[Xracer]

There are many instances in all competitive activities were shear hard work and determination have created winners, the true lasting champions though do not have to work as hard to achieve success.

Ronnie Peterson was a winner as soon as he took to a race track and what a sad loss he was, so early in what would have been a glittering career!
Most of the motor racing greats were too but Nigel Mansell was a talented grafter who demonstrated that shear hard work and determination can succeed once he got himself into a decent car through his hard graft!

Usain Bolt, a truly natural champion no doubt about that one, assuming he is clean of course!!! Mike Gatlin mmm I wonder?
The only trouble with athletic sport champions we never know if they have resorted to 'cheating' sadly and the recent disclosures on the suppressed blood analysis results of recent and past Olympic competitors and champions only stirs this distasteful mire!

Andy Murray a very talented grafter who wins but Novak Djokovic a true natural champion as was Federer, Sampras et al!

When it comes to our hobby though, I have witnessed and raced against many talented drivers some of whom have achieved success but the 'true' lasting champions are limited, Andy Griffiths is certainly one of those of recent years along with David Spashett etc and I apologise for not listing the others of the 'few'!

It is only when you attend a national or international event of any model car category that you witness the great, the good and the rest, true God given talent shines through!

As for me, lower half of the rest, with patches of past moderate lower finals success but that is OK for me and in my senior years, just fun with hopefully some glimpse of success!!!

For you youngsters, go for it, you never know, you may be a budding great but you will soon find out and it won't take 10,000 hours, your first national will give you a clue!