I was wanting to get a feel on how people feel about getting beat on race-day? Does it motivate you to work on your stuff, or does it discourage you?

Here is the background.
About a year and a half ago we started an oval pancar club to gain some unity with the pancar racers in Arizona. We have 6 great places to race oval here and the turn-outs were fragmented. It took off pretty well.

A-lot of us were making the A mains or at least in the top 3 or 4 and the wins seemed to rotate among the membership pretty regularly.

About 6-9 months ago a Pro-Level driver from back east transferred to our desert community (I won't mention any names). Needless to say he broke the track record on his first night and handed us a whompin' in excess of 4-5 laps! (it could have been more - I've blocked it out - LOL). His presence drew out another couple pro-level guys who had all but disappeared. Needless to say those of us who thought we knew what was what were left scratching our heads.

For me personally it has motivated the heck out of me and brought me to a whole new level of learning on these cars. At my favorite track I have gained 4 laps on average, 5 on a good night. Most of us have gained and improved. Of course the top 3 guys are gaining and improving also so we are still 1-3 laps behind and there is some level of frustration.

We have also suffered from a decline in regular club attendance on race nights and the fragmenting is starting again.

I would love to hear what the rest of you think & feel.

Scott, this happens at every track I have been to in th elast 20 years. You need to have a way to sepperate the guy who wants to run together with there equals from the Pro-level guys. BTW it has always motivated my to work harder when I get beat.

sounds like yall need a hyperdrive... j/k lol.

Scott,
Having started racing about 10 years ago,but not new to R.C., I can share in some of your frustrations.For years I spent long hours trying to figure out what was missing in me or my equipment that prevented me from the "winners"circle. Each class I ran was a stepping stone to were I am now (not sure where that is) But still enjoy the sport very much.
I guess the one thing to remember is that no matter how good you think you are, there is always someone out there that can smoke your a$$!
I think the best thing to do is learn from these individuals and improve your game in the process. Most of us do this for fun (club level) and my goal is about the fun while also trying to improve as a driver.
As far as attendence that is something most clubs have struggled with for years. Racers just "burn out" and decide to do other things.Nothing you can do about it! I guess the key is to work with younger racers and keep new blood coming into the sport.
Dan

im thinking in these cases you could start a break out class. that probly would keep the guys happy that dont like to be beat. i use to be one of those guys. to me i race RC cars for fun. but to me doin well and being competative is what is fun along with hangin out with friends. so it is frustrating to always be being beat. thats just how it is to be honest. who wants to spend so much money and still not be in the top 3. i just think a break out class would be good. have 1 pan car class and 1 break out class. might work

I too am in it for the fun Porksalot. On top of what you listed as fun for you...the challenge to get better is fun for me as well.

I am just concerned that somehow our attendance drop is related to people getting frustrated.

jmcdo - Did I mention the PRO? There has been quite a few HD cars sent to AZ recently - LOL

Great input guys - as I expected. Keep em coming.
Thanks

When we get beat by someone better than us I try to figure out why and where he was beating us. Was it in the corners, straights or could he just out drive us. I would say that I work harder on the car to keep up with the Jones.

it is part of the attendence drop. i have very close friends that either race or dont race depending on how well they did the week b4. when they do well they are pumped to come back. they work on there stuff all week. they work on motors. they try to get to the track early for practice. then this week after all that they just dont have the same yank they did the week b4. and instead of bein top 3 they are top 10. and all a sudden they dont come back for a few weeks till i talk them back into it. its just part of racing i guess. i use to be like that. like said who wants to be beat so badly after racing for this long. now adays though im more in this just for fun. as a past time. i never go to the track anymore thinking i should be the fast guy or even one of them. i go there to have fun and hang out and however i do thats fine with me. hopefully i do well ofcourse. i will admit though that doin better and better every week is very motivating. thats why i like to help out the local racers at my track. cause they are so new that every week they make huge gains. its actually more fun to watch someone else do well now for me that i helped then it is for me to race. i just race cause i like how easy the 4300 is to maintain :) if i had to work on motors all day id probly just watch lol. ok guys a little off subject! sorry :)

You have to get beat to go faster. But with that said. Dont try to run modified if your set up/driving skills are stock level. That is the thing I see most often times. Everyone wants to go fast and win but you have to do it within your ability level as well. If your skill isnt there and someone with the skills is spanking you :) then swallow the pride, drop back and develop your skills on driving and set up. You will learn faster and have a lot more fun.

