Too Old for RC?

[Bigdawgracer]

Hi,

After my first race meet, back after 20 + years, and having done lots of practice beforehand, I was flat out driving wise but still un-competitive...

So........do you think there is an age limit for racing RC cars competitively??!

I'm thinking eye-sight, co-ordination etc?

Possibly opened a 'can of worms' but interested to hear peoples thoughts.

Thanks!

[chris24jt]

it depends why you are racing? if you want to win at the top level then less likely with age i would guess reaction speed and precision slows a little, if you want to be competitive at club level then no issue to age.

but the question is if you actually enjoy driving round it shouldnt matter if you are competitve or how old you are... if there is no-one else near your speed then you just race against your previous times.

for reference cars are much much easier to drive than 20 years ago, do a few meetings and then see if you can tweak the setup to suit track/driving style.

[dodgydiy]

If you were going flat out you were probably trying too hard!! i never have been that competitive just go out and enjoy my racing.

[Aire valley]

Modern cars are very different from cars of yesteryear.! Back in the day of rear motor cars, and not much grip, you had to slow down, probably roll around corners, and then accelerate smoothly.!
Modern, mid and forward motor cars are a very different beast. Coupled with high grip tracks, a very different driving style is required . Pretty much, flat out everywhere.!😱
This does not come easy to us old school drivers.😂.
That plus declining eyesight and reactions make it very difficult to be "competitive"..!.. I know..😂
The main point, with any hobby, is to enjoy it to the best of your ability.
I have to settle for getting the car around the track as smoothly and consistently as possible and I can still enjoy that.
The days of A finals ( and rear motors) are long gone..! 😉
Enjoy.....

[Bigdawgracer]

Thanks all!

Great words of wisdom there.

I definitely enjoy the driving AND the racing, apologies if it came over as if I didn't!

Have to give it far more time.

Cheers

[brooksy]

I’m (cough) 45 in a couple of weeks and even though it’s taken me a while (9yrs) to get back to somewhere near where I was when I was in my early 20’s I’ve loved every minute of it. I had a 14yr ish break.
At the end of the day it’s all about enjoying the hobby,making new friends and having a good laugh. It’s already been mentioned,the 2wd cars today are a world away from the rear motored cars we used to run. Once you’ve got back into it it’ll come back to you. Just try and get as much racing/practice in as you can

Phill

[Navek668]

I think you are being a bit hard on yourself, practice is fine but need to get back in the swing of racing, practice doesn’t prepare you for avoiding other people, finding the quickest line for your driving style and just getting back into it, get a season under your belt and like the last guy said chase your own times and as long as you are improving each time out then you’ll soon see you are catching people who once flew by, good luck. 👍
Kevan age 43 and a half!!

[Welshy40]

Originally Posted by Bigdawgracer

Hi,

After my first race meet, back after 20 + years, and having done lots of practice beforehand, I was flat out driving wise but still un-competitive...

So........do you think there is an age limit for racing RC cars competitively??!

I'm thinking eye-sight, co-ordination etc?

Possibly opened a 'can of worms' but interested to hear peoples thoughts.

Thanks!

Well I was quite successful in the past, quit for 12 years and was persuaded back into it and admit its easier to work on as no brushed motors to balance and skim, better batteries so 15 minutes a pack compared to 5, so more time on prepping your car, yes you lose a bit but not as much as youd think, it comes back quite quickly and yes youll never get back what you lost but its fun so enjoy as you only live once

[fidspeed]

im 53 now

started early 90's was rubbish when I started im still rubbish so lost none of my ability in 25 years !!!

made an awful lot of good friends over the years

one thought I always carry with me "its only toy cars " and no matter how bad my day is going its better than trawling the garden centre with the other half !!!

dave

[mrspeedy]

I'm also 53 and probably as competitive now as I ever was !! (3rd overall in this years club championship) so not too shabby

I've seen quick guys leave the hobby and come back after a few years expecting to jump back in where they left off ... it doesn't happen !! But over time they usually get a lot of their pace back .. but the older you are the longer it seems to take ..

and I think with age you tend to approach your racing in a slightly different way too ... more brains than balls out ... use what you have to your advantage

but most of all enjoy it !!

Big up the oldies !!

[claymoreman]

no ones too old I took a 20 year break and came back. The biggest shock was all the new goodies getting to grips with being able to tune a speedo to your style along with the rest of the car and its fun for me. I only race club level and I race at a club that has a motor limit class and since we introduced it i have started to improve my times finally catching the faster guys in the class too and we have fun and to me thats what a hobby should be

[Suzukitudor]

I am 44 and returned to club racing after a 20 yr break a couple of years ago.

What shocked me was the speed and traction of the new breed of 2wd Mid Motor Monsters.

I was hard on myself for being at the back as I used to regularly A final when I was a spotty teenager. But the game has moved on so much with batteries that don't dump, better, faster, high grip cars racing on consistent astro. Its basically you are learning all over again.

A fellow clubbie at the time said to me some wise words- Its like golf Alex, you can buy all the kit you want, but ultimately it takes a couple of years racing to get to a decent level, and above all loads of practice.

After 2 years I am now starting to win B finals and actually starting to race 'proper' instead of being a trundling track blocker being lapped by all. I have made some great friends and regardless of how you do, its an evening of total escapism playing with expensive toys.

Have fun and above all don't become an angry man at the track.

Also revel in the fact as a older gent we are now more financially empowered than we were as kids, just don't be tempted to whack in an ever faster motor! Its getting round without crashing every lap and smooth lines FTW!

Oh if you can, use a wheel transmitter. I was a die hard old git stick merchant, but forcing myself to swop to a wheel was the best thing I ever did.

And 4wd sucks. Stick to 2wd far more fun ;-)

[Benji]

Originally Posted by fidspeed

one thought I always carry with me "its only toy cars " and no matter how bad my day is going its better than trawling the garden centre with the other half !!!

Can I print that out and bring it with me on Friday

[fidspeed]

Probably not

[Big paul]

I did not start in rc till I was 45, I'm 64 tomorrow, still crap but absolutely enjoy the thrill.

[Sean123]

Never , you are only as old as you feel!

[Clive Loynes]

What you really need is someone to race against.

I have enjoyed the last few years locked in a no-holds-barred struggle with my younger brother. It didn't matter how many were in the field just so long as I beat him!

I'm 67 and you lot don't know what old is! Nobody has mentioned arthritis yet! I think I will have to stop when the arthritis in my thumbs stops me putting the tyres on the rims! ;-)

So you are nowhere near old enough to give in yet. Just live for the day when you improve in each round of quallifying and manage not to strangle the nine year old who has T-boned you after you just lapped him in the F Final!

Perhaps the BRCA should stop pandering to the young and introduce V60 and V70 categories.