A MOMENT WITH MIKE: The Beach Bid

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Mike Garrison

0 Nov. 13, 2018, 10:31 a.m.

By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com

A Moment with Mike is a weekly opinion column where LiveRC’s Mike Garrison gives his take on hot-button issues, general topics, and conversations within the RC industry. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of LiveRC.

Yesterday we launched our AMain Hobbies Facebook Auction for the company employees and families that have experienced devastating loss due to the wildfire in Paradise, California and its surrounding areas (CLICK HERE to view or bid). The auction is for five RC4 Pro Transponders, a LiveRC T-Shirt, and a Lifetime Bonus Lap Membership to LiveRC. A few minutes after posting the bidding immediately began with the first bid at $100. Over the next hour or so the high bid climbed up and up to $550. Suddenly a new high bid was placed for $1000. 

The sudden jump from $550 to $1000 was surprising to see, but it wasn’t the amount of the bid that caught my attention…it was the person who had placed the bid that brought a smile to my face.

The bid was placed by Brent Densford, owner of BeachRC. If you aren’t familiar with BeachRC, it is hobby shop, race track, and online store based out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – a competitor of AMain Hobbies from the opposite side of the country. 

This act of kindness from a competing company speaks volumes and is an amazing reminder that despite a few bad seeds, this hobby is truly full of amazing people. 

It is also a great reminder that this is a very small industry and while there are competing tracks, competing hobby shops, and competing racers – we are all a racing family that needs to get along, work together, and stick together while we continue growing R/C to the masses.

This means when there are multiple tracks in one town – GET ALONG and WORK TOGETHER. Don’t schedule events on top of one another, don’t bad mouth the others, and encourage each others racers to visit them all rather than trying to divide and steal the crowd.

When there are multiple hobby shops in one town – GET ALONG and WORK TOGETHER. Run promotions together, recommend customers to one another in areas that your store doesn’t cover, organize fun and friendly competitions, etc.

When there are multiple types of racers in one town – GET ALONG and WORK TOGETHER. If you are newbie don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn. If you are an experienced racer don’t be afraid to share your “secrets” and help others – even when it is your competition. Sharing your secret tire sauce, setup, or line around the backside of the track will help and encourage others – but it doesn’t magically provide them more talent. The better driver will still prevail. 

I asked Brent why he decided to place that bid and he responded by simply saying, “I’m human, and I love our hobby.”

Whether Brent of BeachRC had bid $1 or $1000 is irrelevant to me. The fact that he put “competition” aside to help a fellow competitor and its employees in need is inspiring, and a positive reminder of how great the R/C racing industry can be when we all make an effort to get along and work together.