exint2
08-11-2006, 12:44 AM
First of all I’d like to thank you for the generally very positive reception that the show has received, however we know we can improve and I’ll answer your suggestions / criticisms later in this thread.
A quick background on me and the team who put the show together. I started racing RC cars way back in 1980 in one of those draughty church halls that were so prevalent in those days. Initially in 1/12th in ’84 I got onto the Off road bandwagon and raced pretty competitively for about 5 years, I then decided to try full sized racing …. But that’s another story.
My involvement in the TV world happened by accident but it resulted in my working in the media for F1 for 7 seasons as a pit lane reporter for Bernie’s digital TV company (that was only available in the UK in 2002). One of the things I did between 1999 and 2002 was to ask the questions at the post race press conferences (the ones that occasionally get shown on ITV) including Monza in 2000 when I “made Michael Schumacher cry” (search on youtube for the clip). When F1Digital was wound up, I began to work for ITV as their Interviewer on the Motors TV feed of the TOCA touring car package, and I still do that for 10 Sundays a year.
In 2005 and with my then 7 year old in tow I returned to RC racing, purely as a father – son activity ….. Well that’s what I tell the wife!
RC Racing came about as I believed that there was a market for a professionally produced RC car based programme, made by experts but with a more general appeal, I was lucky enough to have contact with Motors TV who’d previously shown a French based RC programme and they were happy to give the show airtime. A couple of the guys with whom I work on the Touring cars with have their own independent production company and they were looking for programmes to showcase what they could do.
So in November last year we set about finding a budget. It’s at this point that I have to extend my heartfelt thanks to HPI Europe and especially Jason Deardon and Christoph Lehmler, as without them and their support there would be no show. We approached all the major importers / manufacturers and they were the only company to back our vision, on the strength of what we said we would do. In hindsight I can see why the other importers were slightly dubious of our pitch as many have tried before and failed to actually produce a show, and we were looking for investment up front. Hopefully they may now see the error of their ways and come onboard the show…..:D
Whilst on the subject of thanks, we also received good support from Schumacher (Thanks to Robin and Dave), and our very own Rob Fitzgerald from RC Racechat. We also entered into a “footage” share with Ray Wood of Raywood RC videos, for the ISTC world championship race coverage, and I’d like to thank him for his sterling work in editing the finals.
Finally this has been a labour of love for virtually all of us who were involved. The budget as it stands is less than £1000 per episode, to cover everything – cameramen, editing, graphics, tape stock, travel, accommodation etc…..
The initial run will be for 8 episodes, however if we get more budget then we have the option of carrying straight on “ad infinitum” or having a short break and making series 2
We have lots of ideas, and with the right backing our big desire for 2007 is to get a multi camera crew to the Off Road Worlds in Japan, and film the whole event in HD …. But that is a bit expensive ……
OK now to answer some specific questions / queries.
Firstly the show is aimed to encompass as many people as possible, and reflect the whole of the RC scene. There are many times more owners of RTR vehicles who just bash them about with mates than there are us dedicated racers, hence we want to cater to that market by showcasing the excellent RTR and ARTR vehicles that are available.
We’re glad that people seem in favour of the “magazine style” to the programme, and of the general high quality of the show. Despite the restrictions laid out above, the Exec Producer insisted that we maintain quality standards that would allow the show to be broadcast on mainstream terrestrial television.
The first three shows will have a very large Touring car element to them as we sunk a lot of time and budget (that word again) into the trip to Italy. Also as the biggest event in the RC car universe it merits the high level of coverage.
Whilst we have items “in the can” covering RC Bikes, 1/12th and IC Touring cars we are lacking at the moment in any Rally Cross, something that we would like to put right. I have some ideas that we would like to film early next year and I’ll be asking for help in the next few weeks.
We are also trying to put together a visit to another international race meeting in the first quarter of next year but more on that later.
A couple of you have mentioned the race commentary on the Worlds A finals and it is here that I feel we have been really lucky. Having watched the “cold” edits of the finals, they are mildly interesting, when we add the dulcet tones of John Hindhaugh, the man who is Radio Le Mans, the voice of the ALMS, Martini World Circuits and Motorsport UK the races come to life. Whilst being a motorsport expert John had never seen an RC race in his life and was only given a brief briefing and some salient facts about the runners and riders and away he went. His commentary on next months leg 2 of the A main is inspired!
As for a hints and tips / set up feature, that is a very good idea and I thank you for your suggestion. We hope to be able to put this together in time for episode 4 or 5 and we also hope to have the best tutor possible.
We aim to put together a feature on the BRCA at the Autosport Show in January and will definitely be looking at following a “club racer” through their “day” at a club meeting.
However we still welcome any ideas you may have, and certainly any comments or areas where you think we can improve.
Finally for those of you who can’t get Motors TV, or for those of you who love the show, and / or want it in widescreen DVD quality; there will be a DVD release of RC Racing TV, covering all the best parts of the first 5 shows available before Christmas, and I’ll keep you informed through this forum of the release date and where to get it from.
A quick background on me and the team who put the show together. I started racing RC cars way back in 1980 in one of those draughty church halls that were so prevalent in those days. Initially in 1/12th in ’84 I got onto the Off road bandwagon and raced pretty competitively for about 5 years, I then decided to try full sized racing …. But that’s another story.
My involvement in the TV world happened by accident but it resulted in my working in the media for F1 for 7 seasons as a pit lane reporter for Bernie’s digital TV company (that was only available in the UK in 2002). One of the things I did between 1999 and 2002 was to ask the questions at the post race press conferences (the ones that occasionally get shown on ITV) including Monza in 2000 when I “made Michael Schumacher cry” (search on youtube for the clip). When F1Digital was wound up, I began to work for ITV as their Interviewer on the Motors TV feed of the TOCA touring car package, and I still do that for 10 Sundays a year.
In 2005 and with my then 7 year old in tow I returned to RC racing, purely as a father – son activity ….. Well that’s what I tell the wife!
RC Racing came about as I believed that there was a market for a professionally produced RC car based programme, made by experts but with a more general appeal, I was lucky enough to have contact with Motors TV who’d previously shown a French based RC programme and they were happy to give the show airtime. A couple of the guys with whom I work on the Touring cars with have their own independent production company and they were looking for programmes to showcase what they could do.
So in November last year we set about finding a budget. It’s at this point that I have to extend my heartfelt thanks to HPI Europe and especially Jason Deardon and Christoph Lehmler, as without them and their support there would be no show. We approached all the major importers / manufacturers and they were the only company to back our vision, on the strength of what we said we would do. In hindsight I can see why the other importers were slightly dubious of our pitch as many have tried before and failed to actually produce a show, and we were looking for investment up front. Hopefully they may now see the error of their ways and come onboard the show…..:D
Whilst on the subject of thanks, we also received good support from Schumacher (Thanks to Robin and Dave), and our very own Rob Fitzgerald from RC Racechat. We also entered into a “footage” share with Ray Wood of Raywood RC videos, for the ISTC world championship race coverage, and I’d like to thank him for his sterling work in editing the finals.
Finally this has been a labour of love for virtually all of us who were involved. The budget as it stands is less than £1000 per episode, to cover everything – cameramen, editing, graphics, tape stock, travel, accommodation etc…..
The initial run will be for 8 episodes, however if we get more budget then we have the option of carrying straight on “ad infinitum” or having a short break and making series 2
We have lots of ideas, and with the right backing our big desire for 2007 is to get a multi camera crew to the Off Road Worlds in Japan, and film the whole event in HD …. But that is a bit expensive ……
OK now to answer some specific questions / queries.
Firstly the show is aimed to encompass as many people as possible, and reflect the whole of the RC scene. There are many times more owners of RTR vehicles who just bash them about with mates than there are us dedicated racers, hence we want to cater to that market by showcasing the excellent RTR and ARTR vehicles that are available.
We’re glad that people seem in favour of the “magazine style” to the programme, and of the general high quality of the show. Despite the restrictions laid out above, the Exec Producer insisted that we maintain quality standards that would allow the show to be broadcast on mainstream terrestrial television.
The first three shows will have a very large Touring car element to them as we sunk a lot of time and budget (that word again) into the trip to Italy. Also as the biggest event in the RC car universe it merits the high level of coverage.
Whilst we have items “in the can” covering RC Bikes, 1/12th and IC Touring cars we are lacking at the moment in any Rally Cross, something that we would like to put right. I have some ideas that we would like to film early next year and I’ll be asking for help in the next few weeks.
We are also trying to put together a visit to another international race meeting in the first quarter of next year but more on that later.
A couple of you have mentioned the race commentary on the Worlds A finals and it is here that I feel we have been really lucky. Having watched the “cold” edits of the finals, they are mildly interesting, when we add the dulcet tones of John Hindhaugh, the man who is Radio Le Mans, the voice of the ALMS, Martini World Circuits and Motorsport UK the races come to life. Whilst being a motorsport expert John had never seen an RC race in his life and was only given a brief briefing and some salient facts about the runners and riders and away he went. His commentary on next months leg 2 of the A main is inspired!
As for a hints and tips / set up feature, that is a very good idea and I thank you for your suggestion. We hope to be able to put this together in time for episode 4 or 5 and we also hope to have the best tutor possible.
We aim to put together a feature on the BRCA at the Autosport Show in January and will definitely be looking at following a “club racer” through their “day” at a club meeting.
However we still welcome any ideas you may have, and certainly any comments or areas where you think we can improve.
Finally for those of you who can’t get Motors TV, or for those of you who love the show, and / or want it in widescreen DVD quality; there will be a DVD release of RC Racing TV, covering all the best parts of the first 5 shows available before Christmas, and I’ll keep you informed through this forum of the release date and where to get it from.