RCCA's take on RC Crawling

[MattH]

So, desire my inviting to a comp to prove you wrong as well as the proof of my comments in the above posts. Your opinion is correct. And us who are actively involved in crawling is wrong. I guess I better buy a traxxas short course and join the herd of rcca guru's.

Matt, im sorry. Sorry that you simply don't have the knowledge or experiance in crawling to support your theory. Maybe you should just stay out if Crawling and leave it to someone else.

I don't really understand your first sentence, but based on the rest of your post, I'm sorry my blog so deaply offended you. No sarcasm intended. I never said you or anyone else is wrong. Try to understand that I am a huge proponent of RC crawling. My opinion of certain aspects of crawling might, however, be different than yours.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

I would add that it isn't just crawling that is flat, it is the entire R/C industry. Although a few companies are seeing good growth right now, we have having just as many companies being squeezed down to the bottom lines. My local hobby shop closed, many more brick and mortar shops are closing, and it just isn't a good atmosphere. Look at trade show attendance, fewer companies have been setting up booths in the past few years compared to 2007. Fewer Chinese companies are flying over to attend as well.

 

[MattH]

I belive its the Febuary issue that looks good Matt, Has a bit of EVERYTHING in it, Even drag cars. Scalers. Very good varitiy, I will probly pick this issue up and read it! "thumbsup"

EDIT, Sorry its the March issue...

Thank you!

March, February. They're all good. Well, I'm biased.

 

[JeremyH]

If my explaination/rationale a few posts back isn't good enough for you nothing will be.

Oh, I read that...and yes, some companies might not be selling as much as they would have hoped to....however, that means nothing. There are plenty of variables that explain those results.

I don't know what kind of facts you're looking for (that's rhetorical; no need to answer).

Too bad, I will.

What I was looking for as far as factual information is more like some statistics that you obtained from years of comp attendence (both national and local), the number of comps held per year, how quickly these comps sell out....etc. Did you do any of this?

IMO, good "journalism" should go RIGHT to the source and ask questions....NOT ask the bystanders what happened.

BTW, dont think for one minute that I am simply picking on you. I ask the same questions about every news article (both written and on TV) that I view....and if they dont provide factual information, then I take them with a grain of salt....and purely for entertainment purposes.

 

[MattH]

That can be said about any segment of the rc world. Everything hits a slump, or rolls back at some point.

True, true, but not all roll back to their former glory. Take oval, for example.

Maybe some of these people are seeing it as a "death" because they aren't offering the right products?

100% true. Some companies that openly say crawling is dead just missed the proverbial boat.

Really, the issue is that yes you did dispute the claim, but only by offering your opinion on why crawling isn't as popular as it once was, which is clearly not the case.

Fair enough if that's how you read it. I tried to conclude with my suggested solution.

 

[JeremyH]

Well, I'm biased.

Arr.....biting my tongue....must hold back comment.....

 

[MattH]

BTW, dont think for one minute that I am simply picking on you.

I don't think you're picking on me. That never really occurred to me. I simply think your extremely passionate about crawling. I think your critism is off base, but you are 100% entitled to voice that critism.

I ask the same questions about every news article (both written and on TV) that I view....and if they dont provide factual information, then I take them with a grain of salt....and purely for entertainment purposes.

It must take you a while ot get through the evening news.

 

[JeremyH]

That never really occurred to me. I simply think your extremely passionate about crawling.

It is a hobby for me...that's all. If life necessitated that I give it up, I would in an instant.

I think your critism is off base, but you are 100% entitled to voice that critism.

Well, I guess that's like, your opinion man...."thumbsup"

It must take you a while ot get through the evening news.

Not really....I only watch TV news in the morning before work to see the weather and traffic. I live in a big city, the rest of the "news" is simply too depressing to watch....nothing but crime, death and other violence.

I do, however, like to read written news....and like to see articles that provide factual information....unfortunately, even MANY of those are extremely biased and full of the author's opinions.

