In my area the closest club is 2hrs drive away. My mates and I are lucky enough to have free use of an abandoned farm where we have made a dirt/loam track. We race our vintage style buggies most weekends and it works for us all. Our local council is dubious about letting us use public land as ‘it’s a Motorsport and a possible public liability issue’ Meanwhile they have BMX and skate parks popping up everywhere… Great video mate!!
As an American living in Europe, it's unfortunate to see how many tracks in the US are a business. Almost every track here is a non-profit club with land from the city, and it's rare for one to close. We pay just over $100 each per year to be a member and everyone is supposed to work X number of hours to help maintain the track. It works, if you want it to.
Very interesting points. I'm quite new to the world of RCs having purchased a 2wd basher about 3 months ago. The community and competitive side of RCs is compelling. I started looking at options to get more of that in my life. In my area, the RC crawler community is huge and growing. It is affordable to get started with micros and work up (if you want). There is no track to own, crawling happens nearly anywhere with some rocks. I threw a pile of junk together in the back yard to practice on. Honestly, I am not really into rock crawling. I am into the welcoming community and enjoyable competition. I've built several trucks and have found that the building side is more fun than I thought it would be. Reaching for something more exciting than crawlers, I've been looking into getting started with 2WD buggy as our area still has an indoor clay track. It isn't exactly close, but I could make it work. Quite honestly, I am still very much on the fence deciding to join in or not. I'm not even sure I want to visit the track. It feels like this sport is just not for new people. There is no class that I would call the "you don't know what you are doing, and that is okay - come have fun anyway" class. Right now the entry is "you better know what you are doing, have a pile of cash, and have at least some clue about what is going on so you don't piss us off" class (my impression based on social media posts from our local track). Speaking from a total newbie perspective, this situation may not improve without a major paradigm shift in thinking at multiple levels. Perhaps new guys like myself will re-invent RC racing with fewer rules, more fun, and lower overall prices. Does someone like me need all the RC racing infrastructure to work with our city to setup a dirt oval and get some dudes together with cheap bashers and have hours of competitive fun? I'm not sure we do. It creates a silo, and I can see how that would be less ideal, but I also see few other options. The serious racer guys are much less likely to come down to our level, it seems, and join us for a good bash. Your point about dads and sons is spot on. I got my son a Typhon Grom for Christmas (can't wait for him to open it, he is going to be stoked). He is 10 years old and has been driving RCs with me nearly every day (he is better than I am). Where do I take him to race in January with snow on the ground? I'm certain our local track owner will turn me out on my ear if I so much as grace his doorstop with a cheap car like that. It seems like that is the issue. What are the chances he is going to dig up the fancy ultra-awesome clay track and replace it with a kick-ass basher course every 10 year old (and the 10 year old in each of us) will flip after seeing - just dying to run their new car on? If that place existed, we would go out of our way to be there! Since that hasn't happened, and seems extremely unlikely, how many more guys are just going to give up and go to the local park instead (snow or no snow)? I don't really know much, so thank you for tolerating my uniformed remarks. I just see an opportunity for RC racers to read stories like mine and look into what is really going on. I'd love to join in, but I don't see a spot for my son and I right now. I don't see anyone making room. If I can't find one, I guess I'll make my own.
Going around a track and putting in laps is fun! I raced in the 90s and started parking lot racing in front of a Hobby Town with an RC10T oval setup. I hope that when I retire to make a backyard track to give back to the hobby. I live in Missouri too around Springfield.
I definitely agree with much or all of what you said here... sucks to see tracks closing, especially well established ones. It would be awesome if there were more tracks in public parks and such. Getting exposure for RC racing so more knew about it might be one way to help make parks and cities more interested in having a track in one of their parks. Near me there are a few different tracks, one has been in a park since the 80s and is club run... I help run a club/track in a small town about an hour and a half south of that older one, and we have HRCR not too far from us as well... kinda feel lucky in a sense. Keeping tracks going, whether public or not, is definitely a lot of work. I have been seeing vintage/retro stuff kinda growing here in this area. Hope to see that continue. AE could release a kit version of the RB10 and it might be a popular option for outdoor racing...the rerelease kits from AE, Kyosho, etc are all awesome and might help 1/10 grow again a bit and let older racers connect with RC again and maybe bring in a new generation of racers. PR Racing has a GREAT buggy kit, RM configuration, cheap, and it seriously RIPS on outdoor dirt... they sent the track I help operate one to raffle last season, and I'd be surprised if I don't see at least a few of them running 2wd buggy this season around here. Probably see some Team Car and other RC10s come out a time or two as well. The Team Car finally has me thinking I will build my first ever RC10 soon, and I will definitely be getting the PR kit. 2wd SC seems to still be the strongest class in my area lately. I really hope to see 10th scale grow some in the coming months or couple seasons, instead of the past few years trend, because a few more seasons going in the direction of the last and I think 10th scale will be gonners here in the PNW area, at least for any outdoor racing. cheers and merry christmas to you and yours.
