Reflections

This weekend, it was the time of the year when I celebrate my birthday. Normally, it ends up being on a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK, and therefore I’ve often been at some race event, somewhere, making full use of the extra day off. However, this year that wasn’t entirely the case – I had a weekend off from major events and so spent the time with my friends and family. OK, I did make a trip to a club race, but would you really have expected anything else from me?!

That relatively quiet weekend did allow me some time to reflect on the past year and, in particular, my racing. Recently, a few people had also asked me what my plans were with my racing. I don’t think it will come as a surprise to many people that I’ve had a busy year, juggling my own racing activities with race organising, commentary duties, my various RC media commitments and the help and support I (try to) provide to my “team” of drivers – balancing that with my full-time job and my “normal” life away from the RC tracks. That also goes hand-in-hand with the discussions I’ve had with various racers over the last month or so when they ask me what series or events I plan on racing in 2014.

What I have come to realise recently is really the reason why I (and many of my fellow racers too) are actually racing. I don’t really go racing to win – that would be nice, but I also know the limits of my own abilities! I go racing to be able to spend a day or a weekend (or, in the case of our ETS adventures, nearly a week!) having fun with some good friends, enjoying the competition and getting to catch up with people I may not have seen for a while. I’ve been very fortunate to make a number of good friends through racing and it is great to be able to spend time joking around, taking the mickey out of each other, but also helping each other out when someone’s weekend isn’t going as well as it could.

I love the atmosphere our “team” is now able to create in the pits, or in race control if we’re organising an event. We take the racing seriously, but as soon as the car is off the track, it’s back to the hi-jinx, practical jokes and reminding each other how far behind me they are!

Whether I’m at an event now as a racer, an organiser or just to support other racers, the most important thing for me is leaving the event having had a good time. Pretty much all of us do this hobby for fun – and even for those who are fortunate enough to call our sport “work”, I know many agree that the social element of it is what keeps them coming back.

Sadly, too often I see people forgetting perhaps why they are at a race. What we do may be expensive, but, as Barry Baker once perfectly described it – “We’re racing toy cars for plastic bowling trophies”. Maybe worth bearing that in mind if you think you’re taking RC racing that bit too seriously!

Have an opinion on the topics discussed? Leave them in the comments below.

Oli Meggitt is a race organiser, announcer, RC racer and has also been known to stand and talk in front of a camera. Now a columnist for Red RC you can read his thoughts, insights and ramblings fortnightly.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author.