We headed out to Numazu to participate in TAMIYA BLOCKHEAD MOTORS RC OUTDOOR FES, a fresh event that combines RC cars and the outdoors held at INN THE PARK!
The venue was bathed in clear skies and beautiful autumn foliage, and the event was so popular that a line had formed before doors even opened. It was a scene that felt pastoral yet filled with an intense energy.
I’m told that standard RC racing events can be a bit more high-strung, but that wasn't the case here; it was wonderful to see everyone smiling and relaxing while they played.
Circles was given a slightly larger space, where we exhibited our "6WHEELS LIFE" project, featuring RC cars loaded onto bicycles. The feeling of taking an RC-loaded bike out to play in a park or an empty lot is something we definitely want to explore further.
RC cars actually share a lot with cycling: the ease of customizing things yourself, the thrill of competing for a rank in a race, and the fact that you can have fun right in your own neighborhood. If you love bikes, I’m pretty sure you’ll love RC cars too, so let's ride and play together sometime.
The energy of a place where cultures cross
Another interesting thing was how RC cars were mixed with a variety of other cultures. With booths from outdoor gear manufacturers, delicious food stalls, art shows, flea markets, and even a DJ booth, it clearly demonstrated a new style of enjoying RC cars—showing us that, hey, this is a way to do it too! In particular, the activity put on by Answer4, which mixed trail running and RC cars, was really fun.
While it’s great to specialize and push the limits of just RC cars or just bicycles, the energy that occurs when they meet other cultures is intense and interesting. Since bikes are also a means of transport, they connect very easily with all sorts of different hobbies. Let’s expand the scope of our play together!
After the event, we all went for a ride on the Ashitaka forest road, which is a bit further up the mountain from the venue. It’s a bit rough in places, but it’s a great forest road that offers long-distance off-road riding and views of Suruga Bay, so definitely look it up and give it a try.
All photo by @_3l05_