Hour & half away. Will come watch you guys. Stuck in wheelchair but that's ok. I want to watch a good race, your close. Hate to here tracks are shutting down. Hang on as long as possible.
I think part of the problem for indoor dirt tracks is everyone is in such a need for traction, people get so upset when the traction is low. I go to 2 indoor dirt off road tracks and all they use for traction is water. One track has more grip than the other but that’s just the nature of dirt. For indoor dirt tracks to be treating them with grip treatment probably cost some money and that’s a bummer for the track, especially if people are hardly coming to race. You can adjust the cars to get some pretty decent grip at both of these tracks. One thing I do when I am out there marshaling is look at the cars when they go by and you will see what kind of grip level is available. Some cars are going to be loose but I bet there will be some that are pretty hooked up. That looser track I go to, I have seen some pretty hooked up cars there, you just have to figure it out; that’s part of the fun of RC racing; well I think it’s fun 👍
Maybe the answer is in marketing the hobby better?? Just thinking out loud here... If we start working with local Motocross tracks to build 1/10 or 1/8 dirt tracks as a "Club Track", at their facility. That could offer multiple solutions, introduce the hobby to other racers(siblings and children), because a racer has to race, helps bring that track additional revenue, and gives rc a new breadth of options for tracks....The same could be done with the Oval racers at local dirt tracks. maybe this has been tried... either way, as a new racer in the hobby, I hope we find a way to maintain tracks and keep racing.
From what I've seen, any track owner that's renting the building or property will eventually lose the track. Most of the ones I've seen go away are due to the landlord going in a different direction or selling the place, not because the track couldn't pay the rent. There's always some that lose turnout and can't make it but I think that's the minority. If track owners don't get something in a public park or purchase the land, they're not going to survive in the long run.
I’m just getting back into r/c after almost 8 years away. None of the off-road tracks in my area are open anymore. There’s is one good indoor on-road carpet track just a little ways off from me, but I’m not into on-road. I’ve been considering building an outdoor off-road, 1/10 focused, but 1/8 friendly track on my property. I’m lucky that I have lots of land, and just off a major highway, so pretty straight shot from the larger towns just east of me. I can most likely get the dirt for free, build driver’s stand fairly cheap, get electrical hookups done. Do you think a track like this, without a lease, could actually turn a profit?
@@DirtConceptAlso, I don’t know why you couldn’t build a hard packed, high-grip clay track outdoors too. If full-scale late model dirt oval tracks can do it, why couldn’t we?
Bummer for sure... I lived out in Ft Myers and ran all the Florida tracks coast to coast for years then droning became big. A couple tracks closed, and a track owner died. Finally got back into RC back here in Colorado hoping the hobby had picked up. Quite a bummer to hear.
You beat me to it. The so called “sponsorships” the manufacturers are handing out are nothing more than a contract to be a customer and buy directly from the manufacturer. This cuts out the hobby shops that tracks are typically attached to and kills the shop/track.
One of the biggest things that needs to happen in R/C racing is to stop the big manufacturers from “sponsoring” anyone with a pulse. This “contract customer” business model cuts out local hobby shops that are attached to a lot of these tracks that are already operating on a razor thin margin and has forced many to close. We need some of the big name racers as well as social media people that have the attention of the OEM’s to bring this to their attention.
Great tips. But the main reason tracks are dropping off and new ones can't be reformed. Is Lawyers. People sue to easily and a track now has to have liability insurance which is expensive and city government parks and such don't want to expose thier government in such lawsuits .
Yes I am on the hunt for low profile astro turf myself. The price is hard to negotiate with. The non profit club seems like the perfect way to go and by it being open to the public is part of the reason why I was able to get introduced to racing at St Louis DirtBurners
Have you checked with any of the sporting complexes in your area? They periodically upgrade their turf and the old stuff is normally in pretty good shape and reasonably priced.
