Letter from the Editor

First off, I would like to thank everyone working hard behind the scenes to make Team Terribles what it is today!  It has always been my dream to enter the RC industry in a fashion where I could have a good time, meet great people and help out fellow racers.  It has already been a very positive experience and I’m looking forward to helping the Team grow to its fullest potential!

There are many topics I would like to cover for the team in regards to website content.  So much in fact, that it’s somewhat overwhelming on where to start!  That said, I’m pressing on.  The early hit list will include the biographies of those who are involved behind the scenes that are making things happen, those who are the backbone of the Team per se.  In the future, expect to see various articles on New Products, Top Team Driver bio’s, Upcoming events, Industry News, and even Polls to measure current trends.

Just to share my background, I'm soon to be 33 in April and originally from Marshall, Illinois.  I've been interested in RC since I was 14, when my buddies started getting their first RC cars.  I was always the kid who never had anything faster than a Radio Shack car (Buggy Special) until I turned 18 and started working in Terre Haute, Indiana.  I was fortunate enough to be able to subscribe to RC Car Action magazine a few years, just soaking up information and day dreaming about owning my first real RC car.

Since then, I've owned close to 75 different vehicles.  Most of which I bought used, had for a while, traded off or sold to get something different.  There are models which I dearly miss, and many that I would never own again.  This personal voyage through the hobby has inspired me to help others get into, and enjoy the hobby.  Even my closest friends today still argue that I was never a "basher," only wanting to believe that I'm a racer at heart.

I started racing indoor carpet oval at Joe’s Hobby Barn in Terre Haute, Indiana when I was 19 with Gearbox Stock.  It was new, fun and exciting to be racing against faster racers, trying to learn from the fast guys how to tune electric motors, give SCE’s more punch, and general chassis tuning.  Today, I still look back at racing at Joe’s as some of the most fun I’ve ever had on a racetrack.  I also remember how steep the learning curve was in order to be able to try to catch the fast guys.  I raced during the winter at Joe’s for a few years before entering a job where working Sunday’s was mandatory and had to take a break from racing.

While stationed in California, I started acquiring vehicles more suited for indoor 1/10th scale tracks.  It wasn’t long before I had a T4, B44, GT2, and a Mini-CRT that I would take to Capitol City RC in Sacramento for practice days.  Even though I practiced a lot, I only had the opportunity to race one time with the T4, and it was one of the first off road club races I had ever participated in.  A local, seeing the issues I was having, caught me after my heat and offered some setup tips.  Mentally, I ran down a list of everything I had (or didn’t have) to copy his setup.  By the time I returned to the pits from turn-marshalling, he had lots of parts disassembled on my truck.  He helped me change shock oils, shock pistons, shock positions, springs, and toe in a matter of minutes.  I was simply amazed that all of those changes could happen within minutes instead of hours… It was truly enlightening how much help one could offer and totally change the outcome of the day for the better.  I still finished dead last, but this was truly inspirational!

Finally, after being primarily a basher for a long time, I was able to dig in this past year and race 1/8th scale nitro.  I started with my old Hyper 7, and X1-CRT before I sold everything and moved to a Mugen MBX6.  This is where the learning curve really began!  The “basher” mentality was replaced with competitive desire that playing APA and BCA pool leagues had recently relinquished.  It was time to pick my target and aim accordingly.

Utilizing every resource available, I was able to piece together enough equipment to race the Illinois State Pro Series in 2009, and amazing enough, I more than over shot my goals.  After winning two out of three local qualifiers and setting one TQ, we traveled to JTEC racing in Danville, IL where the finals were held.  The day of the finals, I somehow managed to squeak by the rest of the field, TQ and go on to win the main for Intermediate Buggy, which brought the title “Illinois State Pro Series Champ.”  I just call it beginners luck!

For 2010, I’m dedicating extra resources to learn tracks more quickly, by practicing more often, remaining flexible, trying multiple setups, and focusing more on settling in when on the driver’s stand.  As you hear all of the time… PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

I signed up for Team Terribles without knowing what exactly to expect.  After being part of the Team for just a few months, seeing all of the effort that has went into establishing the website, store, and having the opportunity to belong to something bigger, I’m stoked about the direction this Team is heading!

If you have any topics you would like covered, please send an email to: aaron2u@yahoo.com.

Sincerely,

Aaron Bullock
Chief Content Editor
Team Terribles