Turbo-I would find it hard to beleive anyone couldnt find a way to contact me and tell me what they are thnking. By PM, e-mail, phone at work or cell phone. Granted-I dont run the track anymore-but I do know what a sacrifice it is. trust me-if you do open your own track now-you are going to be under the microscope!!! YOu talk from a place called Nirvana where everything works just by everyone being accomodating and happy, happy little people. YOu and I both know the world is not like that.

Okay-lets put it to Majority rule. The majority rule is:

All parts in hobbyshop are at 90% discount-tires are Free!!

ENtry for races is FREE-second entry we pay you to race!!.

Track is open 24 hours a day-even on Christmas!!

Practice is FREE!!
Am I now supporting your talk of a Vision-I bet I am. Doesnt matter. YOu dont race on-road anymore and you clain to be the voice of the people-fine-come out tonight-sit down with Jimmy and spill your guts and HELP the people be heard.

It's not my job, this is a discussion board and I am discussing. Don't take it so personal? Here is the flame I was talking about, and I haven't even ran there for a year! Imagine if a newb with thin skin posted what I did. Would you scorn him like you do me? I surely hope not.

Who says I don't race on-road anymore? I am just on a hiatus enjoying off-road, I am sure I will be back, if there is such a place.

I love how you took my examples and ran with them. Yes that would be a perfect world, but I am sure no one is expecting that. We all just need to come to common ground. That was the jist I was trying to promote. Not your Nazi like thinking. No soup for you!

Yes-I agree 100%-but how to market to an audience thats so hard to reach in an economical way. The AM TV spot at the Gate actually helped us secure the track on NOrthfield road as the leasing agent saw the bit and wanted to help us out. But how many times will local TV shws b willing to come out?


If you think of any ideas-lets act on them. Spec class Might be okay-but most with the intention to race-understand that speed costs. The ones who cannot stomach it-go back to watching racing on TV.

I too was amazed to see how big RC racing was when i got started. I found out by calling the hobbyshops asking abut racing. They got me in touch with Don Deutsch and I started to attend.


I am afraid Spec really only works after people find they love the sport-but dont have the ability or budget. I am not sure it will work to Bring new racers in. Bt I could be wrong.

I think that there are probably a good deal of people in the area that have rc cars that they run in parking lots, backyards, etc that could be future potential racers. A lot of the m may not even know that the gate exists. I didn't know about the place until recentely, but would have come out to racce years ago if I only new abou it. Of the rc fans out there that do know of the gate but don't race, they may be intimidated to do so. Whether it is a lack of experience or the feeling that it is to expensive to be competitive.

We ought to explore new ways to ge the word out to these kind of people. And maybe even consider offering these people a novice class that races a car like the trinity T-spec (?) so that costs won't be as crazy and the technology not as intimidating.

Turbo-I guarantee you I am not taking it personally. The discusion is simply that people need to come out or face the possibility that the Gate will cease to exist.

YOur contention is that the track has been mismanaged, run as a sole dictatorship for two or threes benefit not the whole and the track is doomed if they do not wake up and smell the Turbo. NOw I am saying-I guess all those people who came to talk to you because you listen waisted there breath.
Its sad-because if those same people came to talk to me-I would actually act for the benefit of all local racers and try and help. Not say its not my job.

Turbo, you are completely clueless!!!

If you ask Jimmy, Aaron, or Ray you would find that I have consistantly brought issues up with them. Lets say that I have not drank the cool-aid. I have constantly got on them about this or that...but in the end it is a great place to race and I go and help when I can. The positive far outweigh the few negatives.

I have always liked you and enjoy goofing around with you but as I told you the first time you shoved your foot in your mouth with Steve's shop. You need to think before you speak. You are getting too old to chalk it up to being immature as you did back then. You know nothing about the current situation at the track because you quit to go off and do your dirt thing. Your more than welcome to share an opinion....just make sure you have info to back it up. To say that I believe in the "vision" is completely uninformed...but that pretty much sums up your history here. If all of these people are coming to you to talk then from this point on send them here or to the people involved in the track. I think the saying is that if you dont vote, then dont complain who is elected. In this case...if you dont share your concerns or dont help out, then dont complain about it. Get involved and make yourself heard. Or in your case...go back to the dirt forum and share your wonderful opinions there...I am sure there are some people there that you can tell how to do things better.

I like that "Wake up and smell the turbo", or how about "Can you smell what the turbo is cooking!" Smells like fried @ss doesn't it? Man Ray you are to say the least extreme lets do the Turbo dictionary to see what he really means:

Listen the the racers = the track has been mismanaged, run as a sole dictatorship for two or threes benefit not the whole and the track is doomed if they do not wake up and smell the Turbo

People are afraid to go against the grain = if those same people came to talk to me-I would actually act for the benefit of all local racers and try and help. - Hello - Don't you think I am trying to do the same thing?

