MOSES LAKE — Cars of all colors zoomed over the hill and flew into the air. Their drivers weren’t the least bit concerned, however. They were high up on a platform overlooking the action. These cars weren’t ordinary cars. They were remote-controlled.

This weekend, the Grant County Fairgrounds played host to Holiday Hangover, a remote control — otherwise known as RC — regional racing event. This is the third year the event has been held in Moses Lake. It attracts RC drivers from all over the Inland Northwest. With the exception of the RC drivers from Montana, Moses Lake is fairly centrally located and allows drivers equal access to the event.

Drivers at the event were a wide variety of ages and experience levels. One of the younger drivers at the event was Olivia Hurley of Wenatchee. This event was the teen’s first time RC racing. She came with her dad who has been racing for approximately two and half years. Since this was her first time racing, she competed in the novice division.

“I don’t know a lot about it,” Hurley said. “But it’s fun.”

Unlike Hurley, Adam Drake has participated in many competitions over the 29 years he has been in RC racing. Drake started his racing career as a child with a toy grade remote control car. Then he found a local RC track and began racing.

Today, Drake makes his living by racing RC cars, promoting RC products and developing new RC equipment. Drake drives a Mugen Seiki car and works for Proline Racing, which sells tires and accessories.

“We have a really good customer base here,” Drake said. “This is not a place we come frequently. I came to meet our customers and gain new customers.”

Drake is a big name in the RC world. He has won three national championships during his career. He said that racing at the national level is intense.

“Even like this weekend, it’s still intense,” Drake said. “You’re giving it your all. But it’s a little more relaxed.”

Justin Wilde, the announcer for the event, said that having Drake and Joe Bornhorst, another national level driver, at the event was something that other drivers really enjoy.

“Our base doesn’t always get to see them,” Wilde said. “They can put names to faces. They can stop and talk to them in the pits.”

Wilde has also been in RC racing for a long time. He got involved in 1988 as a child. Now he has his own company that announces RC racing events. He has announced both nationally and internationally.

Wilde said that because of the seven-degree weather at last year’s event, they pushed this year’s event back a week.

“Now we missed the 60-degree weather,” Wilde said.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at [email protected].