Thanks for a great 2023, year-end standings and looking ahead

This is just a year-end THANK YOU to everyone that has made Redline Derby a stop on their diecast racing journey this year. It was a great year with lots of new faces and discussion about everything in our hobby. Years like this remind me why RLD needs to keep the lights on and give our hobby a little home.

Next year will be Redline Derby's 15th year in operation and standing as the central hub for competitive diecast racing. It's pretty amazing, honestly. That's an eternity in internet years and a good part of me can't believe we've hung on this - more so, that I've hung on this long. I'm a serial idea guy so many of my hobbies come and go but RLD has been a constant, and only because of everyone that keeps this place fun and interesting. I'm just the inn keeper but I'm happy to welcome all inside for a fun, safe place to hang out.

I know I always say that this place needs an update - and it's been true for 5 years - but I'm hoping to finally make good on that goal next year to celebrate 15 years. Y'all deserve it and the hobby deserves it, and I need to get it done so it can stop hanging over my head. I just need to hunker down and get 'er done.

Year-end standings

There were more than 90 races reported for the entire year...that's more than 7 per month! Not all of them were mail-in's but that's a big number that shows our "little" niche hobby is healthy, growing, and ain't going nowhere. 

Given that standings are only calculated from race results that are reported, we have to take the year-end standings with a big grain of salt, BUT it's still something to look back at with pride. That being said...

Most 1st place finishes in 2023...

BlueLine Racing and RLo Racing were tied with 6 gold trophies each for the year. Numbskull, Sam_Haul, Ironbeardcustoms, PuffsRacing account for other top first place finishes.

Most Top 3 finishes in 2023...

Numbskull and Puff Racing tied with 11 podium positions on the year. BlueLine and RLo filled out the top 3 there.

Most Top 5 finishes in 2023...

Numbskull stands alone with 16 finishes in the Top 5. Puff and RLo weren't far behind in the top three spots there.

Speaking of Numbskull, he is now the racer with the most Top 3 finishes and Top 5 finishes of all-time...well, since 2019 when we started tracking. He is also in a 3-way tie for the most 1st place finishes of all-time along with RLo Racing and Mattman213. 

Congratulations to all those above and to everyone that saw some good finishes for the year. There was a ton of racing and lot of competition all over the world, so take pride in your finishes and your builds. It's a grind but that's the fun.

Check out all the standings

The newsletter experiment

This year was also the start of a new RLD Newsletter. It was somewhat of an experiment and I think it's gone really well and I've gotten some great feedback...thanks to everyone that has subscribed and shared their thoughts.

I tried to keep the newsletter going out every other week but after several blasts, I'm sensing that's not sustainable so starting next year I'll be reduced to probably one newsletter per month. But honestly, it just depends if there's enough to justify sending out a letter. Please keep sharing your thoughts and ideas.

What's next?

What does next year hold for Redline Derby? Probably a lot of the same but I really hope to release new tools to help make managing races a little easier and convenient for everyone. Social media is great and all but it doesn't allow for a central spot for reference and discussion regarding the hobby at large, and I think that will continue RLD's role in all of this. 

And if Santa brings me a new track timer this year, there might even be some RLD mail-in races next year...we'll see. I'll need to rebuild my drag strip and dust off my hosting gear, but having a few races throughout the year is certainly in the cards.

Any new products? I don't know about that but you can always order an axle alignment jig from Slanman Customs. It's a handy tool for building your mods and the proceeds go to help keep the lights on here at Redline Derby. I appreciate everyone that has ordered a jig...please know it makes a difference.

Be safe, have fun, happy racing

I do hope everyone has a fun, safe, and happy holidays over the next few weeks with family and friends. And here's hoping everyone finds a few cars in their stocking.

~Brian