Jump to content
Wooders28

If you're not a member of an RC Club, why not?

Recommended Posts

55 minutes ago, Wooders28 said:

I don't know, maybe it is! It takes ages to muster troops, find a venue etc etc, and with everyone chomping at the bit to socialise again, you could hit the ground running, once ,normality ,resumes!

well, maybe..  I don't know, if I was to put up a thread about it, everyone would jump at it, but then there'd be a heapload of "cool, when?" to which I'd have to reply "not a flaming clue."  August last year we were booking in stuff for early summer this year on the basis that all this would be sorted by then, but these days even 8 months of forethought isn't enough to guarantee non-covidification.

Quote

There has! 

We raced all through lockdowns on VRC 

Good point, I raced a lot back in Lockdown 1.0, I really need to get in touch with the local clubs and see if anyone is running again.  VRC is great when it works but I estimate 1 out of 3 race nights was scuppered by dropping connections, and sorting out the leaderboard was a pain because we had to run 2 different events, running more than 5 drivers in a single event seemed to be a recipe for server meltdown.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, Mad Ax said:

I don't know, if I was to put up a thread about it, everyone would jump at it, but then there'd be a heapload of "cool, when?"

True, but I'm sure every one would understand, when we can.

I would give you an idea who's close enough, and the kind if numbers involved though.

 

2 hours ago, Mad Ax said:

VRC is great when it works but I estimate 1 out of 3 race nights was scuppered by dropping connections,

Similar experience tbh, but I don't think the VRC designers ever envisaged such a high demand when it was created (it's a good few years old now). Was annoying when your car was in limbo hovering, or the lag was that great ,you disappeared....🤷‍♂️

 

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 1/23/2021 at 9:48 PM, J@mes said:

There’s a club up the road but it’s a bit serious looking. Doubt they’d let me run my lunchbox round their track :lol:

Someone did turn up with a Lunchbox the other day!! 

Immediately thought of your comment 😁

 

https://m.facebook.com/groups/GlasgowRC/permalink/1514323485598145/?source=48

  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

There are very few clubs in my immediate local area, and I don’t do Facebook and social media to keep up with meetings and times . Also for the past couple years before covid I worked either off shifts or was deployed overseas a lot. 
next year, when I move to a more developed, populated area and I’m in my second career/ semi retired I wuld love to get back into a club. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
4 hours ago, Wooders28 said:

Someone did turn up with a Lunchbox the other day!! 

Immediately thought of your comment 😁

 

https://m.facebook.com/groups/GlasgowRC/permalink/1514323485598145/?source=48

Haha! I’ve recently discovered that there’s an astroturf track near me, which is more my kind of thing than that tarmac one, need to plan some reconnaissance.

 

Did the LB get lapped a few times :lol:

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
4 hours ago, J@mes said:

Did the LB get lapped a few times :lol:

I think, maybe.....🙄🤣

Unfortunately, I hadn't taken mine (well, my 2), so did get a race ☹.

Looking like lunchbox / Pumpkin racing is now a thing! 😁

Dudley Radio Car Club are having a LB/P class ,as part of their Winter race serise! 👍

 

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158465061813105&id=518918104&set=gm.4509076869135969&source=48

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
7 hours ago, Dakratfink said:

I don’t do Facebook and social media to keep up with meetings and times

Unfortunately, that's the easiest and cheapest way for a club to promote themselves.

You don't need to share what you've had for tea, or views on 5G Pigeons, you can just follow your local club, and not post anything. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
6 hours ago, rwordenjr said:

Not one around me :( nearest track is 2hrs away one way. 

Our closest Astro track (all weather) was just over 3hrs away, so that's why we've built our own 😁

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
13 minutes ago, Wooders28 said:

Our closest Astro track (all weather) was just over 3hrs away, so that's why we've built our own 😁

Nice man! Got pics ? And I don’t have the time unfortunately to build my own but I go to the track when I can. Once again, time willing… I have the funds to buy any rc car I want but not the time to use it 🥲🥲

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
11 minutes ago, rwordenjr said:

Nice man! Got pics ? And I don’t have the time unfortunately to build my own but I go to the track when I can. Once again, time willing… I have the funds to buy any rc car I want but not the time to use it 🥲🥲

Certainly!

