REMOTE-CONTROL FANS TURN SAUGUS TRACK INTO SCENE OF LITTLE CARS AND BIG THRILLS.Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer SAUGUS - Hidden off San Fernando Road San Fernando Road is a major street in the city and county of Los Angeles. It starts off in Castaic as The Old Road, passing through Santa Clarita and the Newhall Pass, where upon its intersection with Sierra Highway near the junction of the Golden State (I-5) and the is a dusty track where power- packed remote control cars whiz down straightaways Straightaways is the second release of the band Son Volt. Release Date: April 22 1997 Track listing
Tented tent·ed adj. 1. Covered with tents. 2. Sheltered in tents. 3. Resembling a tent. tables served as pit-crew stations where, among the pistons, screwdrivers and young racers sat Mike Reedy reed·y adj. reed·i·er, reed·i·est 1. Full of reeds. 2. Made of reeds. 3. Resembling a reed, especially in being thin or fragile: - a manufacturer of motors and batteries - for whom the 16th annual Reedy Race of Champions is named. ``I'll be 60 so I guess I'm old enough for the title of godfather. I take it with pride,'' Reedy said. ``My hobby turned out to be my profession.'' Reedy's profession has made hobbyists out of countless young men who grew up tinkering with remote control cars, some - like Jimmy Babcock - who have parleyed their skill of racing the cars into a means to travel to races as far away as Finland and South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. . ``It's addictive,'' said Babcock, 26, a Canyon Country resident who has been racing for 10 years. ``The fun part is racing, but it's a lot of work to get ready for a four-minute run. The whole goal is to make your car run better than the next person's.'' And try they did, first adjusting oil-filled shocks and pistons and then getting their cars out on the track, where speeds reach about 40 mph. The track, about the length and width of a backyard swimming pool, is owned by Rod Weisbaum, who also owns Hot Rod hot rod Automobile rebuilt or modified for high speed, fast acceleration, or sporty appearance. A wide range of automobiles may be called hot rods, including some of those used in drag racing as well as those used in recreational cruising. Hobbies. But Babcock laughed when asked if there is any money involved in winning. ``Since it's a hobby, it's pretty much bragging rights and bowling trophies.'' Added Weisbaum, ``It's really more of a prestigious event. Bragging rights are big.'' Regardless of winning or losing, 12-year-old John Cox sat in the stands with his family and admired the agility and skill of the drivers, who are perched with their controls above the track. ``It takes a lot of practice to be that good. I just like the speed and the way they maneuver around the track. It's really exciting for me.'' CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) A remote-controlled car, above, is airborne as it speeds around the course in Saturday's 16th annual Reedy Race of Champions. Below, a pileup stalls things as racers vie for the best lap times. Racers from around the country competed. David R. Crane/Staff Photographer (3 -- color) Brian Kinwaled of Fountain Valley Fountain Valley, city (1990 pop. 53,691), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1957. Chiefly residential, Fountain Valley also has diverse manufactures, including apparel, computer equipment, semiconductors, and medical equipment. A U.S. navy helicopter facility is there. , who races for team Losi Team Losi (or simply Losi) is a USA based radio-controlled car manufacturer founded by Gil Losi in the late-1980s. History Their first vehicle, the JRx-2, was a 1/10 Scale 2wd Off-Road competition-ready buggy. , tunes up his remote-controlled car Saturday. David R. Crane/Staff Photographer |
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