We have an oval track in North Texas that is doing great and we do have the younger generation getting involved. The track is outdoor and in the peoples yard on their land. He cut the infield out of the oval track the last 2 days to incorporate a 1/10th scale short course to expand to the demand of that market. Oval will stick go on and continue to grow but this move is monumental with Indy closing. We are fortunate to also have an 1/8th scale outdoor track just north of the border in Ardmore, Ok. We also have a very nice covered track just South of Waco towards Austin and they put on some great events. The economy is not good and doesnt lend itself to a vast amount of disposable income and it does cost money to play with toy cars. Mark Santa Maria was very close on his dollar figures. I own land and can financially put a track together at least covered but indoor completely would be ideal. However the numbers Mark tallied up would not make good financial sense to use my land for a track. Its worth more as just dirt and grazing foliage that a giant building that Im not sure would ever get paid for.
I think it’s more important to have a track to race at first and foremost. Do it on the cheap, we need more tracks to race at for RC racing to be a thing. This unwritten standard we’ve created for tracks to resemble an OCRC is totally unrealistic! Any track is better than no track.
Pro Box Stock classes nation wide. I feel it will keep the newbies interested but at a lower cost to racers. Some people don't the cash at hand to hang with the Pros in the more expensive bigger scale classes.
The economics of keeping an indoor track open isnt viable for most owners of the buildings. Not enough income, increasing expenses thru property tax, utilities, liability insurance etc.
NIMBY. It is real. But then again that minority that is rc ‘racing’ is too focused with names on shirts, ‘big’ races, and spending mountains on ‘stock’ racing. All these 17.5 build videos when there is barely any ‘stock’ parts left… -U10
Maybe just maybe the people who go shouldn't make newbies feel out of place or beneath them. It turns alot of potential RC enthusiasts away, just an observation from every track I've been to.
@DirtConcept Kind of, but at the same time it their situation shows how little is known about the hobby outside of the hobby. I'm not sure if you watched any of the videos posted by the board meeting that all the drivers went to. It genuinely seemed that the people who were in charge of the park where Thunder Alley was had absolutely no clue on how large of a following the track had. They were confused at first and then very suprised that their were individuals that got paid to race rc cars and people that had industry support to race. The depth of commitment that people put into our hobby is the same as families that have kids riding amateur moto. To say they didn't know just how big rc racing is, would be putting it mildly. Towards the end it seemed that most of them actually started to feel sorry about choosing to close the track for some more damn pickleball courts that probably could have easily gone in a different location. We have a lack of awareness to the public, but I for one have no idea how to fix it. You had the big Traxxas years where they were the owners were racing real short course trucks, plus sponsoring a series, sponsorships in Nascar, NHRA, and AMA and it seems like very little came from that, or least came over to the racing side. Even Associated was on some real race cars and Horizon recently in Nascar.
@@Flipside6900I watched it and have to agree with you. Thunder alley had the same arrangement as we do. Not gonna lie, it was a little scary to watch that all go down.
The club thing is the way to go for local groups.people are just to lazy today,they just want someone to do it for them....trust me,I tried to get a club started for a small segment of rc going,even got some floor space for us to meet and run.but no one would commit to anything long term and the owner of the floor space just moneyed it into oblivion.... As far as your statement on 10th scale buggies,I guess you don't know associated and kyosho produce a current rear motor buggy platform in production now. That's not the issue in my area...8th scale is king in my area..the only way to race annually is with 8th scale.the problem is its just to dangerous.....Bigger jumps and faster/powerful car equal hurt turn marshals.everybody around here just hands a kid a full race e buggy and sends them up the driver stand....no care over what happens on the track. I have a back yard track and I'm happy there....I raced 8th scale for 20 years...im done sitting around for 2 hours waiting on my 5 mins.
Totally agree, it's called "off road" for a reason, not street racing with jumps. I STOPPED going to tracks because of this. Tracks should NOT be adjusted for the driver/car, the driver/car needs to be adjusted for the track. Whatever surface the dirt track is made from should be what people race on. No one goes out into the desert to "groom" the track for Paris-Dakar. I miss the rooster tails, uneven surface, and adjusting your driving for the surface. The more relatable a track is to the average joe's backyard, or dirt lot, the better.
