X11, who, what where and how !

[ben]

Well said doughty. Good luck team extreme drivers.

[Wraggy]

Just remember those who have jumped onto Chris’s response and thanked him , we live in a society were people have an opinion and are allowed to express it either verbally or in a written sense .
That’s why these forum’s exist and are here to create a discussion, so don’t be offended when negative things are written or spoken.

P.s
yes I do also agree with Chris on some of what he says , just to clarify .

[Lee]

I knew you would


Give dan 20 mins and he might agree too

[Cooper]

In my eyes a company has benefits by sponsering 2 kinds of drivers

1) top drivers, every 4wd company wants them, and look how many 4wd cars there are... Most of them do their job great and support the car. But you don't see them alot on the internet.

2) enthousiastic, social drivers who attend many race meetings and who support the car maybe more than a A-driver (on the internet and on the track). Their minus side is that they aren't top drivers and don't know as much about racing/setups as A-drivers do.

of course there are variations, there are A-drivers who know 'nothing' about setups but drive like a god and there are people who are technically good but don't drive very good.


So what team Xtreme has done is go for option 2, give people a 'trade' sponsership, and let them race their car, support it, help other people, learn about predators and their specific setups. etc etc
If that specific driver progresses well he will still be sponsered the year after and might get a bigger contract. If the driver doesn't support his product he won't have his contract the next season.

[Nick Goodall]

I think to be fair everyone's got a valid point to a degree - the original posted of this was just saying that he feels a bit "unsure" at paying full RRP for a car when potentially all the young lads at his club could be "sponsored" as it's put when he has had to go out and pay full price....

I think basically due to them asking people to write in and apply for sponsorship it can come across as a little Jim'll fix it or something - and maybe seems *(to some)* that all these people with "sponsorship" may not fully deserve it (again this is aimed at nobody in particular as i don't know any of the lads running the cars) - just saying how it may seem to new people on here that are thinking of going for an X11.

The point i was trying to make is that i think it's a clever way of getting people to run the car that may not have otherwise if they hadn't been offered "sponsorship" - nothing bad about that at all, as i'm all for the X11 doing well and i still love the cars - i'm just saying that i remember as a youngster it was all about getting sponsored so as the opportunity came up to get a supported drive with someone i think a lot of people have jumped at the chance as it's really exciting for them. Not saying they don't deserve it personally, just that a trade drive is a no risk situation for a manufacturer whereas Schumacher, Losi and Associated back in the day had A Team (All Free) and B Team (50% off) - That's just the way i think of a sponsored drive being.

Hope that doesn't come across as patronising at all, i'm just trying to explain how i think others have seen it and that basically i can understand where people are coming from.

Good luck all anyway, would be good to see it take off and start getting in those A finals again.

[XTREME RC]

I think Cooper has understood the idea, well done!!

In my opinion all those who have been offered a drive have deserved it. I am pleased so far with the decision I've made regarding drivers.

Yanina

[Lee]

I agree Nick 100%, Personally having been sposored in the past (on-road) i really wouldn`t tie myself to a certain car/manufacture/package for less than a 50% deal, a trade drive for me has no benefits. It is just like you say marketing to get people to drive the cars and get them seen at clubs throughout the uk. I have nothing against this in anyway but how many will we see in the nationals?

[Southwell]

Originally Posted by Lee

I agree Nick 100%, Personally having been sposored in the past (on-road) i really wouldn`t tie myself to a certain car/manufacture/package for less than a 50% deal,

That was me exactly, a trade drive wasn't enough for me as i like to be involved in a team and testing new bits etc, o well
Good luck to all in the coming year.

Ian

[Wraggy]

Originally Posted by Cooper

1) top drivers, every 4wd company wants them, and look how many 4wd cars there are... Most of them do their job great and support the car. But you don't see them alot on the internet.

i disagree with that, you see most A team drivers on here.
and will all offer advice on here if you ask them ..

[footey]

think he ment the actul companies wraggy not the drivers

[DCM]

I have always told people, some deals cost you more money than if you weren't sponsored, but it is up to them in the end. It all depends what you want.

Some people just enjoy knowing they are part of something, but as you been in the game a while, you feel you want to be more than just a discount driver.

[Chrislong]

Nah I read it as drivers too like Paul did, and there are a couple we never see in any forum or make themselves easily available to all, but the majority of team drivers (at any level) do grace the forums and are available any time of the week for any question. The ones who aren't are doing nothing wrong, perhaps they work shifts, perhaps they don't have internet, but they do offer plenty when at the track.

[Tom3012]

I totally agree with cooper, and i think what team extreme have opted to do is a very good thing for racing!

I think by offering people a "b" team drive they are showing that its not all about wining races and thats its more about drivers progressing and giving them the confidence to do so.

The opportunity for a team drive was open to anyone who wanted to apply, those that didnt apply cannot be contacted in with regards to a drive so whats the problem?

I am a huge predator fan, and am really gutted i myself cant take up the "b" team opportunity, im not an amazing driver but to be offered such a position was simply an honour.

I was also reliably informed that as a "b" team driver you will get the chance to try new parts for the car, and also input your own ideas..

