Racetrack

The Sandbox
by Nick Lyle

Normally when a person thinks of a sandbox, they think of kids jumping around, playing with their toy cars. When I think of a sandbox, I also think of people jumping around and playing with toy cars; except the people are adults and the cars cost 300-2000 dollars. The sandbox I’m talking about is Fort Dodge R/C Off-road raceway, located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. It is a place where people from all around Iowa come to race professional remote control cars. I am one of these people. A special place to me is Fort Dodge R/C Off-road raceway.

Located inside the small but quaint Webster County Fairgrounds in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Fort Dodge R/C (FDRC for short) is run by the most die-hard r/c racers around. The track is a 150x90 foot mini motocross track featuring a surface and jumps made out of literally play sand. There is also a 10 foot high, 50 foot gap jump made out of wood and carpet called “Da Mountain”. “Da Mountain” is a menacing beast that can end any racers day in an instant. Surrounding the track is an ingenious tree covered driver’s stand with a pit and staging lane below it. The track is built on the side of a hill and has many large drainage tiles in place to handle the monsoon like precipitation we get here in the corn state. The campgrounds are right next to the track providing the perfect opportunity to get lots of racers together at once.

The last race of the 2010 outdoor season at FDRC was the 10/16 FAWL BRAWL held on Saturday, October 16th, 2010. The weather for this race was unbelievably warm for the time, and the racing was even hotter. Both my not-so-little brother Jimmy and I participated in this event, and it was one I won’t easily forget. When we pulled into the complex, the sight of my home away from home brought an ecstatic feeling over me as I was finally back doing what I love to do most. The rustling of leaves on the ground signaled it was time for a FAWL BRAWL.

The classes I race are 1/10th electric short course (Jimmy does as well), and pro 1/8 scale nitro buggy. In the demolition-derby like short course class, I was the top qualifier with Jimmy starting in the back of the pack. When the main event started, the pressure intensified as I battled with a few other drivers before taking a 10 second lead close to the end of the race. However, it was over before I knew it as I caught the entrance to pit lane with the rear of my truck while flooring it down the front stretch. I broke the left rear suspension arm and just like that, I WAS OUT! My little brother shouted from the drivers stand as he was coming by to get his lap back, “HA, YOU SUCK AGAIN!” I was disappointed in making such a stupid mistake, but the real show was still to come.

Pro 1/8th scale nitro buggy is the class that is the most expensive, and the one I focus on the most. For the 10/16 FAWL BRAWL, I had a somewhat lack-luster qualifying effort but ended up starting second in a field of only six drivers (low turnout sadly). It was me versus Tony Bacon; my greatest competition and a reputable friend. As the 15 minute chaos fest started, the track had started to resemble the surface of the moon in some places, but was still a great time. I made several mistakes early in the race and lost a bunch of time to Tony before the halfway point when I came in for a fuel stop. My dad did a perfect fuel stop and I was back in the game. My car was a black and orange fox chasing the pink and black rabbit that was Tony Bacon’s car.

As the race started to draw to a close, I put in some fast, consistent laps as Tony started to make some mistakes. With two minutes left we were right next to each other, neck and neck, mono a mono as we fought to gain the lead. The cars bounced around on the rutted stretch of track leading to “Da Mountain”, and went up and over in a sketchy fashion before slapping down hard on the landing ramp. Coming on to the last lap, I held a breath of a lead as both of our O.S. engines went screaming down the front stretch. Halfway through the lap, the crowd gasped as I made a mistake and allowed Tony to pass. I knew I was running out of time, so I lined up for the tilted table top, hammered full throttle, and hoped for the best. I got stupidly lucky as my car landed right next to Tony’s, sand flying everywhere. My blood pressure spiked and heart beat jumped through the roof. Time slowed down as we both battled to win the war.

In the last corner I tried to put a wheel in, and Tony and I ended up getting tangled together on pipe, which is what divides the lanes of the track. Both of our engines revved 40 thousand rpm as we struggled to get across the finish line. Tony came across first, and I was 3 inches behind him. I held full wood down the front stretch and flicked the steering hard, sending the car into a barrel roll, hitting a safety fence. I had lost the race, but it was the closest battle I had ever been in. I was genuinely happy with putting on such a great performance for the spectators.

Fort Dodge R/C Off-road Raceway is a special place to me. The race just described is one of the many memories I have of racing at Iowa’s best r/c facility. The sport of racing r/c cars is considered a hobby. However for me, it’s one of the most important things in life. It is my chance to get away from the hassle of school and daily life, and hang out plus race with people who I truly consider my friends.