Exposure is KEY! Advertising, media attention, local demonstrations in key cities....whatever you choose, you need EXPOSURE! (NEGATIVE EXPOSURE IS COUNTER PRODUCTIVE ..."Rowdy":mrgreen
There are a few websites, but you have to actively seek them...nothing that jumps out at you and says, "LOOK AT THIS RC CAR CRAWLING OVER GIANT BOLDERS - Click here to learn more"
My personal opinion is the Trail Comp Class is the next step to get folks into crawling. Its geared to include "off the shelf" rigs into some form of crawling comp at any experience level. The guy of the street with no idea can get a rig and go compete. Then when he is done, he can hit the trails with the same rig.
Comp rigs are very specific and expensive utility RCs. I personally cant afford to drop coin on a crawler specific rig, only to find out I dont like the hobby and now all that money is tied up in something that will just sit. Now you lost the person from any type of outdoor RC hobby.
With the advent of the Trail Comp Class, you can target more RC enthusiasts in hopes of getting others to move up into the Pro classes. But even still, you have to advertise and you have to get exposure! Big Squid RC, RC Car Action and a few other RC media outlets have started including "Scalers", "Crawlers" and "Trail class rigs" into their lanes, but nothing for Pro Crawlers anymore: "...that boat has sailed"! Since "Scalers" are starting to get attention, perhaps the Pro Crawler community should ride the banwagon and set up demonstrations in areas that are promoting Trail Rigs or Scalers in hopes that crawlers get some attention.....again, segue (ˈsegwā) approach. Again, EXPOSURE!
Contact the LHS and get permission to set up a DEMO like CFM did a few posts up. Get the local newspaper do a story on the next local event; leisure section. Start bombarding RC Car Action with stories and photos from all over the country. The more attention, the more exposure, the more notoriety.....gotta start somewhere.
