As some of you may know I am a news photographer by trade. I work at a local TV station in San Diego, CA. I chase everything from Crime to City Council meetings etc. Well, recently it was brought to my attention from some of my colleagues that I should put some video with my blog.
The news business that I work in these days is now going towards the Face book, YouTube, Blogger, Twitter generation. Ton's of different social media platforms to put your work on. Well, RC is my hobby and when I got into this hobby I didn't want to shoot video on the weekend because I shoot video all week. The races on the weekend are my sanctuary for blowing off some steam and getting away from work and pretty much most of the stuff that annoyed me the week prior. Well a few have convinced me to get the camera out and put some video's together when I am at the races.
I am currently going to be helping with the 1/8 Wonder Barona Speedway RC track here in San Diego build a channel for their track. I also plan on shooting some video's when I'm at the JBRL this year and any two day race for that matter... The RC Insider Channel that I will be putting together will mostly be an information channel along with a lot of good fast local RC racing action in So Cal. I hope to shoot some interviews with factory drivers at the larger races I attend...
The true goal of this channel is to grow the hobby at the local club racing level. So far there are several channels already posting video. That is fantastic. There are always room for more channels. I plan on making mine a bit different. So please when you get a chance subscribe and check back often, I have a few more video's to come out this week...
Coming up in my next Blog I have a Rocketshipracing.com update on the new indoor facility breaking ground in San Diego. I also have an update on a possible off-road series put on by El Cajon Hobbies in El Cajon, CA. A lot is going on here in So Cal right now and I am working on getting you the latest info on everything that I get sent to me...
Stay tuned for my next Blog....
P.S. I really plan on getting out to one of Charlie Barnes races this Summer. I want to see what his OC Circuit is all about... I missed getting to meet him at a painting seminar at Krazy Kevins Hobbies here in Chula Vista, CA last month... I definitely need to touch base with him soon....
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Modesto RC Raceway's Inaugural Race 4/24/10!
As many of you know I spend a lot of time blogging about the RC community that I race in on a weekly basis. I thought I would change gears a bit this weekend and inform my Northern California drivers who read this blog of a new track's inaugural race taking place this weekend.
In Just a few short hours Modesto RC Raceway will be hosting it Grand Opening Race. Since last winter I have been letting you know about this track and that I have planned to do a write up on it. Well I thought to myself it would be better to wait and speak about this track closer to the date it opened.
I personally have a vested interest in this track because it is being opened up in my hometown of Modesto, CA. Actually it is probably like 1.5 miles from the home I grew up in! Can you believe that... I have to drive a minimum of 1.5 hours to race electric off road regularly, but now there is a track a mile and a half from my childhood home... Huh go figure.
Since last December I have been corresponding with Justin Avrett part owner and creator of Modesto RC Raceway. I spent a few hours talking to him on the phone about how the track came about and when he planned on opening it. Well, it was planned to be opened last year, but they had to take care of getting all the necessary paperwork finished and it just wasn't able to get done. When I last spoke with Justin he had a severe leg injury due to working at the track which also led to the track not being opened on time.
Personally, I am glad they waited till this spring to have the Grand Opening Race. I lived in Modesto for nearly 24 years of my life and racing outdoors in 45 degree December weather isn't a day in the park. Now I am only saying this because I live in San Diego, which I have grown to be a weather snob as of late! LOL!
Justin mentioned to me that the track came about because he was playing with his RC car in the street one day and so was his was his neighbor down the street. The two started talking and formed a friendship which grew to a partnership, and one thing led to another and Modesto RC Raceway was born... I skipped a step in there... Justin's friend and business partner goes by the nickname "Pickle". Well Pickle and Justin got to talking and thought how great it would be to have an RC track to run their cars on.
Pickle mentioned to Justin, "Hey I have some one that might be interested in our idea." Pickle's friend owns a Funworks game center. Pickle brought the idea to his friend. Details were fianlized and the RC track is located inside Funworks as we speak. Growing up in Modesto, I always had to drive to Sacramento or Livermore to race electric off road. There were no tracks in the nearby area. I take that back there was D&D raceway in Turlock, CA which was a 15 foot carpet track... Every time I drove it I got dizzy!
I am very glad to see this track getting underway. I plan to be up there this summer and visiting with the track crew and bringing you some pictures and video of my time at the track. I went home this past Christmas with my family to visit my parents and I stopped by the track. I forgot my camera but the track was completed and the layout looked great! I can't wait to try out this track! If you get an opportunity or are passing through Motown stop on by and run a few laps...
Stay tuned for the next blog....
Links Below:
http://www.modestorcraceway.com/
In Just a few short hours Modesto RC Raceway will be hosting it Grand Opening Race. Since last winter I have been letting you know about this track and that I have planned to do a write up on it. Well I thought to myself it would be better to wait and speak about this track closer to the date it opened.
I personally have a vested interest in this track because it is being opened up in my hometown of Modesto, CA. Actually it is probably like 1.5 miles from the home I grew up in! Can you believe that... I have to drive a minimum of 1.5 hours to race electric off road regularly, but now there is a track a mile and a half from my childhood home... Huh go figure.
