AARON
associate editor

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE! Jun 09, 2010 - 04:38 PM

I’ve written several blogs and editorials making references to racers getting angry at the local tracks. For each of the incidents that I’ve seen I’ve had the opportunity to be a third-person observer and watch the carnage unfold, but as the race director at a recent club race that raised the tempers of a couple of our most calm local racers the topic really hit close to home. (Note: I don’t mean to make an example of anyone, but the whole experience has made me think.)

I know that the thrill of competition can lead one’s emotions to sway in a direction they may not normally lean, and every incident I’ve seen at the RC track starts with an on-track incident that gets fueled by words that are either misunderstood or blatantly aimed at eliciting a response. No one goes straight from “I just got taken out!” to throwing punches without some verbal jousting to stoke the flames, but it’s a process that can get out of control in mere seconds.

Thankfully, the incident was resolved quickly and without further drama, but everyone who saw what transpired was given a quick reminder that even RC racing can be taken too seriously at times, and we all need to take a step back and breathe every once in a while.

WHICH CAR SHOULD I BUY? Apr 30, 2010 - 10:38 AM

I was reading a RC message board for a dose of Ipecac-like fuel for my industry-related cynicism this week when I stumbled across a thread that’s all too common.

“Which car should I buy?”

I couldn’t resist. Threads that start with such a sparkles are like a horribly imminent car accident that you just cannot resist watching. I couldn’t help it. I suppressed my dry heaving and clicked on the thread sparkles. It went something like this:

Initial post: Brand new member of the forum clearly oblivious to the catastrophic turns the thread will soon make. Very well-written post with plenty of details (that will immediately be ignored), and his questions are posed both politely and concisely.

First reply: An admittedly inexperienced opinion suggesting the thread starter buy the exact car he himself owns, listing reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with what sets that particular car apart from its competition.

Second reply: Another plug for the car mentioned in the first reply, again admitting (though not purposely) relatively little experience, making ridiculous claims about lap time improvement (especially noteworthy since the original poster clearly proclaimed that he would not be racing and instead looking for a backyard-worthy car), and the post ends with negatives about the car he is trying to sell.

Third reply: A “+1” for the same car mentioned twice above. Absolutely zero reasons given. Actually, no other information at all save for the “+1.” How helpful.

(Editor’s note: After consideration of the original poster’s question, I agree with the recommendation of the first few posts. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to make fun of how the recommendation was made as those arguments would fail to sell food to a starving person.)

Fourth reply: A post from the original poster, thanking those above for their input and asking further questions about the car mentioned. Also, he poses questions about a competing car and asks for details.

Fifth reply: An opinion about a small detail with the second car in question, with zero reason.

Now the thread is six posts old, including the original message, and we’ve gone nowhere. No qualified advice has been given, no decisions have been made, and the thread starter has further questions. Oh, don’t worry, it gets better; more than a dozen posts are made in less than 24 hours that really do nothing to help encourage the thread’s progression. Here are some highlights:

- Admittedly brand-biased answers.
- Recommendations for a car other than what the poster personally owns, followed by unnecessary public anguish over recommending against his deep-rooted personal opinions…which, coincidentally, is an opinion.
- A total departure from the thread topic itself as other users argue over which car is the best, which brand has the best reputation, blah blah blah.

And my personal favorite…

The (likely 50%) sponsored driver using a fake screen name who makes a shameless, reasonless sales pitch for his sponsor’s car that is not widely available either from local hobby stores or online shops, again ignoring the original post in order to make unfounded claims about why his sponsor’s car is the best choice.

I have to ask: for those of you who will actually read this, does this kind of thing actually help inform incoming hobbyists?

Oh, how I love the Internet.

CAN’T WASH AWAY MY ENTHUSIASM Apr 22, 2010 - 04:22 PM

Nineteen hours from now I will be flying to Milwaukee, WI to attend the inaugural Short Course Showdown at Scotty Ernst’s S&N Trackside Hobbies. Having never been to Trackside, or even the state of Wisconsin in general, I’m excited about the opportunity to visit a new area and meet new racers. The fact that it’s a short course event just makes it even cooler.

Short Course specific events have been popping up all over the country, and for good reason; the huge draw of scale-realistic trucks has introduced new hobbyists into the sport and even drawn mainstream motorsports industry recognition. Ernst and the Trackside crew plan on making this weekend’s Showdown an event for families to come and watch the racing action, complete with a Traxxas Slash Try-Me track and a friendly atmosphere sure to capture the attention of new racers.

Of course…what would my blog be without a little whining about weather? Here’s the forecast for my trip this weekend:

Oh well. I’m sure I’ll have fun anyway.

FAMILY COMES FIRST Apr 02, 2010 - 10:21 AM

(I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is yes; I think of blog topics and then Google funny pictures that go along with my idea. This one cracked me up.)

RC, like full-size motorsports, is an unarguably male-dominated activity. For the most part, RC serves as a a form of relaxation and decompression for working-age men to get away from the stresses of work and family for a few hours and have fun with the guys; we like to refer to our Tuesday night club races at Hot Rod as “guys’ night,” and it’s more productive and safer than going to a bar after work (though that’s fun, too).

I understand that part. Still, I find it both alarming and disgusting to find adult men complaining on public Internet message forums that family gets in the way of their hobby time. Seriously, guys?

It’s one thing to say “bummer, I won’t be able to make this race because I have a birthday party to attend. I’ll see you at the next one!” It is quite another to jump into a “mine is bigger” argument about whose wife is less forgiving of the time and money you spend on RC racing, maintaining your equipment, and isolating yourself from the family. RC is an incredible hobby for parents to enjoy with children; I understand that it’s not for everyone (I have younger siblings that just never got hooked on it like I did), but there’s always a balance. If your RC hobby causes serious marriage and family problems, some self-reflection is certainly necessary and I don’t think that the Internet is the right avenue to express how you feel. The negative press doesn’t help anyone!

NOW THIS IS MORE LIKE IT Mar 15, 2010 - 11:36 AM

All winter long I’ve been whining about the cold weather, even skipping club races due to the arctic (sub-50 degrees…haha) weather in our valley. Now that it’s March, which is practically summer here, things (and by things, I mean temperatures) are looking up. Beach trip, anyone?