In the second instalment of our new series, as part of Inside EFRA, we are working our way around the whole EFRA board, meeting each of the members who work in RC Motorsport Europe, across the classes of racing together with the Federations, Associate Members along with the treasurer, secretary and president. For our second stop we meet 1/8 Off Road Chair, Carlos Gomez!
EFRA: Hi there Carlos 👋🏻
Carlos: Hi! it is a pleasure to meet with you
EFRA: How are you?
Carlos: Fine thanks, just got my first vaccination today, so I feel great (and confident)
EFRA: Great! Let’s get down to it…In no more than 5 words describe the job you do for EFRA…
Carlos: Bfff…, trying to help RC racers
EFRA: Ok… what’s the longer version?
Carlos: I am 1/8 Off Road Section Chairman, I do coordinate the Section all over Europe, I try to help everyone, but that is nearly impossible as people may have opposite needs and desires, but anyhow I try always to be helping, drivers, organizers, mechanics, every kind of human being, even marshals & media.
EFRA: What is your favourite class of RC racing?
Carlos: Obviously the best one, 1/8 IC Buggy, although 1/8 electric is coming strong.
EFRA: Are you any good at racing?
Carlos: Noo, I was awful bad as a driver, I did started too old, my best result was a 16th position at a Qualifying Round of Spanish Nationals.
EFRA: What is your proudest moment in RC?
Carlos: There have been many of those, usually it is when people appreciate the efforts I have done, either as National Team Manager, EFRA SC or as Referee or as Race Director or Speaker.
EFRA: Tell us one thing about you that we don’t already know
Carlos: I love podcast and podcasting, I enjoy it very much. In terms of food, being a northern, born in Yorkshire, I love English Breakfast.
EFRA: What is your favourite sport outside of RC?
Carlos: All motorsports, and of course my hometown Football Team Athletic Club (Bilbao of course), it is kind of a religion here.
EFRA: What was the last music you heard?
Carlos: The very latest from Fito & Fitipaldis, kind Spanish pop-rock (he is from Bilbao as well). But my favourites are classics from Neil Diamond to Queen, kind oldies.
EFRA: What do you do to relax?
Carlos: I listen to podcasts, read, watch TV series, take walks…
EFRA: What advice would you give someone wanting to compete in an EFRA Euros for the first time?
Carlos: Be confident, we don’t eat anyone, enjoy it, you will love it and will want to repeat, it is only the biggest race you will attend, but it is a race and it is a great experience any European RC driver should try at least once in his/her life. And there you will see real “Fair Racing”.
EFRA: How did you become involved in EFRA
Carlos: From two different sides, both nearly at the same time, at early 90s both, one as National Team Manager at EFRA Euros 1/8 Buggy, present at all since 1992 but 1, The Czech Rep one 1997 because I was ill, and the other as being the sole representative of AECAR at EFRA AGMs for years.
EFRA: What is the number 1 thing you would like to see in RC in Europe in the future?
Carlos: My dream has always been the EFRA Off Road Series, and RC Continental Circus for Off Road with media involved, not so easy to achieve. I have made proposals for such since more than 25 years ago.
Well Carlos, thanks for letting us inside your world! It seems the work of any EFRA Section Chairman is never done! But its great to see you along with the rest of the board pushing the sport forward together!
Hope to see you soon at the track 😊
