How can we make R/C more popular?

[tadium54]

How can we? I think the manufacterurs need to make some TV commercials and air them. I saw an add this morning on tv for the Tyco Speed Wrench. Kids are getting these for one reason I can see: one and only one option for an R/C. No options equals more and more tycos and nikkos breaking, etc. So how can we make this great sport/hobby really take off and fly?
lmk
tadium54

[JP]

Thats why I started a thread called "How did you get started in RC." Maybe we should work on those ways.

[timesheet]

Every hobby shop in Five different metro areas (New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, St. Louis, Memphis) that I have been in has had a guy working there that either tells every customer that they can only REALLY enjoy R/C if they are racing, or basically ignores the customer upon finding out that they do not race. This is very disheartening to the beginner, who I have seen walking out of shops with sad looks on their faces. I guess the message here is : HEY RACING ELITIST HOBBY SHOP GUY! SHUT UP AND SELL THEM THE RTR MODEL THEY CAME IN FOR!!!!!!!! If you were wondering, yes this happened to me several years ago, and delayed my entrance into this wonderful hobby of ours. Bitter? Of course I'm bitter! http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

[SteveP]

Timesheet - no need to be bitter, just have fun. It's one of the traps some hobby shops fall in to when they hire experienced enthusiasts to work at the shop. They have the experience to help with most of the problems the average customer will encounter, but there are a few that live to race, and it shows in the advice given to customers. Overall, I think it's better that they're experienced. I'd rather have an opinionated counterperson than one that's never seen the inside of a motor.

[timesheet]

OK, I'm calm now. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/cool.gif It's not that I don't appreciate racing, I've attended a few and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I just have no interest in doing it myself. My interest in R/C involves answering questions such as: can I jump my nitro Stampede onto my neighbors roof? Can I put my RS4MT into orbit? Will my 16 year old Grasshopper run more than 20 minutes on a tamiya hump pack? Where is my Tamiya hump pack? Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I ran the old 'hopper. I love this hobby!!!! http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[SrSpeedy]

Get more chicks at your track. The racers will come from far and wide.

Worked for us.

[atm92484]

Originally posted by SrSpeedy:
Get more chicks at your track. The racers will come from far and wide.

Worked for us.


lol

If more companies made inexpensive cars that were of decent quality that would help a lot. I've had 2 friends get into RC cars but then they both sold their cars because they were too expensive to maintain.

[tadium54]

keep em coming guys( i don't race, but still)

ps
steve, if you have the link that has a title like"what can we do folks?"

[XXXER]

haven't you guys ever heard of the Biff Racing Team?........

BRT#527

[doskit210]

In my experince i have found that lots of people think about it but most are turned off by price. If most manufactures would turn some of their attention from the racer to the beginner and produce more lower cost models it would help.

Yes I know budget cars are out there but more is better.

Also I dont think its just the workers at the hobby shop that are snobs. Just because they got their car from wally's or radio hut we should not look down at them. They also enjoy our hobby, but at a differnt level. we all should take time and talk to them like equals not idiots.

One more thing I belive Traxxas is already doing somthing about bringing newcomers to the hobby. With their drive before you by program, low cost RTRs, and good coustomer service.
Thats all from my soap box.

[viper bill]

we need to make this sport more visable i.e.
more parking lot races in malls,at car shows,
communities events , ect... this will show the public how much fun and exciting it is to race r/c cars and we need a "spec class with stricter rules to level the field
ie spec moters and batteries and cars (i run a bolink sprinter )keeps the cost down
http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[VR6CJ]

First thing is to eliminate all the crybabies at the tracks.

[VR6CJ]

YEAH! Chics and ***** ! http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

http://www.rcracing.com/Norrca2000_Day3/images/MVC-784x.jpg

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=845871&a=6148361&p=30462534&Sequence=0

[James]

LOL VR6... That picture wasn't taken at Delta was it? Looks kinda familiar...

[rcjohnnymaxx]

nice pics man!

I got a question how tight should the wheel nuts be on my new E-MAXX? Any advice would be sweet

[TUCRACEMAN]

Wow, cool pics. Yeah James, that does look like Delta. Okay, but anywho. This is for all of you in High School. On day one of my teacher was playing with a RC car and I asked him some questions and told him that I would have to bring mine in. So after he saw mine he got really into it. That was at the end of my sophemore year and in just the past two month we have been driveing our cars in the school's patios to attract attention. We now have 15 members and still growing. The school has givein us a corner of the land to build a track and we are in the process of getting $270 to fence it in. Another amazing part is that we have three members that are girls.
So don't be scared to drive your cars at school. For every person who says that it's stupid or *** one person will say, "**** man, that's awesome."

