Crawl SD RC

[Tbrown]

Crawl South Dakota R/C

We'll I want to say, seeing all the cool Axial Fest events, the G6 Events, Beath the creek. I'm jealous of all the cool events going on across the US. I've lived in the Black Hills area of South Dakota for 11 years now. We've had a few get togethers here and there. Unfortunately, during 2020, a group of folks all got together for a trail hike. The problem is that they went hiking in a wilderness area. A wilderness area means ZERO motorized ANYTHING. Even the land managers clearing trails use handsaws. A couple reported the group to the Forest Service, and a $500 fine was issued. After this, it seems like the community of crawlers really fell off. A few guys held some cool comps up at M hill, but Trey moved to Texas, and man. The community kinda fell off. Now, the east side of the state has a great Crawler community!

Enter Crawl SD RC

After seeing all the U4 events, the Axial Fests, all the cool events I missed while out of the hobby I decided to start my own RC "club". Here is the problem... I already do ALOT... I volunteer a crap load of time to helping keep the local OHV (off highway vehicle) trails open for use. Trail clean ups, buck and rail projects, politics, you name it. This is where I need some help. I'd love to get events here, and get out to enjoy the hobby doing stuff like that. I always grew up with the mind set of "if you are going to complain, you need to be apart of the solution". How can I work on getting some help with setting up events and such? For me, I travel ALL over our area hitting trails. Shoot, my favorite spot is an hour away!

Feedback From The Masters

So, this is where you all come in! Those of you who have hosted events, or been to "trail rides" (I've never been to an R/C trail ride). How can I inspire folks to tag along? How far are folks typically willing to drive? What kind of trails do you all like? Are folks generally willing to help with coordinating stuff? I'm hoping to print some fun trail "decorations" like starting platforms, and "photoshoot areas". I took our 1:1 rockcrawling route signs and scales those down to size for 1/10 trailheads.

Leave your feedback here! Maybe we can put together a few get togethers this year!

fruity pebbles 1:1 sign scaled down to 1/10

my favorite crawling area, Fairburn, SD

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Sweet pics. Looks like a great area!

I'm not a comp guy. I attended one to watch before I got into RC crawling and that New Jersey club (GSRCRC) was such an odd, rude, and standoffish crew of misfits that I nearly immediately gave up my interest in this niche of RC. Glad I didn't.

The second one I helped setup and run. A few local guys started a crawling "club", like you did, and I started doing trail runs with those guys. I actually met my best crawling friend on this very site when it was super active. He introduced me to the club. My contribution to this comp was creating the flyer and distributing that mostly online. The other guys did the hard work of building the course. We held one or two events, but got next to zero support from the LHS where it was hosted so that quickly fell apart. I mean we drew tons of guys on one of the coldest and windiest days of the season and the asshole that runs the LHS showed zero appreciation. Sad because we all had fun and the attendees loved it. But I digress...

Starting a club is a good start to getting what you want. But good luck getting people to do free work. Most people simply don't want to do it. Finding people to help will be your biggest challenge IMO.

I do think most guys who love this hobby will be willing to drive about an hour each way. Some will do more and some will want to do less. But a good average, in my opinion, is one hour.

Here's what I suggest:
1. First, be cool, open, and inviting and only surround yourself with the similar type of people. One asshole or jackass will ruin it for everyone as you have already found out.
2. Start by trying to organize small get togethers for crawling or trail runs at cool locations. Create a social media group for your club. Both of these will allow you to meet the people and see the attitudes and personalities, and you'll quickly be able to see who you don't want to be involved. When you're ready, you can even create an event on FB for a get together, trail run or comp when you have a location, date, and time. Come up with some flyer and post it at your LHS, post office, and other public message board areas. But be careful, you don't want to get too big too soon or it'll be chaos. Make it clear you're not going to tolerate assholes...in politically correct wording, of course. So use your discretion.
3. If you are going to run a comp, you are going to need prizes and the best way to do that is find an LHS that wants to participate.
4. You're also going to need help to run a comp so ensure you have reliable volunteers long before your first one.

 

[justinart24]

I like your energy, not maybe people want to put the effort out to run events. I been running WARCRC events since 2010. Set a early schedule, stick to it and share lots of information about the event on a weekly basis.

How can I inspire folks to tag along?
Don't do prizes, keep it simple. You want people coming to have a good time, not to just get free stuff. First step is to create a Facebook and IG account with your club info. Post 3-5 times a week, some info and cool builds. This day in age, you need to post to look active and inspire others to come out.

Never cancel events, don't put doubt in the mind of drivers. If you run an event and only a few people come, keep going... it takes time to get the word out in your area... push on!

How far are folks typically willing to drive?
This is a topic that doesn't get talked about a lot. 75% of people don't want to drive more than 30mins, 20% will drive more than an hour, 5% are nuts and will not complain if the event is awesome. I would love to do more epic locations but not every one wants to drive an hour.

What kind of trails do you all like?
Keep it simple and fun, too hard of trails will make the trails get back up, keep it a walking pace. I highly suggest to get some gates, at WARCRC I started "Scale Trail Run" events. 50 gate course, lots of drive and fun! And now score sheets to do after.

Are folks generally willing to help with coordinating stuff?
I will be too honest here, most people love to coordinate stuff but when it comes down to the event day... you need to build a small friend group that will be there with you. You will run into many people to try to change things and "hey we should do this". Keep it simple! Set a game plan and stick to it! Changing too much will put doubt in drivers minds.

I'm hoping to print some fun trail "decorations" like starting platforms, and "photoshoot areas". I took our 1:1 rockcrawling route signs and scales those down to size for 1/10 trailheads.
This goes a long way! Get some club stickers and etc made, it will help people feel apart of the club and it's always nice to have something to take away from an event to look back on, even if it only cost 50 cents.

 

[justinart24]

Here are some of the WARCRC "Scale Trail Runs" I host. I would say start with "Trail Runs" and work into SORRCA courses if you have the team of judges for it or just keep it as "Trail Runs!"

 

[justinart24]

Also, sharing more info on your club and events is a great idea, I have spent a lot of time putting info together. View the links below....

2026 WARCRC Scale Event Schedule...
Warcrc - Washington State Radio Control Rock Crawlers
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Here is a quick break down on specs/rules for each of the Classes we run...
Warcrc - Washington State Radio Control Rock Crawlers
Class One (4.19 Tire Max)
Class Two (4.75" Tire Max)
Class Three (5.75" Tire Max)
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WARCRC Scale Comp "Scale Points" info...
Warcrc - Washington State Radio Control Rock Crawlers
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WARCRC Scale Comp "Course Penalties" info...
Warcrc - Washington State Radio Control Rock Crawlers
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WARCRC follows 2017 SORRCA rules...
Warcrc - Washington State Radio Control Rock Crawlers