RCCrawler Forums

WyldWeazel · 09-25-2008, 02:25 PM

I still consider myself a newb, but recently I have tried my first competition. I have determined a few pointers that I think other newb's might find useful, and even reduce there chances of looking like a complete dork. (like I did.)

1.) Buy some tennis balls and make up some gates. Get use to having limitations to where you can go. Why?!

I am lucky enough to have a very large rock garden located 2 blocks from my house. I am there almost every other night, testing. Up until this competition, I thought my truck could rule that rock garden. I have crawled across that garden a hundred times, and I have never had a problem. Now restrict your path down to less then 16" wide, and if you touch a gate you lose points. Plus you can't use reverse. That changes everything. Since the competition, I have returned to the garden for further testing. I took my home made gates and I have discovered a whole new world. What was once easy, now is extremely fun, and challenging.

NOTE: Tennis balls from most sporting good stores cost $3 each. Want to save some money? Go to a Dollar General or similar dollar store. Buy "Dog" tennis balls. I bought 36 tennis balls for $6. Sure they are colorful, and the girl at the register looked at my like I am nuts (oh wait... I am) but they work great. Try not to buy the ones that smell like beef jerky. They might make you hungry. Also please be really careful cutting them in half. I can see that someone could very easily stab there own hand. You may also not want to cut them in front of any canine friends. I know my dog still isn't talking to me.

Back to my original topic...

2.) Stay cool. When you crawl with people watching, stay cool. Don't get stressed out! The more relaxed you stay, the easier the course will be, you will have more fun, and you won't lose points when you get flustered and slam through 3 gates.

3.) Drink lots of water. Even here in Michigan the sun will bake you on those stones. Don't drink pop or an energy drink. They can actually cause you to loose your focus when the sun is backing on you.

4.) Ask lots of questions. I never met a rock crawling person who wouldn't explain why they setup there rig that way, or give you pointers on how to adjust, fix or eliminate problem areas. Due to a couple of guys pointers on my setup, I was able to almost clear the final course.

5.) Don't think you can not do something because you don't have the "perfect" rig. I saw a little crawler (age approx 10), take an almost stock scorpion, and make a course look easy where guys with Bergs where struggling. That kid is my hero.

6.) Take something to clean your wheels off with between courses. Remember, your hear to compete so take every advantage you can. I know Simple Green was popular at my last competition, for cleaning tires.

7.) And the most important rule... HAVE FUN. In the end, it doesn't matter who wins and who looses. All that really matters is that you had fun, maybe learned a bit. (I know I learned a lot about my truck, and myself)

I hope everyone has fun out there.

bullet1231 · 09-26-2008, 07:33 AM

nice write up about experience, having fun definately helps.

jmantalk · 09-26-2008, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyldWeazel

I Sure they are colorful, and the girl at the register looked at my like I am nuts (oh wait... I am) but they work great.

Thats to funny, I could see the look on her face. to be buying 36 tenis balls at once.

you could really mix it up and go in every night and buy one tennis ball then they will really give a u

look when you check out.

smallblock500 · 09-26-2008, 01:49 PM

once and a while try to take a durty ball back and say that your dog is color blind and cant see that color. tell them you need to exchange it for another color lol.

EeePee · 09-26-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyldWeazel

Plus you can't use reverse.

Yeah but one reverse, or even up to nine reverses beats hitting a gate marker. Don't be afraid to use reverse and especially a healthy, long reverse to get a new approach.

theycallmejam · 09-26-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyldWeazel

NOTE: Tennis balls from most sporting good stores cost $3 each. Want to save some money? Go to a Dollar General or similar dollar store. Buy "Dog" tennis balls. I bought 36 tennis balls for $6. Sure they are colorful, and the girl at the register looked at my like I am nuts (oh wait... I am) but they work great. Try not to buy the ones that smell like beef jerky. They might make you hungry. Also please be really careful cutting them in half. I can see that someone could very easily stab there own hand. You may also not want to cut them in front of any canine friends. I know my dog still isn't talking to me.

.

The dog thing is priceless.
I hope to make my first comp in 2 weeks. I need to get my part that was missing. I cant wait

gyrene · 09-26-2008, 02:11 PM

Here's a tip us northerners can appreciate...........Try those rocks early in the morning after a good hard frost.

RCHuffer · 09-26-2008, 02:19 PM

Great Write up. Check out my post for (Practicing for Comps?) I got alot of good advice and that helped me out for my 2nd Comp that I entered. My 1st comp I never made it to the 2nd gate. The advice and wheel time spent helped me with my 2nd comp, I had a fun time. And thats what it's all about. -RCHuffer

09-25-2008, 02:25 PM	#1
WyldWeazel Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lowell Posts: 196	What I have learned... I still consider myself a newb, but recently I have tried my first competition. I have determined a few pointers that I think other newb's might find useful, and even reduce there chances of looking like a complete dork. (like I did.) 1.) Buy some tennis balls and make up some gates. Get use to having limitations to where you can go. Why?! I am lucky enough to have a very large rock garden located 2 blocks from my house. I am there almost every other night, testing. Up until this competition, I thought my truck could rule that rock garden. I have crawled across that garden a hundred times, and I have never had a problem. Now restrict your path down to less then 16" wide, and if you touch a gate you lose points. Plus you can't use reverse. That changes everything. Since the competition, I have returned to the garden for further testing. I took my home made gates and I have discovered a whole new world. What was once easy, now is extremely fun, and challenging. NOTE: Tennis balls from most sporting good stores cost $3 each. Want to save some money? Go to a Dollar General or similar dollar store. Buy "Dog" tennis balls. I bought 36 tennis balls for $6. Sure they are colorful, and the girl at the register looked at my like I am nuts (oh wait... I am) but they work great. Try not to buy the ones that smell like beef jerky. They might make you hungry. Also please be really careful cutting them in half. I can see that someone could very easily stab there own hand. You may also not want to cut them in front of any canine friends. I know my dog still isn't talking to me. Back to my original topic... 2.) Stay cool. When you crawl with people watching, stay cool. Don't get stressed out! The more relaxed you stay, the easier the course will be, you will have more fun, and you won't lose points when you get flustered and slam through 3 gates. 3.) Drink lots of water. Even here in Michigan the sun will bake you on those stones. Don't drink pop or an energy drink. They can actually cause you to loose your focus when the sun is backing on you. 4.) Ask lots of questions. I never met a rock crawling person who wouldn't explain why they setup there rig that way, or give you pointers on how to adjust, fix or eliminate problem areas. Due to a couple of guys pointers on my setup, I was able to almost clear the final course. 5.) Don't think you can not do something because you don't have the "perfect" rig. I saw a little crawler (age approx 10), take an almost stock scorpion, and make a course look easy where guys with Bergs where struggling. That kid is my hero. 6.) Take something to clean your wheels off with between courses. Remember, your hear to compete so take every advantage you can. I know Simple Green was popular at my last competition, for cleaning tires. 7.) And the most important rule... HAVE FUN. In the end, it doesn't matter who wins and who looses. All that really matters is that you had fun, maybe learned a bit. (I know I learned a lot about my truck, and myself) I hope everyone has fun out there.

09-26-2008, 07:33 AM	#2
bullet1231 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: sterling VA Posts: 276	nice write up about experience, having fun definately helps.

09-26-2008, 01:49 PM	#4
smallblock500 Rock Stacker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: lakeland Posts: 63	once and a while try to take a durty ball back and say that your dog is color blind and cant see that color. tell them you need to exchange it for another color lol.

09-26-2008, 02:11 PM	#7
gyrene Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Do I look like a freaking people person? Posts: 874	Here's a tip us northerners can appreciate...........Try those rocks early in the morning after a good hard frost.

09-26-2008, 02:19 PM	#8
RCHuffer Rock Crawler Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 729	Great Write up. Check out my post for (Practicing for Comps?) I got alot of good advice and that helped me out for my 2nd Comp that I entered. My 1st comp I never made it to the 2nd gate. The advice and wheel time spent helped me with my 2nd comp, I had a fun time. And thats what it's all about. -RCHuffer

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