Since last December I have been corresponding with Justin Avrett part owner and creator of Modesto RC Raceway. I spent a few hours talking to him on the phone about how the track came about and when he planned on opening it. Well, it was planned to be opened last year, but they had to take care of getting all the necessary paperwork finished and it just wasn't able to get done. When I last spoke with Justin he had a severe leg injury due to working at the track which also led to the track not being opened on time.
Personally, I am glad they waited till this spring to have the Grand Opening Race. I lived in Modesto for nearly 24 years of my life and racing outdoors in 45 degree December weather isn't a day in the park. Now I am only saying this because I live in San Diego, which I have grown to be a weather snob as of late! LOL!
Justin mentioned to me that the track came about because he was playing with his RC car in the street one day and so was his was his neighbor down the street. The two started talking and formed a friendship which grew to a partnership, and one thing led to another and Modesto RC Raceway was born... I skipped a step in there... Justin's friend and business partner goes by the nickname "Pickle". Well Pickle and Justin got to talking and thought how great it would be to have an RC track to run their cars on.
Pickle mentioned to Justin, "Hey I have some one that might be interested in our idea." Pickle's friend owns a Funworks game center. Pickle brought the idea to his friend. Details were fianlized and the RC track is located inside Funworks as we speak. Growing up in Modesto, I always had to drive to Sacramento or Livermore to race electric off road. There were no tracks in the nearby area. I take that back there was D&D raceway in Turlock, CA which was a 15 foot carpet track... Every time I drove it I got dizzy!
I am very glad to see this track getting underway. I plan to be up there this summer and visiting with the track crew and bringing you some pictures and video of my time at the track. I went home this past Christmas with my family to visit my parents and I stopped by the track. I forgot my camera but the track was completed and the layout looked great! I can't wait to try out this track! If you get an opportunity or are passing through Motown stop on by and run a few laps...
Stay tuned for the next blog....
Links Below:
http://www.modestorcraceway.com/
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Rocketshipracing.com closes on 2 buildings in SD!
Breaking News....
Keith Jones of Rocketshipracing.com and Jones Cancer Foundation called me yesterday and left a message. That message was to let me know that he is closing on two buildings here in San Diego next week. He also asked me, if I wanted to tour the properties with him, and proceeded to offer me a lifetime membership to his new indoor race facility that he will be building. I plan to take a tour with him next week and bring you pictures and possibly some video of the two locations...
Last month, I wrote an article about indoor off road racing coming to San Diego. Keith Jones was at the center of that story. Right now in my opinion Keith Jones is the hottest RC story to hit this county... Yesterday, we traded texts all afternoon and didn't get a chance to talk. This weekend I plan on touching base with him and finding out which of the two buildings will hold the indoor off road RC track....
In other news today my blog got a good endorsement from Matt Chamber's of Upgrade RC and Team Losi Racing today. He mentioned on rctech.net that he likes my blog! This is what I like to hear, becasue it makes me keep looking for interesting stories to bring all of you as often as I can!
Stay tuned for my next blog...
Here is a link to the website....
http://www.rocketshipracing.com/
Keith Jones of Rocketshipracing.com and Jones Cancer Foundation called me yesterday and left a message. That message was to let me know that he is closing on two buildings here in San Diego next week. He also asked me, if I wanted to tour the properties with him, and proceeded to offer me a lifetime membership to his new indoor race facility that he will be building. I plan to take a tour with him next week and bring you pictures and possibly some video of the two locations...
Last month, I wrote an article about indoor off road racing coming to San Diego. Keith Jones was at the center of that story. Right now in my opinion Keith Jones is the hottest RC story to hit this county... Yesterday, we traded texts all afternoon and didn't get a chance to talk. This weekend I plan on touching base with him and finding out which of the two buildings will hold the indoor off road RC track....
In other news today my blog got a good endorsement from Matt Chamber's of Upgrade RC and Team Losi Racing today. He mentioned on rctech.net that he likes my blog! This is what I like to hear, becasue it makes me keep looking for interesting stories to bring all of you as often as I can!
Stay tuned for my next blog...
Here is a link to the website....
http://www.rocketshipracing.com/
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
News and Notes 4/20/10
Good Morning,
I would like to mention a big thanks to Zach Rogers, Cody Turner and Matt Gilbert for helping me with programming my LRP ESC this past weekend. It was nice to meet Matt for the first time. If those of you don't know who # 7 Matt Gilbert is, he is the one to watch in the Intermediate Short Course Class this season.... He drives a red SC10 with Losi shocks. His truck is dialed out there... Not to mention I wish I had his tire setup this past weekend. I think he was the only one in the class with AKA Wishbones! I don't know how he does it but it is amazing to watch him drive that rig.
I religiously read some of the different RC rags and I have noticed that the pros really have been living up to there name and reputation at the track... I talked with Chad Bradley, extensively about about his 4 wheel drive truck and different radio settings. He is such a delight to talk with... I would say he is one of the most approachable guys to speak with should you have any questions about the products he represents. Pretty much every one of the top level drivers that I spoke with; Frank Root, Chris Jarosz just to name a few were very helpful.
