Bob Kehoe
The Robson Ranch Radio Control (RC) Club was started by six RC Flyers in 2010. As the club grew, it used space at several locations throughout the Ranch, moving as the Ranch development required additional space.
In 2016, an agreement was reached with Robson Communities to develop a space north of the Homeowner’s Association properties. With close interaction between the club and Robson Communities, a design was developed and construction work began.
An airfield with two runways and two dirt racing tracks were built. Communities provided heavy equipment and expertise. Club members supplied the manual labor. Lots of manual labor!
In 2017 the first iteration of the RC Park was dedicated with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Robson representatives. As time went by, additions and improvements were made to the initial facility. The area is served by a potable water line for the purpose of watering both racetracks. A Conex container allows a lockable storage for materials and equipment.
Other added improvements include covered pit areas and tables for flyers and racers alike and the addition of spectator seating. This summer has seen the expansion of the racer’s pit tables to handle the increasing number of members. Past improvements include a garden area with artificial grass, trees and a BBQ area and a covered picnic area with tables for club social events.
With handicap access in mind, members built a special driver’s workstation and built ramps to the driver stations allowing wheelchair access. There is a handicap access to pilot’s stations. On-site is a handicap-access porta-potty.
The site has a large gravel parking lot with reserved handicap spaces and several smaller golf cart parking areas. The driveway into the facility (alongside the canal) is secured by a chain lock and only current members have the lock code to gain access.
The tracks utilize a rechargeable power supply to power a computer, monitors, and a public address system hardwired into the race operations computer.
Today, 10 years later, the Robson Ranch RC Club has created the finest outdoor radio control modeling facility in Arizona.