Moment with Mike: "The Road to Onroad" - Part 1

0 June 14, 2013, 7:21 a.m.

Main Photo: Moment with Mike: "The Road to Onroad" - Part 1

6/17/2013

By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com

Do you remember in high school the drug free program D.A.R.E.? This was a program designed to keep kids from giving in to peer pressure and saying "NO!" to drugs. No matter how many of your friends or cool kids were doing drugs, it was your duty to D.A.R.E to be different and "Just Say NO."

I am proud to say that I successfully completed the program and to this day am a drug-free D.A.R.E. student. While I was able to say, "NO!" to the peer pressures of drugs, I have once again fallen to the peer pressure of R/C racing and have taken on a new adventure.

Once upon a time there was a Mike who had no interest in watching, following, or racing anything but offroad R/C racing. Several months ago, while travelling with my good friend Scotty Ernst, he began telling me about his new Asian Onroad Championship series. He went on to tell me about the Euro Touring Series (ETS), the IIC, and various other onroad events that he takes part in.

He told me about all of the cool kids and places in America, Europe, England, China, Japan, Australia, and various places around the world where onroad racing takes place. Immediately I felt the peer pressure begin to set in, as I began to feel as though I was missing out on something incredible. Upon returning home I began reading up and following along with the Euro Touring Series, the Asian Onroad Championship, and live coverage of the Reedy Touring Car Race of Champions. The excitement continued to build, and I couldn't stand it any longer.

Onroad racing is made up of incredible speeds, surgeon-like precision, lap after lap consistency, and patience. A driver with the ability to drive and these speeds, precisely carve their way around the track, never missing a beat, and staying calm, cool, and collected is capable of being a world class onroad racer. I, on the hand, have the precision of a 2-year old trying to color in the lines, the smooth consistency of extra crunchy peanut butter, and patience of a DMV office worker on a Monday morning.

Despite my lack of necessary characteristics to become a successful onroad racer, with the help of Serpent America, I am getting set to embark on a journey from offroad to onroad, from airtime to aerodynamics, from rhythm sections to rocket speeds. I invite you to follow along in this multi-part "Moment with Mike" series as this is "The Road to Onroad".

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 COMING SOON...

PS> I WILL still be racing offroad too, as I could NEVER give up my big air!