What Is the Greatest RC Track Ever Created?
There are many fantastic RC tracks around the world, each with its own unique appeal. Some of these tracks have iconic histories, having hosted legendary events and produced unforgettable moments in RC racing. This week, I’ve set myself the impossible task of finding the greatest tracks, but with so many RC classes and different requirements for each, it’s no easy feat. Any list we create would undoubtedly be questioned, so I’m not going to claim mine as the definitive one. Instead, I’ll be sharing some of my favourite tracks from over the years.
For me, the best RC tracks should have a few key factors:
- They should be visually impressive.
- The track should encourage close racing and inspire those champion race moves.
- They need world class facilities for visiting racers.
- And they must have a rich history, producing worthy champions.
I believe my list ticks all of these boxes. I hope you agree!
Homestead R/C Raceway, Miami USA
My first pick is a big one! Located at the back of the Homestead-Miami Speedway grandstand in Florida, the Homestead R/C Raceway is a well known and respected venue in the RC racing world. This track has hosted major events, including the 2011 1:8 On road World Championship and the 2023 IFMAR 1:10 200mm On road Worlds.
The track features a classic U.S.-style parking lot layout, with a 100m-long straight that adds excitement and speed to the racing. The infield is painted in green and outlined with boards, giving it a clean, clear design. Despite its simple appearance, the track’s technical demands challenge even the best drivers. If taken properly, the chicane can save valuable time, but it’s easy to unsettle the car if approached too aggressively. Wind conditions at events further add unpredictability to the racing, testing drivers’ skills even more.
One of the key reasons I’ve included this track is the incredible 2018 IC World Championship race held here. Naoto Matsukura, a multiple Electric Onroad World Champion, achieved an amazing victory in his first attempt at the 1:10 Nitro Touring Car World Championship. He was joined on the podium by Britain’s Kyle Branson, who finished second, and Spain’s Eduardo Escandon, who made an impressive comeback to take third.
Homestead R/C Raceway combines history, great racing, and a challenging track design, making it a standout in the RC world.
For more information about the track visit their webiste: https://www.homesteadrcraceway.com/
The 2018 IFMAR 1/10th Nitro Worlds race can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uqVisKNO8g
Welkom R/C Arena, South Africa
This is a bit of a controversial entry to the list. The Welkom R/C Arena in South Africa was selected to host the 2018 1:10 Electric Touring Car World Championships. Unfortunately, its location led many top RC racers to skip the event. Despite this, I believe the venue and the track itself were impressive and deserved a better World Championship.
Built specifically for RC racing, the Welkom R/C Arena spans a huge 3,500 square metres, with a track that measures 70 metres wide by 32 metres deep, giving a lap length of around 320 metres. This indoor venue, which hosted its first indoor World Championship event since 2000, rivals some of the best outdoor tracks and offers a unique racing experience.
The venue is designed with racers in mind, featuring a 20-metre-long drivers' stand with 14 individual cubicles, allowing for better focus during races. On the second floor, there is a spacious 1,200-square-metre restaurant and seating area, making it a comfortable environment for both spectators and participants. Top racers like Ronald Volker and Bruno Coelho have praised the Welkom R/C Arena for its challenging layout and innovative design, making it a standout venue in the world of RC racing.
To view the epic battle from leg one of that race, view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXZeDXmwSQU&t=179s&pp=ygUcV2Vsa29tIFJDIEFyZW5hIDIwMTggYSBmaW5hbA%3D%3D
OCRC Raceway, California USA
This is very much an iconic track, but sadly one that is no longer active. OCRC Raceway, located in Huntington Beach, California, was famous for hosting the Off-Road Reedy Race of Champions, a prestigious annual RC racing event. From 2014 to 2019, it held the race consecutively, becoming a key venue for top RC drivers around the world. The event itself is known for its unique heads-up racing format, where consistency and strategy are critical to success. Created by Mike Reedy in 1987, the Reedy Race remains one of the most anticipated events on the RC calendar.
The OCRC Raceway track was a premier indoor off-road facility, celebrated for its technical challenges. It combined high-speed sections with tricky corners, testing drivers' skill and precision. The track was designed to encourage strategic overtaking, with multiple racing lines and unpredictable whoop sections that kept drivers on their toes.
In addition to the track, the facility offered excellent amenities, including covered pit areas and a well-equipped hobby shop. Its vibrant community and high-quality racing environment made it a central hub for RC enthusiasts worldwide.
Sadly, the OCRC Raceway closed at the end of 2021, and it is still missed by many in the RC racing world. Its legacy lives on in the memories of the incredible races held there and the passionate community it helped build.
Thier Facbook page is still available if you want to find more information about the track: https://www.facebook.com/OCRCRaceway
You can view some of the Reedy Race from 2018 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CglxhuT6rFo
Tamiya Raceway, California USA
The Tamiya Raceway in California is another iconic track that is no longer with us. Opened in 1994, this legendary RC track became a blueprint for many 1:10 scale on-road tracks in America due to its outstanding design. Its compact size (170 ft wide by 70 ft deep) made it a perfect venue for racing, with its layout offering plenty of opportunities for overtaking and close, competitive racing. The track’s simple yet effective design suited the heads-up race format, making it a fan favourite.
Tamiya Raceway also became the spiritual home of the on-road Reedy Race of Champions, hosting the event 11 times, including its final appearance in 2018. One of its last notable races was the 2018 Reedy Race, where Marc Rheinard claimed his 7th Reedy Race title, a fitting end for such a historic venue.
The track was well-known for its iconic features, like the famous “kick,” which challenged drivers and offered plenty of opportunities for comebacks. It was a track that encouraged skillful racing and strategic moves, earning it a special place in the hearts of RC racers worldwide.
