I thought about this one for a long time, where I'm at I'm kind of the "RC guy." But you can always attribute an interest in something to someone else. So . . .
This goes back to about 1984, thanks to the tracks and shops that hocked themselves up to their asses to give us a place to race.
Thanks to DoubleStrike batteries (no longer in existence) for introducing me to true nicad technology and how to get the most out of a battery.
Thanks to AE and all the other serious manufacturers for providing the technical machines that make this hobby so great.
Third on my list would be my wife (only place she's third) for having an interest in RC, owning her own AE GT, and giving me someone to run with. Well, someone my own age anyway.
Second, the staff at RCNT for holding the lotto (look for a new thread in Projects soon) and keeping this independent site open, it's a breath of fresh air from all the other ad-slammed sponsored sites. OK sometimes it's not so fresh, it's farty. But different.
Most of all I thank all those newbies, not-so-newbies, and advanced hobbyists that I've been able to help and have offered help to me, the community is what makes this hobby great. Not winning, losing, baddest or worst RC, it's the people.
<sheds a tear>