When Augustine De Alcantara’s race club meets in Altona every Saturday, they don’t need a very big track.
In fact, the racing surface only requires a large room, with space for spectators and spotters to catch the race cars in case they fly off the track.
And don’t be fooled by the size of the complex little vehicles. While they can fit in the palm of your hand, they can reach a top speed of 40 km/h.
De Alcantara began the South MB Mini 4WD Club nearly a year ago, after becoming involved in a similar club in Winnipeg.
“It’s a very popular sport in southeast Asia. Over there, it’s high stakes with trophies and big prizes. My friends and I were originally part of a club over there, too. We were excited to see that there is a club in Winnipeg, so we joined that. Then we had the idea to bring this to Altona. We were guessing people out here would be interested in this, too.”
They guessed right.
The club is free to join and now boasts about 40 members from across southern Manitoba.
“It’s the only club like it in the region,” says De Alcantara. “People are getting more and more interested. This sport is for everybody. It’s a good thing for the kids to get involved in, too. They’re very excited about it.”
The club held their first big competition last December in the Altona Bergthaler Church basement to rave reviews.
While participants can order their own race cars and parts from Japan, the club has a number of vehicles for sale, with a basic starter kit priced at just $25. You can also purchase other parts to upgrade.
The kit includes a small, ready to assemble AA battery operated car, with all the components and tools you need to create your vehicle.
“This is not a remote-controlled vehicle,” stresses De Alcantara. “It’s all about speed. There’s a science to it as you put all the parts together, which is one of the reasons this hobby is so popular.”
The races include three laps around a curvy, convoluted track, and whoever completes those laps first wins.
“It’s a matter of skill in setting up your vehicle. You have to tweak it a little. It’s a challenge, learning how to speed up your car. It depends on how you set up your car. The goal is to get to the speed without going off the track. The rollers help you gain speed. These are fairly sturdy vehicles, so they can take a lot.”
De Alcantara has lived in Altona for seven years and is finding this is a great way to get to know more people in the region. He encourages everybody to check out their events and consider becoming part of the club.
“It’s a fun and affordable hobby. It’s a great way to interact and get to know people. There is a strategy to it. There’s a science to it. It’s not about the speed, it’s about how you set up your car.”
The South MB Mini 4WD Club is currently putting a five-member team together to compete at a tournament in Winnipeg on March 26. They’re also organizing a Spring Cup in Altona.
“We’d also like to set up a competition in Altona during the Sunflower Festival,” De Alcantara says.
You can connect with the club via their Facebook page: Tamiya South MB mini 4wd club.
