R/C Driving and Set-Up Lessons

[James]

What are peoples thoughts about this as a service, from say various people in the top 20? at Nationals And what would be a reasonable fee, for a day/mornings coaching and advice at a track

Just thinking out loud

[Nick Goodall]

Harsh to charge for something like that in all honesty I think you'd feel guilty about it anyway.....

Team drivers in the past have always had a responsibility to help out newbies / youngsters with Set-ups and driving tips where possible so i don't think it is something you could reallllllllllly charge for........ I remember starting there were loads of really helpful people around that did loads for me and my Dad when it comes to set-ups and driving, i think it's a very Natural progression in this sport, and only practise makes perfect.

I think my problem with it is that there's only really SO much you can teach someone as you're only really able to talk about it - doing it is another thing altogether, especially on the driving side of things i don't think there's that much you can teach someone in all honesty.......... i agree you can advise someone to drive smoother, or take better lines here and there but if they've not got enough control of the car already they won't be able to follow instruction you know?

[Team No Idea]

For me, i started racing only last year and to be honest even now i still dont understand set-ups.... i have recieved HUUUGE amounts of help from various drivers over the year and its been fantastic, thanks to everyone!. At first i would drive the car around and then someone would tell me to change something and so i would, but not feel any difference in what the car was doing. However now my driving is getting more consistant (although im still mega slow) im starting to feel the changes that im doing to the car.
I think its a case of driving practice and learning what effect each tuning adjustment should have on the car and then going out and do some experimenting.

But to get back to the question, i would have happily paid someone for the knowledge that has been given to me over the last year. (i only wish i'd written it down, my memory has tea-bag qualities!)

[GRIFF55]

In Mx, top guys charge for a days coaching where you follow them around track and vice versa, track walks etc. It did really help for that. So i see no reason why it wouldn't in this. Agree with nick in some ways, but, i suppose it all comes down to paying for their time and the venues mid week etc. You do have to have some form of natural ability, but help like this does bring you on immensely
I'd pay a pound for a day at rhr james (would you cover travel expenses then??)

[poopers]

Learning to set the cars up could be interesting, but I think it would take more than a morning or afternoon to develop a reasonable understanding of what changes affect what on the cars for most newcomers, if you include driving a bit to get the feel for changes etc.

We used to do something similar at a Karting center. £25 for a morning’s introduction to driving, the various flags, best lines, forms of overtaking followed by a quick race or practice run dependant on how many people attended. Then after that, more specific lessons ranging from understanding different tyres and pressures to geometry settings etc. Each of these would take about 2 hours as driving, understanding and feeling the difference was key.

James, if I were in your position doing something like opening RHR up to practice days, maybe £10/15 per person would be good. And have someone experienced on hand to provide guidance to the newbies and just watch over preceding. I guess you could book appointments to see them for advice, kinda like a genius bar in a mac store.

Anyway, just running a few ideas up the flag pole, see who salutes

[ben]

Not a good idea farmer.... why would people pay for it when they could just ask a helpful team driver for setup/driving tips????

[James]

Originally Posted by Nick Goodall

Harsh to charge for something like that in all honesty I think you'd feel guilty about it anyway.....

Team drivers in the past have always had a responsibility to help out newbies / youngsters with Set-ups and driving tips where possible so i don't think it is something you could reallllllllllly charge for........ I remember starting there were loads of really helpful people around that did loads for me and my Dad when it comes to set-ups and driving, i think it's a very Natural progression in this sport, and only practise makes perfect.

I think my problem with it is that there's only really SO much you can teach someone as you're only really able to talk about it - doing it is another thing altogether, especially on the driving side of things i don't think there's that much you can teach someone in all honesty.......... i agree you can advise someone to drive smoother, or take better lines here and there but if they've not got enough control of the car already they won't be able to follow instruction you know?

Yeh, take that for granted as one of the responsibilities for sponsored drivers

I meant a more 1:1 /1:2 'class' , every other sport does it - football, shooting, horse-riding you name it..

[James]

Originally Posted by ben

Not a good idea farmer.... why would people pay for it when they could just ask a helpful team driver for setup/driving tips????

I know, i give you them all the time

[ben]

Recognised sports.. not plastic toys

[GRIFF55]

I think it would be a popular service as it is with other Hobbies/sports. It's up to individuals if they want to pay it or not.
These PLASTIC TOYS are the equivalent cost, if not more, than some other forms of sport Ben.

[pugboy]

Speaking from the other side, I've been back about a year too and my driving is still fairly rubbish, or consistent but slow, but I reckon the whole point of being sponsored is that in return the drivers promote the manufacturer's products. I run Losi cars and have found the likes of Danny Mc Gee and Rob Fox very helpful, and anyone I've ever approached really (although I'm not the mithering type). In terms of driving I've never had tips but think that you will naturally reach your potential through practice, although there is some technique that could probably be taught, particularly in jumping cars consistently, but again probably as much about practice. You can watch the top drivers lines through multiple obstacles and learn from that too. I know that 20 years ago I was far nearer the pace than now but probably a combination of the driving standards improving and also car set ups becoming more critical IMO.

[ex-sco77morgan]

Ben you could pay someone, to teach you to drink. Without being sick ...!! Lol

[Danny McGee]

its o.k. james, you can just keep asking me. I wont charge you apart from the odd "worksop track build stay-over weekend"

Like everyone has said, if you need help just ask. I know i still do and ive been doing this for too many years

[Nick Goodall]

I do think you're on to something though James, but maybe it would be better for manufacturers / Distributors to organise Team Days where they will be Testing / Practising and invite people along that have a Car or kit made by this company (or imported by the distributor) then maybe charge people £5 or £10 for a day practising - all of which funds go towards the Club they choose to do it at??

I.E if Schumacher decided to have a Team Test day at Kiddy and invited anyone with a Cat SX to come along for some tuition and help with Set-ups they could cap it at 30 invites or whatever, and Kiddy would get a nice £300 or so for letting them use the venue.....

I think the key thing to focus on is encouraging people into the hobby so ploughing money back into the clubs is a good place to start at least......

What about Test days or Beginner days for people to come along and have a go with a RTR RC10 B4 for instance and just pay £5 for it to see if they like racing??

[Rich D]

Originally Posted by smOkin

I know, i give you them all the time

[migsy]

i've being doing RC cars for 12 years now and i'd say personally that setting up and tweaking to your likeing is a learning curb as you progress and gain confidence in the sport.

Why charge people for it?

[Matisse]

the 1:1 ideas sound great, similar to flying on a buddy link when learning to fly a heli.

1:1 time learning racing lines and driving techniques would be somthing i'd pay for.

[niggs98]

track side and online there are normally a willing group of sponsered drivers who will pass on as much info as is required and not charge a penny for it. having organised team test days it is a difficult thing to do as normally the people who need the info are at either end of the country so one way or the other it will involve loads of miles for people to travel. having said this organised test days are a very easy way for drivers to meet a team and get to know them. the info that is passed on (either setup or driving wise)to the helped is normally well recieved and the positive press on the company that organises it is always good, people find it easier to aproach a team member trackside if they have had the oportunity to meet them before hand.

an organised test day would have to be paid for but not to the team just to the club to help promote the sport id agree with an earlier post saying £10 per head. i for one would find it hard to charge for knowledge that was given to me for free by the top boys who were about when i was a beginner