. For most surfaces, mounting the battery cross-ways will work best to start, and the chassis allows a wide range of movement fore and aft. I ran my battery all the way forward against the upper plate standoffs, then added a 10g weight behind the bettery to keep it in place. Not only does it keep the pack secure, but it adds a bit of ballast at a good spot in the chassis.

Conclusion

    Well, there you have it. My build tips for the CRC WTF1-FC16 chassis kit. While some might feel the fit and finish isn't quite up to par with other cars on the market, the modest $249.00 price tag more than makes up for it. To me, performace is the most important aspect, and this car has that in spades. None of these tricks are anything out of the ordinary for me with any other build. Take your time, test fit your parts, massage and trim where needed, and you'll have a race winner in no time.

She looks so good in my pit.

Setup

The box setup is absolute money for this car, but for the sake of info, here's my current setup:

Front:

Ride Height: 4.5mm

Spring: .045 kit, 20k lube on kingpin

Camber: 1.5deg

Toe: .5 out each side

Caster: Kit (one spacer on each side of upper arm)

Droop: .5mm over ride height

Center:

Shock: 35wt, zero rebound, kit red spring, rear ballstud mount on motor plate

Damper Tubes: 10K

Side Springs: .045 kit

Droop: .5mm over rear ride height

Rear:

Ride Height: 5.5mm

Diff: XRAY gear, 30K

Tires (carpet)

Front: Rush medium-soft, glued sidewalls, inside 1/3 sauce, 5 mins soak, wiped

Rear: Rush carpet soft, full sauce, 10 mins soak, wiped

Thanks for reading, and see you at the track!

-JRoy

The Purveyor of Good Times.

    I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone more excited for a fresh start and a new year more than yours truly. Not necessarily because of RC, although that was definitely part of the equation. I think we all can agree that by December, calender-burnout sets in faster than infection on an open wound. The holidays can be a chaotic way to end the year even without any outside issues adding to the proverbial shitshow. So, when you start with that, and add in some financial & personal struggles, and you can bet your ass I'm welcoming 2019 with open arms and a waiting bear hug.

    It's easy (most of the time) to escape to hobbies when times get tough, but what happens when the hobby you escape to becomes just as draining? Between low car counts locally, the closing of a Saturday race program, creeping resentment toward my own race program, constant public complaining about various aspects of RC, and the barrage of "I'm excited to announce" sponsor posts blowing up my Faceballs feed, I'd just about had my fill of toy car racing for the remainder of the year. I was flat burnt out; nothing you could do about it.

Now, where did I put that "reset" button....

I'm calling it now: 2019 will be the year of "Good Times".

    With the help of my amazing fellow-degenerate RC racing friends, I have a reinvigorated outlook on the hobby and the season ahead. It goes without saying, that when it comes to finding substantial speed and challenging the establishment in my respective classes, the odds are forever stacked against me; I'm 32 years old with poor eyesight and a bad case of "whiskey finger". Having said that, I'll be damned if I won't be having the most fun at the track when I'm in attendance. Whether that means less social media time to avoid the "noise" thats created by the talking heads of our community, or by some other means, remains to be seen. Regardless, my personal outlook within this awesome hobby will only include activities, races, and people that support a fucking awesome time.

    My outlook won't be the only thing changing, however. As of January 1st, I made the decision to overhaul my own RC program. After careful consideration and a few beers, I've determined that sponsorships and support are worth their weight in gold to the prospective racer, so long as the companies you represent contribute to you having the best experience possible on and off the track. Just saying your're a "sponsored" toy car driver won't mean dick if the support, info, and value (or lack thereof) causes added stress, a lighter wallet, and a stale attitude.


So, what was my criteria for selecting a possible company to represent?

1: Said-company must be in-line with my desire to "enjoy" RC racing first and foremost.
    Good attitudes produce better results. True story.

2: Said-company must have LOCAL support.
    Shocker: I'm not a pro driver, and sometimes (ahem, oftentimes) I need advice or guidance on setups or technical info. "Strength in numbers" is a term that comes to mind here.

