Brotherhood

Brotherhood –
…and what it means to me.

I have been around for short time on this big spinning ball of crazy for what will be 40 in November. I know, I look good, it’s from all the laughter, or was that others laughing at me?? Anyway, there has always been one thing true, real, and loyal presence in my life, brotherhood.

I can trace this back to my first real group of friends, most know of them, but for the new people, there was the brother, Jake and Kyle, then Mike, and Tony. It was very rare to see one of us with out the other. We grew up together, experienced a lot of ups and downs, more ups thankfully. We survived my driving, skate trips, roadkill, a burnt car, home life, Boston creme pies, mountain dew, cheese nips, St. Albans, hardcore, ska, punk, and metal music and girls… Oh the girls… As life goes, I see and or talk to one of them once or twice a month. That brotherhood was the brotherhood that tests all after.

Then I moved on, naturally I guess, got married, had a baby, and my best friend’s first words were, does that mean your leaving the band? I knew in that moment that this brotherhood was on it’s way out. But, not a day goes by though, that I wouldn’t drop everything for them if they needed me. That’s a true brotherhood.

I have had the fortunate time to gain some great new friends, and some of these boys now men, are just the top of my little brothers got big on me. My bro Nick went from this little Jesus loving pipsqueak to a full fledge Christian leader in his community in LA, and I am as proud of him as any older brother can be. He is the epitome of what you’d want for your little brother, a better life than your own, and he is more of a man than most men I know.

Then there this guy Joe, oh man, what a happy accident this guy was. He is one of my closest friends, he is busier than any one person I know, and he is so giving of his time. It’s unreal, he’s that guy that will come to you after he worked 11 hours that day just to fix your car, or help you push crap out of the way. We have built his dream mud truck, and when I say we, I mean him. I held crap, ground rust away from the frame moved heavy stuff, and annoyed him with my questions. When we took the first run in Hanksville, I had tears in my eye. Thankfully I had a helmet on so he didn’t see me crying like a baby. That’s what brotherhood means to me.

Most see brotherhood as something built over time, and gained through trust, and respect. I feel this is true, as I am gaining a new brotherhood through my rc community. Greg, Rob, and Cory are forming something that just appeared out of thin air to be honest with you. Well it would look like that to most, but for me I was guided to it through a higher power thank you very much. As we head into ever adventure that feeling of togetherness is real, and awesome, and I can’t wait to continue this with them.

Which brings me to my last section of brotherhood. We have respect, loyalty, friendship, and a common purpose for brotherhoods, then there is this one thing I haven’t really had happen to me until just recently and that is; instant connection.

When I met John for the first time he greeted me unapologetically with a huge hug! He yelled out my IG name because he didn’t know my real name, or says “he forgot it” and wrapped me up in a bro hug, just as he did to Greg as well. We hung out with John and his brotherhood of guys, Anthony, Will, Francis, Mikey, and Tim all day and they made us feel like family right off.

Through out the day I’d check in with John, and he did the same. We instantly ripped on each other like we hung out for years. The bond was instant, and I had a familiar feeling come back to me that I haven’t had in a while, I shook it off as too many Redbulls.

As the day finished we all exchanged numbers and I told John to text me anytime, an he said what I always say, you’ll be sorry you said that. I laughed, as no one ever texts me. I’m like a chick on my phone, always on it talking, working, writing, or listening to music. To my shock, the very next day John texted me. We talked briefly, called each other an inappropriate name… It was over then. We haven’t stopped talking since. We hung out at our last comp Shred The Ledge. We were the last to go to bed, and the first to get up. 5am breakfast sandwiches, 4:45am burnouts, err attempts, deer sightings, bright ass light in my tent to wake me up, and bsing about life and future… Yes, this was it, this was my prayers answered. I finally had someone interested in me, and was willing to talk to me as much as I wanted to talk to them. I think our brotherhood was formed immediately, planned even, and I can say with certainty that we will be boys for a long time to come. The distance sucks, but that’s ok when you actually talk to someone everyday.

Sure, does it sound like a man crush?Maybe, but I don’t care. Take your best friend, rip them out of your life, and see how that feels. Friends were everything to me, and still are, as I enjoy being around people… Hahah jk, I hate all of you. Ok, hate is a strong word, I strongly dislike you all equally.

So be thankful for your friends, a brotherhood, and a group of people you are close too. They actually shape you, help you, and have your back more than most family in your life. That’s been my experience anyway.

Thanks for reading!
Trevor

The Future

Well, winter is slowly, rapidly approaching. My job will be picking up, as we prepare for the holiday season. I drive for UPS, so you can imagine how busy I get. Then there is my favorite month right around the corner. Three major things happen: 1. Deer Season 2. My birthday 3. Thanksgiving – Oddly enough my most favorite things in one month.

After the two hell months, my time will drop off, and I’ll be able to focus on my favorite hobby, RC’s! I do have a lot of plans for this off-season for my hobby. Greg and I also have some big, gigantic, plans as well.

We will be launching Ultimate Scale Challenge (USC) into legit status, and next level opportunity for our business to grow. Without giving away to many details, we’ll just say, we will change the way you look at RC. In a world of “been there done that” we look outside of the box, and then we smash that frame work, and stand on top of it with are arms crossed and defiant!

As far as my RC projects, I will be reworking my BPC Bronco named Hateful. I will be headed into the high end electronics with this, as well as the axles will be getting an upgrade.

I will resurrect my staple RC The Goat. My plan for the Goat is to scale it out. More than I have ever scaled an RC. I want to trail this beast, and make more videos with it. I want to treat it like a scaler, and get away from the rock crawling aspect of trailing.

My 6X6 is on the docket to be started as well. I’m still not 100% as to what style 6X6 I want to make. I may make a hauler, off-road tow truck, an expedition camper, or a back woods beater. I have a lot of parts collected and ready for this build. Just depends on what direction I head with it.

Then finally, I want to build a bad ass U4RC Racer. This one has me really excited as I love racing, and off-roading. I will be taking my Wraith into the shop, and doing some research and development style work for this. Think of what I said before, Outside of the box thinking!

Then on top of all that, I’m going to try and launch USC East Coast RC Zine! I have a need to make a zine for my east coast RC brethren! It’s always on the docket to finish, but I think this winter I will get the time to work on it, and get the final product done. Make an electric version as well as paper!

So there you, a look into what my off-season consists of, plus some other stuff I haven’t mentioned is going down, but you’ll have to wait for that action! I may even get in a little mountain time in, as well as winter camping!

Thanks for reading guys!

Trevor

http://www.ultimatescalechallege.com

Taking the Track!

I recently went on a road trip with my partner in crime, Greg. Some of you may know him on Instagram as @useayota. We decided to head down to RC Excitement for a competition they were having. They had a “tough truck’ course and U4RC racing. I was actually really excited to see U4RC racing for the first time. It’s huge and blowing up on the West Coast, and I know a few racers out there, and they love it. It’s a perfect combination of short course racing and rock racing rolled into one.

I left my house at 2:00am to meet Greg for 3:00am. It was a four hour drive, and the comp started at 10:00am, so we loaded up the Silver Back yota, and headed to Massachusetts with smiles and expectations! We gabbed about what it was going to be like, hoping to meet the very pushy guy named Mikey Bowman. He was the main force behind us coming, he was very persuasive.

We arrived at 7:15am to a very sleepy town, and RC Shop. Some people were up and milling around. We were greeted with a big hello and hug by a man known to the local as JCM. John Mathews, he is tall, bald, and loud. I knew we’d get along right off. He was very warm, and receptive and said; “I finally get to me Vermont Scale RC” I smiled uncomfortably and was humbled. I’m never really sure how to take that. I know it’s a compliment, but, I feel like, I don’t know, awkward… It’s not like when I was skating or in a band, people knew me for what I was doing, whether it was killing a rail or slaughtering a stage, I knew the compliments were a part of all those things. I don’t know, maybe I’m just not used to it, or feel like I haven’t contributed to the bigger scene of RC… Or I’m just a dork, and I finally see that. Haha

After all the setting up and talking with the guys we settled in for the day. We traded stickers, jabs, and drinks. We set up with a group called, the JCM Crew. There was John, obviously, then Anthony, aka Flying Hawaiian, Tim, Mikey, and a few others that I can’t recall at this moment. They treated us like we’ve been boys for years, they reminded me of what my USC Crew is like; full of love and helpfulness. I knew we made the right choice to come be apart of their scene.

