to stay... or not to stay

[ElectricChicken]

I'm thinking about leaving the hobby, and this is why.

A couple of years ago, (I was about 14) I was obsessed with rc. I read about it all the time, that was all I wanted to do. I did everything I could to get enough money to buy a car. I finally got an evader st. It was reasonable priced and good quality. I had to buy it online, because there was no hobby shop or track where I live. I wasn't able to buy nice equiptment because i didn't have a job or anything. So the truck remained bone stock. I bought a 50$ dollar duratrax charger, and a few sport packs. I had fun with it, but I had nobody to race with. My friends were either uninterested or they were too lazy to save any money to buy a car. The closest track was a 2 hour drive, and since my parents wouldn't take me to race, I built my own track. It was in the woods behind my house. It was pretty nice and fairly large. It had doubles, whoops, and everything. I even had my own driver's stand, which was about 5 feet high. I would drive on it a lot, but it was so hard to maintain by myself, plus I kept getting poison ivy because it was all around my track :eek: I bought a stock motor for my truck but after about 10 runs the performance would drop dramatically. I would clean the motor and change brushes regularly, but I didn't have a lathe, and there was no hobby shop nearby so I couldn't get them to do it. That was frustrating me and I wasn't about to shell out the money to buy a lathe. Then my charger kept false peaking. Then I completely fried it. I was just getting fed up with the whole thing :mad: . I was tired of putting money into it and not getting much out of it. So, I took a break from it for a while. It put it in my closet and it still sits there collecting dust. Its been sitting there for almost a year now.
About a month ago I was playing in a state soccer tournament, I'm very good and I love playing :D. Anyway.. me and my friends were at the hotel just hangin out. I could here a buzzing sound, and we saw some type of track in the distance. I figured it was a go kart track or something. We all decided to go check it out. So we jumped over the fence and went over there. To my surprise it was an rc track and they were dirt oval racing. I was so amazed because I had never seen anyone else with an rc car, I had never been to an actual race. I know it sounds silly but I had been reading about this stuff for years but have never actually seen it, it was really cool! All of my friends were in shock, they thought it was pretty awesome. And they were amazed to know that I knew everything about it. It was a great experience; and it made me start thinking about rc again. It made me want to get my evader out of the closet and put it back in good running condition, but I have a lot of other things I want to be putting my money into, like buying a full size car... hehe. Anyway, I just wanted to know what you guys think I should do. If I leave rc, it won't be for good, it will just be until I get more time and money, and an rc scene started where I live.
EC :cool:

[broncobill]

It sounds like you have more important things in your life right now. School, soccer, and getting a car. Cars are pretty expensive to maintain. So are girls. I'm sure those are there too. Keep your priorities straight. R/C will always be there. My two nitro trucks (GT & MGT) are only a small part of my life. But a part non-the-less. Family and work are one, two in my life. When I have the time, I bash. Sometimes alone, sometimes with a friend. But there is only one person that can really answer your question, and thats you. LIfe's short. Keep your goals and priorities straight, but have fun along the way. ;)

[tnxfan]

Cars are pretty expensive to maintain. So are girls.

hahah lol :D so true

i would not sell your truck. just give it a good clean and save your money for whatever you need and when you are interested in rc again, you will still have your truck

[ElectricChicken]

thanks for your comments, they really helped :)

[MurcielagoR-GT]

Definitely save for a real car! I am 17 and have to pay for my car, insurance and gas. Expect to pay about $3,000 a year in insurance. :eek: If you have a job figure in how much you are making. Factor in the price of the car you want, insurance, gas ( I have to buy higher octane for my Corvette:eek: ). If you have any money left over, go ahead and spend it. Wait a month, and if you still want to get back into the sport, go for it! This will help decide if you really want to drive again.

[Figit090]

I have had similar problems;

When i got my T-maxx, it was all i wanted to do, then i bought the thing and it was one of the best presents that i had gotten (even though i payed for most of it myself) and i was so excited when i opened it. Then i took it out with my dad to my local school parking lot, broke it in, and then after that it seemed to be all downhill..now finally it's starting to go back up again :D. I had such a hard time tuning, and i gave up when I got sick of it and wanted to throw my truck in the woods cause the plastic shocks blew and i had no local hobby shop, was mad at paying 8 bux for shipping a 2 dollar bottle of oil to me, just to have it happen again. So i put it away and blew money on my girl...baaad idea! Most of the stuff i bought wasn't even put to use, didn't even wear some of the jewlry once to show she cared. Poor maxx, still sitting...the perfect dust collector in the garage.

Finally school was about to end, and i looked at my t-maxx...totally bummed that i blew 200 bux and some of my parents money for practically nothing but frustration and hurt knees (from tuning). Thats when i decided to get it out and fix it. I researched, asked questions...and blew another $250... and I don't even have a job yet.

Now it has an rx ni-mh battery, new rims waiting for rubber, newly died stock rims, trimmed stock tires, a new cooling head, fail safe... new body to be painted...paint, and I am crossing my fingers i learn to tune better... cause if i don't... i'll be giving it up until i have a job. :(

I think you should prioratize your life and organize what you want to spend your money on, don't let it all go to waiste, and don't let your life get dull either...you'll live longer if you have a fun life, and if RC will make it fun, go for it. But don't forget what comes first (school/car/people). Save money, make an account for your car (i did) and it will slowly pile up until you're ready for one.
Everyday you get home, put your change in a piggybank (i did :p) and that will stack up too. If you can't afford it now, just take what money you do have and stick it somewhere...you'll thank yourself when you have enough to buy an RC or parts, and thank yourself twice when someone greedy wants to borrow some money from your wallet, cause it will be safe at home and you can tell them you don't have any and get out of it without lies:D.

