Touring through RC Tracks Las Vegas

0 Nov. 5, 2014, 1:20 p.m.

11/6/2014
By Aaron Waldron

LiveRC.com

Two weeks ago, on the way home from covering the International Indoor Championships at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV, I stopped by the selected host site of the 2016 IFMAR 1/8-Scale Off-Road Worlds - RC Tracks, Las Vegas. The pit area, 1/10-scale track, and large 1/8-scale course were already complete, and facility owner Chris Tocco was excited to talk about his plans for the rest of the place. Just look at that view of the strip behind the track! And the stadium-quality lighting high overhead? Chris got lucky - the poles were already installed before he took over the land.

Though the drive up to the facility is already nice (as you pass by the attractions of the adjacent Sportscenter), Chris will be paving a nice parking lot to arrange the hundreds of vehicles that will arrive for the Worlds.

The covered pit area includes sit-down tables for 84 drivers, more than adequate space for club racing, and Chris has further plans for larger regional and national events that will be held at the track.

Since the manufacturer teams often bring their own tents and tables, they’ll line up to the facility between the pit area at the track.

A tire wash station that continually pumps clean water will be a welcome accommodation for all racers.

Chris will also be working with Kenny Johnson, father of quickly rising local racer Kyle, on landscaping the facility to remove areas of unsightly dirt common at every other track on the planet.

My visit came just days after Chris received the news that his city permits had gone through and he was cleared to begin the building process. Because the concrete foundation for the drivers’ stand had to wait several days to harden, the drivers’ stand was sitting in pieces on the side of the facility.

Since my visit, the drivers’ stand has been built and installed. Chris will also acquire plenty of bleacher seating to line around the track in time for the IFMAR Worlds.

One of the coolest parts of the drivers’ stand? Special windows built for scoring monitors in pit lane. Not only does the swing-away door provide shade and weather protection for the flat-screens that will be bolted to the mounts, but they can be locked up at night to prevent them from being stolen.

Chris installed the same type of sprinkler systems used for golf courses and large farms - which ensure easily controllable and even coverage over the entire track surface.

Just a short walk from the pit area is the “Speed Park,” an outdoor go-kart track that will surely be a hit with RC racers of all ages.

This view comes from the balcony of the warehouse between the RC and go-kart tracks. Chris plans on using a portion of his half of the warehouse for a media office for the IFMAR Worlds and other large races.

Not only is RC Tracks Las Vegas off to a great start in Chris Tocco’s plan for building an incredible facility to host the first 1/8-Scale IFMAR Worlds in the U.S. since 2008, but the racers in the Las Vegas area sure are lucky!

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