A few months ago, my daughter’s teacher asked if I would do a show and tell of RC products. I know we have all been in a situation where you want to do something, but it is a fair amount of effort, and you try to find a reason not to, but after the fact, you are thrilled you took the time. This was definitely one of those moments for me.
For the show and tell, we brought a EF Mash Heli, a Phase3 Rookie Airplane, and a XTM XT2 Nitro Buggy. I asked Craig, our master R&D car expert to come for the display because he can launch a car like no other. From the moment we arrived the 20 kids, mostly 7 & 8 year olds were primed and ready. The teacher told us they had been counting down the days for our show, which was both exciting and a bit of added pressure as these kids wanted action. Due to wind, we could not fly the Rookie but hopefully another day. We flew the indoor Mash heli which definitely had the kids attention. Craig emptied a battery and the kids wanted more, but since we were on a time limit (can you believe they had to learn about things other than RC?) Craig showed the XT2 and then we headed outside. I must say it was really cool to have kids so amazed and they were ready for some noise and jumping. Craig had brought some small skateboard jumps and set them up in a way to allow for about a 60 foot runway. The kids took their places along the grass infield, and yes they kept wanting to move closer, Craig fired up the buggy and the kids went nuts as he hit the gas and the buggy took off. After a few test laps, Craig lined up the ramp and launched the buggy about 25 feet. I will admit that I was too busy talking to the teacher and watching Craig that I did not realize that in the time it took Craig to get the buggy around the grass and do a jump, another 10 classes of about 240 kids and teachers had come out to see “what was going on.” What had been a demo for 20 kids was now well over 260 kids, parents, and teachers. Craig and I made eye contact and I could see he was going to kick it up a notch so he moved the ramp back to allow for greater jumping space and then he set the car up and hit the throttle. The buggy may have hit 45mph and went airborne 40 feet through the air, and as it did, there was silence as 500+ eyes followed the buggy through the air. When it landed all the kids yelled, clapped and gave a collected WOW! and Craig looked like he had just won the worlds, it was that cool. Craig did a few more jumps and when he thought he was done, was about to shut the buggy down when a teacher asked for 1 more jump, with the kids adding a collective Please. It was one of those moments when you just feel blessed to be doing things you love, and I will not forget it. It was so much fun that we are working on setting up demos for schools on an ongoing basis. Its a lot of work, but I think the response speaks for itself.
