What do you get when you mix a municipality with an underused recreation facility and a club that is looking for space to expand their passion? They find common ground and form a partnership. 
Photo credit: Saskatoon Off Road Radio Control Club
In 2017, the Town of Dundurn had a curling rink that wasn’t getting used to its fullest potential. Dundurn’s CAO Valerie Schlosser was looking to create a revenue source for the Town, as opposed to keeping the curling rink empty. At the same time, the Saskatoon Off-Road Radio Control Club (SORRCC) was looking to find an indoor space to complement their already existing outdoor track. The SORRCC is a not-for-profit group of off-road radio control enthusiasts based in Saskatoon. After a few conversations with the key stakeholders, a rental agreement was agreed upon and the only indoor dirt off-road radio control track in Western Canada became a reality in Dundurn, Saskatchewan at the Dundurn Sports Center.
Recently, SPRA Field Services Manager, Kerry Bailey, and SPRA Field Consultant, Clint McConnell, had a chance to meet with SORRCC Board Member Chris Francis and toured the indoor dirt track in Dundurn.
The SORRCC meets weekly to practice and play with their off-road R/C vehicles. Francis explained that radio control vehicles can be operated by all ages and that is one of the many appeals to the activity. SORRCC has seen participants as young as 10 years of age right through to senior citizens racing at their events.
The Club currently has around 30 members from not only Saskatoon, but from around the province and they are consistently looking to introduce the activity to new and interested people. Practices and races usually take place on Sundays at the Dundurn Sports Center and Francis encourages anyone that is interested to stop by and watch the action.
The winter series runs from October to March when they hold a racing point series every other week. Race days involve three rounds of each vehicle class. The vehicle classes include 1/10th scale electric vehicles, 2WD and 4WD configurations.
Francis explained that people can get into radio control vehicles for a few hundred dollars, however some of the more experienced and invested participants can invest thousands of dollars on different vehicles, parts and tools related to the activity.
SORRCC is run completely by volunteers. It was volunteer work that hauled and shaped over 70 yards of clay into the dirt track, built the racer’s platform, the race director’s platform and the pit area. Volunteers are also involved in setting up different course patterns and obstacles.
Francis indicated that the club is constantly looking at improving the facility. The Dundurn Sports Center is an older facility with no ramps or elevator, so navigating the elevation difference from the lobby entry to the track level is a challenge for anyone with mobility issues. This is something that the Club is looking to address in the future.
Regarding an indoor dirt track, Francis explained that having the clay dry out can negatively affect race conditions. Much like a grocery store that has “misters” over their produce to keep them fresh, SORRCC is researching mechanisms to ensure the track maintains a desired amount of moisture.
An indoor dirt, off-road radio control track in an underused curling facility in a bedroom community in our province might seem like an abstract idea to some, but to the Town of Dundurn and the Saskatoon Off-Road Radio Control Club, it is a match equivalent to track records and winning trophies!
You can learn more about the Saskatoon Off-Road Radio Control Club by visiting their
Facebook page.
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