RC Heroes

[frogger]

Oxford defines a hero as 'a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength' I don't know all of the top drivers personally but with all due respect I don't class a guy playing with toy cars all his life and then wins some races in that definition. I spent 5 years in the military and met some heroes there.

[Neil Skull]

Mr Frogger you are of course correct they are not real heros. The Boys and Girls in Service should not be compared to boys with toys.

But as a child i guess the correct word could be idol? these guys was someone they only ever saw in magazines or heard about in stories by people behind model shop counters.

I recently met Joel Johnson and Yuchi Kanai and many others at the Kyosho Masters they are real nice people all you would hope from those guys you idolised for many years.
A few i have met are a bit arrogant but perhaps that is what makes them winners! Its the nice ones that make the difference in the hobby for me.

[jim76]

Originally Posted by Neil Skull

Its the nice ones that make the difference in the hobby for me.

bang on.

[Ben Turner]

Wes Myles is my hero

Seriously though for me its gotta be Spashett, can remember seeing him on the covers of all the mags when I was young after him winning the triple in the on road worlds in 98', arguably one of the talents of the rc world, whilst also being a damn nice bloke and serious professional

[DCM]

Well, got to admit, always been a Tamiya nut, so when I got the chance to go to the Tanaplan GP, and seens a certain Mr Booth racing Tamiya's, it was awesome.

Don't really have any hero's, but thought it was awesome watching those top guys racing at Basildon at the Worlds.

[Gnarly Old Dog]

For me I guess it was Jamie Booth - back in the 80s he was just awesome.
Watching a certain Mr Stafford grow old (I was going to say grow up but he hasn't done that yet ) and seeing him progress from National K finals (Chingford circa 1987) to National A's and International titles has given me a lot of satisfaction.
Sadly, my own National prowess has correspondingly gone the other way - which has not...

Anyone who reaches a certain level and is elevated onto a pedestal by their peers but who doesn't forget where they came from and who still has the time and inclination to help the young and less experienced gets my respect.

Those who become arrogant by their 'success' do not.

[wezzer]

Steve "old Dog" Haynes, Mr Drescher, David Bailey , Jamie Booth

[Captain-Codpiece-The-2nd]

At wbmcc we are lucky enough to be graced with the presence of Ant Molyneux, who is not only an rc legend, but a true inspiration for ginger people everywhere.
________
VAPOLUTION VAPORIZER

[reg]

my wife is a GINGA and she worships the ground Ant Molyneux walks on,she has even trying to grown a chin strap beard she loves him that much

[spenner]

So many RC people that i admire and all for different reason's.....

Drescher - Was a joy to watch him, so smooth and precise made off road look effortless!!
Mitcham - Took on the Predator when Moore left and was always at the sharp end.
Stafford - One of the nicest people i have ever met, and when he is on it.... damn he is quick!!
Cragg - What more can you say, First british off road World champ... and a great guy to boot.
Lewis - Otherwise known as Showtime... This man is awesome, how many people do you know can race leaning on something.
Rasey - The dirt master!!! Nuff said.
Lee - Rocky for short, one of the best people i know for setting up a car...

The list could go on and on .....

[Nick Goodall]

There are too many that come to mind but i think the main ones were....

Craig D
Kevin Moore
Ellis Stafford
Ben Sturnham
Rory Cull
Jamie Booth
Dave Duggan
Karl Marsden
William Mitchum
Jukka Steenari
Andy Shaw

All guys that i looked up to a lot and thought they were amazing to watch...

Rory was just about packed up as i started but i got to see him race at the 1995 Reedy Invitational meeting at Marston's, that was cool also with the attendance of Mr Ruona, Mark Francis and a load of European racers.

Craig was always a bit of a legend though, i was so excited seeing him race for the first time, Radio Race Car at Cheltenham in 1995 when the RC10 B2 had just come out, think they bought them back from the Worlds in Japan - he was doing rather poorly all day so i was a bit gutted, then last round of qualifying it chucked it down and Craig somehow managed to put it in the A - That made me smile and showed true class i thought having struggled all day in the dry!

[Welshy40]

Originally Posted by jim76

Mr Moore by any chance? I rememebr when he came down to the Herne Bay club when he first had a Pred. It sounded like a bag of spanners going round, but Damn was it quick!!
He was the first "National A Finalist" driver i ever met.

Theres a club in herne bay? Pm me the details

yup meeting the big guns was great fun. Three were tops with me, Masami and Mannie Pannesar (team mate as well), Bob Gammon. Also cant forget Jon Tucker, Jon Leonard and Craig Harris as they all had a part in helping me to catch them up. I agree some didnt meet up to the standards as per the mags but the majority were much better, especially the night before after a few beers.

[Rebelrc]

Herne Bay shut years ago, but Faversham club is only a few minutes away from there

[ashleyb4]

In my racing CV ive put my most respected drivers as: Phil Sleigh, Nathan Ralls, Craig Harris. Think ide have to add tricky and doughty junior and senior to that list really.

A

[David Church]

My hero is Jonsey!!!!! Team Orange!!!!

[GRIFF55]

Three were tops with me, Masami and Mannie Pannesar (team mate as well), Bob Gammon. Also cant forget Jon Tucker, Jon Leonard and Craig Harris

THATS SIX!

Jonsey is the nuts, or is that he is nuts!!! GO ORANGE!!

[David Church]

Funny you like orange things!!!

[GRIFF55]

you seen my old l200!!

[AntH]

Originally Posted by KRob

Is that because of Stiles...? Ha Ha

Anyway, there's a chap that's just come back to racing at EPR after a near 20 year break was my hero when I was a youngster (he knows who he is!). Bit embarassing now telling him that...

My first ever big race meeting was a BRCA 2wd national at my local track in 1989.
I bought an RC10 in a shoe box for £20 so I could race.
Was in the bottom final and popped a steering ball joint - Jamie Booth fixed it and I even won the final Still have the trophy somewhere...
Don't think I spoke to him on the day, wish I had but I make up for it with the grief I give him now - top bloke.

That must be Andy Langdon then, if its the same one I remember. I remember watching him with his Yok Dogfighter at Medway...super accurate. I must have been about 11...so it was a long time ago. Always did wonder why he ran it with ride height = zero though. Wonder if he still does that haha! Am I right?

[David Church]

Andy is still kicking ass at EPR!!!! Well mine at least, haha