March 3, 2014
Interest in the sport of radio-controlled car racing has been powering ahead since the Murgon RC (“radio control”) group was formed late last year under the umbrella of the South Burnett PCYC.
Recently 16 cars took part in Round 2 of the club’s first-ever Summer Championship, battling through six gruelling heats and a final for line honours.
According to organisers, interest in the sport just keeps growing, with new members coming every race day.
The club caters for fans of 1/10th and 1/8th scale electric or gas-powered vehicles. It is led by Rik Christiansen, who has been racing remote-controlled vehicles for 30 years.
It now holds regular race meetings and fun days beside the Angelfield airstrip at the far end of Macalister Street on land donated by Murgon businessman Peter Angel.
“Our members are a very competitive bunch of kids and adults,” Rik said.
“Our youngest racer at the moment is six years old and the oldest…. well, that would be me at 52.”
The small cars compete on a fenced racetrack that comes complete with jumps, hairpin bends and straights which has been developed over the past few months by a small group of volunteers.
The small vehicles can attain speeds up to 40km/h as they zip around the course.
All racers must be members of a PCYC (you can join online) which covers insurance, but this also allows them to full use of all the other facilities at the South Burnett PCYC.
After this, racetrack fees are $10 per day.
The club is now holding its first racing series, with meetings held every fourth Sunday.
This year, Race Days will be held on:
Summer Series
- Round 3 – March 16
- Round 4 – April 13
- Round 5 – May 11
- Round 6 – June 8 (Finals)
Winter Series
- Round 1 – July 6
- Round 2 – August 3
- Round 3 – August 31
- Round 4 – September 28
- Round 5 – October 26
- Round 6 – November 23 (Finals)
The club also holds Fun Days in between Race Days:
- March 30
- April 27
- May 25
- June 22
- July 20
- August 17
- September 14
- October 12
- November 9
- December 7 (Christmas break-up, with an evening barbecue and presentations)
The club also hopes to hold a major two-day event on the weekend of August 9-10, providing they can obtain a proper timing system, toilets and water.
For more information contact Sgt Michael Eadie at the South Burnett PCYC on (07) 4168-1889 or message Rik on the group’s Facebook page
- Related article: Big Fun On A Small Scale
[Photos: Denise Keelan]
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