So basically, in my eyes, good luck team extreme and all your new drivers, hope you have a successful season, may the predator live on for many years to come

[andys]

Originally Posted by Nick Goodall

I think to be fair everyone's got a valid point to a degree - the original posted of this was just saying that he feels a bit "unsure" at paying full RRP for a car when potentially all the young lads at his club could be "sponsored" as it's put when he has had to go out and pay full price....

Cheers Nick, you've got it bang on there fella. I'm still none the wiser as to what's actually happened with the Pred and it's old & new drivers. I do really fancy a Pred X11, In a moment of madness I bought a B44, with all the required bits, but it's still in it's unopened box, as I feel I should have gone for the X11, having driven the X10. Then I see Northy's jumped ship, some other drivers i've never met have apparently left, and now newer, or less experienced drivers in my region are getting them in some sponsored capacity. Good luck to them by the way, i'm sure they will enjoy their cars, but I'd feel like a chump attending a regional and being the only person there running a Pred who's paid for it in full !

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Tom3012

The opportunity for a team drive was open to anyone who wanted to apply, those that didnt apply cannot be contacted in with regards to a drive so whats the problem?

Did anyone get knocked back for a drive

[Southwell]

Originally Posted by andys

Cheers Nick, you've got it bang on there fella. I'm still none the wiser as to what's actually happened with the Pred and it's old & new drivers. I do really fancy a Pred X11, In a moment of madness I bought a B44, with all the required bits, but it's still in it's unopened box, as I feel I should have gone for the X11, having driven the X10. Then I see Northy's jumped ship, some other drivers i've never met have apparently left, and now newer, or less experienced drivers in my region are getting them in some sponsored capacity !

I'd feel like a chump attending a regional and being the only person there running a Pred who's paid for it in full !

I wouldn't say G 'jumped ship' he has been driving preds for years and obviously just wanted to try something new. There are plenty of people, me included who have driven preds and can help with anything you need.

[XTREME RC]

Northy did not jump ship, he had been with the Pred for years and wanted a change. We understand that, why can't everyone else?

Also what 'newer' drivers have already left?

Tom also has it bang on.

[Garry Driffill]

The thing is Andy alot of the "B-Team" trade drivers have taken this on for a solid full year. Yes a trade drive does include some discount and its not like they have got the car "Cheap" instead of youreself looking at the kit at RRP price. There is more to it as you can understand than just getting it at a cheaper rate, but id like to steer clear of this trade drive discusion becasue its starting to look like a few people have sent e-mails to get cheap kits, This isnt the case at all, and im not saying that you are saying this, But would like to steer away from that.

Now Northy and other "Senior" drivers may have mooved on for there reasons and may not be there to give you the support they did, Doesnt mean that us other lads with these cars may not be able to help you. Yes if you dont have a part at track side and we are there come see us and im sure we will be more than happy to help you out in anyway we can im sure.

With you running the car previously you will have some understanding of how things work and what set-ups work for you, Now as you are more than aware there are a good few things changed with Xtremes new X11 towards the X10 but these parts are there to help you be faster and aid more tunability. Not diggin or having a go in anyway andy mate , just trying to offer my 2 cents on This discusion.

Like the other lads have said we are in this to learn alot and for our racing to grow through-out this year bouncing ideas of each other on the car.

Garry

[andys]

Originally Posted by XTREME RC

Northy did not jump ship, he had been with the Pred for years and wanted a change. We understand that, why can't everyone else?

Crikey, it's only a 'turn of phrase' I didn't mean he'd betrayed you or anything sinister like that

Anyway, i'm still undecided what to do for the best. I'm only an occasional racer, and will be very 'occasional' for a while yet. I appreciate all the info and opinions, I trust people in the know, or in the 'loop' or sponsored in any capacity understand how frustrating these things can be for the 'self-funding' driver, I think it's very easy to comment sometimes when your not in the same boat. For most club drivers cost (of anything..)is a major limiting factor, something which is often overlooked my many in our hobby.

P.S. Good luck to everyone running the car, in whatever capacity !

[Northy]

I've tried to keep out of this, but I feel I must say something now.

Yanina is correct, I didn't "jump ship" (and I also know Andys well enough that he probably didn't mean that as harsh as it sounds). I had been driving a Pred for 9 or 10 years (so long I can't exactly remember how long!). I felt it was time for a change, but let me tell you, it was not an easy decision!

I hadn't know Lewis or Yanina very long, but they did everything within thier power to help me at a very difficult time for themselves (taking on a new business, moving shop premises, moving home etc..). They are a small company, with that come some negatives, there are not as many people to get things done sometimes, but with it come lots of positives too!

Running the Pred you will learn sooooo much, give it time, don't fall out with it in the early days, but more importantly learn its strengths on the track and use them. No car is 100% on every part of every track.

I am really enjoying running my new 4wd, and I am back to the point of learning new things again! It's great, I just need more track time (better get it now before the baby comes! ).

I wish the best of luck to all the new Xtreme drivers and to Lewis and Yanina - as they did to me when I told them I had decided to change my ride.

I think enough is enough guys.

G

(You can pop the cheque in the post in the morning Yanina )