I popped up to Zeer Rangsit, possibly the largest specific IT Mall in the world, on Sunday to pick up a new power adaptor for my ancient HP G3 Elite and just happened to chance upon the 2020 Thailand International RC Drift Competition!
Radio controlled drift cars, whatever will they think of next?! This is a competition, held annually and looked like quite a big deal for the RC Drfit car community judging by the fact that there were competitors from 10 countries in attendence. There is even a Russian flag up there but we don't do sanctions in Thailand! It might not have gone down too well if I'd found the Russian competitors car and 'seized' it!
It seems RC Drift racing started in Japan and spread throughtout the world and whilst remaining quite a niche hobby, has a loyal and passionate following.
I think the main competition had finished by the time arrived yesterday evening but there still some 'players' running their cars around the practise circuit but I did think it was all rather slow to be honest. I've seen RC car racing before and its all rush and crash and this was aa rather more pedestrian with added skill I suppose but I did love the models of course.
The whole event looked extremely very organised and very professional with a lot of AV tech on display which as it turned out was because they were showing many of the classes on some obscure Thai TV channel.
The cars themselves were mainly models of Japanese cars and were 1/14 scale. I am sure everyone knows Tamiya and they were one of the sponsors of the event and also have a brilliant model shop at this mall. I've no idea how much these cars cost but no doubt don't come cheap. Lots of spares and tuning accessories were on sale at the event as well as 'merch' and prizes and raffles from the sponsors.
I have to say, I love this sort of shit! and wish I;d been up for the main racing and been able to spend some more time there getting to learn about the cars and classes. I did hear them say that next year's event was being held in Indonesia, so I won't be in attendence but there is another RC Racing event coming up in the New Year, this time it's the turn of the RC Touring cars and they have their own dedicated circuit!
Check out both groups' FB pages and give them a like.
Thailand International R/C Touring Car Championship
TDC / Thailand International R/C Drift Competition
Just a thought. Don't you think this is the sort of thing Hive could be sponsoring. Perhaps I could enquire how much it would cost and maybe get a table set up.
The cars in action. Sorry about the 'speed' blur. It wasn't that fast. Just a crap phone!
On the workbench in the pits ready for action. You don't have to smoke to enter, but it seems that it might help.
Plenty of 'merch' on sale. Not much being sold it appears.
The cars were really cool, but no price labels on the boxes would be a worry!
There was a practise circuit as well as the main race track set up on the shiny floors of Zeer Mall.
No idea what he won but there always has to be a photo op for the sponsors.