Sadly, the Tamiya Raceway closed in 2018 to make way for a storage facility, marking the end of an era for RC racing. Its legacy, however, remains as one of the most beloved and respected tracks in RC history.
You can view one of the Reedy Race rounds from 2018 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js0jAOtDTWg&t=53s&pp=ygUedGFtaXlhIHJhY2V3YXkgcmVlZHkgcmFjZSAyMDE4
Robin Hood Raceway - Nottinghamshire, UK
My final track is one very close to my heart and the only one on this list that I’ve had the pleasure of racing on.
The Robin Hood Raceway, located in the UK, is a traditional UK astroturf track known for its challenging and technical layout. It has gained a strong reputation in the RC community, having successfully hosted two European Championships.
The track itself offers a mix of jumps, tight corners, and long straights, creating a thrilling challenge for drivers of all skill levels. Its smooth surface and well-maintained design allow for close racing, with plenty of opportunities for overtaking, ensuring a fun experience whether you're a beginner or an experienced racer.
Robin Hood Raceway is not only a personal favourite of mine, but it’s also highly regarded by many top UK racers. It has also earned the admiration of Polish star Michal Orlowski, who has won two European titles at this track, further cementing its status as a premier venue in the RC racing world.
Whether you're racing or spectating, Robin Hood Raceway always promises an exciting and unforgettable experience.
For more information about Robin Hood Raceway please visit their website here: https://www.facebook.com/robinhoodraceway
To watch footage from the 2022 Euro finals visit this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrZanHsJvE0
So that’s my list of tracks, and I hope you agree with some of them. There are far too many iconic tracks to fit into just one list, so I’m sure we’ll create another in the future based on the feedback from this article. Thank you for reading, and I hope you continue to enjoy the amazing RC tracks around the world!
Next weeks Hot Topic will be:
What Are the Best YouTube Channels for RC Cars and Racing?
We’re on the hunt for the best RC car-related YouTube channels out there! Whether they’re racing RC cars, building them, having fun with them, or even destroying them, we want to know!
If it’s fun to watch, we want to hear about it. Let’s see how many awesome channels we can discover together!
Drop your pick in the comments on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rcclubhub.
RC Pit Talk: Fun RC News
Is FPV the future of RC Car Racing....again? Remotis think so!
Over the past decade, we’ve seen new trends emerge in the world of radio-controlled hobbies. One of the most notable was drone racing, which even promised mainstream TV coverage at its peak. However, that excitement seems to have faded, leaving it as just another RC pastime. Now, something new is creating a buzz on social media—FPV car racing.
FPV (First-Person View) car racing isn’t entirely new. In fact, even top RC racers like Alex Hagberg have shown interest in the technology. Despite this, it has never fully taken off as a popular class or standalone hobby. However, recent developments suggest it could be making a comeback, thanks to new businesses pushing to turn FPV car racing into something big.
One company leading this charge is Remotis, which has been teasing RC enthusiasts with glimpses of their futuristic RC car and a state-of-the-art simulator rig on social media. What makes their concept stand out is the possibility of remote-controlled racing. They hint at offering a service where users with a sim racing setup could control real RC cars on an actual track from anywhere in the world. It’s an ambitious idea that sounds both innovative and potentially costly compared to traditional RC racing.
The car itself is a standout. With its sleek and futuristic design, it wouldn’t look out of place as a concept for Formula E cars. Whether Remotis can make this concept accessible and appealing to a wide audience remains to be seen, but it’s certainly a fascinating development to watch.
To see more of what Remotis has in store, visit their Instagram account here: Remotis Instagram. Could this be the future of RC racing? Only time will tell!
Basement Mini Carpet Track: A Cool DIY RC Setup
This week, something really cool popped up on Reddit that caught the attention of the RC community. User Beneficial-Group3507 shared their awesome homemade track designed for a Losi Mini Buggy, and it’s nothing short of epic!
The track, built in their basement, features very technical jumps for such a small area. The surface appears to be made from spare carpet cut-offs, giving it a practical yet creative look. Despite the compact size, the layout is impressive, with challenging sections that demand precision and skill to navigate. Watching the buggy in action makes us wonder—where could we squeeze a mini carpet track into our own homes?
Racing on a track like this would probably be quite chaotic, but there’s no doubt it’s a great way to hone controller skills. We’re excited to see what their next project will be. If you want to check out the video and see this brilliant setup in action, visit the link here: Basement Track Video.
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RC World Racing News:
Sorry there is no RC World News this week
Cool Wall Submissions
James Herring - Hyper Hatch Bug
Verdict: Our second Hot Hatch VW Beetle on the cool wall. We really love this simple but effective lively which suits the bubble shape well. Its also great to see a body presented on an indoor race track for a change. Easy pass with this one.
Tom Berry - Sunset Sierra
Verdict: Apparently sunset cool wall submissions are now a thing. Regardless of the backdrop we have to admit this retro shell looks great on an MTC. Well done Tom.
Wayne Price - Wave Racer
Verdict: The only thing to question on this body is whether it was done by a pro painter, but after a bit of checking, it looks like Wayne is a pro at both racing and painting bodies. This one looks very fast and a great addition to the wall.
Check out our Cool Wall here: https://www.rcclubhub.co.uk/index.php/rc-pit-post/the-cool-wall
Submit your body designs via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rcclubhub
ClubHub SteveSteve runs RcClubHub in his spare time when he's not racing or helping to run Sheffield RC Racing. He lives in Sheffield and has over 20 years of experience in building and racing RC Cars. |