DON’T bother telling Carly Cullcott remote control cars are child’s play.
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Standing on a platform at Nemingha’s Model Sport Complex this week, a controller perched in her hands and eyes fixed with a steely gaze, it’s clear Ms Cullcott takes it very seriously.
The Tamworth woman first felt the thrill of racing as a five-year-old and 20 years later is one of Australia’s top female racers.
“It’s a very serious sport; they’re like mini-V8 Supercars,” she said.
“It’s more sophisticated than people think.”
And a hell of a lot faster.
Among her more than a dozen cars are machines that can clock 120km/h and cost up to $3000.
Long gone are the days of brushed motors made out of copper wire; modern cars are fully computerised and run on petrol.
“One of mine has a 26cc whipper-snipper engine,” Ms Cullcott said.
“The competition can be pretty hardcore.
“I was almost assaulted by a fella I was racing once because I was faster than him.”
While elite racers had cat-like reflexes and hand-to-eye co-ordination, the real art of the sport, she said, was setting the cars up right.
“It’s a real sport, people don’t realise that. There are world championships, trophies; you can even get sponsored by the leading brands,” she said.
The Tamworth Radio Control Car Club will hold an open day at the Nemingha track (on Back Kootingal Rd) on Sunday from 10am to 2pm.
Novices are welcome and participants can bring their own car or have one supplied.