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Radio-controlled championship contenders race into CRC Speedshow

Wednesday 28 May 2014, 11:36AM

By Relish Communications

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Radio-controlled racers head to CRC Speedshow
Radio-controlled racers head to CRC Speedshow Credit: North Harbour Radio-Control Car Club

The off-road racing buggies are miniature and the dashboards are hand-held radio-control units, but there’s no doubt that the racing will be every bit as intense as any mainstream motorsport event when the inaugural New Zealand Indoor Off-road Championship (NZIOC) takes place at July’s CRC Speedshow.

As befits New Zealand’s biggest and most diverse automotive and motorsport show, the two-day championship for radio-controlled, 1/10th scale electric racers hosted by the North Harbour Radio Controlled Car Club (NHRCCC) creates an exciting new event in this increasingly popular hobby-turned-sport.

A purpose-built racetrack inside the Logan Campbell Centre will allow dozens of radio-control (RC) racing enthusiasts to take part in the event and hundreds more to enjoy the action from dedicated viewing points beside and above the track.

“When we were approached by Nigel Bish, vice president of the NHRCCC, and his organising committee, we could immediately see the attraction of having this seriously fun form of motorsport as part of this year’s CRC Speedshow,” says Ross Prevette, CRC Speedshow’s managing director.

“With this radio-controlled race championship, the brand-new Classic Cover Insurance Classic Show in pavilion six, and new outdoor display and entertainment areas, the entire footprint of the show is around 30 per cent bigger than our previous events.

“This year, we particularly wanted to expand the array of displays and activities that appeal to families. One of the many cool things about radio-controlled cars is that everyone in the family can race them. Nigel tells us they often have grandfathers, fathers, sons and daughters all competing in the same races at club level, so we’re looking forward to seeing the different generations take each other on at CRC Speedshow.”

Nigel Bish comments: “We’re very excited to have the opportunity to feature our form of motorsport at CRC Speedshow, because it’s New Zealand’s one-stop-shop celebration of all kinds of auto-sports. While small in scale, RC racing is very much motor racing and our aim is to hold a meeting that promotes our sport to the wider motorsport fan base.”

Bish adds: “It’s really important to us that CRC Speedshow visitors enjoy the opportunity to have a go at radio-controlled racing so make sure you join us to set your best time on the virtual radio-controlled race simulator. Entrants who set the fastest times will have the opportunity to compete against a number of well-known celebrity racers – more details to come.”

Inside the Logan Campbell Centre, the club will create a 30 metre long and 16 metre wide carpeted track featuring a challenging array of track features such as a table top jump, wall ride and various jumps and a cross-over. Five main categories, plus a ‘stars of tomorrow’ class for junior racers will be contested. Complementing the race action is an array of exhibitors dedicated to the radio-controlled racing sector and many of New Zealand’s radio-controlled racing clubs will be represented. Seated viewing for more than a thousand fans is available in the Logan Campbell Centre’s mezzanine floor.

Bish says those interested in entering the New Zealand Indoor Off-road Championship should go to the event website – http://nhrccc.pccnz.com/nzioc/. “But be quick, there are already over 150 cars entered.”

The CRC Speedshow runs at the ASB Showgrounds, Auckland over the weekend of 19 and 20 July 2014 with six display halls, hundreds of vehicles on display, opportunities to meet racing stars and automotive experts, fun children’s activities and top-class entertainment in the Ideal Wheels live action arena. Follow CRC Speedshow on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Speedshow), Facebook (www.Facebook.com/speedshownz) and Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/speedshow/).