Alex Day (born: September 18, 1992), better known online as FailRace, is an English YouTuber who primarily uploads racing games contents, specifically the Forza Motorsport series among other games.
Games[]
The games mostly played by FailRace (as of April 2021) are
- Forza Horizon 4
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Wreckfest
- BeamNG Drive
A recurring special feature of FailRace's channel is "Survive the Hunt," a more-or-less-monthly contest in which FailRace attempts to evade a dozen or more players while blending in with AI-controlled traffic and pedestrians within the Los Santos region of the GTA V map. For the challenge, player identification icons and maps are disabled, forcing FailRace to continually watch for unusual activity among other vehicles, and the hunters to likewise attempt to detect any non-AI-style activity that might give FailRace's location away; the goal is for FailRace to survive for 24 hours of game time (approximately 50 minutes in real time) without his character being killed. In more recent (2019 onwards) editions, he is given the additional challenge of destroying certain vehicles placed around the map, or completing certain challenges. On occasion he will attempt undertake the challenge with other Youtubers. FailRace's pursuers in Survive the Hunt are a generally consistent group of players and their often-humourous audio chat during the challenges are often featured in a follow-up video called "Discussing Survive the Hunt" which is invariably posted a few days afterwards, revealing in-game encounters and events FailRace was not aware of during the session. On rare occasions, usually on holidays, Survive the Hunt is live-streamed.
A variant of the concept, "Hunt the Survivors", is occasionally played on Forza Horizon 4, only with FailRace taking on the task of tracking down other players, again without benefit of a map or player icons. The challenge is also done occasionally in GTA, but in a more limited field of play than a standard Survive the Hunt.
A couple of Survive the Hunt sessions have been undertaken in the northern part of the map, but they are generally restricted to the city portion as being fairer for both FailRace and his pursuers.
When viewers began to realize that the run time of the YouTube video usually gave away whether or not FailRace was successful in "Survive the Hunt", he began adding filler content at the end of failed challenges in order to standardize the video running time which currently averages between 50 and 60 minutes.
Origins[]
The channel was set up on June 1, 2011 and the first video, entitled 'FailRace Episode 1', was uploaded on June 6, 2011. This video only featured Alex Day and Daniel Handover and was intended to be a weekly show featuring the most spectacular fails in racing games. This was the premise that set up the content of the channel over the next four years. Husky (Ryan Mawson) joined Alex and Daniel at a later date and was generally well-received by the minimal fans and subscribers. It was therefore decided that these three friends would make up FailRace.
Contributors[]
Alex Day[]
Alex Day created the 'FailRace' YouTube channel in June 2011. He, alongside Daniel uploaded the first video on this channel. Alex has always been considered 'head' of FailRace. Since the disappearance of Daniel and Husky in 2015, he has uploaded all the videos on the channel, and is a (almost) regular uploader. He likes to race (and is usually extremely fast in) silly cars, has admitted that he races 'dumb vehicles', and likes to roll the vehicles. His absurd ideas are source of much fun among fans and followers. His gamertag is Ca5ino Royale. On the channel, he is known for his ability to deliver ongoing, usually humorous commentary as he competes in races, Survive the Hunt, etc.
Ryan Mawson[]
Ryan Mawson, (also known by his gamertag HemiHusky, or as Husky) was one of the original three members of FailRace. Husky met Alex and Daniel on the FailRace forums. He took part in numerous "Vs. the Community" challenges. He is said to be a large fan of Volvo. He was the third member of the FailRace team but disappeared along with Daniel in 2015, citing life issues such as his battle with depression as one of the reasons of his disappearance. He was well-received by fans of FailRace channel. He appeared in numerous 'Vs the Community' events. He reappeared once in Forza Motorsport 6, teaming with FailRace for a game of 'Cat and Mouse'. In 2016, he returned to the channel again, this time for a number of videos. Some videos were - Battle of the Jelly, Survival Racing (Forza Motorsport 6), 5 minute car build (Forza Horizon 3). He has a YouTube channel - HemiHusky.
Daniel Handover[]
Daniel - along with Alex - was a founder and original member of the group. He was commonly picked up on for his poor in-game driving skills and bad sense of direction. Daniel's "real-life" driving test was notable during his time in the group. Alex and Husky often referenced it when he was demostrating poor driving abilities and was even given a mock "lesson" by Alex in Grand Theft Auto V in mid-2014. Daniel also created the outro music for FailRace. For personal reasons, Daniel also left the FailRace group in 2015. He has his personal YouTube channel - Absolute Dan (previously Hoonland Gaming). Unlike Husky, he has since not made a return to the FailRace channel in any form.
Trivia[]
- In real life, he owns a 1969 Plymouth Fury. Previously, he owned a 1998 Mitsubishi Legnum Super VR-4, a Mazda RX-8, a Renault Clio I Phase 2 and a 2nd generation Mazda MX-5.
- He previously worked with two of his friends: Husky (also known as HemiHusky) and Daniel (gamertag: djlandrover) but now he's working alone.
- His Xbox gamertag is Ca5ino Royale.
- In 2014, he made his first in-person appearance in a video that documents his trip with his friend Daniel Handover to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. He continues to make the occasional on-screen appearance, as have members of the FailRace racing team (most notably when UK members gathered and attempted to fit as many as possible into a vehicle.)
- He does have a Patreon page set up but does not heavily advertise it as he has stated that all videos will always be free to watch on YouTube.
- He recently decided to attempt a "Cheap Car Challenge" in real life, buying a Lexus GS 300 for £900.
- His motive is to race silly cars, roll them and do various other funny things (like racing in reverse)
- On the 30th of December 2020 FailRace uploaded the first video of the FailRace Podcast, hosted by and featuring several of the community members who work behind the scenes to make many of the online multiplayer videos possible.
- The majority of FailRace's regular racers are based in the UK, but some have identified themselves as being in North America.