The spring of 2001 my long time friend George Crosara convinced me to come back to R/C and try the popular nitro touring car class. I bought a car and started racing again, I loved the racing at PLRC (Parking Lot Racing Club) in Streetsville, ON. I finished the series in fourth place my first year back with all A main finishes and some A main wins. Racing my first season with a stock OB4 with an MT12 engine was a learning experience and I had learned a lot for one season of racing. Half way through that first season I picked up JLRC as a sponsor. Phil Chong(JLRC) is the OFNA distributor in the area and with his help my second year would be even better.
The '02 season at PLRC I ran a very tricked out and hand modified OB4 with some nice Nova Rossi engines. Although the chassis was handling great the drive train could not hold up to the power I was putting down so I left the OB4 for a Serpent Pro half way into the series (I hated that car). I finished my second season in second place. I went to the Worlds warm-up race in Cincinnati, OH. and finished in third place in the A main but the field was missing many top drivers due to the 911 tragedy just weeks before.
Winter '02-'03 I began racing 1/12 scale during the winter months to try to keep my driving skills honed for nitro touring but never took it seriously it was just some friends getting together to turn laps.
For 2003 I had been given the opportunity to race for the Team Associated Canadian team and jumped on it ( yea! I got rid of the Serpent). I can't thank Phil enough for his support but I had to make the jump. I was given race equipment needed to win and capable to win. I ran a close to stock NTC3 with a three port standard plug RB Concepts engine as well as racing in the electric class with a Factory Team TC3 to get some extra track time. Thanks to Darren at Hobbycraft Canada for the Team Associated hook-up. The support of the TA team made for a great season and I made the A main every race with 3 wins giving me a second place finish in the '03 season two points behind my TA team mate Jeff Eveleigh (from XXXMain). I had also finished in second place with the TC3 in the electric class one point behind Jeff.
Go to the PLRC website at http://www.hobbyhobby.com/plrc/ to check out some race pics and stuff.