I'm not ranting so that you go down in flames, I am doing so to stimulate your mind and try to keep an awsome facility going. The more business the track does the more business the HobbyShop does, so I am all for them getting there act together. I am just trying to provide a means to do so.

But your comments have been of no use to the survival of the Gate. Everyone knows you have to listen to the racers, everyne knows you need entries to sell parts and pay the bills. The one bit of useful and New and extroidinary info you can bring you refuse to do and thats tell Jimmy and crew what people are saying to you!!

Cant you see my point? I am an open, I hope intelligent, warm individual with an extra large capacity for empathy-, but you make it sound like I am a brick wall-a stone.-an island. I hear ya-everythng you say-but I have already come to those same conclusions and resolved them in my own mind!!

Again-i ask you-Tell me and I'll tell JImmy-what do people say-what do they want? What dont thye like about the Gate? What d they say is the one thing that would bring thembac or infuriated them enough to stop comng out?

I like that "Wake up and smell the turbo", or how about "Can you smell what the turbo is cooking!" Smells like fried @ss doesn't it? Man Ray you are to say the least extreme lets do the Turbo dictionary to see what he really means:

Listen the the racers = the track has been mismanaged, run as a sole dictatorship for two or threes benefit not the whole and the track is doomed if they do not wake up and smell the Turbo

People are afraid to go against the grain = if those same people came to talk to me-I would actually act for the benefit of all local racers and try and help. - Hello - Don't you think I am trying to do the same thing?

I'm not ranting so that you go down in flames, I am doing so to stimulate your mind and try to keep an awsome facility going. The more business the track does the more business the HobbyShop does, so I am all for them getting there act together. I am just trying to provide a means to do so.

I will admit when I shove my foot in my mouth, I did with Steves shop. I will not lie about that. But this is something I am passionate about, racing. It doesn't matter what spect of R/C racing it is. We are all on the same side. I just call them as I see them. I'm not partial in any way - like you. I am entitled to an opinion and I also want to see the track succeed. Belive me. I am just trying to stimulate some dicussion on the subject and it seems like I have succeeded. I will not burden you with anymore of my opinions - I know you would never do that to me????????????????

Greg...you can kiss my fat, hairy s$$!:) Before you call me biased you should do your homework. As I told you before...I support the track by racing there...helping clean, build, tear down...whatever it takes but I am one of the guys that always makes sure they think about both sides of an issue and I am sure they really love me for that:rolleyes: . Greg, I love to rip on people, joke with them, crack jokes...but at the end of the day, I am one of the most open minded people there is. If you are gay or you have some different religous beliefs that is fine by me..deep down inside I really dont care. I may joke around with you a little but its your life and its not my place to decide what is right or wrong. You are more than welcome to any opinion you want. If you share your opinion, just be prepared to defend it. If you make stupid comments, you are going to get flamed. I think you are missing the point. you dont race there...you have not raced there for 2 years. Your more than welcome to have an opinion...but it seems like everytime you share one you dont do it in a politically correct way or in many cases in an educated way. The issues that existed at Gate#1 are non existant. Nothing is perfect but in the end we have a place to race...and for some reason, people come from pittsburgh, toledo, columbus, michigan.....to race with us.

Lets drop this because I like you for some reason and I dont want argue this point with someone that does not know the situation. GO dig out a touring car or a 12th scale and show us how its done. I know that you have mastered the off road thing because I was very impressed with your off road performance the night that I went. I also know that I was enjoying your multiple comments about me being rich and blah blah blah...but that did not deter you from borrowing something from me anyways. In the end..I did not respond because it did not justify a comment. All I know is that I did not run 8th scale buggy that night and we had the same amount of laps in the main:p

I like that "Wake up and smell the turbo", or how about "Can you smell what the turbo is cooking!" Smells like fried @ss doesn't it? Man Ray you are to say the least extreme lets do the Turbo dictionary to see what he really means:

Listen the the racers = the track has been mismanaged, run as a sole dictatorship for two or threes benefit not the whole and the track is doomed if they do not wake up and smell the Turbo

People are afraid to go against the grain = if those same people came to talk to me-I would actually act for the benefit of all local racers and try and help. - Hello - Don't you think I am trying to do the same thing?

I'm not ranting so that you go down in flames, I am doing so to stimulate your mind and try to keep an awsome facility going. The more business the track does the more business the HobbyShop does, so I am all for them getting there act together. I am just trying to provide a means to do so.

By the way....stay tuned to Jimmy for info about the track. There will be some added involvment by someone who by all accounts is a true racer. Someone who cares about this and really just cares about having the opportunity to do it on a regular basis. This individual along with Jimmy are willing to make a commitment to keep this thing going and I am sure will listen to what you have to say. In order to allow this, we need to support them at some level. Each of us will have a different level but we need to make it happen. It beats racing in our backyards...handcounting cars.

I never said you were biased. I was making a comment to the group, not you personally. Sorry if you took it that way. I think you are great as well and I like you also, but our opinions on stuff vary to say the least. I know for a fact that you make one of the biggest contributions to the track, physically & monitarily, everyone should aplaude you for that (I know I need spell check). Your right I am not politically correct, I am a stimulator (I know you can come up with differnet words for me that don't belong in this forum), but all in all I care and that is what this is about. You guys have an awesome thing going and I don't want you to ruin it. I want to race with you guys again and I look forward to the razzing that will eventually take place. I just listed some resons why people might be skeptical about going. It has been said that they are in trouble fiancially and it will not be there if people don't do something. I am a firm beliver in letting people know how you feel, others on the other hand are not. I never said you were rich, that comment came out when I thought you were driving Ray's car and someone said "Jonser driving that, no way, not him" or along those lines. I am a spoiled brat who comes from money and I am sure I sound like that sometimes, but the simple fact is I proabably have less money than anyone on here. I can't help the way I was brought up. And never once did I say I am an awsome R/C racer. I do it to have fun, thats it. Oh and I like to razz you a little (This time it is towards you)

Yeah-we (I) certainley beat this into a pulpy mess!!

NOw I will truy make this personal!!!

I want and need a place to race. Personal feelings, bias, prejudice, budget, time, schedule, chip on your shoulder, whatever it is that keeps you from racing-I totally understand, but if it means coming out all skills rusty to a track where 10 or 12 guys have been competing non-stop-please do.

Jimmy is a man of VERY FEW words, but he is out there reading. but when he says entries are at a level that puts the track in jeapordy-its not a smoke and mirrors act.

Ok turbo we are even. Nobody should applaud me for spending the money I spend at the hobby shop. I know that my wife certainly would not:p . I dont need a pat on the back for helping. When we help with big projects we get some help with race fees. That is great. If we were donating time and they were raking in cash it would be another story. I would not assume that they are dieing a financial death. We have a couple of months to survive and I think that we could get some help if needed. Hell, I would prepay practice and race fees it it helped. The turnout has been a little off from last year so we are just making a point about it. If you like what we have then maybe you can take a week out of your busy summer and come play. I know that everyone has commitments and if my wife was not so awesome then I too would be there less frequent. I dont spend money at the bar or anywhere else for that matter so I assume thats why I get the ok to come and play. By the way, I use the word we when talking about the track...I have no piece of the track but Ray, Paul, Goetz, medveds...we put alot of time there and while it is not really a club, we do know that it is our track...thus the word we. By the way, I am working with Jimmy....teaching him to talk in more than 1 sentence at a time.;) I never said you were biased. I was making a comment to the group, not you personally. Sorry if you took it that way. I think you are great as well and I like you also, but our opinions on stuff vary to say the least. I know for a fact that you make one of the biggest contributions to the track, physically & monitarily, everyone should aplaude you for that (I know I need spell check). Your right I am not politically correct, I am a stimulator (I know you can come up with differnet words for me that don't belong in this forum), but all in all I care and that is what this is about. You guys have an awesome thing going and I don't want you to ruin it. I want to race with you guys again and I look forward to the razzing that will eventually take place. I just listed some resons why people might be skeptical about going. It has been said that they are in trouble fiancially and it will not be there if people don't do something. I am a firm beliver in letting people know how you feel, others on the other hand are not. I never said you were rich, that comment came out when I thought you were driving Ray's car and someone said "Jonser driving that, no way, not him" or along those lines. I am a spoiled brat who comes from money and I am sure I sound like that sometimes, but the simple fact is I proabably have less money than anyone on here. I can't help the way I was brought up. And never once did I say I am an awsome R/C racer. I do it to have fun, thats it. Oh and I like to razz you a little (This time it is towards you)

......don't worry, when I win the $280,000,000 Mega Millions Lottery on friday, I'll be able to 'contribute' to the Gate more......I can dream can't I.

The boards are HOT today!!!

I am sure it has already been suggested but what about moving the practice/race night to tuesday or thursday. Lets get a poll going!!!

Paul

I am sure that Jimmy will be more than willing to listen and possibly move the day if we can increase turnout! I am good for any day of the week but tuesday, wed, or Thurs are the bestThe boards are HOT today!!!

I am sure it has already been suggested but what about moving the practice/race night to tuesday or thursday. Lets get a poll going!!!

Paul

Hi Guys,

Boy Oh Boy! What have I started. I am sitting here at the track tonight reading through all these posts and I think to myself, well the orginal post that I put out there back on page 32 got a lot of response, but did it. I read every post and came to the conclusion that the four pages of posts that were a result of my original post gave me the opinion of three or four guys that come to the track every Wednesday and already voice there opinions. I need to know why the majority of the rest of the Cleveland area carpet racers arn't attend the Gate to practice or Race this summer. If the reason is as simple as I want to take the summer off thats fine let me know. If you don't like something that I'm doing thats fine too, post it, don't be shy I won't get affended. Please guys let me know your thoughts and please someone other than Joneser and Huang. After all those post I read Chicky posted to have a poll so I set up a new thread that is a poll to see what night is best for the majority of the racers. please take a few moments and go to the thread and take the poll. Changes may take place as soon as next week.

Thanks,
Jim herrmann

how about sundays LOL
doors open at 8.00 racing starts at 11.00
LMAO
Mo Denton

Hey guys,
First off, I have a question for the 12th scale guys. I had Buddy get me the L4 tonight, and I really don't know what the term is used but, I know that you use CA or super glue around the edge for the chassis after you sand it a little. What grit sandpaper do I use and should I just scuff it up a tad? Any help would be great. As far as racing or practice goes, I only reason that I have not been there, is I wanted to get this car and money was tight. Things are a lot diffrent now, and I know that I will be there every week from here on out, no matter what night it is on.
Jimmy,
I am interested in getting a GFX. Do you have any in stock? If not, I was wondering if you plan on get any.
Thanks guys,
Jerry

Hey...there used to be a guy that raced with us with your name. Are you related to him. He used to be pretty fast at one time but then he quit.how about sundays LOL
doors open at 8.00 racing starts at 11.00
LMAO
Mo Denton

Go out to crcracing.com and they have a page that shows how to do it. I do it that way with the exception of applying the CA (glue). I put it in the clamps and use cutips. comes out smooth as glass if you do it that way. I use a dremmel to take of the upper an lower edges...emery cloth to round it off and smooth it. Then glue...using 400 or 600 on the first wet sand...then glue and sand 2 more times usually with 1000 grit. i am sure Jimmy can get you the GFXHey guys,
First off, I have a question for the 12th scale guys. I had Buddy get me the L4 tonight, and I really don't know what the term is used but, I know that you use CA or super glue around the edge for the chassis after you sand it a little. What grit sandpaper do I use and should I just scuff it up a tad? Any help would be great. As far as racing or practice goes, I only reason that I have not been there, is I wanted to get this car and money was tight. Things are a lot diffrent now, and I know that I will be there every week from here on out, no matter what night it is on.
Jimmy,
I am interested in getting a GFX. Do you have any in stock? If not, I was wondering if you plan on get any.
Thanks guys,
Jerry

I just spen the last 30 minutes typing a reponse. Lost in cyberspace.

In short:

Lets get together to have a club meeting. Anyone have any good Pizza places in mind?

Pete

I am interested in getting a GFX. Do you have any in stock? If not, I was wondering if you plan on get any.
Thanks guys,
Jerry

Jerry,

Just have Jimmy order it for you. Mine only took a few days to come in when he ordered it for me.

Pete

Good practice last night. Unfortunately, there were only six of us. I can't wait 'til the next race day. Ray Adams, you're going down! By the way, you should really think about getting Zach a 1/12 scale. He drives that thing alot better that his touring. He did pretty good last night. Tell him that another smart-ass comment from him while on the stand will earn him a seasons worth of work carrying my pit boxes up & down the stairs. j/k :-)

Dave,I am looking forward to the challenge,As for Zach,you asked him how he was going to run under preassure and he was in front of you the whole time.Maybe its a good thing for the both of us that he doesnt have one yet.:lol:

If my 12l4 is good maybe my rugrat will be available for Zach to purchase:)

Eric, Jimmy, or Ray - Do you think I should join the poll? I live almost 350 miles away and can't commit to being there all the time. Things have settled down for me a lot since the carpet season ended and I can see a weekday trip up there to run with all of you on a semi-regular basis. What do you think? Waaaaay to go Zach. He is my man and I hope he really sizzles all you OLD guys.

I say Tuesday nights are the way to go, but that is just my opinion. Someone else please make other comments on switching the night, and if Jimmy decided to, i would hope it to be a lot better, and not have anymore nights where there are only 7 people like last night, and that is only 70 bucks, that is not a profit by any means. Come on guys, get out here and race.
-Buddy

If I had to choose one night,I would pick tuesday.Thats my opinion.Come on,heres your chance to pick the night that is best for you.Dont waste this chance to voice your opinion.We need more people racing so we dont loose our great place to race.

did you guys fill out the pole in the other thread?If I had to choose one night,I would pick tuesday.Thats my opinion.Come on,heres your chance to pick the night that is best for you.Dont waste this chance to voice your opinion.We need more people racing so we dont loose our great place to race.

Already did that,just trying to get peoples attention

Last night was a classic example of just too many things to do-what with ths being a holiday week too. Bt-next week should be a lot stronger and then hopefully the 14th will be really good. DavidL-since you race here-then by all means chime-in!! I too VOte for tuesday. Anything but Wednesday-but we all knw that-eh?

BTW-on a lighter note??!! I would still like to see the next club race be a strong showing of 12th scale Stock. Believe me-I took off from Dec 2003 to-ohhhh, March 2004 from 12th scale and when I started again to run the Nats-it was actually pretty hard to run fast again-I mean even Joneser was faster than me for the entire month-oh except when it counted!! :lol: j/k Joneser!!! The new layout (I posted pics last thursday) seems really good for 12th scale too.

Anyways, break out those little 2wd rockts and lets do some pan car racin!!!

Ray


Eric, Jimmy, or Ray - Do you think I should join the poll? I live almost 350 miles away and can't commit to being there all the time. Things have settled down for me a lot since the carpet season ended and I can see a weekday trip up there to run with all of you on a semi-regular basis. What do you think? Waaaaay to go Zach. He is my man and I hope he really sizzles all you OLD guys.

Not just faster than you.....light years faster than you!!!Last night was a classic example of just too many things to do-what with ths being a holiday week too. Bt-next week should be a lot stronger and then hopefully the 14th will be really good. DavidL-since you race here-then by all means chime-in!! I too VOte for tuesday. Anything but Wednesday-but we all knw that-eh?

BTW-on a lighter note??!! I would still like to see the next club race be a strong showing of 12th scale Stock. Believe me-I took off from Dec 2003 to-ohhhh, March 2004 from 12th scale and when I started again to run the Nats-it was actually pretty hard to run fast again-I mean even Joneser was faster than me for the entire month-oh except when it counted!! :lol: j/k Joneser!!! The new layout (I posted pics last thursday) seems really good for 12th scale too.

Anyways, break out those little 2wd rockts and lets do some pan car racin!!!

Ray

Ray,

Count me in for some 12th scale on the 14th. I'll even try to get Mog out to play. I can't commit to practice next week. It will be my first week back to work since 10 weeks. It's going to be hard enought getting up without getting home after midnight.

Later,
Pete

Pete,

Some of the races at the Old Gate between us were some of the closest battles in RC i ever had. Its kind of sad in a way that we Race RC cars, but more often than not were on 5 or 8 minute qualifiers, not Races. Then when the Main comes-we ofetn find our bit of real estate on the track and run it out.

Its not often that you get to battle nose to tail for an entire race. When that happens-it is so awesome!!! I hope this fall with so many uys really stepping it up-were gonna have great battles all winter long!!

Ray


Ray,

Count me in for some 12th scale on the 14th. I'll even try to get Mog out to play. I can't commit to practice next week. It will be my first week back to work since 10 weeks. It's going to be hard enought getting up without getting home after midnight.

Later,
Pete

Hey i am one of those people that havent shown up this summer yet, for me it has been a work related reason,But i just bought Jimmys pro 4 so now i have no excuse LOL! I honestly think that comming out to the gate for some of the beginners, intermediates, and others, may feel intimidated racing and practicing there. I know I posted several weeks ago about my fiances kids comming on a wednesday if any one would mind a couple of newbies since the one is running my Tc3 amd the other a xxxs, and guess what not any one person said oh yeah sure, bring em right out! We welcome rookies! To me what I think they would hear once at the track would be, "gee I cant get good lap times there are kids in the way", or "hey they just wrecked into my car". I saw that with Zach, people did it to him! Including myself sometimes. Turbo wasnt that far off on some of the things he said because i have heard some of the same things. I want to see the track survive, But we, like he(Turbo) said, Need to cater to everyone not just the upper end of the food chain. I think Jimmy, Aarron, Holly, and everyone who has helped over time has and is still working hard. We have a world class facility, lets keep it that way. Also lets cater to the little guy too though, that new person. Jonser you were one of those little people once, and I(at the brat) and many others have helped you get were you are as well as your own skill, But at a race day you hardly give me the time of day any more. thats part of the problem. I am not talking about you jonser directly, but the attitudes that emit from certain individuals while there is sometimes less than inviting. Yes certain people will help you out. Yes there are poeple who wont give you the time of day, Yes there are people who do give you the time and make you feel welcome, that is a reality of life thats how people are, you wont change that, But welcome everyone good or bad, sucky or awesom! I raced all winter @ hobbytown, and when i asked them the main reason why the majority didnt want to go to the gate was, we arent "good enogh" "we feel intimidated" "Some of those guys are rude" never was it its too far or the wrong day, I am not saying I am not guilty of some of the actions I speak of here, because I am. What i am saying is what i have heard in racing around the area. When I was in it Full bore years ago when Don Deutsch had his track, and others had theirs and 12th scale was flourishing somewhere in the mid 80's to 90's I always felt invited and almost a family feeling at those tracks, maybe its just a change of times. You always heard people say gee where are we racing next or when are we going back to our home track again. Did anyone see the write up in Extreme r/c about the gate? It said its a world class facility and other nice thing about the track, but didnt have much nice to say about some of the racers who attended. Not saying they were local guys or not, it just didnt sound inviting! I like all the guys I race with at the Gate, hobbytown, and toledo. Maybe get together and do another Top gun series and get them involved, the people that have been racing for more than a handfull of years will remember the fun of the TOP GUN! So I am sure I will be there with turbo once this hits and then I will be flamed, but my skin is tough, my car is fast, But i still cant drive LOL! Hope this opens some eyes, ears and mouths! I didnt say any of this to be negative or positive jut to be informative.

Do you really feel Turbo was flamed? i think he was corrected and informed-not flamed. YOu wont be flamed Jay because you gave examples to back-up what you claimed.

Yup-Ive heard that some dont want to race at the Gate due to intimidation, but i dont get it. So theres a few arrogant SOB's at the gate who went help anyone but themselves. Theres twice as many guys who are fast who will help. Every form of motorsport from grassroots dirt track to F1 has A-holes in the pitlane and few hotshoes you wont likely ever beat. Lets spread the word that the Gate is a great place to race and to improve. And is like that because fast guys or at least knowledgeable guys will help you out.

Also-the feel at races and at practces is far from intense-except on the track. Its been a lot of fun hangin at the Gate this summer.

Good post jay-thanks for the input,
Ray

I'll post on the poll thread also , tuesday's would be alot easier to run . It is kinda intimidating when your new and run at the gate , there are alot of really good drivers out there , no matter though I'm 6'5" and 300lbs gimme some lip about your lap times dropping cause i'm in the way . you gotta leave the building some time hehehehehehehe !!!!! :devil:

I'm new to racing and have found the people at they gate to be friendly, helpful, and fun to hang out with.

I don't really agree with the "we arent good enough, we feel intimidated, Some of those guys are rude". Nobody is good enough.....every new place/experience can be intimidating. I was no more intimidated at the Gate than I was at the fairgrounds. It was easier to start racing at the fairgrounds because of the skill level. I know it is suppose to be fun but getting crushed in every race/qualifier get's old quick. I'm definately not a 'good' racer but I can/try to get around the track in a decent manner. Everywhere you go there will be rude people but I think people get the wrong idea.....Most people at the Gate are out to have fun but are serious about racing that is why the Gate is the best place to race..we can go out to have fun but we are 'all' getting better and/or learning more each race. If you don't want to get better and you don't want to take people's advice when they offer it and/or you ask then then the Gate is probably not the place for you.

Jay, I can't speak for the Gate but I'm pretty sure they would enjoy having two new racers out there. There is/was a novice class and I've been running in it (because I suck) but have since moved out of it because I am getting a little faster and I was starting to get frustrated with people who were 'true novices'. Also I know enough to let the better driver get by me......so bring out the kids and I would almost guarantee they will be better racers by the time the the winter Hobbytown series starts than many of the people who have raced out there for a couple winters.

Jay,

Your post is very constructive. If anything, it is a reminder to all of us to remember what it was like to be a newbie!

This is why I think it is important to meet as a club, face to face, and disucss and meet andy obsticles and come up with solutions.

Our track, looks like a hard core racing facility, and that is where the fast guys run. But we need to remember, the slow guys, may someday be running door to door with you, and to keep our sport alive, we need to continue to promote, encourage, and help each other.

Perhaps a few signs around the track, would help. How about having a few "members" give a R/C clinic for newbies. Basic setups, recommendation, battery maintance, etc. I am sure there are a lot of solutions, but we need to identify the problems, before we can fix them.

The fourm is a great way to get and relay information, but too often, the good intentions or points behind a post or e-mail, are often misunderstood. I use e-mail at work everyday, but I still hold meetings once a week with my staff. It's just such a better way to have discussions.

Pete,

Some of the races at the Old Gate between us were some of the closest battles in RC i ever had. Its kind of sad in a way that we Race RC cars, but more often than not were on 5 or 8 minute qualifiers, not Races. Then when the Main comes-we ofetn find our bit of real estate on the track and run it out.

Its not often that you get to battle nose to tail for an entire race. When that happens-it is so awesome!!! I hope this fall with so many uys really stepping it up-were gonna have great battles all winter long!!

Ray
Ray, I agree with you 100%. I enjoy close racing. Wheel to wheel racing, running nose to tail going back and forth for position. Some of the most memoriable racing I have had has usually been in qualifiers, and rarely in the mains. Yourself, Joneser, my brother Dan, Jason, as well as many other drivers, often have very close racing.

This is one reason why I don't like having a lot of classes. It spreads out the field too much. I enjoy having 4, 5 or even 6 heats of one class.

I don't really agree with the "we arent good enough, we feel intimidated, Some of those guys are rude". Nobody is good enough.....every new place/experience can be intimidating. I was no more intimidated at the Gate than I was at the fairgrounds. It was easier to start racing at the fairgrounds because of the skill level. I know it is suppose to be fun but getting crushed in every race/qualifier get's old quick. I'm definately not a 'good' racer but I can/try to get around the track in a decent manner. Everywhere you go there will be rude people but I think people get the wrong idea.....Most people at the Gate are out to have fun but are serious about racing that is why the Gate is the best place to race..we can go out to have fun but we are 'all' getting better and/or learning more each race. If you don't want to get better and you don't want to take people's advice when they offer it and/or you ask then then the Gate is probably not the place for you.

Jay, I can't speak for the Gate but I'm pretty sure they would enjoy having two new racers out there. There is/was a novice class and I've been running in it (because I suck) but have since moved out of it because I am getting a little faster and I was starting to get frustrated with people who were 'true novices'. Also I know enough to let the better driver get by me......so bring out the kids and I would almost guarantee they will be better racers by the time the the winter Hobbytown series starts than many of the people who have raced out there for a couple winters.I have been racing with the guys at the gate before it was even the gate, I was speaking from my own experience only, i was speaking what i heard form people on the street, not everyone at the fairground complained about the gate, I didnt write it for anyone to agree or disagree, I worte my observations, I love the gate and the people who race there, I also worte this post to get people active to find out ways to make it a "better" place.

I know what you meant but I am a newbie and I am one of those people who race at the fairgrounds and The Gate and what I'm saying is in my experience and opinion (which might not matter) the arguement "we arent good enough, we feel intimidated, some of those guys are rude" has no merit and are only the misconception of those people. However, right or wrong, I agree we need to get past people thinking that and figure out how to make the Gate better and more appealing to a larger population.

Ray, I agree with you 100%. I enjoy close racing. Wheel to wheel racing, running nose to tail going back and forth for position. Some of the most memoriable racing I have had has usually been in qualifiers, and rarely in the mains. Yourself, Joneser, my brother Dan, Jason, as well as many other drivers, often have very close racing.

This is one reason why I don't like having a lot of classes. It spreads out the field too much. I enjoy having 4, 5 or even 6 heats of one class.I think thats a great Idea about the clinics, I had held a couple while at Hobbytown and it promoted sales in the store. I have emailed Jimmy about doing some P/R for the track. I also agree that meetings held would help, know its hard to get everyone together, but if there is a time for everyone to come together, NOW is that time, I want to see the gate prosper, not flounder out of existance. You know guys, just because as a club we dont run the track anymore, doesnt mean we still cant have the "club" and vote on issues of the track. we can pay our membership as before, and that is persay our rent to have meetings at the track, and then Jimmy and Aarron can take what we discuss in the meetings, and hopefully act upon it or not depending on if its a viable option. then as a "Club" we can be heard as a whole, not piece by piece by this person or that person. I know people miss the club thing, I know I do a bit, but most of the same guys are still there, and the extra $$ may help out abit. Is there anyway we can get some backing from some of the big R/C Companies? Or local business? I know when I raced large scale R/C boats some of the venues had local business "Sponserships" for the facility. its work to contact people about it, it may be an option. The bottom line is though we all need to show up and race, and or practice! We all begged for practice nights, they listened, lets step up now and show up.

I know what you meant but I am a newbie and I am one of those people who race at the fairgrounds and The Gate and what I'm saying is in my experience and opinion (which might not matter) the arguement "we arent good enough, we feel intimidated, some of those guys are rude" has no merit and are only the misconception of those people. However, right or wrong, I agree we need to get past people thinking that and figure out how to make the Gate better and more appealing to a larger population.how can you say its a misconception and has no merit? your not inside their heads, some people are that timid. Anyways I didnt write that to "argue" about it, or that it was said as an argument at the fairgrounds, it was just to say what I had heard some people, Stone, if you dont mind me asking who are you from the fairgrounds? just curious.

Well, let me expand on what I think to be an important point that has been mentioned but sort of hand-waived: Cost. I believe I read in an earlier post that it is generally accepted that speed costs. This is very true, but it was almost as if this was excused as a possible option for new people not joining the regular program. I mean, just look at your posts so far, and the equipment that you list. There are always going to be competitive gaps between who has the hardware to hang with the big guys, but what happens when people who used to compete cannot make the leap to the latest and greatest? Sure they can keep up for a time, but after awhile no matter how you drive you are still held back by your outdated equipment. When you can barely make it through a year without upgrading just to stay in the upper tier it gets rough for people on a budget. Speaking from experience, when you can drive well enough to qualify for a spot in the A main, but everyone else in that main passes you like you are standing still because of their superior equipment, it gets very disheartening. So that person takes time off, sometimes a whole year or two until they can come back with competitive gear. It may not sound like a big deal, but if you get half a dozen regulars that run into the same problem, you lose a good portion of your experienced crowd. This also doesn't take into account decent drivers that haven't run at the track before, but really have no interest in driving just to win a lower main when they would much rather be competing for a position in the A main. No one is going to go looking for a definite losing battle. It is the nature of racing, yes I know, but if the goal is to attract new (such as poor college students as myself) racers and even retain regulars on a budget, something has to be worked out where they know they stand a fighting chance. Otherwise they lose the fun immediately and who wants to pay for an instant downer?

-Corey

I can say its a misconception and has no merit because that is "my experience and opinion" (as I stated) of being one of those people that could be a case study of the exact demographic of people being discused.....an extreme newbie who races at the Gate and the fairgrounds and enjoys the Gate and the people who race/run it and is one of the 10-15 people showing up every week. I'm not trying to argue with you and I agree with you (whether my opinion is right or wrong) that "we need to figure out how to make the Gate better and more appealing to a larger population."

FYI: I am 1/2 of everyones favorite architects

Corey....After the other day, I told myself to keep my mouth shut on this thread but why start now. I understand your post but don't think it has anything to do with why people have not shown up. When you get into any form of racing or any sort of competition you always have different levels of involvement, spending or whatever. If you dont have a budget equal to the best of the best then you need to make up for it in other areas. there are people that have been able to buy speed but there are plenty of people that have spent a ton and dont race in the A. I spend alot of money on this stupid hobby and when I show up to the track and have to race against Paul, Aaron, Jimmy, Brian or whomever...I pretty much know that i wont win the A main. My goals are to improve and keep catching those guys. I am super competitive and want to win but my goals are altered by reality. Is that a downer...maybe a smidge but I feel great when I hold my own...and know that one day I will be able to compete regularly with them. If everyone dithat could not win a race decided that they should not race then the indoor champs would have 20 people not 500 and the nats would hav 10 not 250. Be realistic about what you can accomplish and if that is not fun then dont do it. Your car does not have to be the latest Factory team Xray or the new Pro 4. The TC3 is probably 5 years old and is still one of the best if not the best car out there. The 12L3 is 5+ years old and is still as good as anything out there. Yeah, you have to have reletively new batteries and some decent tires but I assume you know that when you get in this hobby. Can this all be disheartning...yes but you have to look no farther than Goetz (seaball) to see someone competing with what many would call inferior equipment (and we often call it that:freak: ). Goetz has taken my used tires and turned them into perfectly good sets by glueing, truing, etc. He has driven cars called RC Lab and Barracuda...hardly the best of the best...by the way...he is an A main guy most evenings. The bottom line is that there may be a few people out there that have some sort of issue with the track, people, management or whatever...but the reason why they dont flock out here in the summer is that it is indoors, its not a top priority or they just can't make it there on that day. It just would be nice for some of the people that said they would be out there during the summer to actually come out 1 or 2 times a month.


This thread has some good posts from some interesting people. Jay brought up some good issues but I just think back to me watching him at Berea this past year...holloring at the people in his heat. I did not race there this year because I did not want to be in that position. Yeah, we give little Zach the business every now and then but we are also the first guys to enchorage him to do better and cheer him on.

Finally, I see a bunch of what needs to change from people that are rarely there. I cant tell someone that the way they feel is wrong...those are your feelings and you are welcome to them. I do however ask that you look around at Marlon, Krisgel, Stone, Zach, Buddy, and a large list of people that have been helped by people at our track on a weekly basis. I know that I have personally driven a half dozen peoples cars to try to help get them working better. Paul, Ray H., Seaball, Wayne Gerber, T. Williams (when he was around), and even the sometimes surly Kelly ;) have all helped people out a great deal. Like I said earlier in the week...go to another track and try to find the amount of help that is available here....it wont happen. Do we sometimes get upset at things that happen on the track...yes...is it called for NO. I know that I have started to pay attention to when I go on the track. If someone is outthere that is new...I will wait until they are done. Its not helping them if I run around outthere with them. Our track give you access to some of the best in the country and even the world. You have the 12th scale national champion (wayne), you have one of the top 5 stock racers in the country in Paul, occasionally you get Blackstock out there...and they all wont hesitate to offer some assistance (just dont ask Blackstock about the TC4). If you want to get better, you need track time and you can always use the assistance of the people that come there. I read this thread and it sounds like this is a crappy place to race...when in fact it is awesome. I did not say perfect but I will definatly say it is crazy to see the direction this has headed.
I can say its a misconception and has no merit because that is "my experience and opinion" (as I stated) of being one of those people that could be a case study of the exact demographic of people being discused.....an extreme newbie who races at the Gate and the fairgrounds and enjoys the Gate and the people who race/run it and is one of the 10-15 people showing up every week. I'm not trying to argue with you and I agree with you (whether my opinion is right or wrong) that "we need to figure out how to make the Gate better and more appealing to a larger population."

FYI: I am 1/2 of everyones favorite architects

Is the TC3 still competitive? I am thinking of picking one up tonight! All this talk about that gate has got me feeling the on-road racer in me comming out. I don't think anyone thinks this place sucks and I don't think it has a bad name, but there needs to start being more fun out there. I don't want to see the place go away so I will do my part to keep it here if we can change the night. Oh and I would definetly race any day but Friday and Wednesday. Maybe a Staurday race here and there wouldn't hurt you guys. That would definetly get me out there.

The TC3 has the upper deck on it, what else would I need?