bigfreak
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For such a small forum, we sure have a lot of Nitro racers that hail from PA. I'm creating this thread to serve as 1) a resource for folks who wish to race in this area and 2) as a place to get to know one another and maybe organize some weekends we can all go racning together.
Before I get started, I race 8th scale off-road buggies. The other PA folks I've met in the forum also seem to run buggies (and/or MT's and truggies). I may not speak for everyone, but my info is going to be slanted towards that part of the hobby. We may have some great onroads track around here, for example, but I honestly haven't a clue about where they are or who to contact.
The Eastern PA Track List
Marshall's
Marshall's Hilltop Hobbies
55 Altoona Farms Rd
Honesdale, PA 18431-3006 Phone: (570) 729-7458
NOTES: They have a pretty strong 1/8th scale buggy class. The 1/10th scale isn't bad either. The dirt is real loose, Mugshots or something like that seem to work ok. It's rumored that they use sulfer or something in the dirt and it supposidly causes corosion. The one time I was there is didn't have any problems. I just didn't like how out of the way the track is. Also, they treat you like a child when it comes to radio lock up. Oh they also have an onsite hobby shot and a pretty large indoor carpet oval. I assume they do winter electrics or something.
Barnstormers
http://www.barnstormersrc.com/
NOTES: I've never been there, but they have a pretty large 1/8th scale class from what I've heard. They also put on some big races that bring in lots and lots of buggies. The track isn't in PA but a lot of guys from around here go up there.
Hobby Town of Reading
http://www.hobbytownofreading.com/
12-F Wingco Lane
Reading, PA
(610) 916-4477
NOTES:This place is kind of like the McDonalds of RC Racing. The people running the races really don't know what they are doing. We went there once and it was a totally bust. To run a track you need to be motivated and have a passion. You can't just pass it onto a 16 year old kid. I hear that you can practice there and the track itself wasn't too bad (last summer anyway).
Pit Stop
Pit Stop Hobbies
262 W. Main St.
Mount Joy, PA 17552
(717) 653-6222
NOTES:The 10th scale nitro class at this place seems to be the biggest, but the 8th scale buggy class had 8-10 entries when I was there. My main concern was the transponder setup, but I've heard they are changing that. It's a nice place for families and they also race on Saturday so if you do stuff on Sunday, this isn't a bad place.
Bumps and Jumps
http://www.bumpsandjumpsrc.com/
NOTES:This is the only indoor track in PA now. This facility in Harrisburg PA is quite large and impressive. It was constructed only with RC in mind. The downside to this place is that they don't much care for 8th scale it seems. The owner runs a 10th scale nitro and that's what the place is all about. He claims that 8th scale makes too much smoke and tears up the track too much, but he runs MT's and truggies... :ahem: This attitude has keep a lot of 8th scale racers away. I was there twice in the summer and the 8th scale was sad and finally non-existent.
Hobby Hut
http://www.hobbyhut.com
HOBBY HUT
609 SOUTH TROOPER ROAD
NORRISTOWN, PA 19403-2309 Phone: (610) 635-1062
NOTES:This was the hot spot last summer. Anyone who is anyone around here was at the hut. I know a lof of guys (me included) that would drive an hour past the nearest track to go race at the hut. They even held the ROAR Regionals there. After sampling most of the offroad tracks in PA, I hitched my wagon at the hut and was there 4-5 weekends last summer. Next sumer is a new season, but I suspect Hobby Hut will be the hot spot again.
Indroduce Yourself
What classes do you race?
Where do you race?
What RC's do you own?
Who do you go racing with?
What's your best RC Racing moment?
Also any info on tracks I missed would be great. I'd like to keep the above info up to date as possible.
Before I get started, I race 8th scale off-road buggies. The other PA folks I've met in the forum also seem to run buggies (and/or MT's and truggies). I may not speak for everyone, but my info is going to be slanted towards that part of the hobby. We may have some great onroads track around here, for example, but I honestly haven't a clue about where they are or who to contact.
The Eastern PA Track List
Marshall's
Marshall's Hilltop Hobbies
55 Altoona Farms Rd
Honesdale, PA 18431-3006 Phone: (570) 729-7458
NOTES: They have a pretty strong 1/8th scale buggy class. The 1/10th scale isn't bad either. The dirt is real loose, Mugshots or something like that seem to work ok. It's rumored that they use sulfer or something in the dirt and it supposidly causes corosion. The one time I was there is didn't have any problems. I just didn't like how out of the way the track is. Also, they treat you like a child when it comes to radio lock up. Oh they also have an onsite hobby shot and a pretty large indoor carpet oval. I assume they do winter electrics or something.
Barnstormers
http://www.barnstormersrc.com/
NOTES: I've never been there, but they have a pretty large 1/8th scale class from what I've heard. They also put on some big races that bring in lots and lots of buggies. The track isn't in PA but a lot of guys from around here go up there.
Hobby Town of Reading
http://www.hobbytownofreading.com/
12-F Wingco Lane
Reading, PA
(610) 916-4477
NOTES:This place is kind of like the McDonalds of RC Racing. The people running the races really don't know what they are doing. We went there once and it was a totally bust. To run a track you need to be motivated and have a passion. You can't just pass it onto a 16 year old kid. I hear that you can practice there and the track itself wasn't too bad (last summer anyway).
Pit Stop
Pit Stop Hobbies
262 W. Main St.
Mount Joy, PA 17552
(717) 653-6222
NOTES:The 10th scale nitro class at this place seems to be the biggest, but the 8th scale buggy class had 8-10 entries when I was there. My main concern was the transponder setup, but I've heard they are changing that. It's a nice place for families and they also race on Saturday so if you do stuff on Sunday, this isn't a bad place.
Bumps and Jumps
http://www.bumpsandjumpsrc.com/
NOTES:This is the only indoor track in PA now. This facility in Harrisburg PA is quite large and impressive. It was constructed only with RC in mind. The downside to this place is that they don't much care for 8th scale it seems. The owner runs a 10th scale nitro and that's what the place is all about. He claims that 8th scale makes too much smoke and tears up the track too much, but he runs MT's and truggies... :ahem: This attitude has keep a lot of 8th scale racers away. I was there twice in the summer and the 8th scale was sad and finally non-existent.
Hobby Hut
http://www.hobbyhut.com
HOBBY HUT
609 SOUTH TROOPER ROAD
NORRISTOWN, PA 19403-2309 Phone: (610) 635-1062
NOTES:This was the hot spot last summer. Anyone who is anyone around here was at the hut. I know a lof of guys (me included) that would drive an hour past the nearest track to go race at the hut. They even held the ROAR Regionals there. After sampling most of the offroad tracks in PA, I hitched my wagon at the hut and was there 4-5 weekends last summer. Next sumer is a new season, but I suspect Hobby Hut will be the hot spot again.
Indroduce Yourself
What classes do you race?
Where do you race?
What RC's do you own?
Who do you go racing with?
What's your best RC Racing moment?
Also any info on tracks I missed would be great. I'd like to keep the above info up to date as possible.
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