Its been the topic on everyones’ lips in the last few months as the questions and scrutiny mount with only 5 months until the 2014 IFMAR Worlds is due to get underway at the ‘urbanised’ Giardini Naxos track in Sicily, Italy. The lack of any official published information for travelling drivers raises doubts about the event as well as the organising hosts’ credibility.
Very little information is coming out of EFRA (the European host bloc), under pressure internally to deliver an event worthy in scale of being called a ‘World Championship’ – something that those who attended Argentina ’12 would question.
Ever the outspoken underdog, Joseph Quagraine has captured a bit of the industry zeitgeist with his ‘open letter’, asking the questions which remain unanswered…
OPEN LETTER TO RC COMMUNITY
Hello,
I am writing this as JQ the RC Driver, JQ the Pro RC Driver, and JQ the RC company owner. The more I think about this, whatever position I think of myself to be in, the end result is the same. Something is wrong right now, and we have to fix it. We, as in the people actually racing at these events can do so, if we just voice our opinions together!
So what is the problem, it is pretty simple. I wanted to book my flights for the 1:8th Offroad Worlds, but I realised that I do not actually know which days the event is going to be! I have heard that the worlds will be extended, running for 12 days instead of 7, I have also heard it is just a proposal, I have heard that it will be just one week because “everyone complained”. But the point is, I have not heard anything official, and I would really like to book my flights and hotel!
THE Problem
It had been decided that there would not be any Worlds Warm up, or extended practice sessions at the Worlds venue in an effort to save costs. This sounded great, until Ifmar announced that the race would be extended by 4 days, for more practice. How this is supposed to save costs I do not know. 4 days more hotel, rental car, tyres, fuel, and most importantly, 2 weeks off work, instead of one. This is a HUGE mistake in my opinion. The reasons are:
– Additional practice, for what? No one I have spoken with wants more practice. We already have enough (too much).
– It is hard enough for many people to get 1 week off work, now they have to get 2 weeks off? In addition the added cost, it is not good for the average racer. I have heard drivers say they won’t go because they would have to miss the practice, and feel like they will be at a disadvantage. Is this the idea of a WC?
– Added costs for the manufacturers will be substantial, fuel, tyres, parts, and all on a track that wears out tyres in 1 run? How will a person paying for his own stuff afford to go?
Why would 4 extra days be GOOD?
I tried really hard to think of reasons, these are the only two reasons I could come up with:
– Someone wanted a longer all expenses paid holiday.
– Someone has struck a deal with local hotels. Count yourself how much money 4 extra days bring the hotels…..(Disclamer: This is based totally on speculation, as I said, I tried really hard to think of reasons :-))
So, people, if you agree with me that you don’t want to spend the extra money, you don’t want to take the extra time off (or on), and you don’t want to spend 12 days at ONE EVENT, please let’s stop this from happening!
I love the Worlds, it is the best race, but after Argentina, now this? We can do better….
And let’s leave these other problems for another time shall we?
– “No worlds drivers will be driving on the track before the worlds” Oh really? So no Italians are going? I seem to recall that the Italian nationals were recently held on the same track.
– The track layout/surface needs to be renewed by at least 60% – The organiser themselves told me nothing would be changed.
– The surface needs to be at least 50% natural soil. – It is apparently 100% concrete and carpet.
#facepalm
THE Future
Let’s try to remember why we race RC Cars, it is supposed to be fun! Let’s make these events affordable and enjoyable for everyone. Let’s visit locations with a large local RC scene, easy access for everyone, and great facilities. Let’s promote the event locally, and involve local media. Let’s shorten up the program, and cut costs. Why don’t we do this so that the RC scene can grow! Racing at remote locations, for almost two weeks, is not a step forward. The manufacturers, or the sport in general gains nothing.
Hey look, JQ is crying about something else! Shocker.
If you don’t like it, don’t go. It’s not like you are even going to make THEA-Main anyway with THEBad car…
You are right. WC should be held on a concrete track with no jumps. Seems legit.
That’s why the Worlds is moved every two years. Elite drivers should be able to do well on any track.
Hanno scelto il mondiale in sicilia per mafia!! è la pista peggiore in tutta italia !!!
They chose the world in Sicily for MAFIA! is the worst track throughout Italy!
where is the natural soil??
There is a layer of dirt on top…
These all sound like pretty legit reasons to me as a higher level racer that pays for his own equipment. a 12 day race for 1 class is incredibly too long.
It is no longer than if you add a Worlds Warm-up onto an 8 day Worlds. It works out the same in the long run. In fact, it is even cheaper because you are buying one flight, not two for a Warm-up.
JQ is dead on with this one.
I get where JQ is going with his thought process,
Still, it is a WC and it’s not like most average regular racers will be attending. That said, for those with low to no real sponsors, it’s going to be an expensive proposition. Just as it always has been. So I’m not sure how that part would or should factor in. Though I do understand it.
The length of the event being extended? I think it’s a catch 22 type thing. With the absence of a “Warm Up” event being held, it was almost a given that the event would be extended. If not, I’m sure there’d be just as many complaints. After all, racers will almost always find something to complain about, even if they’re rightly doing so. We do tend to be our own worst enemies. Though, maybe changing the length to a shorter duration wouldn’t be the end of racing. It’s a tuff call either way. Can’t please everyone.
Not knowing the exact dates for the event so racers/Teams/Mfg.’s can plan the trip to get there, is an issue. Budgets have to be made for that and the sooner the dates are known, the better for them. Though, I’d like to think that most Mfg.’s should have a budget in place for the WC’s that’s separate from the normal racing budgets, being as the WC’s are every other year, most of the major Mfg.’s should already have a plan for the WC’s. Teams/Racers don’t exactly have it that way. At best, they’ll have a year or less to get things lined up if they qualify. Which on the team side, if that team only has one or two divers that qualify for a WC, it probably wouldn’t kill the budget to get them there (unless it’s a small team/small Mfg.), but most of the top teams have more than one or two drivers that qualify for a WC, so trying to get them all to the WC event is a logistical headache. I know one team that has zero plans to send any of their drivers to the WC this year, which is a bummer, as that Mfg. may likely be a partial event sponsor.
JQ is like Lebron James, they both like to complain when they don’t have it their way……..
Joseph is a big baby he will never win.
I voiced many people’s opinions here, not just mine.
Lebron, I mean JQ stop complaining!!!! If other “Pro” Drivers are also complaining stop. You guys are “Pro” so why complain about the track, if your good, you are good at any track. It is so idiotic when these “Pro” complain about the track surface. They add sugar to tracks, in true off road conditions they don’t sugar to the track. If you a worried about being homesick and your car not making THE-A Main( which it wont), then don’t attend this race. Simple as that. If you hate IFMAR’s rules, then start your own worlds race. ” We already have enough (too much).” I think you are the one that needs more practice, Did you make the A-Main?
Buggyracer do you even make the Amain in your club races? I do not have THE car, but JQ in my opinion has the right as a industry professional to state these very obvious IFMAR flaws. If you read and understand the rules you would then under stand this letter. You guys are sounding really unintelligent. There are alot of industry insiders all over the world that feels the exact same way. JQ just had the balls to say it.
GJ, I actually do make the Amain in club races for your information. If everyone is so mad at IFMAR, then why don’t you guys start your own racing league since you guys think it is so easy.IFMAR is trying to the best it can, I don’t think they would want to hurt the industry. If your not happy then start your own league or don’t attend the race simple as that. I don’t think the race would be any less important if JQ attends or not. If your not happy JQ stay in your freezer(Finland).
jq nails it!!!
jq stop being a baby your lose.
JQ is damn right!!! Still no dates for the event is just a shame and the added 4 days are a flop as well! And even if I don’t own THE car, it’s good enough for any A-main and AT LEAST twice by square as fast as the shitstormers here!
You must be a JQ Fanboy…..
No, but I know that I’m right with my saying regarding its capabilities!
How are the four days a “flop”? Do you even English bro?
Having to buy a separate plane ticket and hotel for both Worlds Warm-up, and a separate plane ticket and hotel for Worlds, is more expensive than just buying one plane ticket and four extra nights. It’s CHEAPER since teams do not have to pay to fly drivers, mechanics, gear, TWICE. Only once.
“BRO” I do know Enligsh. I think you are the one that does not know English, you can’t even type. I am not comparing Lebron’s “flopping” with the four days, CANT YOU READ!!! I was just saying that Lebron is like JQ, they whine when they don’t get it their way.
Yes, a flop! Run through a dictionary.
Stefan……………. Your bottom line is brilliant! And so true.
So JQ is complaining that Italians may get more practice on the
track…. while simultaneously complaining that he and everyone gets too
much practice because they are adding 4 extra days? What da fuq
oxymoron, contradictory logic is that?!?!?!
What a whining little
diva. Boohoo. My car sales are low. Boohoo I can’t sponsor anyone
fast. Boohoo I’m not going to make the A-main.
2014 drama queen award goes to………………….. JQ
Hope sean_f that you are going to the worlds, your sponsor will give you a fast car, an excellent mechanic, and all the big macs that you can ask for, and make it all the way to the A-main….
offroad worlds…mmmmm concrete????? ban astro turf,sugar,or anything else you want to put on the track,runwhat you brung and learn the art of patience whilst running on dirt
As an old guy with not much in the game…. I would be livid not to know the dates…not to know the track was changed…… Not to know my team would even be racing on dirt!
