Recently it was noticed that a popular driver was no longer coming to the race track - he was competitive week in and week out, won some big races, etc.

He was recently asked about this...this is his quote.

I still love racing, but it comes down to the amount of work it takes to keep a car (or two) in perfect racing condition. It doesn't matter what class your running, unless your equipment is 100% you don't stand a chance of having consistent front of the pack finishes. There are too many good drivers and too much great equipment out there to be trying to win races with anything less than 100%.

This particular driver is now spending a LOT more time with family, and his kids...they go places, see things, go camping, go to the lake, etc. (all for probably a whole lot less than his racing budget was)

He was NOT a R/C Racer - he was a driver at the DIRT track here in CALIF. But his story is not unlike MANY r/c guys.

There are a lot of guys who enjoy racing, but they don't have the time, nor do they wish to put forth the effort to have a 100% "RACE WINNING" car - week in and week out. They are racing for F U N, and to race at the intesity level, or the dedication level required in some classes just ISN'T FUN.

The OTHER classes that seem to frustrate people (Because of TOO MANY classes) have VERY little to do with guys "NOT BEING ABLE TO WIN...wanting a CLASS THEY CAN" but moreso, it's about having a class with a driving/equipment/skill level THEY ARE COMFORTABLE in, and enjoy.

Why is it important to be winning to have fun? What I say to those people is they don't really enjoy racing to have fun, they enjoy winning.

Recently it was noticed that a popular driver was no longer coming to the race track - he was competitive week in and week out, won some big races, etc.

He was recently asked about this...this is his quote.

I still love racing, but it comes down to the amount of work it takes to keep a car (or two) in perfect racing condition. It doesn't matter what class your running, unless your equipment is 100% you don't stand a chance of having consistent front of the pack finishes. There are too many good drivers and too much great equipment out there to be trying to win races with anything less than 100%.

This particular driver is now spending a LOT more time with family, and his kids...they go places, see things, go camping, go to the lake, etc. (all for probably a whole lot less than his racing budget was)

He was NOT a R/C Racer - he was a driver at the DIRT track here in CALIF. But his story is not unlike MANY r/c guys.

There are a lot of guys who enjoy racing, but they don't have the time, nor do they wish to put forth the effort to have a 100% "RACE WINNING" car - week in and week out. They are racing for F U N, and to race at the intesity level, or the dedication level required in some classes just ISN'T FUN.

The OTHER classes that seem to frustrate people (Because of TOO MANY classes) have VERY little to do with guys "NOT BEING ABLE TO WIN...wanting a CLASS THEY CAN" but moreso, it's about having a class with a driving/equipment/skill level THEY ARE COMFORTABLE in, and enjoy.

Amen!!!!!! Some of us are just in it for the hobby After 20 + years, I know that I will never be an A-main calibator driver in a large class. I try to do my best and also try to let faster deivers pass and not cause a crash, but things do happen. Many of the racers that say we need less classes are the first to fuss if you hold them up or are even in their heat.

Finding the proper amount of classes is not easy. How many racers does one need to beat???? "The cream will always rise to the top".
On the other side if classes are made to try and keep the fastest in one class, they may not have anyone to race with.


This is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Why is it important to be winning to have fun? What I say to those people is they don't really enjoy racing to have fun, they enjoy winning.

If a person has a competitive gene, then he has to know he
can at least be in the hunt..
If he isn't in the hunt, he isn't going to have a good time.
I've seen guys, and you've seen the same ones,
that if things didn't go too well during the qualifiers...
they're outtah there! That isn't having fun.... for them.:(

Then there are those that just love messing with their cars,
and have a great time just getting out on a Thursday night,
or Sunday morning (or whatever) to see their friends and get out
of the house..:thumbsup:

Hope you've been well! take care.... Dan

This is racing and if it is taking up “too much of someone’s time” to be successful at it, then maybe they should look for another hobby. And if having fun is their main concern, then finishing in the C or D Main shouldn’t be a problem for them………it’s just for fun right?

WINNING, however, is still reserved for the ones that but forth the effort.

Gotta be the biggest misconception in racing.

That you have to spend oodles of hours working on your car every week to be competitive. It's just an excuse.

