Paying it forward- in real life, the RC way!

[tadium54]

Hey gang,

I jopt back fropm school a few days ago and tonight went to see my neigbor beacuse I needed a scroll saw for my guitar. He did't have one, but i started talking with him and his son(stephen), whos about 11 or 12 I think, came in after being at a grand opening of an on-road track. I didn't even know there was a track, but then again, I haven't been here for a while. So the son comes in with a body(stratus), and a shoebox in hand- I open up the box, and its a close to brand new Tamiya TB Evo 3(worlds edition i think) with some decent tools and spare parts. His sister (who I work with) has a boyfriend and his brother races nationally(don't know the name), and just decided to give him the car and stuff. It also had a GM esc. I asked him if he wanted some more stuff, so stephen and I walk back to my place and I hoook him up with stuff I don't need anymore. I gave him 2 motors, a battery, 4 sets of tires, some decals, reading info, and allen wrenches.
I hope this gives him a good start and hopefully we can bash one day lol.

Thought I'd just share this in hopes that the next time a youngn comes up to ya in need of spares or something, that you consider it- we were all there once before!

Any stories like this or am I the only one??

[RCMadMatt]

I gave my nephews my Losi Pro SE buggy and a XXX buggy to get them started. Of course, I bought them a charger and batteries to help out. They love the cars. Plus, they get to bash with me when I see them!! :)

Matt

[djgrom]

there is no point in hogging stuff you dont really need anymore, plus people pass on favors

[cheerwhiner]

agreed. I am letting a guy borrow a nice ta04 and every part i have for it. I might end up letting him keep it, it was just sitting around. If I have a car at the track in my real car and it is in running condition and there is a class for it (but I'm just not racing that day) I ALWAYS offer to let anybody I know run it. Just not some guy I just met, but anybody that I know will take care of it.

Just sucks when they beat you with the car you chose to race :rolleyes: lol

[Lougabe]

I was a sponsored racer a long time ago (local sponsor small time). One of the things I had to do was help all of the other racers when they need it. Anyways this kid and his father would be at the track every week. Everyone could tell that they didn’t have much money and some of us did what we could to help. I think that I spent more time wrenching his car than mine. The kid couldn’t drive all that good but I was sure that it was more of his car being held together by band-aids than driving ability. The father was very appreciative every time I would help out. Truth be told I like working on RC cars so it was no big for me. Well at the end of the racing season at the last race I let the kid drive my car in one heat and he won it. He was glowing the whole walk back to me. His farther was ecstatic. The kid gave me my car back and said thank you and had tears in his eyes. Understand that this kid lost like every race. After the last race of the season was run that day I walked over to the kid and gave him my car, electronics and all. Needless to say it was an emotional moment and one that I have not forgotten some 13 years later. I think I got more out of it that the kid. The next season they were back and he finished 5th in the point series. I finished 3rd.

[tadium54]

Wow. now thats a good story

[Lougabe]

Thanks to go on to the season after that he was beating me. I see the kid from time to time of course he is an adult now. He has a son of his own and he is teaching him about RC. He also said that he has never forgotten that day either. What I didn't know was that his brother was in a gang and was trying to recruit him. RC and his father is what kept him out. He said that he was getting frustrated with RC because of getting pounded every Friday night but when he got my car he knew he was going to stick to it. He father has since died but I am sure he would be proud of his son and how he turned out. His brother by the way got shot and died in the summer of 1990. Funny how life is. My wife says to this day that we enter some ones life for a reason. I always chalked it up to an overly sensitive woman thing. Of course I will never admit it to her. I still have to live with her.

[tadium54]

lol, well played. life does throw curve balls at you though

[TRF Drive Hard]

I was a sponsored racer a long time ago (local sponsor small time). One of the things I had to do was help all of the other racers when they need it. Anyways this kid and his father would be at the track every week. Everyone could tell that they didn’t have much money and some of us did what we could to help. I think that I spent more time wrenching his car than mine. The kid couldn’t drive all that good but I was sure that it was more of his car being held together by band-aids than driving ability. The father was very appreciative every time I would help out. Truth be told I like working on RC cars so it was no big for me. Well at the end of the racing season at the last race I let the kid drive my car in one heat and he won it. He was glowing the whole walk back to me. His farther was ecstatic. The kid gave me my car back and said thank you and had tears in his eyes. Understand that this kid lost like every race. After the last race of the season was run that day I walked over to the kid and gave him my car, electronics and all. Needless to say it was an emotional moment and one that I have not forgotten some 13 years later. I think I got more out of it that the kid. The next season they were back and he finished 5th in the point series. I finished 3rd.

Thats a fantastic story man. ;)

[evaderstracr]

nice story and that was very generous of you :)

[djgrom]

its always stories like that, the remind me there is still good left in the world

[Lougabe]

Thank you, I still race to this day. I do OK but I still have a ball every time I go. I am not sponsored anymore but I still help anyone who needs it. I tell all of the newbies to remember one thing this is supposed fun. Back then I didn't spend much on the car the sponsor did but I knew it would mean a lot more to the kid than me. I had more. When word got out what I had did the store owner wanted to drop me because he didn't make any money on it and I just gave it away. What was funny is that a lot of peolpe (more than normal) started to come to the store and ask for me. I worked there part time. So the owner did even more bussiness. RC has brought many people in my life. Some still some just go their own way. Of all of the constants in my life RC has always been there for me. I am just an averge guy making an average pay just like eveyone else. I just treat people like I would like to be treated always have always will. My 15 year old son is driving now and when he doesn't see me looking I see him helping out other racers with their set ups. I think to my self "the cats in the cradle" life.... for me.... is good.

[powerstroke01]

Great stuffs!!

It seems like im always helping a newbie out by either giving them stuff or helping them fix something, ect.. I like the fealing. And plus i know that someday if i need something they will be there..

[NitroBoy24]

Definitely some spirit-lifting stories in this therad :cool:

I got a 12 year old kid in my neighborhood into rc and have easily spent more time wrenching on his E-Rusty then he has. But, it all helps in the learning process and it's a good feeling to see him grin from ear to ear when he launches it off his skateboard ramp.

[nitro15]

i help a kid down the street get his car going i took parts off mine for his