Competitors line up with their remotes in hand to await the start of their race.
The Grafton Radio Controlled (RC) Car Club held a race event on Sunday at the newly formed track ‘The Pit’, just north of Grafton.
The track was built by Greg ‘Mossy’ Moss on his Southgate property and attracted a huge number of competitors from around the country.
Australia’s number one professional driver Kyle McBride and New Zealand’s top professional Tim McKay, were a huge drawcard to the event.
Sunday’s AKA Challenge event (sponsored by Ryper Hobbies – Josh Pain and David Simms) attracted 78 entrants and according to organisers attracted a larger number of entries than the NSW state titles, held in Taree.
One competitor even travelled from Melbourne, especially for Sunday’s event.
Australia pro driver Kyle McBride from Brisbane said that his interest in racing RC cars has always been there.
“My father was involved for 20 years and at the age of 12, I started competing,” said Kyle.
“At 14, I attended my first world championships in Thailand and came 4th in the world.
Since then he has gone on to own his own racing team ‘Team Associated’ and now races his own company’s car (an RC8 BC).
Kyle in now ranked 8th in the world in his sport and attends the world championships which are held bi-annually.
“I’ve come 4th twice, but I had issues with my car at the championships held earlier this year in Las Vegas and I only scored 12th place,” he said.
“It’s a pretty hidden sport and not too many people know about it. It’s not widely publicised.”
Although children as young as four-years-old race, it’s far from child’s play.
This is a major sport with professional RC drivers.
They have their own pit crew and drivers are sponsored by American companies etc.
Around half of Sunday’s entrants were professional drivers from around the country.
Track owner ‘Mossy’ said that it was not only a privilege, but an honour to have the calibre of professional drivers attend Sunday’s event.
“The next event will be the “King of the Clarence” and is set down for February next year.”
For more information contact: The Grafton RC Car Club’s Greg Moss on 0428 445 680.
