RC Racers in action. Photo courtesy of Troy Douthit.
New racing track at Kootenai Business Park underway
By Moira Blazi
Troy Douthit of the Kootenai RC Racers admits he is a nerd, and that this thriving remote control racing club is full of grown men and women who just want to play with toy cars.
Begun in 2013 by Sam Shear of Shear Brothers Hobbies, and Libby City Council member Gary Beach, the club set up their first track out at J Neil’s Park. Soon there after a supporter offered the club some land out on Snowshoe drive, and the club members, with some design help from Matt Dormund from Sandpoint, built a sweet track, a place to practice and hold local and regional competitions.
Now, again with Dormund help, the club members are busy building a brand new track adjacent to the kids fishing pond at the Kootenai Business park.
“Our club members are building the track, with an amazing design from Matt” Douthit told the Montanian.
The Kootenai RC racers now have 37 active members, made up mostly of adults.
“Kids are really good at it from all that practice with video games, at our last competition a 19 year old guy from Spokane wiped the floor with all of us” Douthit said with a grin.
The enthusiasts race three classes of little cars; 2 and 4 wheel drive 1/10 scale and also 1/8 scale vehicles.
“These little cars are a tenth or an eighth the size of life-size dune buggies, which we like to think are modeled after our cars” Douthit added.
Cars start at about $250, but once you get your first car , you can use it to swap out parts, like electronics and tires.” Douthit told the Montanian, “Yearly dues are just $20, $10 for youth and $30 for the whole family, and race fees are only $10. This sport has huge family appeal, and we are one of the biggest clubs in Montana. The clubs in Sandpoint and Spokane have nice tracks, and the club down in Missoula is actually following our lead here in Libby.” Douthit explained.
With the generous support of Riley Construction, the Kootenai RC Racers will be out in force these last few weeks of summer creating exciting new track and seating area in an area near the children’s fishing pond but accessed from a different road.
Now’s the time to catch the end of summer action and help take this sweet local club to the next level of regional competition. For more info , stop in Shear Brothers hobbies. Or call them at (406) 293-9362
Ignite the Nites 2019 car show winners
Antique Truck Stock 1940 and Older
1936 Chevrolet Pickup – Peggy Nau – Kalispell, MT
Antique Truck Modified 1940 and Older
1935 International – Rick Blomdell – Troy, MT
Classic Truck Stock 1941 to 1959
1947 Studebaker M5 Pickup – Raymond Leonhardt – Great Falls, MT
Classic Truck Modified 1941 to 1959
1952 Ford Pickup – Leonard & Marcia Parks – Spokane, WA
Late Great Truck Stock 1960 to 1979
1964 Ford Econoline – Arnold Palmer – Libby, MT
Late Great Truck Modified 1960 to 1979
1969 Chevrolet C10 – Brian Frasch – Missoula, MT
Late Model Truck Stock 1980 to 1999
1980 Peterbuilt – Keith Dondaneau – Golden, British Columbia
Late Model Truck Modified 1980 to 1999
1990 Chevrolet C1500 – Tom Coon – Hinton, Alberta
Truck Stock 2000 to Present
2019 Ford F-350 – Randy Buckner – Libby, MT
Truck Modified 2000 to Present
2013 Ford F-350 – Randy Buckner, Sr. – Libby, MT
Motorcycle Stock
1947 Indian Chief – Buck Haller – Eureka, MT
Motorcycle Modified
2006 Harley Davidson – John McGrath – Calgary, Alberta
Special Interest Award
1941 Chevrolet School Bus – Curtis & Staci Ost – Whitefish, MT
Antique Car Stock 1940 and Older
1910 Ford Model T Speedster – Kerry & Susie Tritt – Spokane, WA
Street Rod 1948 and Older
1937 Ford 2-Door Sedan – Dale & Donna Burtoway – Calgary, Alberta
Classic Car Stock 1941 to 1959
1959 BMW 600 – Marvin Vinion – Missoula, MT
Classic Car Modified 1941 to 1959
1950 Mercury – Paul & Marcia Wingfield – Post Falls, ID
Custom Car 1949 to 1975
1950 Mercury – Brent Befus – Airdrie, Alberta
Rat Rod
1939 Chevrolet Rat Rod – Greg Greene – Kalispell, MT
Late Great Car Stock 1960 to 1979
1970 Dodge Charger R/T – Cliff & Nancy Arthur – Mullan, ID
Late Great Car Modified 1960 to 1979
1969 Chevrolet Camaro – Dean Swan – Cataldo, ID
Late Model Car Stock 1980 to 1999
1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS – Murray & Coralie Schmid – Calgary, Alberta
Late Model Car Modified 1980 to 1999
1994 Ford Mustang GT – Tallan Obchansky – Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
Sports Compact
1968 Porsche 911-L – Mark Gundert – Naples, ID
Sports Car
1965 Ford Cobra Replica – Dave Hamilton – Spokane, Wa
Sports Car
1965 Ford Cobra Replica – Dave Hamilton – Spokane, Wa
People’ Choice Award
1967 Chevrolet Chevelle – Jim Daniels – Lethbride, Alberta
N.T.S. Award
1951 John Deere Manure Spreader – John Drake – Dalton Gardens, ID
MSRA Award
(Montana Street Rod Association)
1965 Plymouth – Harold Jenkins – Bearcreek, MT
Saturday Poker Walk
Cora Kale – Helena, MT
Kids Pedal Car
Edee D’Andrea – Lane, ID
Club Participation
The Outlaws – Kalispell, MT