I'm in a similar position, time poor, but with a permanent track, when I do get time, I know I can just head over.

 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

there's only one club local to me - on my way to work in fact (not that I've been to work in 18 months though!) and when I enquired they said they weren't taking any new members and they don't even allow anyone to use it for practice, race meets only. They suggested I try their sister track where I could join and use the track for practice (oh how kind of them!) However, their sister track is a 45 min drive away in a different county......

The next nearest track is also 45 minutes away.

There's an indoor track/club local, but that's only for GT12 and M-Chassis, neither of which I'm interested in.

My local bmx track and skate park have both had rc cars banned from using them, so other than taking my cars to a shopping centre carpark outside of opening hours I'm pretty stuck for places to go.

  • Sad 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, jonboy1 said:

I enquired they said they weren't taking any new members and they don't even allow anyone to use it for practice, race meets only.

Thats a shame, Must be nice to have too many members!! 🤷‍♂️

I can see clubs not wanting anyone using the track, without someone of authority (?) there, to stop things like an 8s Arrma damaging it, or worse, someone getting injured. 

 

1 hour ago, jonboy1 said:

They suggested I try their sister track where I could join and use the track for practice (oh how kind of them!) However, their sister track is a 45 min drive away in a different county......

45mins isn't too bad, if it's for the day, but nipping over for an hour ,it's maybe a bit much. I would have thought there'd be a , none members day rate, where it would be a bit more, but you didn't need to join.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
4 hours ago, Wooders28 said:

Unfortunately, that's the easiest and cheapest way for a club to promote themselves.

You don't need to share what you've had for tea, or views on 5G Pigeons, you can just follow your local club, and not post anything. 

Yeah I got rid of my account around2008 and never looked back, but having an account just to follow local clubs might be worth while 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Wooders28 said:

45mins isn't too bad, if it's for the day, but nipping over for an hour ,it's maybe a bit much. I would have thought there'd be a , none members day rate, where it would be a bit more, but you didn't need to join.

Yeah, if I was to get into proper racing I'd be quite happy with that, but I really want to just practice and get used to the car and the track etc and also just have a bit of fun, and I'm not going to race until I've done all that.

I'd be more than happy to pay to go each time, I'd really just love somewhere local to run on a semi-decent track

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I did my first 10th 2wd race last week in many years. Not being on Facebook it was hard enough for me to find info about the event, and even harder to book in.

Then to top that off, the results from each round weren't printed off and displayed on the rostrum for everyone to see and compare, (like every other race I've ever done), they were posted on FACEBOOK!  It's put me right off racing....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
25 minutes ago, toyolien said:

I did my first 10th 2wd race last week in many years. Not being on Facebook it was hard enough for me to find info about the event, and even harder to book in.

Like I say, FB is the easiest and quickest way to reach the majority of people, and some I know, just have an FB page just for getting club info.

Although we're lucky enough to have some computer boffins, so we've a few FB pages (RC club, Race club and buy/sell page), plus a website, a new club forum and even an online shop! (To order, then collect your order at the track...🙄😏).

 

30 minutes ago, toyolien said:

Then to top that off, the results from each round weren't printed off and displayed on the rostrum for everyone to see and compare, (like every other race I've ever done), they were posted on FACEBOOK!  It's put me right off racing....

Printing out is quickly turning out to be, 'the old fashioned way', as most would just go to the board with their phone, and take a picture, we started sending everyone a 'WhatsApp ' of the results, which I think worked quite well (but you needed a mobile, for us to have your number, and the App right enough....).

Our new timing software ,means the results are pretty instantly uploaded to a Web page :- 

 http://www.rc-results.com/viewer/Main/VenueMeetings?venueId=1057&fbclid=IwAR1BAkF_SpF4bUq9-C1nk8gBEcg9-D6gmZKnJ5leTtnAFFZ8TE3Ex0vq3vA

But again, if you've no mobile phone or signal etc, it could be probmatic.

From an orginisers point of view, it's so much easier and cheaper, (ie no printer, ink ,paper etc), than having to print out each heat and final.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
25 minutes ago, toyolien said:

I did my first 10th 2wd race last week in many years. Not being on Facebook it was hard enough for me to find info about the event, and even harder to book in.

