Clear Rules Create Clear Advantages

RC Car Action - RC Cars & Trucks | Clear Rules Create Clear Advantages

I’m an avid club racer.  Lucky for me, my local track is Hot Rod Hobbies in Saugus, California, and it’s one of the finest club racing facilities anywhere in the state.  At Hot Rods, they average 40+ short-course entries every single Tuesday—on average!—and regularly get as many as 70 SC entries.  So what’s the secret to such a large turnout?  Besides its location in Southern California where R/C is king, Hot Rods maintains a clear list of rules online for its SC classes that everyone knows and understands.  As simple as this may sound, clear no-nonsense rules provide a foundation for club racing to build upon.

I’ve read many forum posts about tracks struggling to get club race entries, and often a track’s only rule is to “run what you brung.”  In other words, run any motor/battery/tire you want. On the surface, this rule may sound welcoming, but something strange happens when there are no rules. In an attempt to include everyone in the fun, a single “open” class can actually run all of the racers away who don’t own the hottest, fastest or most expensive equipment.  No one wants to have their doors blown off on the straightaway.  It takes time to build Spec classes, but over time the racers know that they will be racing against a competitor’s skill, not his wallet.  Separate classes for “Rookie Stock” or 13.5-turn motors helps everyone have more fun, because each racer knows what to expect.  Check out Hot Rods’ Short Course rules here (http://tinyurl.com/34zxbb4) and let me know what you think.  Do you believe your club track has it all figured out?  Comment below and let us know, and help bring club racing back in your area.

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Updated: June 16, 2015 — 9:55 AM
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