HPI / HB International Guest Track Day & RC Drift Challenge Day

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January 18th and 19th, two very long day's especially with me having a broke neck. It was an adventure in itself just getting there. I'm still sleeping sitting-up and most comfortable in this one particular chair. John Schultz would be hauling up one of the Subaru's in his motorhome and trailer, so I thought this would be the best way for me to travel the 100+ mile trip to Willow Springs Raceway. Our plan was to leave Thursday from the office and take my chair with me in the motorhome so I could actually be assured I would be getting some sleep! We camped out at the front gate and fell asleep quick and 6:30 came even quicker!

All in all, it was a great day and both international guest and employee's got to ride in and drive the two Super-Takiyu Subaru's!!! This will make my second time missing out on driving the cars, but they are right hand drive cars... I've driven wildly exotic rally cars, so I'm quite ok with not driving these cars. The hardest part is just being at the track and not driving.

We did invite all four of our RC magazine partners [Driver, Action, Extreme and RC Car] and NOT ONE SHOWED UP!!!! I would like to thank Greg of TPR Magazine and Bob of Urban Racer . com for coming out!!!

The following day was the kick-off of our HPI/HB Challenge Series and would also be a showcase for our international friends. the event was located at the HPI RACING Global headquarters back in Foothill Ranch.

We arrive at the office on Friday night about 11:00pm [in the big RV & 24ft trailer]. We part around back of the building, where all the 18-wheelers park/deliver/sleep over-night. For some reason, this new security guard is set on kicking us out of our property at 1:30AM!!!!

I'm the one with the broke neck, so I let John get up out of bed to answer the door as security is banging away! I hear John come to the door and let out a "WAIT! I'm going to THROW-UP!" And he makes way back to the large garbage can and tosses his cookies! SO, I get up. I have on my pants, socks, t-shirt, beenie and monster neck brace and of come out of the RV and I'm pissed!!! But I try to reason with the rental-cop to the fact that we have a permit for the event and such. And to the fact that I have keys to the building. And to the fact we have been working all day, very tired and obviously I have a sick driver!

He is not having any of it and makes way to his truck and starts calling his superiors. I make way to open the building to prove to him that what I say is true. When I open the building he said he has called the police. Sheriff's. three cars worth are there in like 2-seconds!!! I am quite happy to know and see how quick they got there and I basically go over to one and explain the situation and the security guard is sitting in his truck.

I told the officer that I was very upset but he will not have an issue with us as I will simply re-arrange vehicles in the warehouse and move the massive RV& trailer inside. He said ok, and they quickly split and saw this as a non-issue as they saw the 18-wheelers there. They left and the security guard is waiting for us to pull in the RV. So now John is pissed. Gets in the driver's seat, backs up and try's get get lined up to pull the RV in, but the security guard is in the way. John lays down on the horn and filling the rental-cops mirrors with some bright lights. So he leaves the scene.

We pull in and quickly go to sleep as it's much darker in the warehouse and better to fall to sleep. 6:00am comes all too early! Sorry, no photos!

Everyone starts showing up and we start setting up the course and display area. We had a lot of help from our different friends in running the event. Event was great and well received, especially the first ever RC DRIFT TIME ATTACK!!! Event photos start with Yoichi and Kerry of HPI RACING judging the concourse before the drift action gets underway.

OK, I'm now sick with a cold and I have that hated sore throat with cough!!! ERRRRR!!!