Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 12, 1993 TAG: 9308120365
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JONATHAN HUNLEY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He operates an indoor track that gives remote-control enthusiasts a chance to race their cars even when the weather is not cooperative.
Cars travel 130 feet over the tri-oval carpet track at Crossroads Hobbies and Crafts of Salem.
"Our main business is done from October to April when racing outside is unlikely," said Black.
The track, which takes up a back room in the store, cost approximately $3,500 to build and contains $1,500 worth of equipment, including a computer that counts laps and prints out the results from each race.
Black also has a sound system to announce the winners of each race. He often awards gift certificates from the store as prizes. Some use the prizes to modify cars or repair broken parts. Car bodies are sold with a clear finish so racers can paint them. Many choose to pattern them after NASCAR autos.
"The racers break cars out here all the time. That's why I sell parts," Black joked.
Roanoke Valley enthusiasts are joined at the track by people from Christiansburg and as far away as Pittsylvania County. The hobby reaches all ages - from elementary school kids who view the cars as toys to adult fans of NASCAR racing who take the races extremely seriously.
Although racing the model cars is enjoyable for the hobbyists, Black said it has an educational side, and learning about cars can help people understand the functioning of full-size automobiles.
"The remote-control cars teach the principles of suspension to racers, since they are the same for actual motorcars."
The cars, designed as intricately as the track, reach speeds of 35 to 37 mph and are comparable to full-size NASCAR vehicles running at 210 to 215 mph. At these speeds, the cars can make a lap around the track in about 3.5 seconds.
"An average car costs about $250 to $300, but a racer may have as much as $2,000 invested in a car if you add on support equipment such as battery chargers and decals," said Black.
For Black, hobbies have been a lifelong affair. His father, George Black, started Crossroads Hobbies and Crafts at Crossroads Mall. Ronnie started working with models when he was 8 years old and still operates two store demo cars.
The shop in Salem has been in operation for about four years, and the track has been around almost since the store opened.
"I shopped around until I found a building big enough to hold a track of this size," said Black.
Black believes that model-car racing is a good hobby for people to follow because it is more involved than other hobbies. Many father-and-son teams race cars at the track; the father works on the car and the son races it.
"If nothing else, it keeps kids off of the streets where they could get in trouble. This place gives them a good place to hang out in and have a good, safe time."
by CNB