3: Said-company must produce a product I already use or one I believe in.
    I have no interest in running sponsor stickers on my car just for a discount, nor should anyone else...but that's a conversation for another time.

    Let me be clear, I have always been and always will be more than grateful to those that deem and have deemed me worthy of company support for my racing efforts, but as is the case with many facets of competition, sometimes a change is needed for fresh motivation and excitement. As I said, 2019 will be all about "good times". I mean, I'm just a local club racer that's looking to get rad with my toy car. Nothing more, nothing less. I can't fix the problems plaguing our hobby, but I can help it be a more positive experience. I think we all can.

Call me the "Purveyor of Good Times". After all, isn't that what a hobby is supposed to provide?

Thanks to those that read the blog and support my racing adventures! 2019 is gonna be lit, fam.

Don't believe the Hype: RC is still Rad.

   

    If I had a nickel for every complaint I've heard at the track about how a program sucks, or how the hobby is out of control, I'd be able to wipe my ass with hundred dollar bills. It's flabbergasting to me how an activity that was/is designed solely for personal entertainment and enjoyment, could incite such negative feelings and remarks on a daily basis. Unless you've been living under a rock during the month or so (admittedly a a happier place to be probably, ignorance is bliss), you've no doubt read a post or watched a video describing how the hobby is "dying" a slow death, and how action must be taken to save our scale sport....

....DaFuck?

    You're telling me that the pastime that I've loved for the past 20+ years is suddenly on life support? Nope. I'm not buying it.

    Now, while I consider myself an optimist, I also consider myself a realist. I know that there are issues facing our hobby. RC car racing certainly isn't immune to the scads of pitfalls that plague any activity involving competition. Having said that, what I do feel like this hobby suffers from most, is a massively skewed perception of what makes toy car racing so rad. So often, we as racers get caught up in the hoopla of a competitive environment and the inherent complications that come from it. With the adrenaline and passion that breeds from competition, come jubilation for situations gone right, and resentment for situations gone awry. It's easy, in the midst of competing against one another, to forget the very reasons we got so wrapped up in this scale sport. Most keep a calm head and remember that for the vast majority of us, this hobby is just that, a hobby. There are others, however, that take to social channels to complain, or simply create a toxic attitude in the pit area and on the track. Unfortunately, these comments and negative actions are what people see most, and I'd venture to guess that like me, you're a bit tired of hearing about it.

    So, rather than go on a rant that's saltier than a bucket of KFC chicken wings, I thought I'd highlight some of the main factors that make RC racing so unequivocally bitchin' to me. Time to change the perception for the better.

The Tracks.

Old School: Burien RC

    Let's take a moment and talk about the most basic element needed to hold a toy car race: The track. And honestly, how insanely spoiled are we these days? They say you can have quantity or quality, but you can't very well have both. I'd venture to say that in the case of current RC tracks, that statement has never been less true. Tracks have always come and gone in this hobby, and while it's unfortunate that some must close for various reasons, the overall number of tracks has held steady. Why is this? Quite simply, the way we build tracks has changed as well. As the quantity of permanent tracks has waned in recent years, the number of quality temporary tracks has increased substantially. Some of these mobile setups rival (and often beat) the quality of the permanent courses that came before them. Temporary tracks have allowed clubs a chance to operate a quality program without the unreasonably high rent and overhead associated with a permanent building. Thus, we've seen better tracks, better programs, and more of them, and that's rad. So in review, we have quantity.... we have quality.... but there's one factor that is arguably more important to the growth of the hobby than anything else: Variety.

   

Modern Indoor Nirvana: Seattle RC Racers.

    Wanna race on carpet with a touring car? We've got a track for that. Wanna race on carpet with a buggy? We've got a track for that. Wanna race on asphalt, clay, turf, grass, or even a gym floor? We've got a track for that. Wanna race off-road, on-road, oval, drag racing, nitro or electric? We've got a track for that. Never in the history of our hobby, has there been more options in which to get your racing fix. Grip levels are up across the hobby, thanks in part to many different factors (some good, some bad) within the industry, in addition to the attention to track surfaces that we just didn't have in the past. Racing is fast and consistent because of the unreal variety of quality tracks across the world.

