by Linda Sauer

For the third straight year, Winter Gardens Raceway in Winter Ranch RV Resort, located on State Highway 495 in Alamo, hosted the Alamo Police and Fire Departments and Alamo city dignitaries on Saturday, January 25, in a racing competition with radio-controlled cars. Race cars were provided courtesy of New Sun Racing and several Raceway club members, including two custom trucks; one a red truck with Alamo Fire Department decals; the other a blue truck with Alamo Police Department decals.

After the opening prayer and national anthem, driver introductions were made and Winter Ranch Manager Mark Foster voiced appreciation for the services the City of Alamo and the Alamo Police and Fire Departments provide to residents of Winter Ranch.

Following a few practice laps, police and fire personnel competed against each other in 10-lap races, with the top two finishers moving on to the Feature Race. Drivers were clocked with a radar gun, and speeds ranged from 31 to 40 mph, driving radio-controlled race cars that are 1/10 scale electric vehicles with transponders that tie into the track’s computer lap counter system.

In the Department Match heat, Alamo Police Captain Rudy Garza finished first, with Alamo Fire Chief RC Flores coming in second, and Alamo City Commissioner Roel Moreno was third. Then Police Department husband and wife Adriana Cano and Joshua Sanchez completed in a Grudge Match to see who would be doing dishes and laundry for the next year. The Feature race was won by Police Captain Rudy Garza, with Police Lieutenant Adriana Cano finishing second and Fire Chief RC Flores third. Other special guests included Alamo City Commissioner Pete Morales, and Alamo Police Captain Rudy Garza’s young son (complete with police uniform), who was enthralled with learning how to drive an RC car.

Winter Gardens’ remote-control racetrack, designed and built by residents of Winter Ranch and Trophy Gardens, is a state-of-the-art 1/10 scale model of Nascar’s Kansas Speedway, with 11-degree banking in the corners. The track itself is 15 feet wide and a total of 135 feet in length, with guardrails, infield and a 70-foot straightaway. The track complex includes sound system, covered race car pit area, covered driver and spectator stands, golf cart spectator terrace, and a concession stand selling hamburger and hot dog meals, with picnic tables for dining. Complimentary meals were served to the Police and Fire crews, along with visiting city dignitaries.

Thanks go to the many Winter Gardens Raceway volunteers who contributed to the day’s success, including but not limited to Winter Ranch Manager Mark Foster, Winter Ranch Chaos Coordinator Bob Coakley, Race Director Brad Huff, Raceway Club President Dale West, Track Announcer Fred Sauer, Infield Marshalls Shirley Kleve, Bob Babler, Randy Lemasters, Stu Sheel and Tim Schmuck, Race Coordinator Linda Sauer and Weenie World concession volunteers Larry and Paula Dyer, Audrey Huff, Jesse Chapin and Jim Thomas. Thanks also to Leon Green, who loaned out his race car and helped educate drivers.

RC car races at Winter Gardens Raceway are typically held on Wednesday afternoons from November to March and are open to drivers from Wilder parks.