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OAKLAND -- Kevin Purnell wants you to get off your couch and away from your TV.
He's a firm believer in serious playtime, and he lives his life around that principle. On a recent Saturday, he, his son K2 (Kevin II) and father Fran greeted visitors inside their new 6,000-square-foot facility behind Granite Construction on High Street in Oakland. Purnell never stops moving as he talks.
"It's entertainment that gets kids to tinker on things they way I used to with my dad when I was young," he said. "They aren't just sitting in front of a video game, and they can actually build and fix something."
At that moment, one racer's car crashed into a wall, and its owner inspected it for damage.
"We've got parts right here in the shop, Bob," Purnell called out from the other side of the track.
Although his career in construction brings in the paychecks, he spends every spare minute on this new venture.
"In 2008, we started with hobby cars and trucks and built a private racetrack for electric and nitro-powered vehicles," Purnell said. "Our collection of vehicles grew from quarter-scale down to 1/36th-scale vehicles."
The hobby grew to include helicopters, planes and boats. Then he bought out the RC Hobby Shop in Fairfield and opened Granite Leisure Time in November 2008. His wife, Lisa, and Kevin II's fiancee are involved with the new facility and hobby shop.
"People come here for family time, and everyone seems to enjoy themselves," he said.
Visitor Dennis Anger has been an RC race fan for the past 16 years. He and a friend drove from New Hampshire to visit the new facility.
"When I walked in, my eyes just lit up," he said.
Recent modifications have revolutionized the hobby.
The newest batteries last longer and provide more power, he said. A LiPo (lithium polymer) battery can power a car up to 40 mph.
"This is all brushless technology now," Anger said. "People used to spend a lot more money on motors and batteries, but a lot has changed to make this a more affordable pastime."
The Kyosho Mini Z, HPI Micro and HPI Dash, and the Terra Crusher are competitive models. Some Web sites are geared for the sophisticated racer.
The NANDA NRT-3 Racing Truggy has a new hop-up chassis kit, and its "patented adjustable C-block, high quality 6061 aluminous chassis, quick-remove center differential, big bore shocks, and centralized motor (50:50 weight)" make it a fearsome competitor, as one of the many hobbyist Web sites advertised.
One of the basic RC planes costs $170, but hobbyists who get hooked soon want the more powerful, higher-quality models, Purnell cautioned.
Many people had radio-controlled cars as children, he said, and now his generation has rediscovered the sociability and enjoyment of the hobby.
The big-wheel trucks can rock-crawl up a miniature mountain, and some of those big-tire models are made like the full-size four-wheelers, Purnell said. Hobbyists can buy an on-road or off-road kit, fully assembled or ready to run, and can even buy helicopters, NASCAR legend models, and tiny models for the youngest fans.
Purnell has had calls from people who want to start or join a team, and he's planning to host birthday parties and special events. A club from Quebec had been driving to southern Maine to use the only other indoor competition track in the state, but Purnell said they were happy to find a facility closer to home.
For more information, visit www.graniteleisuretime.com or call 465-4505
Story From Kennebec Journal-Waterville sentinal
He's a firm believer in serious playtime, and he lives his life around that principle. On a recent Saturday, he, his son K2 (Kevin II) and father Fran greeted visitors inside their new 6,000-square-foot facility behind Granite Construction on High Street in Oakland. Purnell never stops moving as he talks.
"It's entertainment that gets kids to tinker on things they way I used to with my dad when I was young," he said. "They aren't just sitting in front of a video game, and they can actually build and fix something."
At that moment, one racer's car crashed into a wall, and its owner inspected it for damage.
"We've got parts right here in the shop, Bob," Purnell called out from the other side of the track.
Although his career in construction brings in the paychecks, he spends every spare minute on this new venture.
"In 2008, we started with hobby cars and trucks and built a private racetrack for electric and nitro-powered vehicles," Purnell said. "Our collection of vehicles grew from quarter-scale down to 1/36th-scale vehicles."
The hobby grew to include helicopters, planes and boats. Then he bought out the RC Hobby Shop in Fairfield and opened Granite Leisure Time in November 2008. His wife, Lisa, and Kevin II's fiancee are involved with the new facility and hobby shop.
"People come here for family time, and everyone seems to enjoy themselves," he said.
Visitor Dennis Anger has been an RC race fan for the past 16 years. He and a friend drove from New Hampshire to visit the new facility.
"When I walked in, my eyes just lit up," he said.
Recent modifications have revolutionized the hobby.
The newest batteries last longer and provide more power, he said. A LiPo (lithium polymer) battery can power a car up to 40 mph.
"This is all brushless technology now," Anger said. "People used to spend a lot more money on motors and batteries, but a lot has changed to make this a more affordable pastime."
The Kyosho Mini Z, HPI Micro and HPI Dash, and the Terra Crusher are competitive models. Some Web sites are geared for the sophisticated racer.
The NANDA NRT-3 Racing Truggy has a new hop-up chassis kit, and its "patented adjustable C-block, high quality 6061 aluminous chassis, quick-remove center differential, big bore shocks, and centralized motor (50:50 weight)" make it a fearsome competitor, as one of the many hobbyist Web sites advertised.
One of the basic RC planes costs $170, but hobbyists who get hooked soon want the more powerful, higher-quality models, Purnell cautioned.
Many people had radio-controlled cars as children, he said, and now his generation has rediscovered the sociability and enjoyment of the hobby.
The big-wheel trucks can rock-crawl up a miniature mountain, and some of those big-tire models are made like the full-size four-wheelers, Purnell said. Hobbyists can buy an on-road or off-road kit, fully assembled or ready to run, and can even buy helicopters, NASCAR legend models, and tiny models for the youngest fans.
Purnell has had calls from people who want to start or join a team, and he's planning to host birthday parties and special events. A club from Quebec had been driving to southern Maine to use the only other indoor competition track in the state, but Purnell said they were happy to find a facility closer to home.
For more information, visit www.graniteleisuretime.com or call 465-4505
Story From Kennebec Journal-Waterville sentinal
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