 

[Duuuuuuuude]

I would add that it isn't just crawling that is flat, it is the entire R/C industry. Although a few companies are seeing good growth right now, we have having just as many companies being squeezed down to the bottom lines. My local hobby shop closed, many more brick and mortar shops are closing, and it just isn't a good atmosphere. Look at trade show attendance, fewer companies have been setting up booths in the past few years compared to 2007. Fewer Chinese companies are flying over to attend as well.

Lately that is true with just about any area that is mainly funded by those with "disposable" income.

I've seen it the past three years in the rv industry. Manufacturers are either closing down entirely or stripping down to the bare minimum to stay afloat. Trade shows are nothing compared to what they used to be. Dealerships are shutting their doors, with the exception of those that have brisk online sales who seem to be the ones doing the best. People simply aren't our touring the country (or even their own local spots) like they did a few years ago. Not because the interest is not there, but because its cost prohibitive

Fair enough if that's how you read it. I tried to conclude with my suggested solution.

I think if you had said "people have said that crawling is dead, but comp attendance has shown otherwise" it would have been an entirely different thing. The research you put forth seemed to begin and end at your opinion, not at what may be actually happening, which is the same point Jeremy is digging at.

 

[jetboat]

crawling attendance has definatly flat lined... We would get 20 guys at an indoor comp 3-4 yrs ago. When the economy tanked we dropped to 9-10 and its stayed there. I think what you are seeing is that the people that were just getting their feet wet have dropped out and now you have the die hards. Once the economy picks back up and unemployeement hits 5% comps will again be large because people will have disposable income.

Now Scalers, they seem to be picking up. Its kind of the opposite as reg comps. Back in the day we had 2-3 guys now we are getting 10-15 and new guys every day.

To meet, scalers and comp rigs are BOTH crawlers. If you look at it like that, crawling is probably still growing versus being flat.

 

[MattH]

Lately that is true with just about any area that is mainly funded by those with "disposable" income.

I've seen it the past three years in the rv industry. Manufacturers are either closing down entirely or stripping down to the bare minimum to stay afloat. Trade shows are nothing compared to what they used to be. Dealerships are shutting their doors, with the exception of those that have brisk online sales who seem to be the ones doing the best. People simply aren't our touring the country (or even their own local spots) like they did a few years ago. Not because the interest is not there, but because its cost prohibitive



I think if you had said "people have said that crawling is dead, but comp attendance has shown otherwise" it would have been an entirely different thing. The research you put forth seemed to begin and end at your opinion, not at what may be actually happening, which is the same point Jeremy is digging at.

You seem like a good guy and, well, reasonable. I believe the comp attendance has shown otherwise in some areas. There are some total hot spots for crawling where the comps are as big as ever. They don't represent the whole crawling scene, however. There is no real scientific way to research this other than to observe. Keep in mind that when I say "Comps are still going on and there will be some big ones this year, but the turn outs will be smaller than previous years" that it is a prediction and presented as such. If someone wants to respond with their own prediction that this years nationals will be the biggest nationals to date, so be it. I hope they're right and I'm wrong. I'm not going to ask them for research to back up their prediction. How could they provide it? I explained how I came to the conclusion that rock crawling is flat, but my prediction is just that, a prediction.

 

[Duuuuuuuude]

You seem like a good guy and, well, reasonable.

:lmao:



j/k

I do my best to keep my ego and pride from locking my opinions down. If I can be enlightened, bring it on.

I explained how I came to the conclusion that rock crawling is flat, but my prediction is just that, a prediction.

Were you just another regular schmo here on this site, you wouldn't have gotten the flak you did. But since you work for a magazine that is circulated in nearly every hobby shop, grocery store, book store, and Walmart across the land, your words should be picked more carefully, and your opinions labeled plainly and clearly. No matter what anyone here says about you and your magazine, there are others who may take what you say to heart and act (or shop) accordingly. Saying that comp crawling has flatlined because the rules and rigs have gotten out of hand can turn those people away.

Even though it was just a blog, you still have a responsibility as a journalist not to mix opinion and fact without labeling them as such.

Like I said before, the intent was in the right place, but the execution was poor.

 

[JeremyH]

There is no real scientific way to research this other than to observe.

Ummmm.....hello?

What I was looking for as far as factual information is more like some statistics that you obtained from years of comp attendence (both national and local), the number of comps held per year, how quickly these comps sell out....etc. Did you do any of this?

Information like this would be perfectly scientific...nothing would put this discussion to rest like actual numbers. No observation necessary.....no subjective analysis necessary....just numbers.

 

[JeremyH]

Were you just another regular schmo here on this site, you wouldn't have gotten the flak you did. But since you work for a magazine that is circulated in nearly every hobby shop, grocery store, book store, and Walmart across the land, your words should be picked more carefully, and your opinions labeled plainly and clearly. No matter what anyone here says about you and your magazine, there are others who may take what you say to heart and act (or shop) accordingly. Saying that comp crawling has flatlined because the rules and rigs have gotten out of hand can turn those people away.

Well said! This is the EXACT point I have been making all along....ESPECIALLY the part in bold. The following simple phrase at the beginning of the article and I wouldnt have a single post in this thread:
"It is this journalist's opinion....blah blah blah...."

 

[jason]

I'm kind of wondering if Matt posted this blog to get people talking and thinking. Here we are 10 pages deep, so I'm thinking it's working.

 

[Badmuthatrucker]

... and it has shown that as with any specific rc modality, the boom hits, interest flares and then it settles down to a stable number of enthusiasts that stick to it with the small revolving door percentage.

From a business point of view, I can see how the perception that crawling has died in the arse could be drawn. Basically, there are about 4 types of axles that are popular. Probably only 3 or 4 tire manufacturers that make popular good rubber, etc, so the other manufacturers that sell products that don't work probably see it as a dead end market. Even RCCA... Rock Crawling issues might or might not sell well, I don't know, but as someone said here, people come here for the news on new parts, what works and what doesn't and why. And it is always up to date. I have a stack of RCCA from 87 to 91... Great for looking at CRP upgrades for my Frog that I haven't been able to buy for 20 years :lmao: Though, hard copy history has it's value too.

I'm not sure what my point was, so well, ... :ror:... but the SC bubble will bust, just like touring cars, which I have not noticed a decline in, still 3 clubs in my area still running on the same night as each other.

 

[Duuuuuuuude]

I'm kind of wondering if Matt posted this blog to get people talking and thinking. Here we are 10 pages deep, so I'm thinking it's working.

Is he that devious?

My opinions?

While I certainly have no issue running with MOA's, I'm sure that there are others that are frustrated that they have to run against machines that can do things that theirs can't. I can certainly see seperate classes on the horizon though. Advances in MOA technology are clearly outpacing those for the shaft driven rigs.

And rules, well, we have to have them. Not everyone plays fair and not everyone can work within an envelope without pushing at its boundries, and that is why they are becoming increasingly complex. Still, they aren't hard to follow once you study them.

 

[Manning]

Matt, more big props for coming on here and taking this abuse.

But I'm curious, do you have any observations of the crawler world's "cottage" industry vs. other aspects of RC? It seems to me that the crawler world has more garage shops turning out parts than other segments.

 

[Narly1]

I wake up every morning thanking the good lord for Traxxas.

After all where would we be without these:

and these:

and these:

All hail the mighty Traxxas! Truly one of the greatest crawler component vendors known to mankind!!

Narly1

 

[72xMulch]

i cant agree with the original post.. i havent read the rest of this so im probably not relevant now but i only got interested in crawling once it turned into this inaccessible super technical 1% kinda thing it seems to be now... the first time i saw these "new" comp rigs it blew my mind.. i got into this hobby because of what you are claiming is killing it. maybe im just weird but there has to be hope with people like me out there... search craigslist for rc, if its not a beat up tmaxx or a $300 rustler its an ad wanting a crawler..