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The Father's point of view
All though we have been racing for nine years, the best thing I have found that has helped this family, is that we have done this for so long it has kept us close and together.
Upon doing this mainly on Wednesdays after work, it helps to break up the week. With two kids it got crazy taking both at the same time, because they would argue, so I would only take one per week. Then I would have more time with each of them and not have to listen to them argue with each other.
When having trouble at the track with one of them I would remind them to look around and tell me how many kids were there on a school night. I reminded them the only reason they were there is because of their good grades in school. The next morning when they would complain that they were tired and didn't want to go to school, I would tell them they didn't have to, but only their brother would get to go racing from now on. They would jump out of bed and get dressed right away. We only had that talk a couple times and then nobody said anything anymore about it, but looking at their eyes told you different, but nothing would be said.
Also when going to the big races, everyone usually goes. When you have more time the kids don't argue as much. But even at the series races, it was always better to only let one race per year and let the other do the tech work, yet the wife still does the most of it.
What is nice about the series races, is that it is something that is on the calendar so you have to go, and it gets you to all the other tracks that are further from home that you would not go visit.
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The Mother's point of view:
Hi, this is the Mom speaking, and I think having this hobby is a good thing for the whole family. Even though R/C racing is a fun hobby, it becomes very important in their lives. This racing becomes serious stuff to them and they have their ups and downs, but they have learned to cope with it over the years.
Even though I don't race, I usually go along on the big race events and NORRCA Series races, it's more like an outing with the family. Sometimes grandparents and others come to watch. I do get my hands dirty by helping them when they need me to clean their tires or car, that always makes them smile. Well, I really do it just because! Sometimes I will tech their cars, so they can get their favorite spot on the race stand and be ready to race. I also make sure their feed, that always makes them feel better.
Over the years they have learned a lot about helping each other out and controlling their temper. They have also learned about handling money, when they started getting an allowance. They had to start buying their parts and accessories for their cars, they would win race bucks and that would help them out too. We buy the big items for them for Christmas or Birthdays. This R/C hobby has been a good teaching and learning tool for us all, along with our other hobby, which is dirt bike riding. It has kept us a close family.
When their not at the race track they are usually messing with their cars at home, after their homework and chores are done. Sometimes they will charge up some batteries and then we all go out in the yard and play with the cars. This is a good hobby for the whole family to get involved in, it's something everyone can be a part of and it's fun. I'm glad it's been a part of our family life.
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My younger Son's point of view:
This is the younger son Nick talking about my R/C life. I have been racing since I was a little kid and now I am 14. I used to race an Associated car until I was about 11 years of age then I switched to a Losi. I liked the Losi car a lot more. My dad and my brother are still with Associated.
I like when we go to the Norrca series races, because my whole family comes along to help and to watch our races. I also like series races, because I would never get to go to all those race tracks during the week, because they are to far to drive to. At the end of the last series race you receive a plaque with plates you stick on it when you get home. I won the last series race in sportsman stock buggy, with my dad about 10 points behind me.
When I go racing on a Wednesday night I usually do pretty well, considering how much practice I get. It feels great to win, but when your used to winning and you lose or get close to losing you feel real bad. Sometimes you just have a bad race and you can't do anything about it.
When I was younger I used to have a fit, but that does not help anything. That usually gets you in trouble by your parents. The next day you would think about that and say why did I do that! I try not to take the races to seriously now, but I still don't like to lose. I try not to get so upset. I learned that losing is OK, but winning is even better. I love to R/C race and I'm pretty good at it.
My Dad and I will be racing the NORRCA Off Road Series this year '98! My brother raced it last year and won Sportsman 2W Modified 1st place and Dad won Sportsman 2W Stock 1st place. Now it's my turn to show what I can do! Well, the NORRCA series is over and I got 1st place in Expert Stock and Dad got 4th in Stock Car. It was fun racing with everyone!
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My older Son's point of view:
My name is Chris and I have been racing since I was about 7 years old, about 10 years now. We always went racing at Radio Controlled Hobbies about every Wednesday evening. It gave me something to look forward to every week. Then we started racing at SO CAL R/C RACEWAY, a race track that was close to our house, that was great and we met a lot of nice people there.
I enjoyed spending time with my Dad, it was our hobby that we could work together on our cars and talk. My Dad paid for all the things we needed for our cars until my brother and I started getting an allowance. Now we would have to buy the things we wanted for our cars or save up for. The really expensive stuff we would ask for on our Birthday and Christmas.
My Dad would always pay for our race entries, when we won we could use our race bucks for our parts, motors, and tires. It is a very expensive hobby when you don't have a job! You always want all the trick stuff to make your car go faster. This is a fun hobby for anyone and it doesn't matter how old you are.
I'm 17 now and I haven't raced much lately, because I have a street bike that I like to ride around, but I still go by the R/C tracks to check them out. I'm still interested in the sport and it will always be a hobby that had an impact on me along with our dirt bike hobby. I enjoyed and had fun with it along with my family. I will probably get back into it more, in the future. I'm sure I will be racing a couple big races this year with my family.
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