New Zealand Radio Car Association EP On-Road Nationals in Hastings a success despite rain

Colin Storey, from Maungaturoto, Northland, at the New Zealand Radio Car Association EP On-Road Nationals in Hastings at the weekend. Photo/Duncan Brown

More interested in mechanics, electronics and cars than rugby? Maybe you should try radio control car racing.

Hawke's Bay Radio Control Car Club (HBRCCC) hosted the New Zealand Radio Car Association EP On-Road Nationals at the weekend for the first time.

About 50 people from all over the country and a few from Australia entered 117 cars in the competition which was held on the Sylvan Rd on-road track at the old Hastings netball courts.

No racing was completed on Saturday due to rain but yesterday the weather had cleared enough for the competition to go ahead.

Secretary James Dale, who founded the club in 2004, said there had been a couple of showers yesterday but not enough to cause any problems.

The club has held the on-road North Island championships for the last two years at their Sylvan Rd track which was built about three years ago but never the nationals.

The off-road track at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds was built in 2004 and has hosted a number of North Island and national championships, he said.

HBRCCC has about 35 members, mainly men, aged from about 12 to 65.

While the club has more of a focus on a family-friendly and social atmosphere, a few members have previously won national titles.

Young people, who have grown up with video games, tend to pick up the sport much quicker than the more seasoned members.

"Young kids pick it up really, really quickly which is pretty awful for us old guys who have been training for years."

The great thing about the sport is that anybody can do it because it is not too difficult and it doesn't have to be expensive.

It's also a lot of fun and a great family activity with many members bringing their children to the monthly on and off-road race meets, he said.

The sport is appealing because it teaches participants about mechanics, electronics and engineering, Mr Dale said.

It is essentially motor racing at a smaller scale with vehicles very similar to real cars.

"Not everybody wants to play rugby.

"It is an alternative to traditional sports for those that are interested in mechanics.

"It probably seems like a slightly geeky sport but globally it is quite big."

Mr Dale's interest in racing RC cars started when his children were young and he bought his first radio control car.

"I saw one and thought it would be fun, once you buy one and have kids you end up getting more."

His children now they are adults are no longer interested in the sport, which is quite common.

"We find that we have kids 12-18 years but it's hard to keep members in the 18-30 age group.

"Boys discover girls and beer, then come back again with their own kids."

The cost of the sport ranges from $250 for a basic TT02 car to several thousands dollars for a car that could be raced at the national championships.

Once people are interested they can get cars for all sorts of classes, buying the chassis, body, electronics and motor separately to assemble themselves which means they can mix and match.