@@DirtConcept Already have them, they're called vintage RC10s and Optima re releases. Even alot of Tamiya budget buggies are made for that sort of thing.
Long term, I believe a combination of both is the best direction for 1/10 racing. Bottom line: we need more 1/10 tracks, and more tracks that offer entry level competitive classes (2wd buggy). If that means office carpet, or ungroomed dirt, that’s fine. Current cars today are not really designed for dirt tracks, but a class split to include RM buggies would solve that.
@@DirtConcept Totally on board with rear motor class, it's what most kids can use at their local school grassy area. They also look alot cooler IMHO than mid motor cars.
Electric is just boring to watch indoor or outdoor doesn't seem to matter still lame unless you're driving and it's still expensive for the beginner batteries aren't cheap and don't seem to last unless you buy expensive ones
I have to disagree. We’ve had record turnouts every year for 4 years straight at my local track. This was driven primarily by new racers. It really boils down to making R/C racing more accessible to newbies. I don’t think we (as an industry) are doing the best that we can on that front.
They will keep going away. This can't be fixed right now. The bashing scene has taken over and it's expensive as hell to race. Only .0000009 people actually race in the rc world. You talk about cheap 😂 it's definitely not cheap.
Thanks for the plug man! Glad you made this video!
You bet, I hope it sparks some change! 🙏
In my area the closest club is 2hrs drive away. My mates and I are lucky enough to have free use of an abandoned farm where we have made a dirt/loam track. We race our vintage style buggies most weekends and it works for us all.
Our local council is dubious about letting us use public land as ‘it’s a Motorsport and a possible public liability issue’
Meanwhile they have BMX and skate parks popping up everywhere…
Great video mate!!
As an American living in Europe, it's unfortunate to see how many tracks in the US are a business. Almost every track here is a non-profit club with land from the city, and it's rare for one to close. We pay just over $100 each per year to be a member and everyone is supposed to work X number of hours to help maintain the track. It works, if you want it to.
This is what we need to happen here in the USA
Tracks in Australia are like that too. Usually supported by local governments.
Very interesting points. I'm quite new to the world of RCs having purchased a 2wd basher about 3 months ago. The community and competitive side of RCs is compelling. I started looking at options to get more of that in my life. In my area, the RC crawler community is huge and growing. It is affordable to get started with micros and work up (if you want). There is no track to own, crawling happens nearly anywhere with some rocks. I threw a pile of junk together in the back yard to practice on. Honestly, I am not really into rock crawling. I am into the welcoming community and enjoyable competition. I've built several trucks and have found that the building side is more fun than I thought it would be.
Reaching for something more exciting than crawlers, I've been looking into getting started with 2WD buggy as our area still has an indoor clay track. It isn't exactly close, but I could make it work. Quite honestly, I am still very much on the fence deciding to join in or not. I'm not even sure I want to visit the track. It feels like this sport is just not for new people. There is no class that I would call the "you don't know what you are doing, and that is okay - come have fun anyway" class. Right now the entry is "you better know what you are doing, have a pile of cash, and have at least some clue about what is going on so you don't piss us off" class (my impression based on social media posts from our local track).
Speaking from a total newbie perspective, this situation may not improve without a major paradigm shift in thinking at multiple levels. Perhaps new guys like myself will re-invent RC racing with fewer rules, more fun, and lower overall prices. Does someone like me need all the RC racing infrastructure to work with our city to setup a dirt oval and get some dudes together with cheap bashers and have hours of competitive fun? I'm not sure we do. It creates a silo, and I can see how that would be less ideal, but I also see few other options. The serious racer guys are much less likely to come down to our level, it seems, and join us for a good bash.
Your point about dads and sons is spot on. I got my son a Typhon Grom for Christmas (can't wait for him to open it, he is going to be stoked). He is 10 years old and has been driving RCs with me nearly every day (he is better than I am). Where do I take him to race in January with snow on the ground? I'm certain our local track owner will turn me out on my ear if I so much as grace his doorstop with a cheap car like that. It seems like that is the issue. What are the chances he is going to dig up the fancy ultra-awesome clay track and replace it with a kick-ass basher course every 10 year old (and the 10 year old in each of us) will flip after seeing - just dying to run their new car on? If that place existed, we would go out of our way to be there! Since that hasn't happened, and seems extremely unlikely, how many more guys are just going to give up and go to the local park instead (snow or no snow)?
