Best Advice

So I’m going to be talking about advice now. I know it seems like a bit ironic but I want to explain what has worked for me and what has not. If you are new to the weird and wonderful world of slot cars you will probably not know much about anything. So where do you get information? Well you can search the internet for information and let me tell you that you will have a hard time. Information is very hard to come by, there are a few gems that will help you immensely but as a newby you will not really know what to look for.

So my advice would be to speak to the top guys in your club. I know I refer to the “top guys” often but they really are a fountain of knowledge. They have been riding for the longest and generally have the most knowledge. You must constantly be talking to them and asking questions but more than anything listen. Some of the top drivers will not easily part with their knowledge but some will, especially if you are new. Most times when a driver is doing well they like to talk about how well they’re doing and what they have done to their car. This is your opportunity to listen and soak up as much knowledge as you can.

It never hurts to inflate their ego by telling them how well their car is going or how fast it is, be creative, this could help you in getting them to part with tips and tricks. When it comes to setting up of cars and working on them it is so easy to just hand your car to the resident mechanic and ask them to do it. This is pointless as you learn nothing. Rather ask him/her if you can bring your car and they show you how to do whatever needs to be done. This will also gain the respect of said mechanic and can also lead to them imparting more knowledge.

You have to keep learning and remembering what you have learnt. Write things down if it will make things easier. Never stop listening and learning and asking questions, no question is a dumb question. The most important thing is to take what you learn and interpret it into a way that makes sense.

For example if someone tells you that you must do x,y,z, you take that and go do some research, ask other people and make up your own mind. For example if the majority of the drivers in your club are running 8/42 gears but you prefer 7/42. Don’t change because everyone else is, do what works for you. That is the most important thing to remember. If it works for someone else, doesn’t mean it will work for you.

The best way to learn is to do. Try things yourself, once a ‘pro’ has shown you how to do something. Go back and try it for yourself. Try soldering a motor in, try setting up a car. The only way is to try it, if you mess it up I’m sure that someone will help you fix it and show you where you went wrong. Experiment with the knowledge you have picked up and you never know, maybe soon you will be one of the “top guys”