If you have a need for speed, satisfy it safely at the new remote control racetrack opening Thursday, June 12 at the Salmon Arm Water Slides and RV Park.
Owner Gord Erickson and Copper Island Diving owner Paul Downie have partnered in the race track, which will be open all summer.
“I originally thought it would be good to have a paint ball park here and I approached Paul, who sells paintball equipment,” says Erickson. “He said he didn’t think it would work on the site, but suggested how about remote control?”
There was still plenty of snow on the ground when Downie approached remote-control racing veteran Martin Vannieuwenhuizen in Kelowna to design and manage the track, which is located behind the watersides.
An ardent race fan, Vannieuwenhuizen has been involved with remote-control racing for 33 years.
“I started at 18 – bought my first car for about $300, went to my first organized race, got hooked and started racing two to three times a week,” he says, noting he has won two regional titles in Western Canada, racing off-road, on-road, GT and touring cars, all of which are electric.
Thrilled by the adrenalin rush of racing, Vannieuwenhuizen has organized national, regional and championship events, sometimes with up to 200 drivers over the past 20 years.
“The RC hobby has the same stepping stone or ladder as any racing series – local, regional, national, world,” says the recreational racer. “World class remote drivers – do it for a living all over the world.”
Recruited from a Kelowna hobby store, Vannieuwenhuizen is in his element designing the track and looking forward to sharing his racing joy.
“Gord gave me the keys and said, ‘Build me something,’” he says. “Over the next two weeks there was a lot of raking and shovelling and occasional bobcat use, and we created a track that will be fun and friendly for all ages and abilities.”
The dirt track is 120 feet by 60 feet, has 10 turns, a 100-foot straightaway and multiple jumps. An elevated drivers’ platform affords a fabulous view of the entire track.
Cars are 1/10 scale trophy trucks and are $10 a battery to rent.
So, racers who rent a car at the track can expect to get at least 15 minutes of exhilaration or more, depending on how fast they go.
Up to 10 people can be racing at one time and Vannieuwenhuizen says he has seen children as young as five drive the remote control cars well.
But, plans are in the works to build a smaller track for little kids to cut their racing teeth on.
For those who prefer to operate their own vehicles, cars will be available for sale, starting at about $300 each. Support, repairs and a small supply of parts will also be available.
Both the water slides and the remote control track will be open all summer from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week beginning June 28. However, with the rotating strike closing Salmon Arm schools tomorrow, Erickson has decided to open the water slides and the track for the day. If the teachers vote in favour of a full strike, the slides and track will be open for the season – depending on the weather Mother Nature hands out.
Erickson, who bought the water slides and RV park three years ago, has kept prices the same and suggests water slide fans take note of Saturday, June 21 – the day when day tickets and season’s passes are available at 50 per cent off the regular price.
