THE MOO MINUTE: What made Silver State so great?

0 May 21, 2018, 8:58 a.m.

Main Photo: THE MOO MINUTE: What made Silver State so great?

By Jeremy Moser
LiveRC.com

The Moo Minute is a bi-weekly opinion column where guest contributor Jeremy Moser 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.

Originally it was my intent to only introduce this new feature for the first week, however with so much going on in the industry that so many of us love, I find myself drawn to speak on a topic or two.

For those who do not know about the name, let me take a minute to explain. The Moo Minute was a name given to a VLogcast that I regularly produce and host, and felt it only appropriate to carry on the name in this written format. I have been blessed up to this point to have amassed a modest following of viewers and it is my hope that them and many more new readers will join in the fun and enjoy what I have to share.

SO sit back, relax and enjoy a little bit of RC thought and opinion! By all means this is not alway going to be the popular opinion, but it is just that at the end of the day.

Silver State 2018, hosted at the South Side Hotel and Casino,and produced by The Dirt. For all intent and purposes, one of the best events I have personally had the pleasure of attending. Food, drink, entertainment, friends and some of the best racing I have had the honor to witness in several years.

My question for today is simple, why was the racing so good? What was different about this event? Some might argue that the casino as a venue allowed for a more relaxed atmosphere. I would most certainly agree that it was very nice to have an assortment of places to choose from to eat when the day was done, as well while we were racing, and there was ample opportunity for everyone to relax, have a drink and chat with long time friends from all over the globe. However, I would argue that it was the dirt. Yep thats what I said, the dirt!

It felt to me as if Joey C. and Aaron were trying to present something the industry has not seen in some great amount of time. Real off-road racing. For too long now I think our industry has been suffering from a lack of racing. All too often, at most major events, one driver gets out in the groove of the high bite, blue grooved track and they are gone. No real excitment, no real challenge for that lucky driver who gets away clean and can hold it together. This though was something different. Loose, gritty, rutted out and ever-changing throughout the week. Off -Road!

Off-Road the way it used to be. The kind of off-road that allows two pros to go at each other for 45 solid minutes and never have a chance to let up, not for even a minute. The track was an unforgiving mistress and no driver was safe, and I think they all knew it. One mistake, one bad turn and you could go from first to last and were unlikely to recover from it. The best in the world made sure everyone knew they hold that title for a reason.

So where does this leave us? Are we going to see a resurgence of a more old school type of track? More traditionally what most would call off-road? It most certainly is my hope for the future. Where tuning and ability plays more of a role in your finish than the choice of your tire. Could we ever even hope for such a wonderful thing as a return to our racing roots? Say goodbye to hard park, blue groove, character lacking tracks? Is this the beginning of a new/old era in the industry of R/C racing? Only time will tell.

Join me here in 2 weeks for the next installment of The Moo Minute.

Share: