For love or money...why are you diecast racing?

Fun.

I've only been part of this world for a touch over two years. A simple stumble across a 3dbotmaker video and I was hooked. Something about it took me back to being a kid again. So being a grown up with real money I thought I can build a track for hotwheels. A few hundred dollars and a month or 2 later I had built Jungle Falls Raceway.  A 7 foot tall, 112 foot long combo of orange track and Adventure Force track. Started recording some races and put them on Facebook for fun. Got some attention from others and was told to check out RedLineDerby.  Eye opening experience for me. An entire world of people involved in this hobby\sport. After days being lost in forum talks about customized cars and tracks and mail in events I knew what I had to do. I had to host a mail in tournament.  The Beetle Bonanza was my first official event.  Had over 80 participants.  A test for any host. Knowing I needed a place to post the races for everyone to see i had to start a YouTube channel. My first attempt at producing any kind of content for YouTube was a small success. People participating in the race watched and generally gave me positive feedback. I've hosted multiple events since then and have what I think is a decent amount of subscribers to my channel.  Im grateful for all who watch. 

As far as making money goes....                   It would be awesome. But in reality it is not main stream enough.  Exposure is hard to get. Attention spans aren't long enough for most people. Sponsorship\endorsement are almost non existent for this hobby.                                   Figure out how to get Fanduel or a betting app involved could be an option and opportunity to make some money. A Netflix documentary could get some exposure and bring in more interest.  ESPN Ocho would be a game changer. If pillow fighting can be on there why not Professional Diecast Racing?

For me though,  I will just continue hosting races and making YouTube videos for pure entertainment and fun. I enjoy the process of hosting.  I enjoy seeing all the sweet builds and paint jobs people poor there hearts into. I enjoy watching them race against each other. I like making the videos and chatting with them on YouTube.  Its a big scary world out there. Being apart of RedLineDerby and hosting races is a bright spot for me. Hopefully brings some smiles and a small escape from the chaos of real life for some others. 

If anyone does break through to make  a profit from this thats an amazing achievement.  Until then I think it will always be a labor of love. And im here for it.. 

To all that build cars, I wish you the best of luck in all your races. To all who host races, I thank you for all time and energy that goes into that. To RedLineDerby, thanks for making this possible for all to enjoy.  

Hi all! I know for a fact I will never be good enough as a builder and hopefully a host soon to make any type of money...and frankly, I am glad. They say money is the root of all evil right? This is such a kind and giving community that I fear money would ruin it. Also, just think of the stress it would create...no thanks, I like our community as it is.

Well, My Answer's a Bit Over the Place, I Like Racing For Fun Since I Enjoy Watching The Races From Channel Like Gravity Throttle Racing, EP Videos, Funkhouser Diecast Racing League, 3Dbotmaker & Chaos Canyon, But I'm Also Doing This For Cash Since I Could Use That Money For School Field Trips, or Flea Markets, Why? To Buy Hot Wheels Of Course!

Can't anything just be for the love for FUN 

I'm in it for the FAME!  Once the legend of me grows to the point that I can charge for autographs I'll cash in.  But for now it's enough to bask in the joy that the public gets when I say "hi" or offer a handshake on the street. 

I'm in it to have fun and to learn, as my knowledge of making a toy car that I had as a kid, to go faster as well as restore, is something that makes me smile. Being in the marketing game, has steered me to build my own brand and website, and to build a track that I can share with like minded people and be a cool grand dad to visit! (And to keep me mentally young again!)

I do this now because;

it's so fun!!

on SSI, and no job, way cheaper than real racing, lots of time, a purpose

the best community on the planet! (super bonus pts)

won't lie, if my videos became $$$$ I wouldn't complain

thats why I am gonna add more real car content, too

old towns and cool stuff, huntin' diecast and more

findin' old stuff in general, etc (will get us outta the house...lol)

gonna do body mods on the Dart (cough mounts), and always carry ~100'+ of orange,

and ~50 ' of crash track in the road cases in the trunk

hoping to drag car people to diecast racing

next year, fairs, car shows, and more hopefully

film next summers vacation in Dartman (the Family Dartster?lol)

hopefully the t55 is finally in the us by then

working on concept art for dartman

dr

Art of the build

Personally, I build for the challenge and for fun. I don't collect, nor do I have a multitude of cars to race at the house. Any cars that I can't use for wheel farming, or ones that I feel I can't use as a mod someday, get donated to pediatrics at the hospital. There are a few castings that I keep just because they're cool favorites. I'm in it to race. The hosts that are clearly in it for views and developing a "brand", I normally  just don't race at those tracks. The multitude of channels that make for good viewing for the masses normally hold no interest for me whatsoever. Dioramas, novel announcers, and friggin 5 minute halftime shows are not doing it for me as well as it isn't for quite a few others. I find it annoying. The exceptions to this are if the host has a great running track or if I receive an invite. It's glaringly obvious which hosts are in it for the views and making money from it. Good for them, but when it happens the racing, almost always, is sub-par to what I would like to participate in. Now, drag racing is a different animal. I've found that it's where the real racing happens for those that are in the hobby for challenging themselves, and not doing it just to see their cars on YouTube or building a "brand" for themselves. There's really no way to make money from hosting only drag racing, and that's where the purists of hosts and racers tend to linger. That said, there are some very popular racers that do the crossover between open track and drag racing, and I can respect that. No offense intended to those that don't, but it is just an indication to me of the hosts and participants that see things in a different light than myself. In short, there isn't a right or wrong way to participate in the hobby as a host, or a racer. We all have our own motivations and find joy in the hobby as we see fit for our own selves. I'm in it for the pure racing without all the fluff, as my track would be if I hosted tournaments. If someone can make money being in the hobby, more power and $ to them. It's just not my thing. 

Here is my best case scenario.  

If I was able to make 2 grand a month I could quit my job..  I could live my life comfortably.  I wouldnt be rich but could make a living. Racing\recording would be my fulltime gig.. Entire tournaments every weekend.  Call outs, pinks, team battles, etc..

Would definitely have more than one track. Drag strip, probably a two lane challenge course.. 

Let me know if anyone is willing to back me for that 2 grand.  I can start immediately.  

I'm in it for fun.

I know ill never make any money on it with my track, and that's ok.

Props to those who do. I know channels like 3dBotmaker and GTR do alright, puts some extra change in ones pocket, but they put in an emmence amount of time and effort in those productions.

TinyTrackCars is trying something interesting with the fantasy league, I signed up. If it pans out well for him, he could make a few bucks, but Nick put in the effort to make it a sort of business venture.