วีดีโอ

Imo what's important for a new brand I feel you need a pro driver to show what the car can do...on an established brand like mygen you don't need one the brand is prover...with tlr they are established but I feel phend doesn't help mainly just because you can't get a discount on tlr... products

I usually agree with max but I agree 100% with you on this one

NC Vance co

Ryan is a bad@ss dude 🔥

Max is way off base here. Lefty is 1,000% correct.

Frankie Contreras JR. Obviously. 😅

Maybe I got to try J concepts tires again because every time I use them they only seem meh, and then I switch to Pro Line tires and it’s yea 👍

The track layout looks fun

Mayako needs driver representation, IMO, all racing brands do. Racing is often associated with product research/development, and the quality of products racing or otherwise. IE, how well Chevy does on Sunday speaks to how well the Jone's Chevy Malibu will run the next 5 years. . Mayakos product line includes "racing development", and I'm not sure it really is the model for an RC racing brand. It's like it should be it's own entity. In fact I'd say it would be beneficial to be able to market "invisible speed" as a product for all brands, IE, buy a AN SWorkz, get 50% discount. I think the Invisible Speed stuff is great, JQ is a smart guy, but it's really limited IMO to RC racers who would like to become pro, and possibly pros. Again, a chance to promote the Invisible Speed product because it's a tied very closely to Mayako. Why is RC racing so small? Well... why is "full scale" racing so small? The ratios of "racers:drivers" is probably about the same. Think about the billions of drivers every day who never have raced or ever will. The few thosands that do, between all the types of racing (drag, motorcycle, auto, oval, circuit, offroad, etc) are also a teeny, tiny % of all full scale vehicle operators. Cavalieri has a few years left as a top driver, but admittedly past his prime. If Phend moved, I'd like to see him go to SWorkz. Would be sad to see Big Joe go, but I'd probably trade a couple drivers for Phend. Fuller to XRay? Phend to SWorkz? Phends either still the TLR golden boy and Horizon respects that or he's not. Excited to see RM get back into some more 10th scale again. think it's key at his age to keep his skills extra sharp. RM has 5-10 years left as a top competitor IMO. Eyes will be one f the first challenges, and we may see that with RM and his body picks.

For me, some one like Alex is more important than Bruno. I don't race 1/8... but if I did I would look for JQ or Ryan Lutz... people who give me the feeling they enjoy the sport and want to share it with people on all levels. I personally don't care who won what race. I presume there are other avid racers like me.

Re Mayako, I 100% agree with Max but presence needs to be addressed

Truggy life!

Lefty, he's called the arrogant one for a reason. You need to shut that shit down and take control of your show.

Mayakos problem is there is no middle man money and no shops are supplying parts, it forces everyone to be there own track support. Unfortunately there not enough serious races to make the concept work

Comments here are interesting, may have to watch!

Hobbyist drivers want to buy a car that the pro drivers use to win races.

That’s what we do, hurt feelings and Get Shit Done😂

Keenan, as much as i like you and all the effort you put in the podcast… can you please listen from time time, and hear what the other is trying to say?! Interfere in a discussion is quite annoying, as we don’t hear the other voice… ✌🏼😘☺️

Gonna have to disagree with Max heavy on this one regarding Mayako. I really thought about getting the car because I grew up next to Tebo, and thought it would be so cool driving a car that my local pro is driving. When he left, there is basically no American presence and I lost interest. I would love to root for someone and I know everyone else who is interested in Mayako would agree. The car itself looks awesome and I love the idea, but the American race program and way they are going about it has to change. That’s most the reason I got a Mugen because of Drakes support.

The rule that measures how good a RACING related product is how well they do at (guess what??) RACING. That's what basic marketing is: appeal to customers by showing your product is better than the others at doing what it has been designed to do, or at least try to make your public think that way... I kind of get what Mayako is trying to do, but without a relevant presence in events showing what their product is capable of, it will be hard to grow in this market. A big shot in the foot was to not have kits available during the end of the pand3mic, in my opinion... seems like another one is selling a PRO RC car that doesn't seem to be picked by PRO RC drivers (I know it's not as simple as being "picked", but my point is related to be present at the pinnacle of the market you take part in). It's easy to click on the keyboard to write this, and another thing is to actually be in the shoes of the people that take those decisions, I know... I honestly would be a Mayako customer if I wouldn't have to ship every single replacement/upgrade part overseas, but that's just me that likes to have "different" stuff. What I did instead was the easy and safe decision to pick the brand that has more drivers locally and that has some kind of local support for parts.

