A Legend Is Gone
Kortz: Brian and I were NOT the best of friends by any means. We were rivals to say the least. When I was 14 I received my very first paying contract from Team Losi. Brian had just left Team Associated to join Losi and I was the man on the team, so that made me jealous of him. As I was walking into Team Losi to sign my contract hes was walking out. So with that being said, man I really enjoyed battling with him. He thought me that u cant just show up at the track and expect to win. Brian was one of the most hard working smartest dude I had even known. He made me work harder and smarter. He thought me driving wasnt just about being on the stand, it was so much more. He pushed me beyond my expectations race after race. I wished our relationship was different cause I wouldve told him, I really look up to u and I hope one day I can be just like you. Brian I know ur up there looking down on all the RC family and from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for EVERYTHING youve given to our industry. RIP my brother.
Pavidis: Todays news of Brian Kinwald passing came as a shock as to most. Today made me reflect on all the good times I shared with Brian as a friend, as a racer and someone who made me work harder each race to try and find a way to beat him. I first got to know Brian. Not at the RC track but when I worked part time at Hobby Shack in fountain valley. I worked in the RC car section of the hobby store. Brian and some friends came in to the store wanting to get RC cars to take to the BMX track. One day him and his friends came in but later that day we noticed some RC parts missing from the shelf. A few weeks went by and I was at the local track and was like,hey I recognize that kid. Well come to find out it was Brian and his friends who had visited the store with their new equipment. He eventually took to racing at our local track and the rest is now history. As a friend Brian was now racing more and more and we became great team mates traveling the world racing RC cars. So many late nights at his house trying to figure out the next best thing. Something Brian was very good at. One race as team mates that stands out is we traveled to England for a race and the night before leaving the cat peed in all of our Proline tires we brought to the event. We cleaned them the best we could but they stunk horribly. Brian and I ended up doing very well at that race and Craig Drescher went up and smelled our tires and asked what sauce we were using and Brian said its catpee. He didn’t believe us and Brian and I laughed so hard. Still makes me laugh.
Brian as a competitor made my life even more difficult. He was so good and so prepared he made me work harder at each event. There were a handful of races we exchanged words as we each thought we right. At the end of the day Brian was always the guy to beat. The rivalry we had towards one another was second to none. Brian will be in my memories forever and for this I am truly great full for the times we were able to spend together while he was with us. He inspired many. Gods speed.
By Ruona and Kortz and Pavidis