[XXXER]

MAN! that would be soooo cool! I tell people all the time, ohh, ya, i race little cars, it is a BLAST! some look at me funny, and some even say...oh, really? i have seen those before, they are cool, do not be ashamed to whip out your RCCA in reading and look at the cool stuff..........

[stormperson]

i am planning on getting my friends together and starting up a quasi racing leage, with point and everything, however most of the races are going to be held at elementry schools to gain attention, it was funny my friend brought his nitro ruslter to a elementry school 30 kids gather around him and asked if they could drive, i figure at least half of the kids will prioritize their money on buying a good rc.

however, little kids are very good drivers, they grow up on video games. what could be better training for coorination and that stuff. and once they get the working on the car part down (they already play with legos and that stuff) then who knows, we could be getting alot more great drivers.

but ya, hold races and show off your cars in public places, you will defently get a few people into the hobby that way.

[LatexMantus]

I think one problem is the lack of stores available in certain areas. I live in a city that is about 300,000 people large, and we have zero shops that seriously carry r/c products. You can find some Tamiya stuff, but no serious raciing stuff and nothing new. But it is easy to find stuff for model railroading. That is a problem.

[bdmiller]

I agree LatexMantus, I have the same problem. There are no good hobby shops where I'm from. And I live in a medium sized city (Reading, about 50 miles from Philly). There are a few small ones but they sell items from all hobbies (trains, planes etc.) I'm trying to find a good hobby shop that specializes in rc cars. An impossible task.

[stormperson]

what are the two reason you go to a LHS,

advice

and to buy stuff

well, with the internet you can get advice, like right now, and you can also get parts for CHEAPER, and they are more of them.

and alot more people have access to the internet now, so that means that they dont need a LHS, except for racing, however i am sure that if there are enough people with cars, then a LHS and track will open up.

[Redfrick]

I agree with Stormperson, I just got into the hobby and now I only buy from the net. While there are a few shops in my area most of them don't seem to ever have what I'm looking for and the service is bad.

I actually went into a shop last week to buy a 2400mah battery and the kid working there wouldn't sell me the pack I wanted because he was sponsored by a rival company. I had to ask for the manager just to buy what I came in for!! Unbelievable. I know we should support our local stores but how can we when we walk in there and are looked down on because we don't drive a certain car or don't know as much as they do?

The first step in advancing anything is to support newbies and kill the elitism that is rampant in hobby shops. (at least the hobby shops in my area)

[Redfrick]

I agree with Stormperson, I just got into the hobby and now I only buy from the net. While there are a few shops in my area most of them don't seem to ever have what I'm looking for and the service is bad.

I actually went into a shop last week to buy a 2400mah battery and the kid working there wouldn't sell me the pack I wanted because he was sponsored by a rival company. I had to ask for the manager just to buy what I came in for!! Unbelievable. I know we should support our local stores but how can we when we walk in there and are looked down on because we don't drive a certain car or don't know as much as they do?

The first step in advancing anything is to support newbies and kill the elitism that is rampant in hobby shops. (at least the hobby shops in my area)

[Redfrick]

I agree with Stormperson, I just got into the hobby and now I only buy from the net. While there are a few shops in my area most of them don't seem to ever have what I'm looking for and the service is bad.

I actually went into a shop last week to buy a 2400mah battery and the kid working there wouldn't sell me the pack I wanted because he was sponsored by a rival company. I had to ask for the manager just to buy what I came in for!! Unbelievable. I know we should support our local stores but how can we when we walk in there and are looked down on because we don't drive a certain car or don't know as much as they do?

The first step in advancing anything is to support newbies and kill the elitism that is rampant in hobby shops. (at least the hobby shops in my area)

[Grant Tokumi]

LHS are vital to the survival of the hobby. The internet is a double edged sword. On one hand, more people can get exposure and help with the hobby without the LHS. On the otherhand, big mail order shops like Towerhobbies dominate the market and drive out mom&pop LHS who are trying to make a living. The mail order companies are the Walmarts of RC. And less LHS means less exposure to the public, less popularity of the hobby. If you want to help the cause, support the locals. But if they degrade you and look down on you for not "racing", I would go elsewhere too.

[Oyster]

Grant Tokumi,

I have to disagree with some of your points. I think the momandpop's best learn how to make a living doing something else. The internet is teaching the business world one thing that needed to be taught a long time ago. It's time to evolve! The internet has given a LOT of freedom back to the only people that business cares about. The consumer. We get better prices, can shop whenever we see fit, find our own information that is usually more accurate than the info you receive from a LHS. Granted, there are a few hobby shops out there that can give good info without fear of losing a sale. But, I've been reemed by a few hobby shops, so enough is enough.