The time came to choose the comp, and after seeing the two courses, I decided that I wanted to do the U4RC race. Was there any doubt in your mind that’s what I was going to do? Besides, the tough truck course was basically a rock crawling event, and my true scaler is set up for just the opposite. I finished the first ever Recon G6 a few weeks prior, so I was pretty sure I could handle the course, but I didn’t want to lose out on racing. At $30 for a class and $15 for additional, I was choosing “A” class. U4RC it was.

I met this kid on Instagram a while back, and he said he was coming to the event, and I could tell he was excited, and that he wanted to hang with us. So when I met Scotty, I knew I was in for a ride. This kid’s enthusiasm for everything he does is contagious, and I was excited to have him hang with us at our tent. He first came up to me with a huge smile and a timid out look on the comp. He was worried about his home made rc, against these high dollar rc’s. We’ll just say he was very intimidated by it. I convinced him the only way to learn, is to stay, and play. Can I just be honest here, the kid built, yes built, with his own hands an RC frame for the spare parts he had lying around. He welded, yes welded his own cage, tranny, and mounts. Of course it wasn’t perfect, but I was so damn impressed with it, I had to show it off. 14 years old, I was still eating dirt with my BMX. This kid is welding cages… Future custom tube maker, Perhaps… He did the course as best he could, but the driveshafts were not his friend. So I plugged in HatefulV2 and he ripped the course up with my rc. He completed the whole course, and the smile on his face was exactly why I do this.

I watched the rest of the competitors rip through the course and even our local hero Heath put an ole ass whopping on their course, true VT style, placed on the podium with in both classes. Greg, well, he finally saw that Jacked Up is not a rock crawler, nor a comp truck with the SUV hard body, full interior, and weight. He made it to 20 foot from the end and the front axle had enough, it blew up. Greg had fun though; he really loves driving just as much as building.

I was up for the U4RC next and I got to see what the first heat was like. After the first lap, I was blown away and realized very quickly I was out classed with my completely stock Wraith. These guys were flying all around with their beefed up Yeti’s and Wraiths. But, I never back down and with everyone fully supporting me; I went out there and gave it my all. 20t on 2S = slow… After the first few laps, I stopped shaking like the last leaf on the tree and got into a groove. A few blips and flips, I kept going. When the heat was over, I had placed 2^nd. To my disbelief. I watched all the other heats, turn marshaled and got ready for my second heat. I put the stock tires back on as I ran Pro-line Hammers for the first heat. I did much of the same as the first lap. I tried to keep the wheels on the ground and stay out of the super fast rc’s way. When the dust settled, the Recluse Wraith placed 2^nd again. Beginners luck. This out me 5^th in the A-main. I was really excited, but knew that I was a last place finisher in that class.

So the A-main came and went. I did the best I could, raced my heart out and ended up 4^th. One car broke, and the other I beat out right. Not too bad for never doing a U4RC race. Needless to say, it won’t be my last.

One thing I don’t miss about racing is the screaming drivers at the turn-marshals. The slamming down of their feet like a bratty child, and swearing at people. I used to race 1/10^th nitro stadium trucks a lot a few years back, and it was pretty competitive and a lot of the same whining. I thought maybe it wouldn’t be as bad because this was just a race for a trophy and not points, or money or something big. Maybe bragging rights? I flipped over a few times, and the turn-marshals got to me at a decent pace. I think if you’re a good driver, you won’t need a turn-marshal at every corner you flip at. I think for myself, if I flip over, it’s on me and not the turn-marshals fault I’m turtled up, wheels spinning. This kind of behavior is a real drag and may just be the reason I don’t go back to racing.

I’m not perfect, but I’m not screaming at someone that is trying to help me either. It happens, and that’s that, carrying on like a 2 year old, gets old after awhile.

Over all though, we had a great time, and the people there were super nice, and were willing to help, share, and make you laugh. The RC community is real, and it is supportive. You know we at Ultimate Scale Challenge promote a positive and friendly rc experience, so we support the ones out there doing the same thing as us. If you have the drive and desire to change the way you want to RC, look us up. We’ll help you get where you need to go!

Special thanks to John and the entire JCM Crew for helping us, feeding us, and being solid guys. Our camp is your camp anytime!

Thanks for reading!!

Trevor

www.ultimatescalechallenge.com