Bike History
Radio Control Bikes have been around since the early 1980’s; those early generations of bikes used weight transfer of the rider figure to encourage the bike to turn. Forward motion of the model was essential to keep the bike upright using the centrifugal effect of the wheels with some bikes boasting Centrifuges mounted in the rear wheel.
Whilst this satisfied the principle of two wheel racing, the accuracy of turn and ability to navigate race circuits was limited, requiring a high levels of skill.
The next development to dramatically improve drivability and thereby encourage racing was the introduction of “direct steering”. This system introduced a servo connected direct to the from fork yoke, this improved drivability also negated the need for a centrifuge which when removed helped corner speed.
Bike development and refinement has continued over the years but in essence have stayed true to those early year creations
Bike racing in the UK started around 2000, initially in the North of England. Skipton Club (sadly now closed) being the source of most things Bike.
In 2002 we were invited in to join the Racer Magazine supported Series for Large Scale Cars which resulted invite to join as a Sub-Section of the BRCA Large Scale in 2003.
Steady growth of bike racers continued over over the next few years resulting in the formation of the BRCA Bike Section in 2006. The close links generated in those early years are still maintained to this date.
From those early years Bike Racers from the UK have regularly competed at International, European and World level, regularly appearing on the podium.
Bikes are regularly raced around the UK, from Halifax in the North of England, through Cotswold to Aldershot in the South of England and Craigavon in Northern Ireland.
No history for Bikes would be complete without the mention of one person; Dez Chand. Dez will always be known as “Mr Bike”, no one person will come close to the time, effort and enthusiasm Dez put in to promote Bike racing both home and abroad; having lots of fun whilst doing it. Sadly no longer with use, he was the reason why a lot of us race today, we can only hope his nature has rubbed off on those racing today that will convince the next generation of racers to join us. He is still held in high regard and each year a Memorial Event is held in his honour.
Dez Chand memorial GP event .
2012 - Colin McCabe
2013 - Peter Vater
2014 - Simon Lancaster
2015 - Simon Lancaster
2016 - Matt Tims
2017 - Peter Vater
2018 - Peter Vater
2019 - Ross Bartlett
BRCA Champions
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Class
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Stock
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Superbike
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Nitro
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Sidecar
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Year
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2006
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2007
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Graham Clarke
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Colin McCabe
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2008
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David Richards
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Ken Gospel
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2009
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David Myszkowski
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Colin McCabe
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Alan Watkinson
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2010
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David Andrew
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John Veal
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2011
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Jim Crunden
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John Veal
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2012
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Peter Vater
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Roger Harvey
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Fred Martin
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Martin Woodcock
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2013
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Neal Vater
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Peter Vater
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John Veal
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Martin Woodcock
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2014
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Peter Vater
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John Veal
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2015
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Peter Vater
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Ken Gospel
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2016
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Peter Vater
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Karl Boak
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Moto3
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Moto2
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GPe
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GPn
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2017
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Darren Johnson
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Gary Sims
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Ken Gospel
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2018
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Gary Sims
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John Veal
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2019 |
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Peter Vater |
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John Veal |
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- 2006 Stock Class 27t Brushed 36deg motors
- 2008 Superstock 13.5t Brushless, Superbike running Open Motors
- 2012 Stock Class 17.5t introduced alongside 27t Brushed
- 2017 Moto2 17.5t Brushless, Moto3 17.5t EB Brushless,
- 2018 Moto 2 17.5 EB Brussless, MotoGP 10.5t EB Brushless, MotoGPn (Nitro)
- 2019 Moto 2 17.5 EB Brussless, MotoGP 10.5t EB Brushless, MotoGPn (Nitro)
World Championship Competitors
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Class
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Stock
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Superbike
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Nitro
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Year
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2006
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Colin McMabe
Steve Newey
Graham Clarke
Chris Douglas
Dave Richards
Dez Chand
Ian McClarney
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James Crunden
Colin McCabe
Jevon Frost
Jamie Georgiades
David Andrew
Shane Jackson
Derek McLarney
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Graham Clarke
Ian McLarney
John Veal
Dez Chand
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2007
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Graham Clarke
Dave Myszkowski
Cris Douglas
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Colin McCabe
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Colin McCabe
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2008
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Graham Clarke
Dave Myszkowski
Cris Douglas
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Colin McCabe
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2009
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Dave Myszkowski
Roger Harvey
Derek McLarney
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Colin McCabe
Roki Read
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2010
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Roki Read
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2011
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Simon Lancaster
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Simon Lancaster
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2012
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Simon Lancaster
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2013
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2014
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John Veal
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2015
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John Veal
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2016
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2017
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|
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2018
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Neal Vater
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Peter Vater
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John Veal
Ken Gospel
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2019 |
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Neal Vater |
Peter Vater |
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General Time Line
1988 North West Bike Club formed racing Bikes of all Scale.
2000 Craigavon, Northern Ireland started racing 1/5th Bikes.
2001 Skipton Club started principally 1/5th Bikes.
2002 Bikes join “Racer Series” for Large Scales cars.
2003 Formed Sub-Section of Large Scale Cars
2006 Aldershot started racing 1/5th Bikes on regular basis.
2006 BRCA Bike Section formed.
2007 Cotswold started racing 1/5th Bikes on regular basis
2007 Craigavon started Club Championship
2015 Halifax Club started racing 1/5th Bikes on regular basis.