I don't really know much, so thank you for tolerating my uniformed remarks. I just see an opportunity for RC racers to read stories like mine and look into what is really going on. I'd love to join in, but I don't see a spot for my son and I right now. I don't see anyone making room. If I can't find one, I guess I'll make my own.
Go to a park bring some ramps and cones have fun enjoy repeat don't over think it we don't have to be so professional 😊
Going around a track and putting in laps is fun! I raced in the 90s and started parking lot racing in front of a Hobby Town with an RC10T oval setup. I hope that when I retire to make a backyard track to give back to the hobby. I live in Missouri too around Springfield.
Nice paint colors dude, great video. In BC Canada we mostly have clubs, no one can afford real-estate here, so clubs for the win.
I definitely agree with much or all of what you said here... sucks to see tracks closing, especially well established ones. It would be awesome if there were more tracks in public parks and such. Getting exposure for RC racing so more knew about it might be one way to help make parks and cities more interested in having a track in one of their parks.
Near me there are a few different tracks, one has been in a park since the 80s and is club run... I help run a club/track in a small town about an hour and a half south of that older one, and we have HRCR not too far from us as well... kinda feel lucky in a sense. Keeping tracks going, whether public or not, is definitely a lot of work.
I have been seeing vintage/retro stuff kinda growing here in this area. Hope to see that continue. AE could release a kit version of the RB10 and it might be a popular option for outdoor racing...the rerelease kits from AE, Kyosho, etc are all awesome and might help 1/10 grow again a bit and let older racers connect with RC again and maybe bring in a new generation of racers. PR Racing has a GREAT buggy kit, RM configuration, cheap, and it seriously RIPS on outdoor dirt... they sent the track I help operate one to raffle last season, and I'd be surprised if I don't see at least a few of them running 2wd buggy this season around here. Probably see some Team Car and other RC10s come out a time or two as well. The Team Car finally has me thinking I will build my first ever RC10 soon, and I will definitely be getting the PR kit. 2wd SC seems to still be the strongest class in my area lately.
I really hope to see 10th scale grow some in the coming months or couple seasons, instead of the past few years trend, because a few more seasons going in the direction of the last and I think 10th scale will be gonners here in the PNW area, at least for any outdoor racing.
cheers and merry christmas to you and yours.
Hour & half away. Will come watch you guys. Stuck in wheelchair but that's ok. I want to watch a good race, your close. Hate to here tracks are shutting down. Hang on as long as possible.
Thanks Steve, we will see you trackside in 2025
Great information, thank you
I think part of the problem for indoor dirt tracks is everyone is in such a need for traction, people get so upset when the traction is low. I go to 2 indoor dirt off road tracks and all they use for traction is water. One track has more grip than the other but that’s just the nature of dirt. For indoor dirt tracks to be treating them with grip treatment probably cost some money and that’s a bummer for the track, especially if people are hardly coming to race. You can adjust the cars to get some pretty decent grip at both of these tracks. One thing I do when I am out there marshaling is look at the cars when they go by and you will see what kind of grip level is available. Some cars are going to be loose but I bet there will be some that are pretty hooked up. That looser track I go to, I have seen some pretty hooked up cars there, you just have to figure it out; that’s part of the fun of RC racing; well I think it’s fun 👍
Maybe the answer is in marketing the hobby better?? Just thinking out loud here... If we start working with local Motocross tracks to build 1/10 or 1/8 dirt tracks as a "Club Track", at their facility. That could offer multiple solutions, introduce the hobby to other racers(siblings and children), because a racer has to race, helps bring that track additional revenue, and gives rc a new breadth of options for tracks....The same could be done with the Oval racers at local dirt tracks. maybe this has been tried... either way, as a new racer in the hobby, I hope we find a way to maintain tracks and keep racing.
From what I've seen, any track owner that's renting the building or property will eventually lose the track. Most of the ones I've seen go away are due to the landlord going in a different direction or selling the place, not because the track couldn't pay the rent. There's always some that lose turnout and can't make it but I think that's the minority.
If track owners don't get something in a public park or purchase the land, they're not going to survive in the long run.