RC is a hobby, i keep telling myself that i did NOT buy a radioshack TOY, i bought a hobby-quality truck that will need frustration, and time, but it's worth it...and i'll always have somthing come back to when i need some time alone. It's also like a full size car, you can upgrade it, customize it, show your individuality, even if others think it's just a toy. I say, if you enjoy it, keep your cool, spend wisely, buy what you really WANT, nomatter how long saving takes, and be happy when you open that box. :D

[tec_41]

I am VERY lucky because my dad just bought a new truck, and they gave the old one to me. If i had to pay for a vehicle, and find time for school, then i dont know if i would have my rc today. Its a tough desicion and i wouldnt blame you if you quit for now, no matter how addicting rc is :D

[rccowboy181]

Yeah I know how it feels :( , I am planning to sell my whole set up cars radios batterys everything. Because I am getting Into real racecars :D I am going dirt oval racing, I just found out the car I am planning on buying is going to cost me $12,500 less motor :eek: ! so goes the r/c's, need the cash and racing stock cars is a 24/7 commitment so no time for R/Cs. So insted of letting them all sit I am selling them watch for my set up on ebay.

oh well

I gotta cruise, I gotta go sort though my r/c stuff.

But I am not leaving forever Someday I will comeback to the hobby! And I am keeping my very first car I got my maximum MT I can't part with it had it to long :rolleyes:

[NitroBoy24]

Yeah I know how it feels :( , I am planning to sell my whole set up cars radios batterys everything. Because I am getting Into real racecars :D I am going dirt oval racing, I just found out the car I am planning on buying is going to cost me $12,500 less motor :eek: ! so goes the r/c's, need the cash and racing stock cars is a 24/7 commitment so no time for R/Cs. So insted of letting them all sit I am selling them watch for my set up on ebay.

You gonna run the smaller sprint cars? Not midgets but they are a step-up. I met a kid at a car show with one that had a Honda 4-cylinder with a tranny that only had like 3 gears since they only need that many. It was pretty sweet, had carb's that run on alchohol and I think he said it made around 110hp or so.

Electric Chicken,
If you really want to get back into it, and you are willing to spend the money for a new charger and motor accessories then go for it!! But, if you are going to have to spend too much money to not be able to afford a car, insurance, etc then I am not so sure its a good idea.

For a while now I've have the money to get my r/c running, its just too hot and I dont really want to go bashing. But thanks to Flash parting out his GT I got some new hopups and there are a bunch of dirt piles to bash at by my house. So, I want to go r/c'ing now :D I have my phases, luckily I have so many other hobbies to keep my attention.

[vtl1180ny]

I'm 34 and I've been in this hobby since I was 6, first car was a Cox .049 powered car that never ran right...

Now, I have time and money and I still enjoy my RC's... I've gotten my 5 year old son into the hobby when he was 3. I have a 14 year old across the street who spends more time here then he does at home.... Now I have another baby boy on the way that'll be running RC's with his big brother and Dad in 3 or so years...

Even I get fed up and put the cars away for months at a time... I never get rid of anything, I know I'll always be back...

You do need to prioritize things... Do you Need top of the line stuff to bash, absolutely not... Sometimes it's hard to give up things you love... At 29 I was in a serious car accident which has left me permanently disabled... I couldn't wait till my son was old enough to ride a dirtbike so we could ride together and now I don't think that will happen... Slowly I'm selling off my motorcycles and not sure if I'll ever ride again... Appreciate what you have....

[italiannitroman]

I would say you should stay. I am kinda in the same boat as you. Figuring out how to get a car, car insurance, gas, rc money, and girl money. Well I found out how to make a really cheap date with a girl if you trust her enuff to drive your rc. You take her to a park and let her drive and then you guys have a picnic lunch at the park. That is a cheap date that will be alot of fun tho. You might want to look on ebay for a charger and maybe someother parts you can use. Like an evader parts truck you might spend $15-$20 on it but its pretty much just a roller that you can use for parts.

hope that helps

[Figit090]

DUDE what in IDEA!!! you gave me one...have a bunch of girls, (and maybe some guys so it dosen't look silly) come to some party, maybe your birthday, and then whatever girl is around you the most wanting to learn about/drive your RC, you go after!! and if she's nice, you keep, marry, and stay happy...where as a girl that dosen't like your hobby...you're in trouble.

thanx for the bright idea...even though i have a gf...:rolleyes:

[vtl1180ny]

Girls make great turn marshalls when your practicing at the track too... My son and I take my Fiancee' to the track and whenever we crash she'll put us back shiny side up... On race day's she'll get everyone coffee and donuts...

Never give up your hobbies... And never give up anything you love for a woman... You'll regret it later... I was accepted to MIT but my then GF, now Ex-wife talked me out of going... Still regret it...

[Gutter Ball]

Yah, I got rid of some RC stuff I thought I would never use again and then a year later, I'm wondering to myself "Why did I sell that!?" So just pack it away until you have more time and money.

[Figit090]

if you keep rcs you don't use they could gain value later in life!! :p at the least a ton of sentimental value!