Hey rookies, what'd you learn this year?
Were you new to competitive diecast racing and/or RLD this year?
Did you build/mod your first race car? Enter your first race? Build your first track?
What did you learn during your first year in the hobby?
We're always looking forward to the next car, next race, next track, so it's good to look back and our journeys, especially when you're new(ish) to the fun. It can be pretty amazing when you take stock of what you've learned and managed to accomplish in just one year.
Discussion
Just got started in the last few weeks...haven't raced yet. 1st one is Christmas Eve.
Question? - Do most racers request their cars be mailed back? I feel if it is a good car getting it back is probably a good call for future race submissions. Also....I'm new to building cars...if it is a bad car with my (basic at the moment) logo on it....I can see not wanting it to remain at a track and be the "lame duck" in future events. ? Wondering if the Mail back request is just being burdensome on the host?
Garth Vander Shift - Dutch Clutch Racing
- Getting cars returned is up to you. Many do get them back if for nothing more than to harvest them for parts. Unless it was a car I really liked, I often just let them keep it to save on shipping. — redlinederby
If we learn by our mistakes, I learned a lot this year and I haven't even raced yet.
I've trashed numerous cars learning to drill out rivets. I've sanded the wheels and polished the axles of cars that seem to run slower when I finished. I bought a small fleet of cars before I started to learn what to look for in a car, wheel donors. I assumed all the 24" pieces of orange track were actually 24" and it really messed with me why my lanes were uneven. I've bought three or four Adventure Force tracks sets just for the wide track. I really messed up a bunch of the interior pieces cutting out the seats. Oh yeah, PAINTING!
I'm hoping to have my first cars ready soon. Then all I'll need is a track.
I learned a whole bunch of what not to do...
I learned it takes a little more than popping and swapping wheels...
I learned you can't polish too much...
I learned way more than I ever wanted to know about pins...
AND...
I learned that this is an enjoyable although somewhat frustrating hobby... looks deceptively easy but there is a lot of depth and detail to be mastered before you can be competitive let alone challenge for wins or even final rounds.
Looking forward to getting better next year!
Hope you all have a great holiday season!
FredD
- Fred, your last lesson learned resonates with me. When I host, I have the luxury of watching each car, admiring the design efforts, and picking up clues on what works. When I race it's more waiting and stressing over something I can't control. BTW, did you change your racing name to Stoopid Fish? — GravityThrottleRacing
- I did... I still have a few F'D racing cars out there, but new ones are generally stoopid fish... — Stoopid_Fish_Racing
- Hosting races is a great way to learn. I was always taking notes when I hosted races and tried my best to incorporate those...never quite got it but they were good lessons. — redlinederby
How to build a car that has the speed of a brick. But, I'm getting better.
Marking a full year since I've joined, I have really learned many techniques behind making a fast car. Even though I have yet to produce any winners. Within due time I will rise up the ranks. Yet I still have great fun entering these races regardless and I look forward to what the 2024 season will bring.
I think I opened up my first car in July or August and that race hasn't happened yet, but I have entered several since then. I can tell you that I learn a ton before the race even starts. I've done so many cars since that first one and it's funny to me that I'm still waiting to see that one perform. I'm afraid it is going to be embarrassing. I used 5 different cars to build that one...lol. But it's a really fun hobby. I think the biggest thing I've learned is there's a fine line between running respectable laps and actually challenging for wins. I feel like I can build a decent car now that will make laps, but I'm nowhere near winning yet. Also, I haven't asked for any back yet, just because I don't feel like they're worth the return postage. I use relatively inexpensive materials to build them, so it wouldn't make much sense to pay to ship them out and back again. I really enjoy working on them and then seeing how they compete.
- My thought on my recent first cars was that yeah, while not very good, I wanted them back to see where the issues are and wether or not I have learned anything more enough to make them better... and I really want my first one to put on my display stand. — Stoopid_Fish_Racing
- most of my rookie cars will get a "parking garage" spot — dr_dodge
my year was a hoot! so thrilling for me!
mainly what I learned after a year,
what a great bunch of folk's y'all are!
I enjoy, and will continue doing my outragous builds even if they suck
seeing the cars run has gotten my wife hooked watching
but, more than else, what great fun!!
see ya on the track
(hard to believe I've been here a year)
dr
As a rookie (3 events so far, all in the last few weeks) I'm still learning about weight placement, and how to get a good axle/wheel pairing. The curve is steep, but fun! I've been pretty happy with how my cars have run overall and watching them race definitely taught me where I can improve. The goal for 2024 is to make it past the first round! Podiums can come later.....