Racers with Augusta RC Supercross have been holding events at Bayvale Park since 2001 and look to keep the sport ongoing in the area.
The hobby involves racing radio-controlled cars, and it’s a sport anyone can get involved with according to Robert Davis of Augusta RC Supercross.
“We provide the Augusta community and surrounding areas with a recreational sport and hobby that does not demand the physical and athletic abilities or risk of injury to participate in like physical sports,” he said. “This gives children, families and racers the ability to get outside and participate in a competitive sport without these risks and requirements holding them back.”
Competitive events are held twice a month at Bayvale Park. In addition, Augusta RC Supercross hosts about six big events a year coordinating with other race tracks from Florida to South Carolina as part of a race series that provides racers the chance to compete in larger events with prizes and rewards. Davis says they have given back thousands of dollars in professional RC cars and supplies to local novice and kids that participate in their events.
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“We bring in a total of approx. 8,400 people to the park and local businesses in the area
within our scheduled 30 days of racing per year, and countless locals that use the park
weekly,” according to a document from Davis.
Davis also says an Augusta racer won the 5-race series and became the 2019 Georgia State Champion and won several sponsorships back during the 2020 season.
Another local racer, Curtis Noble, says he began in Augusta and has been involved in the hobby for around 10 to 12 years.
“They helped me out, and they love to see newcomers come out,” said Noble. “I see a lot of young kids getting into it, and it really gives them something to do on the weekends.”
Noble also said this sport has good economic impact in Augusta.
“It brings in a lot of people. It is good for the economy for Augusta, for the hotels, restaurants, it brings in a lot of people when we have these big events, Noble said.
Davis says this sport not only attracts kids, but also families can be involved as well.
“One of the biggest things we see is with young people, once you get kids out there and they see it and try it and they are really interested in it, it actually gives an opportunity for families to come out because in some of the cars you have to a pit crew if your driving,” Davis said. “We actually have had some handicapped people and we have a wheel chair section for handicap accessible and we have several racers who came on the big events that are handicapped and that is what they do for a sport outlet.”
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Back in July, Bayvale Park’s power was shut off, which caused less people to come out to events. A lot of racers won’t come out due to not being able to charge their batteries.
“Since 2001, we have been able to sustain our selves by the city providing the lights and the electricity. Now that the park and the electricity has some age on it, it needs to be upgraded. A lot of the commission does not know we exist because we have sustained ourselves. There has never been a budget in place to upgrade the park, so we were working on trying to get a formal agreement,” Davis said.
A couple of meetings have already been held talking about the current situation with the park. A future meeting could decide the future of RC racing at Bayvale park.
Chris Rickerson is a staff reporter covering Columbia County government and general assignment topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at chris@theaugustapress.com.
