Racing a radio-controlled car is remarkably better when I refuse to take it seriously and focus on having fun. Of the many things in this world that are not fun, playing with my toy car is not one of them. Expectations low but my spirit's high it's time to yell "Yeeee Haaaw!" and watch my car fly. Let's go.

First to arrive to the track the White Whale and I finish a four hour journey to Wilkesboro, NC. The trip went smooth but I believe I suffered a 3rd degree butt cramp. No matter, This is the home of Bobby Moore, the world renowned Track Master himself. At first glance I notice the track is surrounded by trees, set between an industrial park and a county run park system. They had playing fields, bike trails, and best yet, a public bathroom no more that 20 yards from my trailer. This was perfect because I was staying the night and would need the facilities.

The legend himself, Bobby Moore, greets me upon arrival and was a fantastic host all weekend long. Only seconds into our conversation I saw something special about this man. If they say that the eyes are the window to a man's soul, what I saw in Bobby was a guy that has some true passion for off-road racing.

Three States, One Champion. A traveling series in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Beachrc.com sponsors this event which tasks me to drive the monstrosity on wheels, otherwise known as a mobile hobby shop, to each event to sell R/C stuff. I act like it's a job but at the end of the day I get paid to race scaled down R/C car's.... but not really. Sort of. Technically... never mind.

Playing in the dirt as a kid I believe some of it got into my mouth forever infecting me with a love for it. Big knobby tires. Rooster tails. The wonderful smell of two-stroke in the air! Oh yea! I'm from the eighties.

The trailer is set up and people are rolling in. It's Friday evening and the track is open for practice. No reason I shouldn't get a piece of this action so I roll it out. My JQ car was looking all Red, White, and Blue so it must be fast. Managing to check the structural integrity of every single pipe with my car I manage to suck it up my first practice. People were yelling at me to take up knitting and throw my car in the river. "There's a river?" I ask. I'd find out the next morning.

There is nothing better than the smell of nitro in the morning. Rise and shine and it's time to get to selling and racing. I take advantage of the perfectly placed bathroom facility but wait, the doors are locked. What do I do? There are woods all around me. Act like survivor man. Live off the land. Deeper into the woods I go. Boom! I find the river. Plop one down and watch it float away. See ya little buddy.

Qualifying starts and I feel confident. The track has changed significantly. I send it in round one like an over night package. Broke that beauty in less than a minute. That's ok because I was feeling good. Going to retrieve my car I notice that the staging area is not meant for two lane traffic. I get stuck in the blustering bumble of big butt's and hot pipes spewing smoke from all ends. This is the first mosh pit experience I've had at an R/C race. Kind of bad ass. Literally.

Rounds two and three take place and they come down to the wire. Number two position is up for grabs. Wrecking hard off the big triple my car ends up on the wrong side of the pipe but I marshal myself. Being care free I continue along the way only realizing that the race has ended and I essentially cut the track and cheated. Feeling punched in the gut and guilty I turn myself in like a crook from Americas Most Wanted. I didn't earn that.

It's main event time and I start in my rightful position of number three. Off we go and my traditional start goes as usual. Under a pipe is where I get stuck as the field passes me by. We have twenty-five minutes to race. This gives me time for chaos and chaos it would be. Lap by lap the track changes. At some point I'm cursing at the top of my lungs. Mad at myself and looking for blame I yell at myself again. My speed is there but I keep doing dumb things. My head down I go forward.

Six minutes left and the number two guy has a battery go dead. Hanging out in fourth place most of the race and feeling slow I realize I'm back in it. Those last 5 minutes were long and my eye's were blurry but I had to keep those point's for the series in my pocket. Crossing the line in the number three spot and not cheating I take home some hardware and good times had.

This is just another day in the life of an average joe like me. Keep it strong and R/C on. Until the next time. Peace.