When your ready in those areas then move up to the faster classes where you have control of your car so that you can move over and then learn how to go faster.

Just remember that no matter how fast someone is there is always someone out there who is faster.

Making up those first couple laps usually isn't that steep of a learning curve, it's is the last 1 or so that is the most difficult and can take years to achieve, maybe even longer to achieve consistently to.

Take notes on everything. When speeds fall off you have some place to go back to. And probably more importantly take notes on your bad days. Then you can see what doesn't work...

I would like to think that I get motivated when I get a whipping. I usually do ok and have a shot at winning some of the time. But we do have our Pro guys, and when they come out, we are all fighting for 3rd, 4th or 5th; 1,2,3 or 4 laps down.

I asked one of the Pro guys to look at my car. Where was I off? I learned a ton. Now my car is much better. Most important was to just make small changes. I was going out every qualifier with basically a new car because I would change so much. I am now getting better race after race and look forward to racing more now than I ever did. But I try not to let it stop with me and pay it forward. I don't keep secrets and pass out tire and gear info to whoever asks. Who knows, we just might have a surprise in store for those pro guys one day! Well not really, but we are all having a lot of fun!

larcguy you make good points cuase you never know who the next pro at the track will be! might be you. might be the kid that just started. i doubt any pro started and was good right away :)

I think if getting beat discourages you that you are not a true racer. Racing is a competitive Sport / Hobby. I race 1/10 scale, 1/4 scale, and real Late Models and feel I am of just as motivated at all forms of racing to do better when we are having a bad day at the track. Don't ever let a bad day discourage you from trying harder, ask questions from the people you feel will give you good honest answers.

Dave D

Winning isn't as fun unless it is earned. If I get beat and then get better and win it is much more rewarding. When I'm getting beat by the big dogs I realize that they are on a different level and I am resolved to competing against myself. Was I faster than last week or last month? If so, then it is a small victory. If you can approach racing as a self-competition then it can be more rewarding. I don't have to place #1 to at least have my own personal victories.

Big dog racers can always be a problem at a small club if they aren't doing anything to promote that facility or improve the racing. Try to get those racers invested in your track so that the other racers are also having fun. I'm sure it isn't very rewarding for the fast guy to be winning by multiple laps either. Challenge the fast guy to swap motors or cars and see if he can beat you with your own equipment. A lot of good racers are willing to prove that it is chassis setup that is making them go fast.

Big dog racers can always be a problem at a small club if they aren't doing anything to promote that facility or improve the racing. Try to get those racers invested in your track so that the other racers are also having fun. I'm sure it isn't very rewarding for the fast guy to be winning by multiple laps either. Challenge the fast guy to swap motors or cars and see if he can beat you with your own equipment. A lot of good racers are willing to prove that it is chassis setup that is making them go fast.

IndyRC - great points on the self competition and min-victories. These are what I shoot for. I have two years experience, these guys have 15-18.

Our Pro Level racers are not a problem at all. We are lucky that the top level racers in our club are all the "shirt off of their back" type. One of them has assumed co-responsibility for running our club. Another will rebuild your car for you between heats if you ask him, or give or lend you any part. They all go out of their way to help us average Joe's.

I am really appreciating everyone's comments

...The true character of a champion isn't judged when they are standing tall, but how quick they get up and recover after being knocked down.

True racers roll up their sleeves, put their heads down and get after it when they get beat...:cool:

When I get beat I go to the experts and ask question, get help with setup and try to learn my mistakes. For example I was at a track a couple weeks ago and I took my car up there setup the way I thought would be good, and my car was so fast but I was loosing it in the corners. I tried different things and it didnt work so I went to the experts and asked and they said I need to go to a long wheel base and fix a couple other things and I did as they said and Went out in the main and gained 3 laps just by listening to them. So dont be afraid to ask the fast guys it may be the best thing for you to do.

...The true character of a champion isn't judged when they are standing tall, but how quick they get up and recover after being knocked down.

True racers roll up their sleeves, put their heads down and get after it when they get beat...:cool:

I agree..

Makes me try and work harder. I find the competition fun.

Most of the Nextel guys loose more races then they win in there racing
career.

getting beat motivates me to do better.

Y'all just need to cut ol Humpty's b.. and stick his leg thru it,lol!!!! It's a motivation,and also a money spender.A wise r/c man once told me that a tenth costs $100.00!!!!

Thats the motivation... I dont really like to win every week.. Thats why i dont mind having fast guy who some think shouldnt be in a class in my class.. If you dont have anything to strive for then whats the point..

I race in Colorado against some guys that are really really good, and what I have found is that it has motivated me to step my game up. Although I am not at their level yet I am getting closer every time we race. I think thats what compitition is all about, and that is pushing yourself to become better and better.

i like racing the top guns also. i do feel motivated when i start to do better and improve. i really do feel that its close to 50/50 though about who gets dicouraged and motivated. i feel if guys just dont get any better then sooner then later they will quit or change classes. just when guys start to notice they spend so much to not become competative then thats when the discouraging starts. thats not the pro's fault though! not at all. its just the way it goes sadly. if everyone was always competive then im pretty sure there would be alot more racers

:)

Todd Putnam put it well

...what about the NOT 'true racers', but the hobbiest who enjoys being a part of the race...yet knowing he has NO chance to win...unless he's the last car running.

I personally know better than a dozen guys who have been racing nearly as long...or longer than I have who just have fun being there...and have no itentions of working hard enough to win anymore (myself included) That does not mean I'm not having fun...and I don't get discouraged by getting beat. I do get discouraged if my car SUCKS and/or I never get it working enough to satisfy myself.

I set small goals...like beating the previous fastest lap I turned at a particular track...or beating my previous best run...or beating one of the several guys I consider to be on MY level of racing.

Some of my best and favorite races, I was fighting for 7th or 8th postion against a good friend.

Win or lose, my motivation is the same...Winning makes me happier, but doesn't change the fact that I like to RACE...WIN OR LOSE.

Don't forget to have fun :wave:

i feel that doing well 1 time out of 10 is equal to doin bad 10 times to 1.

:confused: :confused: :jest:

lol yeah that came out wrong. :) oh well im to lazy to fix it right now! so ill just delete that part. have fun racing

Man if I was motivated every time I lost I would go insane from over motivation...
Bad thing about pro (so called drivers) is that there isn't allways a mod class for them to run. So they step down to lower class like 19t or 4300 just so they can race also. Now you have guys that normally would win finishing 2,3,4th or so and that can hurt some guys. Some will come back stronger the next week and some might not come back at all. Myself faster guys push me even more! But if pro type drivers run with slower guys all the time they will not improve at all but slower guys could which that close's up the gap in laps.
If you want to go fast buy a HD Pro3 and get a good setup and drive your a$$ off...

Send Humpty back home. We need him to keep these guys in the east honest. just joking. when guys like Humpty beat you. you know you have been beaten by one of the best. Also if you ask him for help with your car, he will help every time .

Humpty help? Man I wish I could get some of that! LOL no Jeff is a great person for the hobby.

In the long run you will thank the pro guys! I know the 'Pro-guy" you speak of. To tell you the truth he is one of the best on the planet. Just racing around him will make you better. You want think you are any better until you go to another track and race guys that are on the same playing field as you, and thous guys are looking at you like you are the man, and in the back of your mind you are thinking I remember being were they are now. Just remember to help them.

As for me, I have been racing oval for about 11 years. And over those years I have taken each experience differently. I am ALWAYS learning. No matter how I finish, I want to walk away learning something new. For me, winning is a confidence builder and losing motivates me. I don't race that often and it is a hobby to me. I have only won 3 mains ever, but have placed top 3 quite a bit. I am like a sniper now. I know when I'm at my best and show all my cards at those times. I approach racing like I do golf now. I am competing against myself! I like engineering and inventing, so I race sometimes just to try a new concept... Bottom line: Have Fun!!!!

Said the wiseman to Cain "Grasshopper; to learn how to win, you first must learn how to lose!

I can tell you one thing, if I won every week, It would totally un-Motivate me to come back racing. Its not "SUPPOSED" to be easy to win a race.
As someone posted above they were gong in to a race KNOWING they had no chance to win; thats the other half of the equation. You are done before you start.THINK POSITIVE!

