The clock is ticking and the pressure is on. One wrong move and the competition is over. The driver steadies his hand and prepares to make the climb. As his team watches in anticipation, the driver goes full throttle and the car fiercely accelerates over the rocks and successfully makes the climb. The crowd cheers as the judge clocks in the final time. The driver and his team high-five before picking up their RC (remote control) car and preparing to move on to their next climb.
The RC car community is growing in Middle Tennessee as more and more people take an interest in the hobby. Those from all ages and backgrounds gather regularly at the RC Field Days in Smyrna to race, climb and hang out among peers. The creators and owners of RC Field Days, Johnny and Rebecca Farrow, opened their 20-acre family farm to the RC car community over two years ago in order to fill the need for a dedicated space where enthusiasts can pursue the hobby.
“We went out to state parks and some people were fine with it, but others would give you looks and hear the noise and become aggravated,” says Johnny Farrow. “We had some rocks from when we built the house, so we started doing it here.”
RC Field Days has attracted people from all over Middle Tennessee, from casual drivers to serious competitors, and even those looking to get their feet wet. The Farrow family made some cars available for rent and a few local hobby shops would set up tents around the farm for participants to shop around or get repair parts.
Several of the participants have poured hours of time into modifying their RC cars for competitions, which are also held at RC Field Days. These competitions are separated by car classes and require a lot of practice and skill. Competitors will attempt to run a course while being timed and scored by a judge. Penalties are awarded for things like rollovers or touching the car, so, as with golf, the goal is to complete the course with a low score. These competitions aren’t just for the locals, as a few of the racers have crossed state lines to show off their skills.
It takes a combination of precision and timing, as well as having a steady hand to get a great score.
Whether it’s a father teaching his son how to make his first climb, or two new friends challenging each other to a race, the RC Field Days has been a welcoming environment for everyone.
However, in September the Farrow family decided to sell its Smyrna farm and relocate to a farm in the north Georgia mountains, in large part due to the rapid development of Rutherford County.
“Our road will be part of a new exit on I-24 and will be expanding as part of the Rocky Fork Road to McEwen Drive Corridor,” they posted to rcfielddays.com.
Now, local RC hobbyists are searching for other places to rock crawl and compete.
Jason Ash, a founding member of Team FYC615, hopes to bring more attention to the hobby in Murfreesboro. Currently, there is no dedicated spot for RC cars in Murfreesboro. Ash and his team practice their driving at Barfield Crescent Park here in Murfreesboro, though this has caused some friction in the past.
“We were playing out where the Frisbee golf course was, but we’d have to stop and let [disc golfers] get through so they could play,” says Ash. “Yeah, sometimes they don’t know what to think of us.”
Ash and his team, as well as many other RC car enthusiasts in Rutherford County hope to see the hobby come to Murfreesboro in a big way.
“If we could get a good spot in Murfreesboro, the competitors would go there, and these competitions bring in all sorts of money. Some of these bring in thousands of people,” he notes. “We’ve got the equipment, the rocks and things like that, so we’re waiting for Murfreesboro to give us a place and tell us what we can do.”
Those with ideas on where such RC events can be held, or who want to get involved in the local RC community, can find a Murfreesboro Crawlers group on Facebook or contact Jason Ash at ash.jason3@gmail.com.