If you are a chassis manufacturer, that supposedly makes racing cars, and has no interest in having a top driver to represent and 'root' for, then you might as well be Arrma or something like that. The Mayako is a great car, but from experience the whole membership model is very unattractive to a lot of people (and potential dealers/distributors). And even worse, is they paywall the 'good' race options and parts behind that membership wall. The brand will die behind this dreamland model, not survive because of it.

Lots of issues with Max's Mayako game plan.. Sparko is/was basically giving a kit to anyone who wanted it. How many are out there? Now, tell a prospective Mayako new RC Driver it's 1000 bucks... When someone tries to tell me how great a kit is, I tell em to post the podium pics.. it's not accurate, but with Zero wins , you're NOT selling anything at retail.. the Mayako looks like a good car... There's NO market saturation..

I wouldn't say Mayako needs a top driver, especially considering the available options in the USA (I don't see a favorable match). As Lefty has said, I would say they need an improved public presence, both trackside and online. No one in the USA is going to join if all the marketing revolves around a few JQ/Eurocentric videos with a feeling of "If you want to know more, pay $350 and join the MPC." I also agree with Lefty that the average racer doesn't want to get that deep into the RC racing experience as what Max describes as the ideal Mayako customer. The guys that do are usually racers' racers, smart guys who want to feel like their opinions are valued. For all JQ's positive traits, he's not great at taking feedback and communicating, which can rub like-minded people the wrong way.

Commercials are Brutal

Lefty is too dumb for intelligent conversations. As soon as you guys started talking about Mayako it went over Lefty’s head, because it’s more complicated than ”give discount, print name on shirt, go racing”. Almost everything Lefty said was wrong, (including his story about the brakes, which were fixed, and which I was correct about all along). Lefty is right about needing a top winning driver. Most of what Max said was correct. Tebo wasn’t and Robert isn’t a team manager, but community managers. Also, back when JQRacing was around there were many drivers at the races because Lefty gave anyone with a pulse a good deal. JQRacing made less money in its best year than Mayako in any year.

Literally no one agrees with max on this. Mayako needs a manager and a top driver. Ive watched everyone in cali ditch the mayako car and i can honestly say its the best car imo and i wanted to switch from my current cars but not having anyone to "look up to" and "root for" it doesnt feel like a race car or a viable and/or proven car even though i know its capable. Even seeing sworks teams success ive looked more closely at them

1:50:00 This one hundred thousand percent. JQ does not listen. I was a JQ team driver when the first The Car was released with A Main distributing. I had parts breaking that should not break, and JQ just said dont wreck. Was racing The Car at the 2011 Silver State and the top portion of the servo saver should no break when down siding a jump. Because he was aggressive in defending his chassis, i broke my contract at that Silver State and finished the race with a Losi 8ight 2.0. When the company owner is treating his team drivers like trash back then, it does not appear that he has changed his attitude today. Is Max really arguing that Win on Sunday Sale on Monday isnt real? People will not buy cars that arent winning, and you need to have top drivers to win.

would love to see mayako as one of the big brands, TLR is as i feel it in 1:10 almost dead (no new car in what 6 years or so) as loyal drivers like Ryan harris and other drivers moved over to AE Xray or other brands and in 1:8 they live on Phends driving and fan loyalty so if TLR lose out Phend they dont got much of a base to lean on IMO. TLR os now days more about selling pimped up Arrma buggys and SCT and pro-motos to bashers then people that whant to race rc cars, they moved on to a new market where its money but its not racing. im not a pro on rc brands or economy but as i been working in stores and i know its almost imposible to live on old merites and hold on to loyal costomers if they dont get regularly something new improved exiting that they spend money on or they move on to the next big thing. you cant sell old car stereos like blaupungt casette players on old merites becaus they where the top brand in 80-90s before CD you need to move on and be the leading brand people keep their eyes on for the next big products. agree with lefty that mugen is legasy and a brand brand for the winners and can survive on brand loyalty as well as they release new products like MSB1 while mayako need a top driver and be in the spotlight to show the cars is something to count with and not just a niche brand. mayako needs to be on podiums in the big races like worlds or euros and big real races in the states (not only some glorified clubrace runn every weekend) to be seen.

As a current Mayako member as well as previous JQ Racing driver I will say this on the experience. It’s a combination of everything between Keenan and Max. 1, the core of Mayako and success of it does not require a top driver, or why we joined. But we do need a top driver, we are a racing team and need a proper presence at races and a driver to cheer for in the mains. This does not mean we get a pro driver but no factory support at races! 2, JQ had the opportunity to fade into the background as a “designer” as he claimed he would. He did not and it is very apparent he is very involved in all aspects and has the death grip around the neck of suggestion and change in the community. The stifling of distributors, not helping pro drivers win races, licking the bum hole of one pro driver in the Dmain but ignoring the driver in the Amain, the brake situation. He can never realize that his opinion should weigh less than your entire community as well as paid drivers. Don’t be SWorks arguing about rear A arms for years. If people want change, just F’n change it!. My solution, MagBrake! If your paid drivers or members want help, treat them as if they are most important, what else are you here for?

TZO=FCJ

LMFAO Max you are wrong, and Lefty is correct.

is horizon hobby imploding like a carbon sub?

Cav should have retiered years ago. He is just stumbling from one crappy 1/8 brand to the next, based on the paycheck they will hand over. It's just embarassing based on all his achievments.

Guys - Kyosho Europe shared a video of Berton testing with Matrix tyres in Italy. They wouldn't be doing that if he was driving anything but the K-car.

TLR and racing are dying a slow and painful death. If you take away the US they actiully are already dead. No one in Europe worth 2 cents drives for or with TLR

110% have to agree with lefty.. max lives in a world where he rides a unicorn, and has a pet dragon.😊

110% have to agree with lefty.. max lives in a world where he rides a unicorn, and has a pet dragon.😊

LFG

Excellent conversation about off road tracks!

I think Maifields rough track comment was mis understood. He didn't say it was easy, just gives the opportunity for errors. The track changes from lap 1 to lap 50, mistakes will happen, new lines are needed and driving gets adjusted. In spain it was all about repetition/robot like as only one line is fast. Any track where the car comes off just as clean after 1 hour of racing as it did in the first minute is not offroad, it was basically onroad with jumps. Redovan could have had a few areas of low traction (actual dirt) to mix it up and give opportunities. Don't get me wrong, Ongaro would win at any track in any condition, but at least this would make the rest of the field battle it out for the podium and make the race watchable.

1st Tebo 2nd RM 3rd lil bump

The nitro compound in Maricopa az is about 20-30min south of Phoenix. Guy pitting heckert was Brian Lukavich

I disagree with the statement that we are talking about tracks because an American didnt win worlds. Maybe because there was so few American representation in the final yes. I have raced and will go to DNC again. I loved it. It isnt that rough. But old school silver state was rough. That i though was always a little to rough. And then there were the RC Pro finals in Texas that was in a horse arena. Man it got crazy rough. Thornhill before it was covered was awesome. But they are challenging and did create exciting racing because in order to pass you couldn't play follow the leader. Most offroad today is getting too close to onroad with a few jumps or bumps.

The serpants cool

Max you come across older than you are mate

The N1 looks so good on our tracks in new zealand. Not many run them and no fast guy. But it looks great Also the track in nelson for nz nationals on the 14th to the 17th Is clay, only rolled. 140 cars entered this track is going to be a gnarly track on the last dayl

loving all this on-road coverage. Was bouncing back and forth between x4 and mtc2r...maybe I'll just wait and see what AE has cooking

😅 1:03

1:08:23 damnnn i get hella screen time lmao. b main bump up to a 2nd place finish in sportsman nitro buggy and a 5th place finish in spec tire nitro someone sponsor me ;)