Got so much to say about this race so will split it in several posts. First out…

- The difference between Swedish races and the NXC GP

I did my first rc car race back in 2003 and been used to how the races are organized. It’s been the same structure for more then 20 years. And the races I have been outside of Sweden has been Championships, so they are a bit different to the cups and standalone races. In Sweden everything is very based around rules. We should always follow the rules strictly. Good and bad, but you know what you going to get. And for Swedes it’s also very important that everything is fair. But is all this needed? And the most important question – do the racers want it to be like that?

When going to NXC GP in Hilleröd I got an eye opener. The slogan on the drivers stand was “for racers by racers”. And nothing could be truer. So, what do we racers wish for to make a great race weekend? We want as little stress as possible. We want the information to be straight and clear. We want to be meet with understanding from organizers if something uneventful happens. We want a timekeeper announcing relevant information that you can hear cleary from both the drivers stand and the pit.

And it was clear from the beginning that this was the priority from the organizers at NXC. No tech inspection, no race controller that throws out penalties. No 20-minute drivers briefing telling us which way to drive on the track and explaining the meaning of a stop n go. No excessive lunch break.

Instead, they made it super clear when the track was open, when you where on you last lap and that you need to enter exit right away. Super clear when it was 2 minutes until track open, 1 minute and when it was open. The timekeeper was sharp and had a visual understanding of the marshall spots and the name of the driver from the previous heat who supposed to be there. The drivers briefing was 2 minutes long all they basically said was welcome and let’s have a good time. This allowed us to have 187 entries but still far from less stress then a traditional one-day race in Sweden.
The sound system was impressive. Lound and clear everywhere. Far better then anything else I´ve experienced. That’s one detail that makes it all much better.

The Hilleröd club also made a great effort with the things around the facility. The cafeteria had very nice staff, fast service and some of the best burgers I´ve ever had on a rc race. And just the fact the toilets where cleaned twice a day and towels where changed made it feel more fresh for us who clean our hands several times a day.
And the biggest difference was the vibe. Serious racing on the track but relaxed and a bit of a party vibe on the side. One example – a friend of mine had start number 13 and asked the organizers where the marshal spot where and got the answer (with a smile) – there is none, go take a break and relax. That would never happen in Sweden.
The highlight of the weekend was the super pole. Big boom boxes where placed in the middle of the track play loud music and the finalist all hade 2 laps to get a hot lap. Everyone was standing around clapping their hands and cheering on. Great vibe, awesome atmospehere.

I think, and it’s not only because they were serving beer at the track, that the awesomeness is due to the right choises. Our Danish neighbours are prioritizing they right things when they arrange races like this. Less rules and more trust in the drivers. They truly made a great event and they taught us Swedes to be less uptight. Have fun and race hard. Simple as that.