Brightly colored, nimble, agile, and powerful are the remote-control cars and trucks that have been kept under wraps for far too long. On perhaps the hottest day of the year thus far, the RC Outlaw Drag Racers did not mind braving the heat to hear the scream of these engines.
“It’s the first time that we have had an event like this since the beginning of COVID,” said David Hanger. “This is just something that we are doing today in order to get ready for the season coming up this fall.”
The Greenville Mall’s north end parking lot was where the displays of speed, power and control took place. The group erected yellow caution tape and placed landmarks throughout the area to design a makeshift racing track.
The tiny vehicles came in all shapes and sizes. Some included the electrically-power Limitless, and the 1 Series Sale Nitrogen dune buggy whose gray exhaust smoke added to the fascination with these remote-controlled vehicles. “I was just out here today as a vendor for my business, Delta Snow,” said Kennadi Gear. “But I had to come see what was going on over here. I think I need to get a girls’ group together to start something with the race cars. If people knew more about it, I think they would be interested.”
This is exactly the type of reaction and tone that Hanger and his fellow remote control vehicle enthusiasts like Curtis Bee and John Benson hope to illicit. The RC Angel Outlaws are kids at heart hoping to use their passion for this type of recreation as a positive outlet for local children. “I would very much rather put one of these remote controls in a kid’s hand than to see a gun in their hand,” Hanger said. “This is something positive and educational. If a kid becomes serious about remote control racing, they are going to want to learn how to maintain their vehicles and how to save money for parts.”
To Hanger’s point, young people like Gear will continue to learn and grow as they watch the veterans of the craft pull out all of the tricks of the trade. “Once the tires get hot on the cars, I think that’s it,” Gear said. However, being the old school racer that he is, Bee walked across to Hanger with a small plastic bag of more durable tires and simply said, “Try these!” with a huge grin on his face.
Obviously for Hanger, fun and games don’t describe the entire picture. “It’s about payback too!” Hanger said. “There are a couple of guys that I came out here to beat today too!”