Mom and Pop stores have to figure something out when it's in their face. They need to move on and find something else to do with the hobby. If selling cars and trucks aren't bringing in money, maybe speed shops, tracks, and services are the way to go. You could stay busy running a track, with a shop on hand for replacement parts and mods. Even a place to assemble kits for beginners. If they don't have room to build a track, anyone can ask parking lot owners for space.

I'm not putting anyone, or any shop down by my opinions. But, the time is past for the people of this hobby to see where the money is. It's certainly not in selling kits at retail prices.

If I bought everything I want at a LHS, I'd be speding well over 2000 bucks. 2000 dollars for something I can get for 700 online? I don't think so.

As far as the internet hurting the hobby, that's bogus. I've been in this hobby since the first RC-10 was released. When the webpages started popping up for the hobby, the fans grew in numbers. I even got live updates from the last IFMAR worlds race, online. That's RC on a new level, and I like it!

This year, if things work out for the web server(s), we'll all be able to WATCH the IFMAR Worlds live from South Africa! If right after the race Tower Hobbies makes a million in sales because of the race, so be it. The RC technology and Internet technology are working hand in hand.

- Jon

[BigCatDaddy-Outlaw]

I agree with you guys on showing off in public places. I saw something really cool early this morning, I was watching Bluetorch TV on Fox Sports Net(was waiting for the EPL soccer highlites show http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif )and they showed some guys putting on a MX jumping exhibition in front of like town hall or something in this city(not sure where,missed that part). Anyways there was like thousands of people standing around just going nuts. So I figure if we could run demonstrations in high traffic areas, that maybe we could pick up a few more people along the way.

My second thing is make it more afford able to get decent stuff. I mean the part that kills most people is the start up cost. I mean to get a RTR rustler, batteries, and a decent charger(not timed)we are talking almost 300 bux at my LHS. Where I live, most of the people are in the military, or are just simple middle class folks, and don't have the kida cash to drop that much at a time. If we could make it where you could get out of the store for say 200, and have something nice, then I think alot more folks would join in on the fun.

another thing, and last LOL, is the guy that works the counter at the LHS. They need to get off their high horses and treat the customers with some courtsey and love, not like they are ignorant. I'm lucky, one of the guys that works at my LHS happens to be a buddy of mines dad, so he shoots it to me straight.

Sorry for being so long winded today. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/eek.gif http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

[Racer2racer]

what would really help this sport is more commercials, tv programs(that would be so kool, id have to taks a tv to work:P) Also, if hobby shops would dedicate one of there top selling cars as a "****** pig" for people to come in and burn a tank of gas, or drain a battery.

[Grant Tokumi]

I am fortunate enough to have GREAT local hobby stores in my area. And I guess thats why I lean to support them. Hobbytown and Hobby People keep the prices of the mom&pops in check, but the one mom&pop store that I frequent is the only one with the indorr offroad track. And i agree with "I think the momandpop's best learn how to make a living doing something else." because you can tell that owning a hobby store does not bring in the bacon. Which means they WOULD be making a better living owning a gas station. but hobby stores being driven out is not a good thing for our hobby, and thats why I try to support the mom&pops if they are sincere, don't rip people off, etc. I consider an extra $20 for my new $150 CV-R engine worth it to give them business. But if you indeed would of spent $2000 for $700 worth of stuff, then your LHS's almost 300% markup deserves boycott.

The LHS is an important part of bringing the local crowd together and keeping them informed. And if they own the only indoor track, well, I'm going to make EXTRA effort to be sure they stick around. With no LHS around, you'll have a hobby without a home. You won't have places to quickly buy spare parts without the LHS. If you spring that last e-clip into never never land or break an arm, you'll have to wait for mail order.

I agree with you that the internet probably has helped make the hobby grow with forums like these, more information to the public, and your live race coverage (I haven't tried those live race coverage things). And I do feel its the "improved design and user friendliness" of the kits nowadays that keep people interested. Example: RTRs, more reliable engines, kit parts actually fit correctly, cars that actually hold together under normal use. I also have been in this hobby when the RC10 first came out, my Tamiya Frog had some major flaws by todays standards. Diff bevel gears stripping every other run. Tie rods bending everytime you hit a rock. Front arm hinge pin hole not large enough, so drilling then to proper diameter was required. While some frown upon RTRs because the user won't learn about their car, I think its great for the beginner who just wants to taste the hobby without getting into the nitty gritty, or having surprise expenses like "I didn't know I needed to buy a pinion gear?", and thats an important part of making RC more popular (the actual subject of this thread http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif).