The "Hobby Park" in Winston-Salem NC

[BrianCio]

We recently moved within 10 minutes of this virtually abandoned park. There is a good group of nitro r/c airplane flyers that is out there on Saturdays in the summer. There is probably enough room to set up a pcv pipe track and just leave it up and try to get something going there even if it's once a month. It's sad to see that the park was just left for dead and that there are so few people into corporate r/c racing especially in such a large area. If anyone knows anything about the park or wants to start anything up in this location this would be a great place to start posting.

Brian in Welcome
-13 Turn TC3
-19 Turn TC3
-13 Turn Stampede
-1/18 Streetforce
-GWS TigerMoth
-GWS Pico Cub
-GWS Islander

[OldBullLee]

I live in Wilkesbor, it's about 40 minutes from Winston. I am very interseted in racing off raod and Charlotte is just a little bit far to really get ot spend some track time. However, I would be willing to help in any way necessary to get the track ready for racing. Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions. Lets get racing!!!!!!

joshuabchurch@charter.net

[dhamby]

i live out near hobby park the hobby shop i hang out at just opened up and the owner wants to get together with some of the local rc guys and the city and c what they can get started .maybe fixing the existing track or building another one not really sure you can get the phone # and directions to the hobby shop im talking about on there web site it is www.AandHhobbies.com

[AaronBall]

I live just east of Greensboro, but I was at Hobby Park about a month ago with a couple monter trucks and a stadium truck. It seems that the people who go there bash on the BMX track and just leave the old RC track alone. It's fun for those who don't care for the challenge of following a set course. I spent a few minutes with a shovel and rake and repaired one side of the "flat top" jump. The track needs more than just a few people with shovels to get it into condition to be used. It would need a dedicated effort of at least 10 people, and some donations for drain pipe for the edges. I am not sure if the county park system could supply any help? You would think there would be some funds available if you knew who to ask. I guess the first thing would be to prepare a plan, then submit that to the person in charge of the park. I wouldn't mind helping put together a plan of what the track and stand should be and what would be needed.

If there is only one or two other interested people, I can't see it getting very far. Jump onto this thread if you are interested and lets make something happen!?

[nomac]

did the off-road bit years ago and enjoyed it. the thought of doing it again would be nice,but.....how bout an-road track this time. we have too many dirt tracks as it is. if there's intrest in a road course then count me in. BTW, charles over @ Custom Hobbies in greensboro has a bunch of road domes just lying around. i can talk to him about getting it out to winston and see what we can do with it.

[AaronBall]

Here is starting point contact to find out what can be done with the RC track at Hobby Park. :
Recreation & Parks, City of Winston-Salem
Suite 407 City Hall South, 100 E. First St., Winston-Salem, NC 27102
mail to P.O.Box 2511, Winston-Salem, NC 27102-2511
voice (336) 727-2063, fax (336) 727-2066, E-mail: haleyg@cityofws.org
I have not pursued this contact yet since I live so far from Hobby Park. If I were to put forth the effort to get an RC track at a park built, it would be closer to where I live. I don't mind helping with Hobby Park, but the distance makes it impossible for me to devote continuous effort.

Nomac,
Aren't there a lot of on-road tracks in the area? I have no on-road cars so the closest I would get to that would be to meet a few friends at an empty parking lot. Are you thinking of a flat onroad course or one of those banked ovals? If you want to put together a plan, I see no reason it should not be presented in addition to plans for a dirt track. The nice thing about RC cars and trucks is that they don't need all that much land to make a good track.

[nomac]

Aaron....yes, i was thinking of a flat on-road track. this area is mostly dominated by off-road tracks. there haven't been a good on-road track here since the K'ville group. to get any (organized) road course action, one needs to look up durham or goldsboro, they're the only 3 tracks in the state (me thinks).
king's talked it up as well as kc hobbies and custom hobbies, in greensboro. but nada. the grove in rock hill,sc has a permanent concrete track, but the off road is so popular that it sees very little action.

but so far i have one funtional on-road car. (a 12L4). not a big following for that eigther. :(

[JWRockman]

I ran across this forum. I live in Greensboro but race at Monkey Bottom in Lexington/Welcome area. Visit http://www.carolinasrc.com/trackdirectory/ for race schedule.
It would be nice to have another track close to Greensboro.
Rockman

[mooseisloose57]

There used to be an oval track at Hobby Park about 20 years ago when I first started racing r/c. There was a bit of off-road in the infield which also used the oval as part of the off road. In the late 80's the track was converted to complete off-road. I don't think there has been any serious attempt at keeping the track or driver's stand in good repair for the past 10 years. I did race at a few club type races in the 80's an early 90's. Just a bunch of guys having a good time when no one really knew what we were doing, just put the car together, do a little bit of tuning and RACE.

[BrianCio]

Interesting. At some point it looked like there was 2 oval tracks down there but now people "fly" planes on strings in the ovals now.

[nomac]

hey brian.....you coming to the church tomorrow nite?

[mooseisloose57]

Those 2 "oval tracks" are circles for line control planes or cars. They were built for that purpose.

[BrianCio]

Yup, Friday night racing rocks.

They were built for line control planes and cars... ok.

[dhamby]

Its been a while since i posted here i have finaly got a little racing going at the hobby shop (aandhhobbies) out in clemmons nc we have a good time racing . we set the track up every sunday around 1.30 we run 1/10 touring stock and mod. 1/18 mini truck and mini rally both stock and mod. and we are starting a new class today tamiya m chassis. stock. we charge 8.00 to race and we take the total amount for your class and divide it by 50% half goes to the shop the other half is divided up and given out to the top 3 in the class as gift cards to the shop we are not a huge track and are only doing this because ther is no where else to race outside withen reason we race only electric no gas because of the noise. all rules and race dates are on the shops website at www.aandhhobbies.com feel free to come out and race with us any time we donot run for points its just a weekly race although you do have a chance to win back some money in shop dollars . so if you have a tc or an 18th stock or mod come on out and race with us . shop location is in clemmons behind dockside seafood address is on the site.thanks

[kromie101]

JWROCKMAN,i tried to get in touch with the guy who's name is on carolia'src,about monkey bottom and he never called back? is that a good schedule to go buy?i'm about 4 hrs and wanted to make a road trip.but i don't wanna show up when theres no race:eek:is there a way to get in touch with someone.

thanks eric hanna

[AaronBall]

Kromie,
I have not kept up with the goings on at Monkey Bottom for many months, but usually there was a lot of discussion about racing status on the forum for that track.
Good Luck,
Aaron

[843rcguy]

I lived in that area for 27 years and moved away. Last time I was at the track was many years ago. Sad to see it going that way. I am moving back into the area and would be interested in getting a group of people up to get the track back up to racing speed. Wanted to know if there was any interest in possibly doing this.

[BrianCio]

There are a few places still racing in the area. Monkey Bottom for offroad based off of ZNZ Hobbies in Lexington and there is a church on Jonestown Road that they race at on the first Friday of the month. Star Of Bethlehem. Check out A and H Hobbies in Clemmons, they made know of other places as well.

We just had a new baby so I out of racing for the next few years. I still beat around a little but just at the house.