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San Manuel – Last May, the Over The Top RC club brought a new, fun activity for the kids of the Tri-Community area with a new RC car track, located at 203 North Main, San Manuel, in front of the community pool.
Over The Top RC brought many smiles to youthful faces and hours of entertainment for racers and lookie-loos alike on what, according to club co-founder Vince Apuron, is one of the largest RC tracks open to the public. The club offers free use of the track during regular hours and loaner cars, asking only a $3 donation for the kids to use the battery packs.
The Over The Top RC Club’s Cars-4-Kids program takes donated RC cars or parts and electronics that can be built into complete kits, to provide kids with RC cars that can be used for the price of collecting one bag of trash from the basketball or tennis court, or swimming pool areas or $3 for the rental of the battery.
In its second stage, the program will also collect parts to build complete cars, deconstruct them into kits and re-distribute them in kit form back to kids interested in learning the RC Hobby.
Thanks to generous donations and help from community schools, the first several months, fast leading up to the one year anniversary of the track opening, went swimmingly. As of Dec., there are eight cars for kids to use on the track, and as of Jan. 3, the track, which is being rebuilt on a smaller scale so that kids can see the furthest corners, was being groomed and made ready for packing in Feb.
There are 49 kids currently registered with the track through the community schools, but, it is hoped that this number will double this year.
The club has several goals for this year, such as securing seven more cars, at the cost of nearly $300 each to build. Others include building driver’s stands and obtaining miscellaneous related items such as two generators to run night lighting and a P.A. System.
Apuron said of all the items the club needs, a timing system is the key to the program. “This will enable us to host races where outside racers will visit the track and make a donation to the program to use the track and race against other racers and practice,” he said.
Another goal is to host a race day once per month to help generate income that will help reach the other goals.
“Each race can generate 10 racers at $10 per race,” Apuron said. “Each race day can generate between three to five races a day.”
Another means to create revenue for the program is to host parties. To begin really generating revenue from these sources, the track is going to need the multi-chargers and batteries, Apuron said.
“Batteries take one hour to charge and will last about 20 minutes each,” he explained. “Any donation is appreciated and will help our program become self-sustaining.”
Regular track hours are 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. while swim practice is going on. Saturday night is club meeting night and workshops are usually held at the track at 6 pm., depending on how long the meeting lasts there may be time to run cars.
Use of the track is available to adult drivers as well. The club asks for a minimal cash donation or a gift in the form of a car part for one of the car kits that are being put together for the Cars-4-Kids Program. All proceeds from the track use will be used to fund cars for the Cars-4-Kids program.
The club is seeking members to help with maintaining the track and organizing races and fund raisers.
The mission of the club is to provide low cost or free RC car racing to any interested child. If you would like to become a member, come see Vince or Dave at the track or look for Over The Top RC on Facebook.
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