I’m just getting back into r/c after almost 8 years away. None of the off-road tracks in my area are open anymore. There’s is one good indoor on-road carpet track just a little ways off from me, but I’m not into on-road. I’ve been considering building an outdoor off-road, 1/10 focused, but 1/8 friendly track on my property. I’m lucky that I have lots of land, and just off a major highway, so pretty straight shot from the larger towns just east of me. I can most likely get the dirt for free, build driver’s stand fairly cheap, get electrical hookups done. Do you think a track like this, without a lease, could actually turn a profit?
If you own the land already, yes.
@@DirtConceptAlso, I don’t know why you couldn’t build a hard packed, high-grip clay track outdoors too. If full-scale late model dirt oval tracks can do it, why couldn’t we?
Bummer for sure... I lived out in Ft Myers and ran all the Florida tracks coast to coast for years then droning became big. A couple tracks closed, and a track owner died. Finally got back into RC back here in Colorado hoping the hobby had picked up. Quite a bummer to hear.
I think one of the biggest issue is to many manufacturers are providing sponsorships. Which leads to people not purchasing stuff from local tracks
You beat me to it. The so called “sponsorships” the manufacturers are handing out are nothing more than a contract to be a customer and buy directly from the manufacturer. This cuts out the hobby shops that tracks are typically attached to and kills the shop/track.
Well said 🤘🏽
Same in the UK we have lost 4 tracks local and further out
One of the biggest things that needs to happen in R/C racing is to stop the big manufacturers from “sponsoring” anyone with a pulse. This “contract customer” business model cuts out local hobby shops that are attached to a lot of these tracks that are already operating on a razor thin margin and has forced many to close. We need some of the big name racers as well as social media people that have the attention of the OEM’s to bring this to their attention.
Great tips. But the main reason tracks are dropping off and new ones can't be reformed. Is Lawyers. People sue to easily and a track now has to have liability insurance which is expensive and city government parks and such don't want to expose thier government in such lawsuits .
Yes I am on the hunt for low profile astro turf myself. The price is hard to negotiate with. The non profit club seems like the perfect way to go and by it being open to the public is part of the reason why I was able to get introduced to racing at St Louis DirtBurners
Have you checked with any of the sporting complexes in your area? They periodically upgrade their turf and the old stuff is normally in pretty good shape and reasonably priced.
Well said. I believe if the economy gets better we will see an increase instead of decrease
We have an oval track in North Texas that is doing great and we do have the younger generation getting involved. The track is outdoor and in the peoples yard on their land. He cut the infield out of the oval track the last 2 days to incorporate a 1/10th scale short course to expand to the demand of that market. Oval will stick go on and continue to grow but this move is monumental with Indy closing. We are fortunate to also have an 1/8th scale outdoor track just north of the border in Ardmore, Ok. We also have a very nice covered track just South of Waco towards Austin and they put on some great events. The economy is not good and doesnt lend itself to a vast amount of disposable income and it does cost money to play with toy cars. Mark Santa Maria was very close on his dollar figures. I own land and can financially put a track together at least covered but indoor completely would be ideal. However the numbers Mark tallied up would not make good financial sense to use my land for a track. Its worth more as just dirt and grazing foliage that a giant building that Im not sure would ever get paid for.
I think it’s more important to have a track to race at first and foremost. Do it on the cheap, we need more tracks to race at for RC racing to be a thing. This unwritten standard we’ve created for tracks to resemble an OCRC is totally unrealistic! Any track is better than no track.
Pro Box Stock classes nation wide. I feel it will keep the newbies interested but at a lower cost to racers. Some people don't the cash at hand to hang with the Pros in the more expensive bigger scale classes.
The economics of keeping an indoor track open isnt viable for most owners of the buildings. Not enough income, increasing expenses thru property tax, utilities, liability insurance etc.
Pretty much. The only way it is financially feasible is by having another business on premises to support the track.
Hello im from Germany i would ask you do you Sell maybye your nitro Gas truck chassis
Thank you Aaron
It has been discontinued as of a week ago.
Bottonm line is the market sucks and the economy is getting worse 😑
NIMBY. It is real.
But then again that minority that is rc ‘racing’ is too focused with names on shirts, ‘big’ races, and spending mountains on ‘stock’ racing. All these 17.5 build videos when there is barely any ‘stock’ parts left…
-U10
Maybe just maybe the people who go shouldn't make newbies feel out of place or beneath them. It turns alot of potential RC enthusiasts away, just an observation from every track I've been to.
Thunder Alley isn't closing because the business is failing. Their lease or property use agreement with the park district isn't being renewed.