Want grip? We've got a track for that.

The Equipment.

I miss the mechanical side of brushed motors, but not much else.

    Remember the days of building sub-c battery packs with over-priced matched cells, only to "cook" charge them to get every ounce of punch before a race, only to have them last for a handful of race days? Remember the days of cutting comms and replacing brushes during a race day on top of your normal maintenance routine? I do, and while it's easy to look back on the days of yesteryear with beer goggles on and a sense of nostalgia, we have to also remember the unsustainable nature of top-tier racing was back in the "good ol' days". Race packs north of a hundred bucks that would last a few months as best. Race motors that needed constant attention and massaging that would last a few months at best. Chassis kits that were brittle & temperamental, and radio crystals. I mean, if you've never heard the phrase "WHO'S ON 66!" yelled in legitimate anger, can you really say you've lived the RC life?

Building stick packs = Hell on earth.

    Thankfully, times have changed, and no longer do we as racers need to purchase parts and accessories in bulk. Motor maintenance? Nope. Battery maintenance? Nope (just don't be a dumbass and over-charge). Chassis manufacturers are producing reliable, fast race cars that are more accessible than ever before. While there is definitely more adjustability with our modern cars, the information available with regards to setup has never been better. If you take that even a step further, the level of budget-friendly or "hobby-level" car kits is at an all-time high. For the cost of a couple tanks of gas, a prospective racer can pick yourself up a competitive chassis that they can build, race and grow with as their skills develop. Couple that with motors and batteries that will last multiple seasons, and you have a recipe for success. Thanks to progress, there's quality equipment for every budget, and every taste, and that's rad to see.

The People.

    Regardless of what anyone with try to argue, it's the people that make this hobby. End of story. From the track owners, to the professionals, to the novices, to the parents of kids, to the volunteers

The future: Harley Yoshii & Derek Mesa.
Credit: Nick Colander

giving their time. Each and every person involved in this community has an undeniable effect on our experience on and off the track. While there are admittedly plenty of questionable influences that unfortunately get the bulk of the attention within our industry, I refuse to list or even mention them here.

    Rather, I'd like to give a shout out to the good ones. The racers who take time out of their busy day to help a novice with a problem. The track owner that spends long hours ensuring we degenerates always have a place to race. The professional racers that get the concept of representing themselves and their sponsors in a positive way, all while doing their part to grow the hobby we care about so much. Take a look at the Instagram account of Jered Tebo, or listen to a podcast by "A State of RC" as perfect examples of how to create a positive culture within our hobby.

It's the people that make RC what it is.

    Lastly, though, I'd like to give a shout out to the club racer. The lifeblood of our industry. Without the scads of weekend warriors that flock to weekly club races and practice days, there would be no RC racing. While world, national, and local pros will always get the glory (and well they should), the reality is, programs can not, and will not have sustained success without an influx of novices, hobby-level racers and good ol' privateers. Hats off to all of you. You are what make RC what it is.

    Am I going to sit here and say that everything is perfect and nothing should be changed? Of course not. There will always be something we can do better, or a situation we can handle better. There will always be a need for new racers, and programs to suit the growth of those new to the hobby. Having said that, do I believe RC is dead or dying? Absolutely not. If anything, I believe we've never been in a better place. We have better equipment, better access to quality information, and racers that truly care about our scale sport. 

We've got it pretty good right now, regardless of what some people may say. As an industry, we have all the tools to grow and nurture this hobby for the better. Anyone that's been involved with this hobby long enough, will tell you that there's ebbs and flows that occur from time to time. While we seem to be in an ebb tide at present, with the right perspective, we'll be just fine. 

RC is still rad, so have fun and enjoy it.

-JRoy