About us

The New Zealand Radio Car Association (NZRCA), was founded in order to establish a national body to help in the organisation of radio control car racing in New Zealand.

NZRCA is comprised entirely of affiliated member clubs from all over New Zealand. NZRCA has international affiliations with the regional RC car racing body called the Far East Model Car Association (FEMCA).

FEMCA is one of the four blocks that makes up the International Federation of Model Automobile Racing (IFMAR). IFMAR is the world stage of Radio Control Car Racing.

Below is an introduction to the Executive members that make up the representing committee for the NZRCA.

Matthew Banks

Matthew Banks

President

Matthew has been actively evolved in the Capital Model Racers club for over 11 years holding positions on the committee including President, Secretary, Treasurer, Health and Safety Officer and Club Captain.

Matthew has also been an NZCRA Executive member for the past 5 years in the position of HSE Officer and current President. Matthew believes that no matter how big or small an event may be, it should be run to a schedule, organized, professional, and most importantly efficient.

Matthew has a good understanding of the NZRCA rule books and their impact on the different classes. Matthew enjoys listening to others point of view, collecting as much information/opinions as possible and put these to the group to make good direction changes to make to sport grow for the better.

Matthew enjoys his current role but is also very aware of the increased accountability of this position. Matthews aim as NZRCA president is to help the NZ racing community grow to be more professional, with clubs getting the assistance they need to help the hobby/sport grow in all areas of NZ.

Matthew is very passionate and loves to assist any member or club wherever he can and especially thrives on challenges most others would shy away from.

Scott Kendall

Scott Kendall

Secretary

Scott Kendall has been racing RC Cars since 1988 when he was given his first car as a birthday present. Over the past 30 years, he has raced almost all forms the sport offers – with the one exception being 1/8th I.C On-Road.

Scott has held a large number of titles from all areas he has raced. Scott first joined the NZRCA Executive in 2002 as the Zone 2 Area Steward.

From 2006 to 2008 he was the NZRCA Secretary and then went on to be the NZRCA President in 2009/2010. After a break from the Executive, he is now once again the Secretary. As well as the NZRCA Executive, Scott has been the Secretary and President of the Manawatu Radio Control Car Club where he is a life member, and also the current Club President of Little Forest Raceway in New Plymouth.

Scott is on the executive committee because he believes in helping the sport grow by thinking of the majority rather than the minority.

Scott was selected and competed at the 2017 1/10th EP Off-Road World Champs in Xieman, China. Scott currently races 1/10th EP and 1/8th I.C Off-Road and 1/10th EP Off-Road Indoors. He races locally and at all Major Events around the Country.

Scott led the organisation, track build and Running of the NZRCA 1/10 EP Off-Road National Champs for the past two years on a purpose-built indoor dirt track in Hawera. Scott’s main interest is event running and 1/10th EP Off-Road racing.

Rex Wessels

Rex Wessels

Treasurer

Rex has been the treasurer for the CMR club for a few years now, and has recently joined the NZRCA committee as treasurer. He started racing 8th scale off-road but is currently focusing on 10th scale offroad. He enjoys making sure club days and CMR hosted events run smoothly, so you will typically find him in the background running the computer or helping out where He can.

Luke Prattley

Luke Prattley

EP Off-Road Technical Officer

Luke has been involved in RC racing since 2009. He is currently race 1/10 Scale Off-Road, 1/10 On-Road, and 1/8 Off-Road Electric and IC. This is his Second Year on the executive as the EP Off-Road Technical officer.

He is currently the Club President for Christchurch Indoor RC Car Club, and a committee member at Harewood RC Car Club. Luke represented New Zealand at the 2017 IFMAR 1/10 Off Road Worlds.

Luke enjoys helping other people to develop and improve their racing, as well as helping the sport to grow through promoting a fun, family friendly environment for racers and families to enjoy.

Selwyn Duthie

Selwyn Duthie

IC On-Road Technical Officer

Details to come

Shane O’Connor

Shane O’Connor

IC Off-Road Technical Officer

Shane O’Connor has been racing at his local club, Counties Radio Control Car Club, in Pukekohe, Auckland since the start of 2001. His focus is mainly on Off-Road RC racing.

This is his second year on the NZRCA Committee having been actively involved in the Counties Committee for the last 6 years and owning his own RC Business supporting racers around the country. Shane hopes to bring a wealth of knowledge from racing here and overseas to assisting the IC Off-Road scene in NZ and growing the sport to the best of his abilities.

In 2016 he represented New Zealand at the 1/8 Off-Road World Championships in Las Vegas, USA, in 2017 he represented NZ at the 2017 1/10th EP Off-Road World Champs in Xieman, China and in 2018 has been selected to represent NZ at the 1/8th IC Off-Road World Champs in Perth, Australia.

In his position on the NZRCA executive he overlooks rules relating to IC Off-Road racing and any other queries that may come up when rules need clarification or amending. He is the point of call with anything regarding to IC Off-Road racing.

Darryl Maslin

Darryl Maslin

EP On-Road Technical Officer

Darryl Maslin started in RC during his teenage years with the now vintage Hornet.Racing 1/10th offroad at club and regional levels, until a break ensued to spend on his work career and family. Coming back to the sport in 2007 he has raced mainly 1/10 on road with the odd major meeting with 1/10 and 1/8th scale electric offroad.

Since 2014 Darryl had served as Secretary and Vice President for North Harbour Club, before stepping back in 2017 During this time Darryl has taken on Race Directing / Commentator for various meetings. He is looking forward to his first term on the NZRCA Executive committee and hopes he can bring some value to the role.

Matthew Banks

Matthew Banks

Health and Safety Officer

In this position on the NZRCA executive Matt overlooks Health and Safety and liaises with member clubs to insure they comply within NZ Laws. Matt put his hand up for the new role because of his extensive knowledge and practice for Health and Safety within the work industry.

Ron Groom

Ron Groom

Large Scale Speedway Technical Officer

NZRCA © 2024