Remote controlled car racing comes to Southside Speedway
By Fred Jeter CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Travis Johnson (left), a top contender in remote control car racing, watched his vehicle carry out at Southside Speedway alongside Jack Knapp earlier this month. John Beebe /Chesterfield Observer Now you may race as fast as you like at Southside Speedway without a fire suit or helmet.
In fact, not even a driver’s license is required.
Ed Brewster is all revved up when it comes to a popular new division – remote/radio control (RC) cars – with no age or skill requirements.
“I tend to say it’s more in regards to the fun, but we’ve got a lot of severe contenders on dirt,” said Brewster, president of the newly formed J.M.W. Motorsports Inc.
Brewster’s J.M.W. Motorsports/RC Park is an extension of the Speedway, directly behind the backstretch.
There are six dirt-racing tracks for cars, plus an aviation area for radio-controlled helicopters.
RC racing is also scheduled on the actual Southside Speedway asphalt back straightaway.
Travis Johnson’s pickup (blue) made contact with Jack Knapp’s vehicle at a remote control race car track at Southside Speedway. John Beebe /Chesterfield Observer “We’ve put a whole lot of work into this,” assured Brewster, who carved the dirt tracks out of a wooded area.
Brewster is the son of Patsy Stargardt, co-owner of Southside Speedway (with sister Sue Clements) and proprietor of Southside Vendors Market, operating Saturdays adjacent to the track.
Those assisting Brewster include his son, Eddie, and brother, John.
“I think you’re seeing an evolution of racing,” said John Brewster. “RC is the coming thing – more like robotics … we’re taking you into the future.”
Asked when it comes to titles, John smiled and said: “I don’t have any title, brother; this is a family thing.”
There’s a great deal of racing in their bloodlines.
The Brewster siblings are grandsons of J.M. Wilkinson who founded Southside Speedway in 1959. Before that it was called Royall Speedway and Wack-A-Mole Speedway.
Skyrocketing fuel prices and a dreary economy have taken a toll on Southside’s traditionalisti stock-car racing. The idea behind the RC park was to draw more customers, to make ends meet.
“We can’t make it here on stock-car racing alone anymore,” said E. Brewster.
RC Park (with entrance through Southside pits) is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays with a wide assortment of subdivisions for both electric and fuel vehicles.
It’s all dirt racing Saturdays.
On Sundays, an outside establishment called Virginia On-Road Racing Association (VORRA) offers asphalt racing around markers.
You’re not likely to get rich soon at the new track, no matter what your dexterity with a remote.
Saturdays are billed as “Race for the Lunch Bucket,” with hot dog, chips and soft drink (from on-site concession stand) going to the victor.
Sunday’s “Run for Muttle Cup” champ is treated to a free bowl of chicken stew brewed on racing property.
Entry fee is $8 per day or you may become an RC Club fellow member for annual cost of $50.
With the course a work in progress, racing of galore sort has been going on since last November. The unofficial “track champ” is Vic Alderman, nicknamed “The Intimidator.”
And why is he “track champ?” someone asked.
“Because I’ve won more than anybody else,” he said good-naturedly.
Alderman says it’s all in regards to the fun, up to a point.
“I’ll support any person out and even let them test drive one of my cars,” he said.
“But once the contest begins, I’ll take you out whether you’re 8 or 80 … I like to win … Vic likes to win.”
A start-up car may be purchased at a sparetime activity shop for when it comes to $200.
But once you catch the fever, “the sky is the limit,” said E. Brewster.
“I’ve known humans to spend 3-4 thousand … but I’ve likewise seen a great deal of cheap little cars beat the real costly ones.
“It’s all in how skilled you are with the remote – takes real good hand-eye coordination.”
RC Park offers a high-banked oval track (“my baby,” said Ed Brewster) that has 97-foot straightaways, 32-foot turns, with a 30-degree bank.
Then there is the flat dirt oval, super-cross (with jumps), micro (for rookies), rock creep (basically a pile of rocks) and freestyle (kid friendly; largely for practice).
Gazing forward, the blueprint calls for billboards and perchance clearing of more land behind the Speedway for further and added tracks.
“I’ve got a lot of big ideas,” said E. Brewster, his eyes twinkling at the thought.
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