Why no organized off-road Racing?

[naossoan]

As the topic says, why isn't there an organized offroad racing club in Victoria? Is it due to lack of a track? We could always use the BMX track but it's not by any means a good race track..more like a bashing/good way to break parts track ( I broke my engine mount yesterday ).


But is that the main reason why? Lack of land to make a viable track? What if we all show enough interest and BC Shaver helps us out somehow?

If there's no organized race group. I NEED someone to bash my Savage with. The only person I know that has one is my cousin but he lives in Chemainus and has a newborn chiled and a 2 yr old and hardly has time to play anymore.

If ANYONE wants to go bashing CALL ME (pm for phone number) and we can cross-check schedules and stuff like that and go bashing sometimes!!!

If I don't find someone to bash with I'm gonna be parting out my savage real quick and buyin an 18 scale and an on-road car (other than the RS4 Rally I have on the way) to join the on-road club - even though onroad is not really that fun. At least to me anyways.

[cyrrus]

The Main reason,  is as you mentioned before.  there is no land to use.  I pretty much doubt that Garnett would help out. in purchase of a pc of land.  The old bmx track might be a good location.    If you went through the History.  Irocc Was an off road club before.  

I know a few guys that have tried to get an off road track going.  That was it.  you you really want to race your savage.  they do race them in Vancouver.

The speed and how accurate you have to drive does make on road much more fun.  if you do sell your savage.  try on road a try.  I wouldn't bother with the 18th scale and get a 12 pan car that way you can also race during the winter months.  I do have a 10 scale electic t4.  but it now a shelve queen.  You should come check us out.  We won't be in Colwood this weekend,  Were going to be racing in Saanichton at the Centenial park.  come and ask questions.  

I hope this helps.

[Blake]

Yep, definitely give onroad a try.  Many years ago I raced offroad only, and I felt that I wouldn't like onroad.  After Thomas pressured me into it I bought my first onroad car and then I realized it's just as much fun as offroad.

All forms of R/C racing are fun, but it's WAY more fun when there's a great group of people that you can share it with.

From an IROCC perspective, this is why we currently do not operate an offroad track in Victoria:  We lost our offroad track in the mid 90's when the owners of the land had other ideas.  We relocated to Duncan through the generousity of one of our members but this didn't work as it was too far from Victoria.  A couple of years later (2000 ish) the onroad R/C scene went through an unprecedented boost with the advent of the touring car.  IROCC followed the trend, and here we are today.

Other organizations have attempted to build a permanent offroad facility in Victoria in the past.  It's a huge task though, and unless you have a LOT of motivated people it's a tall order.  Due to its nature, building and maintaining an offroad track is MUCH more difficult than a temporary onroad setup such as ours.

Anyway, hope to see come out to a Sunday raceday or a Tuesday practice night soon!


Blake

[BigDawg]

people think they wont like onroad! and well if your just playin around in a parking lot you probably wouldnt like it ,but when you actually try some organized racing onroad is sooooo much better!i have an lst and its fun but not nearly as much fun as a 710 on the track!

[Grinder]

I've got quite a few off road vehicles (and no time at the present seems to be the trend...)  Bashing is a blast but it is nothing compared to organized racing.  It would be cool to have an organized off road group and if there were enough motivated peo the old BMX track would be an excelent location but I fear that will soon be gone...

Since there is no organized off road your very best bet is to check out the on road scene here in Victoria.  We have a very large and friendly club here - I wouldn't be surprised if it was the largest club in Canada.  The only one I can find that is similar is Fast Cats in Tdot as far as membership goes.  The equipment and track is very good.  We switch it up every week to keep things interesting and keep the learning curve up.  Its a blast and you can race all year long with plenty of competition at the level you are at even as your skill increases.  Come check it out!

[naossoan]

Well, I do have a Dynamite Vision Ultra peak charger on the way and some 3000 mah nimh's to start me off (good deal on ebay for 100US  shipped )

I'm also considering buying a used RS4 Rally off a guy cause I used to have one years ago and they're sweet, but I can imagine there's no way they will keep up with a racing engineered sedan car.

