From the Big Chair. Blog 4.0
Hello,
Three months in and our 2026 race season keeps delivering. The Asian Buggy Champs came, saw, and conquered, with Scotty Ernst’s team doing an amazing job once again bringing our little cars to the world. I've said it before: RC Race Media does an epic job and produces better coverage than some full-size motorsport events globally.
It was great to see the young guns showing the way, with the likes of Jackson Coombes and Novak Kendall featuring over the weekend. And what about Mike Stratford’s run? Check the link below for coverage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Geikiulxvc4
Logan Toia did his first solo run abroad at the Aussie 1/8th Offroad Nats; while things didn’t quite go his way on the track, it seems he had a great time.
Shane O’Connor took nine other Kiwis across to the DNC, where Scotty Ernst talked them up throughout the event, doing wonders for our country and our sport.
Meanwhile, back in NZ at the club level: The Fast5 Series ran at CMR for 1/10 scale. Shakey Cam RC streamed this event; the link for finals day is below. Other clubs are now in full swing with club race meetings and are scheduling regional and national events for the balance of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCMGnaeWeqo
Over the coming days, we will release a calendar of events on Facebook showing the dates for marquee events through 2026 and 2027. As new events come in, we will populate this—including events not currently showing on the NZRCA website—so keep an eye out.
Coming up on 28 March, we are holding a Special Meeting to vote on a new constitution, which is required for Incorporated Societies to meet new legislative criteria.
We need a delegate from each club who can vote so the NZRCA can meet its obligations. This process is a formality to get us across the line. We have circulated the proposed constitution to all clubs; all we ask is for each club to vote For, Against, or Abstain. As your national body, we must proceed with this to remain compliant and avoid being struck off. If there is something in the constitution we have gotten wrong, we have the rest of the year to correct it at our next AGM.
We have sent clubs a template for those needing to become an Incorporated Society. Richard Price also has a version; if you wish to use his, please reach out to him directly. Thank you to Matt Banks and Richard Price for all the work they have put in to get this constitution to where it is today.
We sent out an expression of interest for the 21.5 Touring control motor. With the current motor at the end of its tenure, we have gone to market with specific criteria for NZ suppliers.
The plan is to announce the supplier at the AGM in September. We will be physically testing motors in real-world conditions, and our EP On-road Electric Officer will make a call based on feedback from drivers over the coming months.
2026 EP 1/10 Off-Road “Dirt” Nationals – Easter Weekend, Gisborne. I will be trackside assisting Gizzy RC alongside Julian Hardy in the race booth.
Darryl Maslin
President NZRCA
