2013 Reedy International Race of Champions

2013 Reedy International Race of Champions

What started as a birthday celebration evolved into an event that rivals the World Championships in the levels of competition and prestige. Mike Reedy, founder of the most successful electric motor company in IFMAR Worlds competition that bears his name, organized the first Reedy International Race of Champions in 1987 to celebrate not only his birthday, but the surging popularity of organized off-road racing. By inviting 32 of the fastest drivers in the world to compete in sixteen rounds of heads-up competition, split evenly between the internationally recognized classes of 2WD and 4WD buggy, Reedy created an exhibition of sport that racers and spectators alike found incredibly exciting. Unsurprisingly, the list of winners reads as an informal RC Hall of Fame:

1987: Chris Allec
1988: Kris Moore
1989: Cliff Lett
1990: Cliff Lett
1991: Masami Hirosaka
1992: Rick Hohwart
1993: Masami Hirosaka
1994: Jeremy Kortz
1995: Greg Hodapp
1996: Mark Francis
1997: Mark Pavidis
1998: Brian Kinwald
1999: Mark Pavidis
2000: Brian Kinwald
2001: Billy Easton

The Reedy Race of Champions was held at several locations across Southern California. After 2001, the Reedy Race went on hiatus due to the worldwide decline of the 4WD buggy division and a corresponding decline in attendance from international drivers. The Reedy Race lived on through the Reedy Truck Race of Champions (which began in 1996) and Reedy Touring Car Race of Champions (first held in 1998), but it wasn’t until 2009 that the original format returned with a one-off event held (for the first time) in Japan, at the famous Yatabe Arena.

2009: Ryan Cavalieri

It took another two years before the Reedy Race of Champions came back in full force. With a new home, West Coast RC Raceway in La Mirada, CA, the Reedy Race returned to the roots of its glory days with a truly international field competing on one of the best tracks in the world.

2011: Dustin Evans
2012: Joern Neumann
2013: ?

Friday marks the beginning of 2WD competition for the Invitational class, as well as the start to traditional qualifying for the 2WD and 4WD Open divisions from which the winners will be invited to compete in next year’s heads-up field. Who will earn a ticket to next year’s Invitational class? Can Neumann join Cliff Lett (1990 & 1991) as the only back-to-back winners? Don’t miss a minute of the action as RC Car Action will be reporting straight from WCRC!

Never miss an issue of RC Car Action!

Subscribe today with a Digital Edition subscription or Print + Digital combo!

 

Updated: January 25, 2013 — 1:05 PM
Air Age Media ©