@@Flipside6900 I know. Bad example.
@DirtConcept Kind of, but at the same time it their situation shows how little is known about the hobby outside of the hobby. I'm not sure if you watched any of the videos posted by the board meeting that all the drivers went to. It genuinely seemed that the people who were in charge of the park where Thunder Alley was had absolutely no clue on how large of a following the track had. They were confused at first and then very suprised that their were individuals that got paid to race rc cars and people that had industry support to race. The depth of commitment that people put into our hobby is the same as families that have kids riding amateur moto. To say they didn't know just how big rc racing is, would be putting it mildly. Towards the end it seemed that most of them actually started to feel sorry about choosing to close the track for some more damn pickleball courts that probably could have easily gone in a different location. We have a lack of awareness to the public, but I for one have no idea how to fix it. You had the big Traxxas years where they were the owners were racing real short course trucks, plus sponsoring a series, sponsorships in Nascar, NHRA, and AMA and it seems like very little came from that, or least came over to the racing side. Even Associated was on some real race cars and Horizon recently in Nascar.
@@Flipside6900I watched it and have to agree with you. Thunder alley had the same arrangement as we do. Not gonna lie, it was a little scary to watch that all go down.
The club thing is the way to go for local groups.people are just to lazy today,they just want someone to do it for them....trust me,I tried to get a club started for a small segment of rc going,even got some floor space for us to meet and run.but no one would commit to anything long term and the owner of the floor space just moneyed it into oblivion....
As far as your statement on 10th scale buggies,I guess you don't know associated and kyosho produce a current rear motor buggy platform in production now.
That's not the issue in my area...8th scale is king in my area..the only way to race annually is with 8th scale.the problem is its just to dangerous.....Bigger jumps and faster/powerful car equal hurt turn marshals.everybody around here just hands a kid a full race e buggy and sends them up the driver stand....no care over what happens on the track.
I have a back yard track and I'm happy there....I raced 8th scale for 20 years...im done sitting around for 2 hours waiting on my 5 mins.
Cost of tires and parts and equipment is whats killing it,esp on crc black carpet
It sucks for indoor track but good for the outdoors track
plz no carpet/astro turff.I run all my 1/10 on dirt tracks from day one..My 1/10 kits have never touched carpet
I’m with you. Long term I’m hoping to see more dirt tracks too.
Totally agree, it's called "off road" for a reason, not street racing with jumps. I STOPPED going to tracks because of this. Tracks should NOT be adjusted for the driver/car, the driver/car needs to be adjusted for the track. Whatever surface the dirt track is made from should be what people race on. No one goes out into the desert to "groom" the track for Paris-Dakar. I miss the rooster tails, uneven surface, and adjusting your driving for the surface. The more relatable a track is to the average joe's backyard, or dirt lot, the better.
@BrownNeckReviews We need cars that are optimized for that application. (Rear motor)
@@DirtConcept Already have them, they're called vintage RC10s and Optima re releases. Even alot of Tamiya budget buggies are made for that sort of thing.
Indoor high bite carpet/glued clay racing has killed Indoor racing. Make 10th scale great again and go back to watered/lomy dirt!
Long term, I believe a combination of both is the best direction for 1/10 racing. Bottom line: we need more 1/10 tracks, and more tracks that offer entry level competitive classes (2wd buggy). If that means office carpet, or ungroomed dirt, that’s fine. Current cars today are not really designed for dirt tracks, but a class split to include RM buggies would solve that.
@@DirtConcept Totally on board with rear motor class, it's what most kids can use at their local school grassy area. They also look alot cooler IMHO than mid motor cars.
Electric is just boring to watch indoor or outdoor doesn't seem to matter still lame unless you're driving and it's still expensive for the beginner batteries aren't cheap and don't seem to last unless you buy expensive ones
even with everything free and clubbish,its lack of intrest,or nitpicking the details.
You can't fix it. The economy is horrible and the younger people just are not into it. It's just a hobby that's fading away slowly.
I have to disagree. We’ve had record turnouts every year for 4 years straight at my local track. This was driven primarily by new racers. It really boils down to making R/C racing more accessible to newbies. I don’t think we (as an industry) are doing the best that we can on that front.
They will keep going away. This can't be fixed right now. The bashing scene has taken over and it's expensive as hell to race. Only .0000009 people actually race in the rc world. You talk about cheap 😂 it's definitely not cheap.