Warm ups also bring news about the upcoming event, which is good for the sport, local economy and the teams, expensive yes, but so would be say…. Finding out your tire compound sucks or parts snap..and have new made, shipped, and run all during practice. The week is enough. Warms ups are an option if you want to go, so is just going to a local club race there sometime before the “track change”. I managed several small unknown teams and juggling resources is alway a priority. I don’t see cost saving nor fairness with the scenario presented.
Small unknown teams like Kyosho. LOL Regan, there are still plenty of people who remember you even back in the National RC days.
It does not matter if you think pro drivers should be able to adapt to a track or not. What matters is that the rules say the surface has to be 50% natural. If the organizers and governing body does not have to follow their own rules why even have tech at the race.
There is no reason to have a one class event with limited entries be more that 7 or 8 days. There are racers (that pay their dues to be a part of each block) that are on the up and coming and have to pay most or all of their own way. You guys keep saying “if you are a PRO you should be able to adapt to any track” If that is the case then why even have a warm up race or an event longer than 7 days? Ohhh maybe because the top manufacturers wouldn’t have an advantage over the up and comers that can’t make 2 trips or spend 2 weeks in a row at an event..
I know all to well about this as I have lived it with my son. He was soo close to being able to be at the top until I ran out of money to attend these events to get him over the hump and get fully sponsored with travel.
If everyone is so concerned about the companies and drivers not being able to pay for this or that this event is so expensive, then why don’t you guys donate money????
I really want to hear IFMAR’s response. Unlikely they will have one on any of the points JQ is making light of.
I suppose that all the people here know that the track is completely covered with cement.
I agree with JQ. There isn’t any comunication, any informations…where is a dedicated website? some official news? at this time we only know that the race will be made in Italy. Only this. (and that the track is completely covered with cement)
JQ, it seems
like as before, you see thing only through your point of view and not as a
general objective guy.
Not all of the drivers attending the WC can travel
twice: once for practice and once for the race. For some of us it is a lifetime
experience and 2 weeks is not a lot for “world championship race”
value for money, WC is the worst race ever! You get low track time for every
dollar you spend.
the added expense to the extra week is negligible in the total money you spend
on the race.
if you feel the expense is over your head – don’t go. And that goes for
everybody that want to take part in the race.
Saying your
mind about it is fine but don’t talk as you represent anyone.
Your letter read exactly like people commented: if it is not your way- it is
wrong.
Where was all
the crying months ago when all the information was already out there?
Why don’t you
take Furulund in Sweden
where the track also wasn’t 50% soil and they DID host the WC?
You try and use
this stage to present your interests and yours alone.
I can assume that 50% of the lower end of the WC chart, are happy to have more
practice time on the track before the race.
if you had enough practice – stay home and come later. Easy as that.
I feel like many of you are missing the point. My point has nothing to do with how good a driver I am, how good my car is, or how much money my company has to spend on racing. I am not saying I don’t want to go to Italy, or the organisers are doing a bad job, or that the track sucks. I am not complaining because I’m not getting my way. Do I have to spell it out for you?
1. No official word about the dates.
2. Longer event even though the majority of manufacturers and drivers do not want a longer event. Conflicting information about this decision.
3. There are rules in place about the track, that once again are not being followed, so either change the rules, or follow them. You can’t have rules and then not follow them.
My name is Salvatore Schepis. As you might know, I am the president of Messina Worlds, official organizer of the 1/8 Offroad World Championship 2014. Besides, we have also organized the 1/8 Onroad WC in Messina, year 2005. Just in case you weren’t part of the RC world at the time, please feel free to find out information about the success of this past event. Since then, of course, our experience has grown and so did our committment for the organization of present and future events.
If you have any doubts about our credibility and technical reliability we believe that you are wrong.
As for what you mention above (1.) we don’t agree because the dates are shown both in the EFRA and AMSCI (Italian Federation) since a long time.
Regarding (2.) there will be 3 extra days. We believe that this choice will help manufacturers and drivers, as no extra journeys will be required (i.e. warm up, private and team practices).
Concerning (3.) we think that it is premature to make comments because the layout and soil of the track will be modified, following the new official rules.
We would also like to inform you that we will publish an official announcement on Neobuggy, regarding the issues above.
For any further information would you please write to messina.worlds@gmail.com. Thank you.
Gotta say i’m backing JQ on this one, now i dont care in the slightest how long the event is because i wont be there, but i think the bigger issue is that a decision hasn’t been made or announced yet.
Surely common sense dictates that the longer the event, the more notice that needs to be given. 5 months out and still no set details? Come on, most club races are more organised then that!
Now so many people are sitting here making comments against JQ but think about how you’d feel if your favourite driver couldn’t make it just because they couldn’t get organised in time or precommited themselves to something else in life.
Luckily i suspect you wont have to worry about that though because JQ’s letter should be enough to give the organisers the wake up call they need.
