[moped rider]

Lotus03 has asked a very good question elsewhere. I have said that I catagorise myself as a home racer as I do not go to clubs on a regular basis.

Now a question for all the home racers out there.

Do you ever see a time when you would visit a club on a regular basis or are you content with your home racing lifestyle?

What would it take to encourage you to go to a club on a regular basis?

Is it that clubs are too far away and open at the wrong time?

What if there was a club less than 10 minutes drive away? Would you go each week then?

Or does it need to be within walking distance?

Are club rules the thing that put you off, and all the fiddling that you have to do to prepare a club race car?

Or is it the regular costs of club membership?

Or is it the basic environment that many clubs appear to have with little in the way of fascilities? (bar, lounge, TV, birds, that sort of thing)

Or is it that you hate being forced to take your turn at marshalling?

Or all the waiting and hanging around for your go on the track?

Basically, if you do not go to a club now, what is the criteria that you would set from your perspective to have a positive attitude to joining and visiting a club regularly?

Distance, cost, time, right rules, environment, hanging around....

...what is it?

Unless we know things are not going to change!

Moped

 

[a Bill]

Do you ever see a time when you would visit a club on a regular basis or are you content with your home racing lifestyle?

I am currently content but I will be required to appear at local tracks (two or three hour drive). Some of us don't get options. I won't be a regular though.

What would it take to encourage you to go to a club on a regular basis?

Sponsors

Is it that clubs are too far away and open at the wrong time?

That and a few other things

What if there was a club less than 10 minutes drive away? Would you go each week then?

Depends on the track, power and the people

Or does it need to be within walking distance?

Nothing around here is within walking distance

Are club rules the thing that put you off, and all the fiddling that you have to do to prepare a club race car?

Club rules don't apply to me anyway. I run by stricter rules. In the local HO scene there were the club rules and then there were the Bill Rules. I expect the same with 1/32nd cars.

Or is it the regular costs of club membership?

This is usually low anyway and they supply the snacks so I can't complain there.

Or is it the basic environment that many clubs appear to have with little in the way of fascilities?

All I expect are a good track, clean power and decent atmospheric conditions. I bring anything I need.

Or is it that you hate being forced to take your turn at marshalling?

I rather enjoy marshalling. You get to see the cars and the track. You can learn where others lose ground and compensate when you're up.

Or all the waiting and hanging around for your go on the track?

No matter how much time I have it isn't enough. I spend a LOT of time working on other peoples cars. I also socialize a little or jump back in and marshall for someone else. People always have to tell me when it's my turn to race again.

If you want a goober like myself at your track you need to have a good track, good clean power, good visibility, temperature controlled enviroment, seating, rest rooms and snacks. Noise kept low, races kicked off on time and run smoothly. No cussing or yelling, no hissy fits. Little kids should be restrained but should also get a shot at playing with the toy cars too. Tables to work on cars is nice too, along with good lighting.

When I play with my toy cars publically I fully expect to have to set my stuff aside to work on other peoples stuff. This doesn't bother me at all, even if one of my own cars is broken I'll work on someone elses to make sure they get a shot at competing. I do this for a few different reasons. One of which is my ego. I know perfectly well I'll stomp you on the track so I should at least give you a chance

I also hope that by setting a decent example that you will help others too. My primary reason for racing toy cars is to spend time with my friends. The toys are secondary.

I'm a typaholic today.

 

[Maltese]

HA hA!! I am a home racer at the moment.

I love cars and the model car racing hobby but have only visited a twice in my entire life.

Strangely enough, I do not thrill at the 1/24 wing thingies and doubt if I would be interested in even watching. I visited a club in Washington and looked in through the window as it was closed. I saw dirty, old carpet, pink tires, Flexi-this and flexi-that, very dark decor with old wood paneling from the 70s...Again it was closed.

I visited another track in Oregon. Again peering through the windows as the place was just about to close. And you guessed it: 1/24 winged wizzy things. Decor was decent, though.

I am confused by what fits on what out there as there are so many components.

I would imagine waiting your turn would be terrible.

If some spot was open for lunch with regular rounds lasting Xminutes with like vehicles that would be great...kind of like my going to the go cart track to rent the buggies at $14 for 12 minutes.

I don't want to HAVE to join a particular club to have fun. I'd like to be able to sign up for stuff and pay as I go as long as I met the entry requirements. I don't want somebody calling me necessarily.

Also, if there were others whom I knew well who had the same interest (like a bunch of guys getting together for a basketball pickup game vs. your buddies) that would be good.

If the place was neat and clean (clean bathroom) and I didn't have to drive more than 15 minutes to get there that would be cool.

-Maltese

 

[LMP]

The walking distance question is silly.

Anyone with their own equipment (which surely everyone here has) wouldn't want to haul it around on foot.

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I know you said 'home racers only' but I here are my opinions.

I want to race at clubs for competition.

To go regularly I would have to enjoy myself.

A club for me would have to be within a 40 minute car jourrney at open at times I can get a lift there (weekends). If it werent for the very kind Goeff (geebee) then I'd be doomed to the saturday morning free-for-all.

Rules are rules, a new member isn't going to change them. I suppose I wouldn't join the club if it had rules I was uncomfortable with. That said, I'd give them a go a few times to see if they were actually allright. I think anyone should give something a go at least once.

I never thought about the cost of membership when 'on trial' at Phoenix, so I can't answer this question. It just didnt enter my head.

I guess the club would have to be pretty good. Not just some 4 lane track in a shed with no scenery and stuff. Thats just me though. If your going to pay, then you may aswell pay for stuff you dont get everyday at home. Also for me a club would need a loo and have snacksor be near a newsagents.

Marshallings part of the game. No club could run without marshalling (unless it was crash and burn) so I'd be prepared to do my fair share. In hindsight, marshalling at phoenix has helped me learn the track a lot better, its much different when your close to it compared to when your on the rostrum.

If the atmoshphere is enjoyable then waiting isn't a problem. Theres always people to talk to, cars to prepare and marshalling to be done.

 

[McLaren]

Carlsberg don't make Slot Car Clubs...

But if they did, they'd probably be the best in the world...

If a slot car club was anything like any of the Carlsberg adverts, I'd travel hours to get there...

Again, I'm a club racer... but I remember when I was just a wee home racer....

Beer and birds would have done it for me...

Lotus

PS. WTF is the Heineken advert then?

 

[FZR1000Exup]

Are you sure it wasn't Carlsberg, Lotus??

 

[Intergrali]

what makes me go to wrexham?

well for starters I travel half an hour there, yes I know a couple travel anything upto an hour.
It's cheap, the track is good, the racing is competitive and excitable, we have a laugh and because were a small club everyone has to marshal so everyone does their fair share. If you car needs fixing we'll let you fix it but marshalling duties have to be retained.

I know we havnt got the best premises in the world and you do have to come prepared food wise but the atmosphere is great and so are the people.

Inte

 

[compound_goose]

the compitition, rather then racing alone all the time, i went club racing for the 1st time this friday and thoroughlhy (cant spell, sorry) if youve never been club racing before, go!!!!! i came 2nd to last in GT3 but i did do 3 heats on 3 wheels so.... came last in GT but it was a borrowed car, i diddent know how to drive it....
same with GT3 but everyone had the same car

everyone should at least try club racing