LBC
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A WINNING ATTITUDEIf you race an R/C car, you probably want to be a winner. A winner doesn't just cross the line first though, he has something more important- a winning attitude. Being a winner requires an understanding of common courtesy and fair play- both on and off the track.
There's no books or articles that describe how to develop such an attitude in R/C. Advice abounds on driving technique and equipment selection, but we're left on our own to figure out how to conduct ourselves at the track. Although each track publishes a set of rules, we must look beyond them to learn the finer points of a winning attitude.
Some of these points may be obvious (don't cheat), but others must be learned (share your secrets with others). It takes constant effort to maintain a winning attitude. Here is a list of ways in which to display a winning attitude (or lack of it) at the track.
On the drivers' rostrum, you focus on one thing- your car. You share that rostrum though, with maybe half a dozen others who are trying to do the same. There are several things you can do to make the race more enjoyable for fellow drivers:
*Wish your opponents good luck before the race and compliment good driving when it's over. Avoid moving around, stomping your feet, or throwing tantrums (sadly, this happens too often). Don't shout or swear; shouting breaks other drivers' concentration and swearing shows a lack of maturity. Besides, this is a family sport. If you can keep noise to a minimum, then all will benefit.
*Try to be tolerant of other drivers' shortcomings, e.g., be patient if a race is delayed by a driver who's late. He/she may be new to R/C racing, or maybe he/she's just having a bad day. Your car's batteries won't dump when it's sitting quietly on the line, and you can use the time to double-check your radio or review your race strategy.
*Don't lean over the rostrum or hold your radio out over it or do anything else that will obstruct someone else's view. Each driver holds his/her radio differently and aerials often point in all directions. Be sure not to let yours hit a driver or his aerial.
*If your car becomes tangled with another car, let off the throttle.
Squeezing the trigger won't untangle you; it will only waste batteries and possibly damage one of the cars. Always let off the throttle when a marshal has your car, otherwise he may be seriously scraped or burned by the spinning tyres. If this happens, he might not be in a hurry to help you next time you need it.
*Don't bump into other cars or try to run them off the track. If you accidentally hit one, apologise to the driver. If your car ends up facing backward or if it's accidentally run off the track, wait for the traffic to clear before you re-enter the race. It won't do any good to rush back into the race if all you're going to do is cause a pile-up!
*Pull over and let faster cars pass. Never zigzag across the track just to prevent a faster car from passing you. It will get around you anyway, and you're just asking for trouble. If you wreck your car, more than one car will pass you.
*The race isn't over until it's over. Even if you're having a bad day, don't leave the rostrum until the finish. If your car is having such serious problems that it's getting in the way of others, pull off the track.
*Don't ever drive the wrong way on a track, even after the event is over. At the end of a race, some drivers like to turn their cars around and drive them back to the rostrum. This is dangerous, because these cars could collide head-on with those that are just crossing the finish line. A head-on can seriously damage your cars, so please, stop well past the finish line and collect your car manually.
Most of the winning attitude is common sense. The winning starts when you consistently apply what you know. I hope you've learned a few things here and that you'll put them to use.
Stan Vandruff.
copyright: Radio Control Car Action. November 1992
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