If you build the car right the first time it doesn't take much maintenance at all to keep it running fast. If you really think you don't have time to build a car, there are guys that would rebuild others cars for cheap or nothing. just my opinion.

Most fun I ever had was a race at the sugar bowl many years ago. 6 cell stock "H" main. Drove 400 miles to race in a national event with two other guys I raced with on a weekly basis. Bill Spicer, Kenny "Scarecrow" Holmes and myself. Gene crane was the announcer and we had him laughing his but off!!!! It ain't about winning, it's about, fun times, great memories, and most of all Sharing time with your friends.

Winning is a plus, but after 20 plus years in the sport, it's still the fun factor that counts for me. And yes I have won some major races around florida over the years, guess what? I can't find the torphies but I always know where my friends are.

Steve "Tin Man" Platt

Mclin...exactly.

Why is it important to be winning to have fun? What I say to those people is they don't really enjoy racing to have fun, they enjoy winning.

I don't think winning is the key to having fun but going to the track unprepared with no chance of winning takes all the fun out of it... at least for me. Don't get me wrong I really enjoy the smoking & joking at the track but if I can't put forth my best effort I'd rather stay home.

i understand exactly what the guy is saying..once you start running up front and win some races you never want to slide back into the b main bunch anymore..it's a pride thing with me...i try my best to show uo at a race and put forth my best effort...

it is alot of fun for me to stay up front...when the car is off and i'm chasing set-up i'm "working" to get my car up front again.they guy is 100% correct it is a S load of work to stay up front..no way i can just show up on race day and thrash on my car and finish top three...not with the group of guys in florida....

when it becomes too expensive or is no longer worth my time and money i'll hit the road..

i look at it this way...

group A has fun just showing up and racing door to door with his buddies...awesome

group B is lazy and buys cars pre built in the hope that they can just show up and run with the big dogs..(never works)
and blame special batteries and motors is what sepereates them from the group C guys

group C hard core spending hours upon hours late at night working on there stuff..they spend money on what is needed to go fast.some only have fun winning...others still have fun with there friends while racing...and most have nagging wives and fiances who hate the fact that we(group c) go into our man caves at night and are gone on weekends racing....yup sometimes i'm group C lol


my question is.....why does it bother any one person what makes a racer happy? as long as they show up and race? i ask when a guy quits....i never get 100% of the truth though...

i'd rather finish 2nd or 3rd or whatever really and still be having fun than finishing first all the time and not having fun

i understand exactly what the guy is saying..once you start running up front and win some races you never want to slide back into the b main bunch anymore..it's a pride thing with me...i try my best to show uo at a race and put forth my best effort...

it is alot of fun for me to stay up front...when the car is off and i'm chasing set-up i'm "working" to get my car up front again.they guy is 100% correct it is a S load of work to stay up front..no way i can just show up on race day and thrash on my car and finish top three...not with the group of guys in florida....

when it becomes too expensive or is no longer worth my time and money i'll hit the road..

i look at it this way...

group A has fun just showing up and racing door to door with his buddies...awesome

group B is lazy and buys cars pre built in the hope that they can just show up and run with the big dogs..(never works)
and blame special batteries and motors is what sepereates them from the group C guys

group C hard core spending hours upon hours late at night working on there stuff..they spend money on what is needed to go fast.some only have fun winning...others still have fun with there friends while racing...and most have nagging wives and fiances who hate the fact that we(group c) go into our man caves at night and are gone on weekends racing....yup sometimes i'm group C lol


my question is.....why does it bother any one person what makes a racer happy? as long as they show up and race? i ask when a guy quits....i never get 100% of the truth though...

I am part of group C also. I like to run up front. I remember the day i started running touring car. I had no clue what the heck i was doin out there. I dont wanna go back to those days. I did all the research i could to make my car fast. I am the competitive type. I do have buddies though that have fun no matter what. I kind of envy those guys. They dont care where they finish as long as they go racing.

But i do have fun even if i dont win. I still like going racing, winning just makes it that much better.

Swtour qoute
"The OTHER classes that seem to frustrate people (Because of TOO MANY classes) have VERY little to do with guys "NOT BEING ABLE TO WIN...wanting a CLASS THEY CAN" but moreso, it's about having a class with a driving/equipment/skill level THEY ARE COMFORTABLE in, and enjoy."

Good post, but this is the part that Hit home to me. I REALLY enjoy working on my Toy cars and spend Alot of time on them ( wife says Way to Much ) I spend what I can afford to on them ( cant skip the family bills though )
However I never was a Great wheel and pushing 50 or so my eyesight/reactions etc. are not going to get me into That Group ( alot of these boys in Florida/Georgia hall @$$ and drive like Machines ) I personaly want to run in a class that I can be somewhat competitive, race side by side some and not have Mr. I,m on a TQ run or I,m the leader hollering at me to get the %$#@ outta his way or I,ll Drive threw You. Thats NOT FUN FOR ME. Very few drivers are like that but I dont want to be in the Nice guys way either because I dont want to ruin his race.
By the way for those of you who say A,B,C mains is what seperates the Skill levels of drivers and that we only need a couple classes......whens the last time you went to a local or even Big event and had more than a A or possibly B main?
Just my thoughts. Have Fun racing :)

Personally I want my car to work as well it can and I want a close race. If my car works and I have a close race with someone and finish fourth or first it doesn't make much difference.

Lately though the only thing that interests me are big races. I like the competition and pressure. The thing that makes it either a blast or a drag though are the group of guys I'm racing with. There are fun groups and there are not fun groups, and the strange thing is that the top racers are a lot funner group to race with than the guys who are "just having fun".

this is interesting stuff i'm reading.

group a b and c are trademarked and i accept pay pal...ahahhahahahaha

look if your not having some sort of fun while racing you realy need to step back and think about a second or third job instead...

when i fish off shore i take it just as serious and i'm up all night getting the baits and lures ready...if we don't get a fish i still had a good day not working.

LOL, It's funny how hard you can work to have Fun not working!

LOL, It's funny how hard you can work to have Fun not working!

VERY TRUE :confused:

Why is it important to be winning to have fun? What I say to those people is they don't really enjoy racing to have fun, they enjoy winning.

So true!

i understand exactly what the guy is saying..once you start running up front and win some races you never want to slide back into the b main bunch anymore..it's a pride thing with me...i try my best to show uo at a race and put forth my best effort...

it is alot of fun for me to stay up front...when the car is off and i'm chasing set-up i'm "working" to get my car up front again.they guy is 100% correct it is a S load of work to stay up front..no way i can just show up on race day and thrash on my car and finish top three...not with the group of guys in florida....

when it becomes too expensive or is no longer worth my time and money i'll hit the road..

i look at it this way...

group A has fun just showing up and racing door to door with his buddies...awesome

group B is lazy and buys cars pre built in the hope that they can just show up and run with the big dogs..(never works)
and blame special batteries and motors is what sepereates them from the group C guys

group C hard core spending hours upon hours late at night working on there stuff..they spend money on what is needed to go fast.some only have fun winning...others still have fun with there friends while racing...and most have nagging wives and fiances who hate the fact that we(group c) go into our man caves at night and are gone on weekends racing....yup sometimes i'm group C lol


my question is.....why does it bother any one person what makes a racer happy? as long as they show up and race? i ask when a guy quits....i never get 100% of the truth though...


Group D has 3 GFX's with fancy custom faceplates, 15 battery packs, 4 cars all built ready to go...and no spare tires. Then he complains about not being fast after all the money he spent.

Don't forget he also has a pit trailer, 3 top of the line radios, custom painted bodies, and oh by the way the 4 cars... he did'nt build them. Group D has 3 GFX's with fancy custom faceplates, 15 battery packs, 4 cars all built ready to go...and no spare tires. Then he complains about not being fast after all the money he spent.

:p:p:p:p LOL

Wouldn't there be a Group E - The guy that gets pissed off about a race and sells all his stuff and then 2 weeks later buys all new again. :woohoo:(these guys are great for the hobby shop)LOL

aint it the truth. How about the guy who races and runs a track, what a knuckle head!LOL, It's funny how hard you can work to have Fun not working!

aint it the truth. How about the guy who races and runs a track, what a knuckle head!

Yep, those guys need a weekly Psychiatric Evaluation :drunk:

aint it the truth. How about the guy who races and runs a track, what a knuckle head!

Just ask Donnie Burnett aka owner Carolina RC Complex home of the 2007 & 2008 ROAR Paved Oval Nats, he races every week.


Jim