Racers who race for fun VS serious racers: Last I checked none of us were making a living racing our R/C cars. We ALL do this for fun. I can race around in my back yard and be TQ and win every race. What fun is that?
The track record at every track in the country will be a lap faster next year this time. I try to figure out what I have to do to get to that mark now.

Getting whooped is motivation for me. I can win a good bit in GA but I can go to FL, TN, SC, NC and I don't even have to worry about making the "A" most of the time. You guys that have "pro's" at your track running against you in stock or 19t should be thankful you have a higher standard of competition to learn from so when you do decide to travel you will be better prepared to compete @ the regional or national level. I like the fact that I can go racing with the pro's any time I want to just by signing up in the class they are running. Pro's VS Joe's is about as close as you will get in any other sport.

Epilogue:

Many great posts on this thread. Thank you all.

The consensus seems to be that motivation is the overall result of being beat, and that personal achievement and victories over self set goals is a good way to keep the motivation alive. Many reasons exist for people leaving the hobby and, yes, one of them is consistently losing. It is a fun hobby, I will say it again... HOBBY, we aren't making millions, we are looking to have fun. I feel for those who have lost that view.

I was able to have one of those personal victories this weekend. I upped my personal best by two laps and reduce my average lap time by 2 tenths. Heck, after that heat you would have thought I won the main.

Remember the fun
Thanks again
Scott
:thumbsup:

Who's this Humpty guy????? Isn't he the guy that fell off the wall and cracked his @$%&?

If it's the same guy, they look kinda alike! Short, fat, and white on top! lol

Humpty can not drive. Yea T thats our fat little buddy for ya, always helping out whn he should be working on is own stuff and stopping to help some body else out. Jeff is one of the good guys you like to see comming to the track, because you know he will be fast and will help you get there too.

To the original question I say Motivates me.. When I was racing tracks and winning I would get lazy.. BUT when I take a beating I really do a lot of work trying to make the car better.. I enjoy the working to catch up a lot more than the winning without effort...My observations at the track however are that many get discouraged...

Heck I took a beating this past weekend with my blatantly obvious bad setup... Im not demotivated.. Instead once I got home I ripped the car apart and started fixing it.. Had I won>>I probably would have left it alone untill next week.. Unfortunately I cant make it back for a few weeks..That part will kill me>> When I lose I want to go to the track MORE... :)

I totally agree with the post above.

After winning I could easily stay home and take a week or two, but after losing all I want to do is get back to the track and prove myself.

I think setting personal goals is the best way to not only stay motivated, but to get and stay fast. If you focus solely on beating the other drivers you get complacent. There are plenty of times where I am qualified well and just as frustrated as if I was 20th, because the car wasn't as fast as it could be. That is my motivation.

losing motivates the hell out of me, you win some you lose some, would you like to win all the time? sure but there is someone who is always going to be faster which should make you push to be faster. winning takes alot to get there but to keep wining is even harder. even better motivator is someone telling you,, your not going to beat that person no way no how.

If getting beat discouraged me,I would have quit a long time ago,LOL.I almost took a burnout break last year,but I almost got a win at the paved nats last year and it was just the thing I needed to keep going.The main thing that keeps me going is it seems I'm never fast enough and with a LOT of help from the HD guys I actually do get better,(I think) I just keep tellin myself that a bad day at the track is still better than the best day at work.

You can say that again Pepe !!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

Man if I was motivated every time I lost I would go insane from over motivation...

That is really funny...........we've all been there or are still there.

......Just imagine if the East sent Arizona a really fast guy.

sorry had to bust ol Humpty Hump go-nads
by the way Hump, when is your band releasing another song?
The Humpty Dance is a bit outdated.

Dont lie Cupcake you still have it on all your IPOD playlists as first song ....I bet you listen to my theme song while making love with the wife.....lol

Dont lie Cupcake you still have it on all your IPOD playlists as first song ....I bet you listen to my theme song while making love with the wife.....lol
:eek: WOW

alright stop whacha doin, cause i'm about the ruin, da image and da style that's ya used to...........

yeah buddy !!!

alright stop whacha doin, cause i'm about the ruin, da image and da style that's ya used to...........

yeah buddy !!!

i dont know if i am discouraged or motivated now???? :confused: