Are most local RC clubs Tamiya snobs? Discuss.....

[ChrisB]

I have been looking around at RC car clubs with tracks local-ish to me (SE London) with a view to getting somewhere with a decent track where I can have some fun driving my on road Tamiyas....

Having checked out the forums for those clubs with websites, I have been really surprised by the number of regulars on these forums actively advising people against Tamiya kits, even as beginners [8)]

This really puts me off joining most of the clubs, not to mention the fact that nearly all 1/10 electric racing seems to be 4WD saloon racing...... OK if you like that sort of thing I guess.

I would love to be able to get access to a track to have a bit of fun racing against other RWD / FWD stock Tamiya's, just for a bit of fun. I'm dying to take my Alfa GTA on track as I think the RWD handling will be a real challenge and fun to learn to control.

I am also about to build a TB-01 Lancer Evo and a TL-01 Impreza. It would be great to be able to take these to a smooth dirt track for some rally action..... but sadly nobody seems to cater for this kind of fun racing local to me.

I can see why people like to win and be competitive, but it seems a lot of the RC clubs are aimed mainly at the "serious" racer. IMHO this is a real shame as I am sure there are many out there like me that just want a bit of fun and a decent track / circuit venue to drive with other like minded individuals.

Does anyone have any recommendations for clubs around the London / Kent area that are Tamiya friendly and have an outdoor circuit?

Cheers,

Chris

[terry.sc]

Chris the problem with looking in the forums of theses clubs is that the regulars are all racers. Touring cars are the most popular class at the moment, but you don't need to have 4wd to run with them.Just because they advise against running Tamiyas is no reason be put off. At the club I run when people ask for advice i find out what sort of budget they have. If they want the cheapest setup they can get I tell them to look at a Tamiya deal to get started. If they are serious about starting I advise them to get a Yokomo MR4-TC Custom as it is much better value than a Tamiya setup in the long term, as the car can perform much better on the track.Ask most people at the club what they would recommend and they will say whichever make of car they are running rather than the nost suoitable car.

My club is seen as a bit of a joke amongst other clubs in the area as we like to keep the club friendly and a good night out is our main priority rather than the competition. Unfortunately the bigger clubs do tend to take it seriously as the racers tend to spend an awful lot on their cars just for a weekly club night.

I would suggest you go down to the clubs in the area and see how friendly the other drivers are and what is being run. I would think most clubs will have a selection of Tamiyas running amongst the beginners whatever the forum regulars advise. If you don't feel happy about joining that club, check out the others. i'm sure you'll find somewhere to run.

PS I was running a M-02 chassis amongst the tourers last night. Even managed to beat a fair few of them,[]

[_4-0_]

I wouldnt worry about it too much. I just see it as motivation to become a better driver so i can trash their times []. When i get my TT01 im gonna be the best [}]

[sosidge]

If a racer looks down on you because you run a Tamiya - it's their problem, not yours.

It's true that the cheapest Tamiyas struggle compared to the more race-bred chassis - but that's not to say they're not fast in the hands of the right driver - I've seen some VERY fast TL-01's, all it takes is a few sensible mods, and a good pair of thumbs!

As for gaining access to a track for a mess around - there are a couple of reasons why they are locked up. One is insurance - if you damage yourself, or the track, the club won't be covered. Two is cost - the club will have invested 10's of thousands of pounds in a permanent tarmac track - and it's there for the benefit of fee paying members, not the general public. Some clubs have practice meetings though.

[ChrisB]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting to use a club's facilities for free... I am happy to pay the membership subs, would just be nice to be able to use the track outside of race meets or club meets.

I do see what you are saying RE: liability issues though [V], Sadly a sign of the times I guess.

Think I will go down and check out one or two of my local clubs - I'm probably being too quick to judge. The Crystal Palace circuit looks good, although seems strongly geared towards 1/8th Nitro saloon cars... we'll see.

Cheers,

Chris

[Shodog]

This is the reason why it's better to get all your friend hooked on RC cars. That way you have your own get togethers and it's more fun.

As far as recomending people away from tamiya cars, lets face it, only the really expensive Tamiya TC chassis's are competitive. If you intend to race, It's cheaper in the long run to buy a higher quality race car than to buy a low end one and spend zillions of dollars to hp it up.

And it comes down to what the shop supports. Most of the shops in my area, while they sell lots of tamiya kits, really only stock spare parts for Associated, HPI, Mugen and Yokomo cars. there are too many Tamiya chassis out there to keep an on the shelf supply of parts for them.

[GPZ1000RX]

Aldershot club track is available for practise free to paid up members nearly every day from 09:00 till 20:00 or dusk if earlier.

Check out amcc.org.uk

Run what you have with minimum hop ups until you can regularly go race distance without crashing, then, and only then think about a big money change of car. If you are happy with what you have keep it and thrash it!

[ChrisB]

Aldershot setup looks ideal, but sadly its a 1.5 - 2 hour drive each way for me, so a bit too far.

Wonder if I can convince my other half that what we really need is an RC track in our garden with off road area []

Cheers,

Chris

[Lucodeath2]

I race a TB01 at my local club and nearly everyone else have really expensive cars,

I have not broken any parts but all those other ones quite often

snap shock posts an stuff.

And I did get 2nd place in the 'A' finals which probably annoyed

a few people.

[WillyChang]

Trouble with Tamiya winning the last World Champs, the red-n-blue star brand has overnight gained respectibility (& popularity) amongst the hardcore racers here.

This means its no longer unique to be racing a Tamiya, and some of us miss those old days. [:I]

[Spacemate]

I've got a friend who races a TA04S with a plastic tub against Schumacher SIIs and Losis with carbon chassis and beats them. Really funny watching the looks from the carbon fibre boys when that car flies past them.

[mud4fun]

I don't think my local club are snobs, they are a really friendly bunch of people but sadly they run cars that my LHS supports, basically anything but Tamiya! They are also a bit young for me, the average age is about 18 and they are all touring car fans. I like buggies but they don't run them and haven't the time on race evenings for buggy classes as there are already 50+ guys there running tourers - busy!

The only snobbish attitude I've met is the younger kids who seem to think anything that isn't carbon or alloy or running an 11t motor isn't worth having. These same kids have been quite embarrased when they've turned up at our local park and my buggies have slaughtered there tourers in a straight line race. I'm sure with a good driver the buggies would beat them around the track too but these youngsters have far greater control than I ever will.

Neither my daughter or me are good drivers and we feel a little put off by the number of kids at the local club that are hurtling around with incredible speed and control. Ideally they'd run two evenings, one for beginners and the other for experts.

I'd love to do some competitive racing with my buggies even if it is on hard surfaces but it is difficult trying to get a bunch of people together and organise it.

All respect to the LHS who run the local club and take time out to organise the computer timing, booking the hall etc all on top of running the shop as well.

ChrisB, I feel much as you do that I'd prefer a smaller, friendly gathering with the emphasis on fun more than anything. This is why it is enjoyable to go to the TC meets, shame they don't happen more often. It also gives you a chance to run older vintage cars that would be laughed out of the local club.

[mud4fun]

Hey Lucodeath2, you should have turned up for that race with the mud still caked all over it from Clumber. How good a feeling would that have been, getting 2nd place (well done mate) in a mucky car in a field of shiny tourers!

[Lucodeath2]

It normally is dirty and its looks even better now a big chunk

of Subaru front has been bashed off!

[kevinthegerbil]

I race a Tamiya TB02 at my club and it is very competitive. Normally I can manage the A Final together with another TB02 and a TRF414 (we even got the current BRCA standard Champion racng at my club!!)

I did stuggle getting in the A-final with a very heaviliy modded TL01, but with the TB02 it's a different story.

Now in the Summer months we race a claas outdoors just for the Tamiya M-Chassis - check out the website below

Kevin

[fatboyslim]

The club i race at is a fun club!!

As it's ran by the LHS the majority of cars are Tamiya, but there are a few Yokomos and HPI's running around.

I race in the B1(beginners class) and regularly get beaten by young lads but as i said it's all a bit of fun!!

We race indoors at Newark showground most Fridays, but this Sunday we're using a car park at Wazygoose Printers in Sleaford the club is allowing us to use the transponders system and track stuff, unfortunately it's on-roaders but there is a lad who runs a very lowered e-maxx and does well!!

If anyone fancies coming down on Sunday the racing starts at 12.00(ish) and will cost you £3

[Virus]

i had a race just alittle while ago an won hands down on my local skool playground

was scooting around with my TT01 with 14x3 orbital pro bb was fun the first battery ran out so had a wander round an let the motor esc cool down 10 mins later i was at it again had the car about 70m away when the local devil dog an walker wander past well this dog has had my stadium raider once so that was it i wasnt risking a nice focus body this time. after the slight wheel spin i was off an so was the devil dog the TT01 v the terrier race had began the first corner past tennis courts went well slight drifting but held well untill the left hander into carpark corner. devil dog had seen the short cut an homed in on the poor TT01 thru the bush it was neck an front bumper an them pearly white nashers snapping at that lovely none holed shell all the time i had the irrate dog owner shouting at his animal.it was so close till i saw next doors garage so taking the corner hard it shot into the open garage nearly flat out u can imagine the noise a TT01 would make hitting a wall well that noise made me [] after close inspection the only damage was flaked paint and a knackered dog after a half hour chat the owner said he had tamiya hornet he once used an would get it running again so looks like i may have a buddy with the same hobby as me. good outcome just for a couple of hours bashing [] round the local playground and hes even thinking of buying my TL01. on the snobs side of the topic their problem is they know TAMIYA RULES and are worried that if they buy one they'll be hooked for life just like i am

Paul

[mud4fun]

LOL nice story Virus! I suffered at the hands of a dog when we were down at Clumber a few weeks back, **** alsation was chasing my thundershot about, I managed to just get away with it for a while (was running a super stock motor and 8.4v) but when battery started to die the dog got the poor car and ran off with it in its mouth....shell badly dented and it had bit thru the battery connector to the ESC! I was far from impressed but the dog owners thought it was a big joke - I should have billed them for a new shell and set of connectors - that would have taken smile of their face!

Our own dog doesn't bother to chase the cars cos' she knows she's always gonna win as she is an ex-racing greyhound, she looks with disgust at them and then lays down in the middle of the track!

[Virus]

u should have M4F would have been a [8D] pic to see their jaws drop an hit the dirt. i have had ppl ask how much ive spent on my cars an when i tell them they cant believe a TOY yeah a TOY they call them [!] can cost that much. my cars have been slated a few times untill they see the speed an control these so called toys have then then its the usual questions like give me a go. mind u ive converted one m8 he now owns a mission car and is now looking at buying a TXT so thats one up on the none tamiya believers

Paul

P.S

i'll give ur greyhound amiss M4F there 4Wd systems better than a TT01 [)]

[jimtt01]

if your clubs are snobby against tamiya, you are going to the wrong clubs. i have a tt01, the most basic of kits, but i have been racing for 3 months, started at the bottom and i have won three monthly leagues so far. go somewhere that everyone is friendly and willing to help, at the end of the day, we're there to have fun, it is competetive, but it should fun too.[] i, like fatboyslim up there, race at newark showground.

[Meterman]

Our club always welcomes new members regardless of what they run, as long as it is a stock 27 turn motor and 1:10 scale. We have a huge variety of cars and people are always interested in how well my heavy TB-01 does. We have TC3s HPIs Yokomos, and 2 EVO III. It is true that unless you go high end, the tamiya cars aren't that competive. (at least my TB-01 isn't (yet)) But give it a try, be the underdog with the nicest looking wheels.

[tamiyatankman]

tell you one thing guys you are very lucky to be able race those cars for fun. my local (well now my ex local) club was the place i would be every friday eve (touring stock) satrday eve (12th pan cars) sunday mornings (indoor touring stock) untill now we were never a competitive club just run what you got kinda thing. that was untill may when a guy (i never knew him) who untill then had just been the bloke we all called nusence as he allways boo'd the car in last place! bit of fun you might think but no. he was a VERY competitive guy who recond he knew everything there was to know about raceing even tho he had never picked up a transmitter in his life! anyway the guy desided to (try)and teach his 13yr old son to race. now this kid turned out to be a right nasty child (like his dad).at first we all chipped in and tried to helped him out buy teaching/showing him how to control the car round corners safley and how to tune his shocks/springs/rubber so it was best for our track. but this was all dissmissed as **** as kids dad thought he knew better! then may comes around and kid enters the friday heats for the first time any i must say the first heat was a cracker with the kid coming 2nd in all three races (me in third boo!) anyway heat two comes up and kids dad must of thought kid would not make it in the last heat and it would be funny to "mess up" our meet thus allowing kid to stay at second place (as are rules said). now we all run stock motors in our cars but kids dad fitted a modefied in at end of heat one. and let me tell you all badword broke loose instead of waiting for the hooter to go off so we could get a race on he had jumped the gun smashing his way thru to the front. hooter went off again to signal a fulse start but kid totally ignored the rules and carryed on. our top driver went over to him to tell him to stop but was violently pulled(banging his head against the side of the bannister in the prossess) away by kids dad. kid was now comming up to the start again and before the marshals could move my car out of the way kid smashed stright into the back of my evo3 smashing the left hand rear wheel right off the shaft! i was gutted. then kid got another smart idea. he got to the top of the stright,turned round speed up and promptly smashed his tl-01 into the front of my car. i was fumming not so much at the damage to my racer but becase his dad was egging him on. i was screeming for the marshals to get my car off the track but they were being stopped by the kids dad (he was a big bloke who must of spent most of his time in the gym had arms like tree trunks!) so i got off the stand and got my car off the track i was sooo angery that i packed up and went home.

next weekend rolls round and i went back to the track. only to find i was not allowed to race! i was dismayed to fined all of us locals were banned from the track for good apart from one and no prize for guessing who that was (yep the kid and dad!) about a week later i went to the pub with the mrs and found a ex marshal slumped over a sherry. i went over and asked him what happend at the club and what he told me made my hart sink. he told me that after the meet kids dad invited the officals back to his house for a chat and while he was there he had offerd to "donate" three thousend pounds to have the outside track re done with the condition that we were all banned from the track for life as were deemed(in dads opinion) to be"reckless,unconpetitive,and not good enuff to compete with his son"! the cheek! and as were were a "free to use" club with no real money (apart from donations from us) the officals agreed and banned us all. now i have noware to race as i have no transport i cannot get to any other clubs around here (too far away and no bus routes) funny thing was that i walked past the club last weekend and noticed that there were loads of new guys there running non tamiya cars some were even running nitros with the leccys! i also noticed that the kid now had the heat leader flag on his transmitter (this whould have never happend with the old club as he was a **** driver) and hid dad now had the officals yellow vest on! also they were charging £25.00 just to race in ONE heat! ripoff i think! so whats the morale of this story? well i think its "it dont matter what you do a bully with a thick as mud son even thicker arms and with a natwest bank bulgeing in his wallet will allways win and dosent even have to turn a wheel on the track"

[GPZ1000RX]

Big nightmare mate.

Best thing to do is get together with the others who are now barred from your old club and start your own new club, don't forget to bar the two nutters who gave you all the grief tho!

Good luck, keep us up to date with things.

[terry.sc]

tamiyatankman you are better off elsewhere. If that happened at my club I would have had a word with the dad about his attitude before his son had even started racing. You do not want to race at a club where the officials are happy to let the dad buy a club for his son, if the officials were interested in everyone having fun then they would not have accepted his money.

If the club is now charging so much to race then all the banned drivers should set up your own club. As you just want to have fun you don't need expensive tracks and lap counting equipment, the hardest part is finding somewhere race. Try yopur local council for places to rent cheaply, we race in a village hall and it only costs us £15 per week. Lap counting is done on a very old computer using a race program that is free.

If you need any help and advice just drop me a line.

[SubaruBrattJunkie]

WOW, what a story. Blighters! I first ran my EVO 3 at the local track, it was and pretty much still is the only Tamiya there. I took a lot of heat from "the boys" until all that practising started to pay off. I had access to the high school gym 4 nights a week and ran hundreds of packs until I could do it blindfolded. The attitude about Tamiya changed, and a few actually went as far as to get a couple, one a 414 and another EVO 3. Now, my EVO is getting tired, and needs a complete rebuild. All that practice has taken it's toll. I am running a X-ray right now and really like it. I have been collecting the parts to rebuild the EVO, but it is beginning to look like a winter project. Don't let them buffalo you. They want to think for the most part, that their car is the best choice. I still know drivers that could clean my clock with a TA04 or probably my Grasshopper, because they are that good. Money will not buy skill, although there are naturals. Practice and you will do well.[8D]