Red Deer’s own radio control (RC) car club, Clutch Nutz will be hosting their annual Battle at the Bend race on Aug. 21st.
The local group of RC racers will join racers from across Alberta to battle at Three Mile Bend’s designated RC track this coming Saturday.
Attendees shouldn’t expect to see regular RC cars that you can purchase at your local toy store – these RC Cars cost thousands and can reach speeds of up to 50 mph on average.
“It depends on what kind of engine they are running on how fast the cars can go,” said Clutch Nutz President, Chris Coulter. “The electric and the nitro cars can keep up to one another,” he said.
“The electric cars aren’t like the ones we used to see that didn’t go very fast, nowadays they run brushless motors and lithium polymer batteries and the more power means more speed.”
He added over the last 10 years the technology behind the cars has launched the hobby/sport into new territories.
“The technology behind these cars is always changing just like cell phones, TVs and other electronic devices – they just keep getting better, faster, and more durable and that’s what racers like to see.”
He describes Red Deer’s course, which was designated by the City to be an RC track in 1975, as being similar to a motocross track and features a variety of jumps, tabletops and obstacles.
Coulter explained this year’s Battle should be bigger than ever before, with this year’s event making a number of changes including a raffle in support of the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) as well as celebrity visits from pro RC racers.
When the event organizers heard the CASASC was in need of support, Coulter explained he asked friend and pro RC driver Ty Tessmann to help out.
“Before we knew it Ty had got in touch with his major manufacturer Hot Bodies Racing and they had donated a vehicle for us to do the raffle and away the fundraiser went,” explained Coulter. “We’re happy to involved and glad we can help where we can.”
Tessmann attended his first race in Idaho in 2003 and since 2004 has been racing professionally for Hot Bodies/HPI Racing as a Team Driver.
The Alberta driver has raced around the world competing in not only the ROAR (Remote Operated Auto Racers) National competitions across North America, but also coming home with a win at the 2014 International Federation of Model Auto Racing (IFMAR) held in Sicily, Italy in the IC Off Road category.
The national raffle allows those wishing to put their name in for the D8-12 Hot Bodies buggy to do it electronically by visiting www.casasc.ca/contest-2 while those wishing to register for the race are encouraged to visit rcsignup.com.
Those not wishing to participate in the event are still encouraged to attend the Battle at the Bend and support both local and world champion drivers as they take on the track at Three Mile Bend.
jswan@reddeerexpress.com
