How to summarise the #PM24 experience?

Do I talk about the mad traffic in Manila? The incredible welcome and hospitality extended by Edward and Ricky and their local organising crew? The mind-blowing track and impressive facility? The heat? The exquisite skills of Davide Ongaro? The out-and-out popularity of undoubted crowd favourite and all-round good guy Atsushi Hara? The qualifying round wins of Alex Bernadzik? Jorn Neumann’s loose-is-fast attacking drives? The vibe of loading all the racers on a bus to the track, or all staying at the same hotel? Ongaro’s irresistible come-back win? Watching people puzzle over a different kind of track on a first overseas race? Meeting loads of new people? Travelling with an Aussie crew as we shared meals, and crossed paths in airports. Re-uniting with the Kiwis, maybe the friendliest bunch in all of R/C? A behind-the-scenes look at the long days and hard work of being part of an event team?

It really could be any of those things. Any of them, and a dozen more, could be the subject of a long reflection. Maybe they will.

But today, as I go back to my day job, I’m just reflecting on thankfulness. I’m thankful that for whatever reason, life gives opportunities. I’m thankful that I got to visit the Philippines. I’m thankful I got to watch – in person – the best in the world do what he does on maybe the best track I’ve ever seen. I’m thankful I had the chance to share a conversation with Hara about the experience of racing against Masami Hirosaka.

And I’m thankful that I got to work with these legends. Scotty Ernst, everybody knows, may just be the most passionate man in R/C Passionate about the events he puts on, the experiences he wants people to have, and the directions of the sport. Joel Navarro, a long-time R/C photographer taught me quite a few things this week – things that have already made my own bumbling photography attempts better. Sharing a room with Oisin from Red RC was fun – even if we talked way too late into the night about everything R/C for the last 20 years. And RC Race Media‘s Tony Firth and Matt Seckold. These two put everything into so many facets of the sport – running successful clubs, racing and supporting family members, and bringing outstanding coverage to the world. They’re new friends and colleagues, and I’m thankful for them and their skills. I’m thankful for this team I get to be part of to tell R/C stories.

And I’m thankful for new experiences. I’m a words guy, a magazine article writer, a some-times commentator. I’m still learning about how to tell stories about R/C via social media and streaming coverage. New experiences this week included strapping on a headset to “help” Tony, Matt and Scotty during the coverage, jumping in front of the camera a couple of times for some analysis, making (very simple) video reels and so on. New experiences. Opportunities to learn.

I’m definitely not thankful that Brendan threw me his transmitter to drive a couple of laps on that amazing track. I spend the whole week wanting more, and wishing I could be racing. Thanks for ruining my week Brendan.

I’m thankful for R/C. For all the experiences it has given me. For all the opportunities. For the fun. For the new people, new places and new race tracks. And for the chance to keep learning.

That’s a snippet of what #PM24 was like for a fledgling media guy.

We’ll do it again in Brisbane for Round Three of the Asian Buggy Championships, with new ideas already floating around about how we can keep improving the ways we tell the stories of these races (you’re welcome to send me suggestions and requests!). I’m excited already.

Thanks to everyone who organised, raced, watched, liked, commented, shared, gave feedback, marvelled and just generally made #PM24 a pretty cool week.