If that was true, we might as well not run races at all; we might as well just hold timed speed runs and hand the trophy to the person with the highest-pitch propeller.
Fortunately the task involves more than that, and is much more entertaining.
Yes, speed is an essential part of racing and without it you won't put many points on the board, but our rules favor consistency more than speed.
AMA racing is a game of accumulating points. It doesn't matter who you're flying against; you still have to go out to the starting line, start your model's engine, made a good takeoff, go around the pylons 10 times without cutting inside the course, and land in one piece so you're ready to go the next time without having to frantically repair something in between.
I wish I had a nickel for each time I have seen the slowest pilot at a contest go home with first place because he or she didn't make any mistakes, and the others did.
Conversely, the racing world is full of brash young Turks who look great in practice, but never seem to do well on contest day.
Their goal seems to be to scare you off with the priciest airplane, the screamingest engine, and the hottest practice laps, so you will quietly tuck your tail between your legs and disappear.
Despite such awesome displays, these fliers usually manage to come to grief somehow - most often when two of them end up in the same heat, and in a burst of testosterone they collide or double-cut (resulting in a zero) as they try to elbow each other out.
So my advice to all you newbies is not to try to throw a touchdown pass on your first play. Get a decent, reliable airplane and engine that are fast enough to do the job, then practice with them until you can start up, fly well, and land under any conditions.
You will be surprised at how quickly you find yourself in the winner's circle.