Like I say, FB is the easiest and quickest way to reach the majority of people, and some I know, just have an FB page just for getting club info.

Although we're lucky enough to have some computer boffins, so we've a few FB pages (RC club, Race club and buy/sell page), plus a website, a new club forum and even an online shop! (To order, then collect your order at the track...🙄😏).

 

30 minutes ago, toyolien said:

Then to top that off, the results from each round weren't printed off and displayed on the rostrum for everyone to see and compare, (like every other race I've ever done), they were posted on FACEBOOK!  It's put me right off racing....

Printing out is quickly turning out to be, 'the old fashioned way', as most would just go to the board with their phone, and take a picture, we started sending everyone a 'WhatsApp ' of the results, which I think worked quite well (but you needed a mobile, for us to have your number, and the App right enough....).

Our new timing software ,means the results are pretty instantly uploaded to a Web page :- 

 http://www.rc-results.com/viewer/Main/VenueMeetings?venueId=1057&fbclid=IwAR1BAkF_SpF4bUq9-C1nk8gBEcg9-D6gmZKnJ5leTtnAFFZ8TE3Ex0vq3vA

But again, if you've no mobile phone or signal etc, it could be probmatic.

From an orginisers point of view, it's so much easier and cheaper, (ie no printer, ink ,paper etc), than having to print out each heat and final.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Dakratfink said:

Yeah I got rid of my account around2008 and never looked back, but having an account just to follow local clubs might be worth while 

I’m seriously thinking about rejoining FB after hearing another local talk about all the local events he does that I had no idea existed. Mostly no prep drag, but it’s a start…

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've got a super locked down and pretty much empty profile just for the racing stuff on FB - feels like a reasonable compromise to access the RC content

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Quite fancied some racing & looked into it a couple of months ago, turns out I’ve got 3 clubs within easy reach but they’ve all switched from websites to Facebook groups so I stay at home & save tons of money :D

  • Sad 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Mad Zero said:

 I stay at home & save tons of money 

And meet no RC guys/friends in your area either!! 

(Sounding like one of those ads on Internet.....swipe right? 🤦‍♂️🤣🤣

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Wooders28 said:

And meet no RC guys/friends in your area either!! 

(Sounding like one of those ads on Internet.....swipe right? 🤦‍♂️🤣🤣

Nah **** em they only steal ur body clips

  • Haha 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

 I'd be semi interested but I'd like

  • Some commitment to diversify who does racing - with something for kids too on some nights. A league for girls would be a nice idea
  • Beer and hot dogs
  • A relaxed atmosphere

I'd also like some way to stop it looking budget. 

bounce.jpg

This is bounce in London, where people play table tennis, below in mini golf...

191127-birdies-heroshots-owenbphoto-008.

Could an RC club take something from these? Essentially people care what stuff looks like.

A series of cool themed tracks would be very expensive but you get the idea. UV lights and glow in the dark cars, low lights with spotlights, or a night race and cars have to have headlights), scale sized stands with audience etc, decent beer and food, music?

If I could go to an RC club, drive something fun ( a GFO1 race would be great) and have a few beers I'd be in. The second people start taking things seriously I loose interest. 

 

 

 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
55 minutes ago, Nikko85 said:

 I'd be semi interested but I'd like

  • Some commitment to diversify who does racing - with something for kids too on some nights. A league for girls would be a nice idea
  • Beer and hot dogs
  • A relaxed atmosphere

I'd also like some way to stop it looking budget. 

bounce.jpg

This is bounce in London, where people play table tennis, below in mini golf...

191127-birdies-heroshots-owenbphoto-008.

Could an RC club take something from these? Essentially people care what stuff looks like.

A series of cool themed tracks would be very expensive but you get the idea. UV lights and glow in the dark cars, low lights with spotlights, or a night race and cars have to have headlights), scale sized stands with audience etc, decent beer and food, music?

If I could go to an RC club, drive something fun ( a GFO1 race would be great) and have a few beers I'd be in. The second people start taking things seriously I loose interest. 

 

 

 

 

There’s a LHS near me that has a small indoor crawler track and a bunch of old school stand up video games. Though the last time I was there it was all closed due to Vids…

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...