Meet Bryan - Builder of the Month Father's Day Edition

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We are excited to share with you our second Dad for Builder of the Month Father's Day edition, Bryan from Florida! After a friend introduced Bryan to Boom Racing, he found inspiration and support through the Boom community. Bryan is also a dad to three kids, with whom he shares the joys of R/C.

Boom:

Can you tell us about yourself and how you got into the hobby?

Bryan:

Hey, my name is Bryan. I currently live and trail out in sunny Florida. I got into the hobby mostly in the 80s. It started with a radio shack Golden Arrow. The Golden Arrow broke and a family member borrowed parts from it that a Tamiya Grasshopper needed to operate and gave me a working Grasshopper using some Golden Arrow parts. Wow, this was so much cooler, and I could drive further and faster. I would literally see how far I could drive it with the 3’ long antenna. Lol, exciting times.

Unfortunately, I didn’t keep that Grasshopper because, at that age, I didn’t understand how to appreciate it yet and that maybe someday I would still want it.

Boom:

What was the hardest thing about being a dad and what surprised you?

Bryan:

The hardest thing about being a dad (and bonus dad) that I have learned so far is that time goes by too quickly. Our kids grow faster and faster each day. What surprised me most was how smart they were, even at such young ages.

Boom:

What Boom Racing products do you have experience with? Share some insights about what you like about them.

Bryan:

I just got deep into Boom Racing about a year ago. It actually started with ordering stronger center drive shafts for another Crawler platform about three years ago. Then a friend mentioned the Boom Racing BRX lineup to me. From there, I purchased a BRX02 Defender Wagon, then a BRX01 LC70, then some reliable Phat Axels and driveshafts for another scaler, and my latest purchase was the official Landy Series 3 109. The things I love most about Boom Racing products are the quality, community, and, obviously, the way they drive. Everything down to packaging has been nothing but superior quality. Being fairly new with Boom Racing compared to others, I’ve had to lean on them for a little support as well as the group of other users who inspired me and helped me along the way. I’ve learned quickly and appreciate everyone’s help.

Boom:

What are your favorite R/C moments with your dad/children?

Bryan:

My favorite R/C moments with my children are the smiles and laughter. I have a daughter who is almost two years old. I am excited to get her into R/C. She already has a Comical Frog to learn with and she likes sitting and helping build the new Series 3 with me. I also have two bonus boys who are 10-12. Occasionally they like to bash with me. The smiles and laughter it brings are priceless. They are heavily involved in sports, so I don’t push R/C on them, but occasionally they will grab for a remote.

Boom:

Who and/or what inspires you in the hobby?

Bryan:

Like I mentioned earlier, a family member started this rabbit hole for me. It wasn’t until decades later I got back into the hobby. I’ve done a little bashing, crawling, racing, and scaling. The scale and modeling aspect really inspires me, along with seeing what can be done by others. When you think something might be impossible, someone has likely done it and nailed it, which can help inspire your build. In general, though, it’s a way for me to use some creativity I didn’t know I had. I also like photography/videography, and taking shots of scale rigs is also part of the hobby and creativity that I can share with others.

Boom:

Do you have any tips or advice for others in the hobby?

Bryan:

My tip would be this. Never throw anything away; you can likely use it later, somehow, in some way—especially old shocks. Rust them up and toss them in a bed of a truck. Be patient, and don’t be afraid to be creative. Sometimes when you think something won’t work or look good, it ends up being your most amazing work, no matter what skill level you are at.

Author:Beth Liang