Remote controlled fun revving up in Newberry

NEWBERRY – David Wallace became interested in remote-controlled vehicles last February with some of his fellow employees at the City of Newberry.

“It was just so engrossing, the hobby itself, the people you meet, all the different aspects—I just got overwhelmed with it,” said Wallace, lead operator for the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

But it turned out there was no place in Newberry for them to come together and race the remote control vehicles.

“We were looking for something local, because you either have to go to High Springs or Ocala,” said Jason McGehee, another remote control enthusiast and creator of an online forum for the city.

Wallace and the newly formed remote control club approached Richard Blalock, Newberry’s parks and recreation department director.

They discussed possible options for building a remote control track, and the space by the retention pond by Easton Newberry Sport Complex’s baseball fields seemed to be a good location.

Now that Easton just got its Community Olympic Development Program designation, the remote control track idea would be a great way to bring more people in, McGehee said.

“Richard pretty much said ‘Hey if there’s going to be a big interest I have no problem with it, but you are going to have to come up with your own funds,’” Gehee said.

Wallace took the reins and got the idea off the ground financially as he and his friends spent their weekends hauling dirt to build a temporary track. It took eight days in early May to finish.

After the track was put together, the group got in touch with Eric Canto of Hobbytown USA in Gainesville to invite the public to try out the track and gage how many people were interested. About 200 people came.

“I never knew that this hobby is as big as it is,” McGehee said.

About 10 to 15 people come out on Sundays to utilize the track and fly remote control planes and helicopters. The FaceBook page, Friends of the Newberry Remote Control Park, posts pictures and videos from the high-definition cameras attached to the planes or helicopters.

At first the remote control club used city equipment, since many participants worked for Newberry, but once the club aimed to have a permanent track as well as an official space for flying vehicles, it had to explore funding options.

Wallace received an email from the city’s utility director detailing an available grant of $50,000 that would be appropriate for the remote control park venture. There was no requirement to match the amount in the application process.

A resolution in favor of applying for the grant passed the city commission on Sept. 9.

In order to be eligible to apply for the grant, the interested party must have a functioning official board. The Newberry remote control park board includes President Eric Canto, long-time racer, and Tracy Carver, the vice president and treasurer. Miguel Marandez, secretary, Jason McGehee and Alan Wight, as a special consultant, are also members.

As for recruiting, McGehee and Wallace wanted another person on board who was “all about Newberry,” Wallace said.

“Whatever our goals are, we want to put Newberry out there first and foremost,” he said.

The board has an account set up to accept donations, and has already received some incoming money.

The permanent high-bank dirt oval racing track is now finished and open for practice runs. If all goes according to plan, the club will upkeep the old track by the retention pond as a rally course for beginners. There will also be an off-road track for club racing to provide for weekly or summer racing events.

A large outdoor flying facility is also part of the club’s vision for the remote control park, and Easton already has the space to accommodate indoor flying and racing in the gym.

“So basically Newberry will have everything for remote control except water,” Wallace said.

“But everything else, we’ve got covered,” he said.

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