I will definitely be at the races this Sunday. That's out in Saanichton right? I think I know where it is. Kind of by where they have that Saanich fair I think.

So there's an indoor track for 1/12 pan cars but not for the 1/10 sedans?

[dajracer]

Centennial Park on Wallace Drive, in the Lacrosse Box behind all the baseball diamonds.

[Grinder]

Trust me its nice to have the change from pan to TC and vice versa... altought if I had my choice it would be summer all year long and we would run TC and Pan outside ;)

[naossoan]

Well after todays races I'm not entirely convinced I'll like it. After talking to some of the racers it seems awfully expensive to race all the time, and I have a pretty limited budget.

For those of you who don't know who I am (which most of you don't) I was the guy with the GAMER shirt standing over by the BC Shaver and Hobbies sign.

I'll try and find more people to use my truck with. But great racing out there everyone!

[Blake]

It's like anything; some upfront cost and then reasonable ongoing costs.  This would be true of any R/C class.

A used onroad car, motor, ESC, servo, a couple of batteries, and a charger would likely cost you as little as $300.  Coupled with your existing radio system, you'd be set to hit the track.  Weekly race fees are $5 per class and you might have spend another $30-$35 on tires near the mid-season point.  Not bad for some pretty fun entertainment.

Of course there will be people that will spend 10x this amount but most of that is wasted.  Depending on who you talked to yesterday, you'll get a different story of what's required.  The great thing about IROCC is that we're unlike most R/C clubs in that most of us are there for the fun and we don't carry the win-at-all-costs attitude.


Blake

[Shawn68z]

http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/3561147&category=rc-models

[gearhead]

Yep, definitely give onroad a try.  Many years ago I raced offroad only, and I felt that I wouldn't like onroad.  After Thomas pressured me into it I bought my first onroad car and then I realized it's just as much fun as offroad.

All forms of R/C racing are fun, but it's WAY more fun when there's a great group of people that you can share it with.


Blake

I started with offroad vehicles as well, had three or four before my first onroad car. I also thought onroad wouldnt be as fun, but it is and more..
We still have a couple offroads that we bash with, quite a few of the guys do. But, there is nothing like sunday raceday excitement, competition, and comraderie(sp?).
Richard

[Shawn68z]

RC racing isnt cheap, but its not near as expensive as other hobbies. Just take a look at golf, spend $550-1000 on clubs, then you have to spend cash on club fees, green fees, drinking fee's   , it adds up fast.

Its my first year running, I originally started racing with $400 worth of gear. That included my car (Team TC4 kit), spare parts, FM radio system, 3 battery packs (3300's), ESC, acouple of bodies, 2 motors.   When I showed up for the first race Cody was kind enough to loan me some tires to run!

When it comes to a "racing budget" you have to be realistic about the money you spend vs your skill level.  The biggest thing slowing down my cars is the driver right now, so I dont waste my money on the IB4200 cells, I personally couldnt use the power they have, so I use Elite 3600 cells, which are half the money.  I have also been using the same set of Sorex 32R tires upto this last weekend.  I have purchased all my motors (3 of them) for the touring car off of Ebay for less then $8 each, and I compare hobby shop prices to make sure when I am buying something I am getting the best possible price for it.

The club also does "Club Purchases" for tires, batteries, and motors, which allow us all to save alot of money through out the year, most of the time for almost _HALF_ of the retail value.

The only way you will know for sure that you will like racing with IROCC is to try it out. I took the plunge, and I havnt looked back, its been way to much fun.

Shawn.

[Blake]

Yeah, Shawn is a fine example of a newcomer with the right attitude towards unnecessary spending.  Unless you can get around the track without touching a single dot, hose, or having to be corner marshaled at all, all the 4200s, tuned motors, dynos, chargers, tire warmers, and sponsor T-Shirts aren't going to help in the least.  Shawn qualified and finished solidly in the C-Main this weekend - an impressive feat given the tight competition and his rookie status.

Mediocre equipment, and tight driving should be able to get you in the B-Main.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Shawn pull this off before the summer is out... no pressure Shawn!


Blake

[Shawn68z]

Thanks for the kind words Blake.  B Main ? I remember being in the B-main  on Saturday that just passed!  



Shawn.