————————————————————————————————-
Disclaimer: I am not a JQ fanboy nor do i even run a JQ car, but i do know that guys like JQ know more about racing at this level then many of us ever will and if they have concerns, they should be heard, not shunned.
Saatana Perkele ! Yes, it is rather pathetic that 5 months out the dates are not even known for the WORLDS
The whole “bust JQs balls because he’s JQ” thing is tired. A lot of you guys are counterpointing him for no good reason, other than to be a dick.
Doesn’t this PDF file list the dates and times? http://www.roarracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Stage-Report-Messina-2014.pdf
See what it says about the dates:
“For such the organizer has asked IFMAR to increase
the practice days starting Thursday 18th instead of
Saturday 20th. The initial practice days are also included in the
suggested timetable.”
Suggested…..
Two weeks is really too much. I mean, how much practice do you need? If you ask me, one week is more than enough (without any kind of warm-up, unnecessary in my opinion). To learn the track? Serious races like ETS and EOS can be held in 3 days with everyone happy, and people still don’t see the problem in the WC being 2 weeks long? I know the WC is the most prestigious race, but still let’s not exaggerate. Who here can afford to spend almost HALF A MONTH away from work, college or whatever, racing RC cars? Only kindergarteners, school children, pensioners and very privileged working people. I am speaking about amateurs and enthusiasts, let’s not live in illusion that everyone in RC racing is a professional. It is very much an enthusiast-centered sport, and in my opinion the Worlds shouldn’t run away from the enthusiast willing to do the Worlds. It should be made easier for him, not for a professional A-main contender.
EXACTLY
There are maybe 10 guys that do this for a living… Not counting company owners like JQ. Every other person at the worlds has to make huge sacrifices to be there.
This could be the least attended WC in a long time.
And the practice thing, as a whole in RC, is out of control. If everyone only had 5 minutes to to learn a track before round one, the same guy will win, as if everyone had 4 days to learn the track.
Well said Denis.
I’m in JQ’s corner here.
Well, the event is called IFMAR World Championships 1/8 IC Off Road, that should mean that only information posted at ifmar.org should be considered official so lets see what thay have to say about it… quoting:
“IFMAR World Championships 1/8 IC Off Road
EFRA Bloc – Location: Naxos World Track, Sicily, Italy
Dates: September 18 – 27 (registration day September 17th)”
That’s it. All of it. :facepalm:
I think JQ cant read or he can but just wants attention because he has not gotten any since Hara was driving the J-WHO car.
what a hater.
JQ man crush…
Too bad disqus allows multiple users with the same name. the above comment was made by some else, as visible in the page source.
VERY WELL SAID. I agree. 100%
JQ is a wuss, enough said
100% agree
The Worlds should be an advertisement for the sport. Organised in this way, it won’t be.
IFMAR is only good for IFMAR personel.
All extra costs for the manufacturers and their teams will be paid by YOU, by US, by the people who pay for a RC Car, who pay for parts…
That Mr. Schepis points at a race almost 10 years ago is lame; that was before the crisis hit our sport hard.
IFMAR should organise an event better than this; JQ has a point!
Feels like there are two opinions:
1. 100% agree
2. JQ is a dickhead
I think they should be:
1. 100% agree
2. I disagree, because XXX. I think it is good to extend the race because XXX, and the track should not be changed XXX. Concrete is good because XXX.
Haven’t seen much of that on here or anywhere else.
Exactly, it’s sad that people who disagree tend to present that in an “JQ is a ….” sentence. I haven’t seen any valid argument, except that “JQ is complaining, and he shouldn’t do that because he isn’t the fastest man in world”. It is not important that the track isn’t WC-worthy (in my humble opinion), it is much more important that JQ is a … for pointing it out? I don’t understand some people…..
sounds like Mr. Crybaby already has his excuses lined up
The dates are already posted for some time at the IFMAR website, 18th till 27th of September. The old rule specified 8 days for the WC event. The new rule says, the event will be held over 8 days or 10 days. 10 days, may be (are) applicable in case the organiser has a brand new track and no pre event is organized.
Jq…All you do is race!! What are you talking about an extra week off work? If anybody needs the extra practice its you!!!
Even JQ himself recognizes that he is a dickhead. That is the only time I agree with him.
http://www.rcrevolution.net/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3432
Well there we have it, the organisers have laid it out and the track will be changed.
Makes me wonder if all of this has prompted that commitment. If so then JQ’s letter would have been time very well spent. Of course if its not changed, and the rules as written are not carried out, the organisers will be reminded of their commitment as written here.
Wow still lot of immature people in this hobby. JQ made some valid points. He is entitled to his opinion without being called names, why not discuss why you think EFRA is correct and join a constructive dialogue rather rather the all these petty name calling