Finally, Josh Mitchell stopped me at the tire cleaning station to ask me about the Brat's and when will I be bringing them out this year... I told him they will be at Bizbee's No Tell Motel come the 5th Round of the JBRL at Pegasus Hobbies. Quite possibly they might return at Hot Rod Hobbies depending on the fact if I get that day off or not! But Josh don't worry I am itching for some summer grilling and I know Brent and company will be happy to fire up the grill!
Finally, I want to end this blog on a great note! This coming Saturday my hometown of Modesto will be hosting its grand opening race. Modesto RC Raceway is finally going to be online and open. I am so happy to see some racing coming to my hometown. Now when I go home for a visit I have a place to getaway when I need a break from the family! I will be doing a special blog for Justin Avrett who is part owners of Modesto RC Raceway in the next day or two.
Stay tuned for my next blog....
Below is a link:
www.modestorcraceway.com
I first wanted to give a huge shout out to Downtown Dave, Ed Garcia and Ray Butcher. At first I was a huge skeptic of racing my SC10 at 1/8 Wonder of Barona Speedway. I thought maybe the track would be too rough and too big for 1/10 scale trucks. Well I was very wrong! I was finally able to make it out to my new home track two weeks ago and that place is hooked up.... I really enjoyed myself... I will be doing most of my practicing and testing at this facility. Currently they are getting a consistent 50 to 75 drivers every Sunday when weather is permitting. Not to mention 10 to 15 heats of racing for only being open less than 6 months with official racing....
Currently, I will be starting a YouTube channel for Ed Garcia and 1/8 Wonder of Barona Speedway. He and I have been talking about this for that past couple of weeks. If you live in the San Diego area this place will be the hot spot this summer for sure, if your looking for some local RC racing. Ed mentioned to me that he is noticing a lot of the old fast guys that used to drive at Family Hobbies in Santee are starting to make their way out to Barona now.
He says, "that is a great sign that you know your doing it right when the top locals from the past are getting back into racing...." I will be out there this weekend on Sunday for sure. I will shoot a featured race for the YouTube channel. Hopefully I will have this channel launched by the end of the week. I have been pretty busy at work lately not to mention this Thursday is my 5th wedding anniversary! I won't mess with (Thursday!)....
While I was at Barona it was brought to my attention that a couple of the main guys from the socal-rc.com group have parted ways and are quite possibly going to be doing some promoting and working with El Cajon Hobbies. I wish these men the best and hope whatever they do works out. They have been great to me over the past few months and getting to know them has been a pleasure. I wish them the best of luck wherever this hobby takes them.
This past Saturday OCRC hosted the second round of the JBRL Eletric Series. It was a smashing success. There were 260 entries for a one day event according to the OCRC website. Jimmy Babcock delivered a very competitive field of drivers. I really enjoyed the 4 minute qualifying heats. Jimmy really knows how to run a race program. He is the best in the biz.
Jimmy I thank you for saying you deem as a "Hot Rod local in my main" even though I am based in SD! I'll go on record and say Hot Rod Hobbies is my favorite track to race at on the JBRL circuit... Hopefully I'll be there in two weeks.I would like to mention a big thanks to Zach Rogers, Cody Turner and Matt Gilbert for helping me with programming my LRP ESC this past weekend. It was nice to meet Matt for the first time. If those of you don't know who # 7 Matt Gilbert is, he is the one to watch in the Intermediate Short Course Class this season.... He drives a red SC10 with Losi shocks. His truck is dialed out there... Not to mention I wish I had his tire setup this past weekend. I think he was the only one in the class with AKA Wishbones! I don't know how he does it but it is amazing to watch him drive that rig.
I religiously read some of the different RC rags and I have noticed that the pros really have been living up to there name and reputation at the track... I talked with Chad Bradley, extensively about about his 4 wheel drive truck and different radio settings. He is such a delight to talk with... I would say he is one of the most approachable guys to speak with should you have any questions about the products he represents. Pretty much every one of the top level drivers that I spoke with; Frank Root, Chris Jarosz just to name a few were very helpful.
Finally, Josh Mitchell stopped me at the tire cleaning station to ask me about the Brat's and when will I be bringing them out this year... I told him they will be at Bizbee's No Tell Motel come the 5th Round of the JBRL at Pegasus Hobbies. Quite possibly they might return at Hot Rod Hobbies depending on the fact if I get that day off or not! But Josh don't worry I am itching for some summer grilling and I know Brent and company will be happy to fire up the grill!
Finally, I want to end this blog on a great note! This coming Saturday my hometown of Modesto will be hosting its grand opening race. Modesto RC Raceway is finally going to be online and open. I am so happy to see some racing coming to my hometown. Now when I go home for a visit I have a place to getaway when I need a break from the family! I will be doing a special blog for Justin Avrett who is part owners of Modesto RC Raceway in the next day or two.
Stay tuned for my next blog....
Below is a link:
www.modestorcraceway.com
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