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April 12, 2013, 10:31 a.m.
4/15/2013
By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com
Sometimes whether it be R/C, motocross, and/or any other form of racing we get overwhelmed with the stresses and frustrations of trying to win. We push ourselves to the breaking point trying to go as fast as the next guy. It's no longer about having fun, but instead winning...winning...winning.
At a recent race I found myself sitting in seventh overall with one round of qualifying left to go. The top six make the A-main, and I had one final shot at making it. As the tone sounded, I sat on my platform eyes glaring at my truck and in total concentration to not make a mistake. The race continues and I am on a great run with only small mistakes here and there. Just when I get on pace for an A-main run, I am SLAMMED head on from a truck going the wrong way. Immediately my blood boils and my frustration sky rockets. Now chasing a fast time, I enter "blow-out" mode, pushing so hard that I make mistake after mistake with only minutes left to finish.
Suddenly out of the corner of my eye a little boy, probably four...maybe five years old, appears next to me on my driving platform. As the laps continue he scoots closer and closer until he finally picks up my left arm (while I'm driving), and moves it over so he can share my wheelchair armrest with me. I try to focus, but I continue crashing more and more.
The little boy bursts out in giggles and says to me, "Hey mister! You sure do crash a lot!"
I don't respond as I'm still in the zone of trying to make the A-main.
I crash again and he once again bursts out in laughter pointing and saying, "BOOM BOOM!" With every jump that I hit he yells, "WEEEEEE! Come on BOOM BOOM crash!! CRASH!!"
While the most serious racer in me wanted to block out the kid and race on, I couldn't help but start laughing and smile at his commentary and sound effects.
The race finished up and he turned to me asking for high-five and said, "Man oh man! That was FUN, huh BOOM BOOM?"
At that very moment the fact that I had put on a C-main run, and blown all chances of making the A-main were gone. Most of the time I would be just as frustrated as anyone with kids and spectators hovering on the drivers stand, but THIS time I couldn't be happier that kid joined me to finish out the race. Sometimes it's not always about making the top six, or winning the A-main. Sometimes it's about having fun, and enjoying the time you have to drive your R/C car. Sure winning is fun, but thanks to a four year old, I was reminded that whether we are winning or losing, driving an R/C car is fun. Not everyone in the world has the opportunity to be involved in a hobby and community as great as R/C racing.
Next time when you're on that A-main run and make a dumb mistake, sit back and remember R/C IS fun, and unless you want a nickname like "BOOM BOOM" from a four year old...don't blow out, HAVE FUN, and drive on!
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