AUGUSTA -- The classic cars and souped-up racers on display at the Northeast Motorsports Expo were impressive.
Kevin A. Purnell II demonstrates a radio controlled helicopter at the Granite Leisure Time booth during the Northeast Motorsports Expo on Sunday afternoon in the Augusta Civic Center.
Staff photo by Joe Phelan
But it was Kevin Purnell's miniature vehicles at the Augusta Civic Center Sunday that generated excitement for radio-control hobbyists.
Radio-controlled vehicles take the shape of cars, rock-crawling trucks, boats, planes, helicopters, tanks and motorcycles, and range in price from $100 to $1,500.
It is a dream hobby for young and old alike, according to Purnell, who opened a 6,000-square-foot facility at 85 High St. in Oakland two years ago with the help of his father.
The indoor radio-control complex includes a professional radio-control shop, raceway, challenging rock-crawling track, and an indoor flying area for radio-control planes and helicopters. Purnell said it is 28 feet high at the peak of the ceiling.
The father-and-son team bought out the RC Hobby Shop in Fairfield and opened Granite Leisure Time in 2008.
Their collection of vehicles grew from quarter-scale vehicles right down to 1/36th-scale vehicles. And they started selling radio-control helicopters, planes and boats.
On Sunday, Purnell manned tables at the car show stacked with a sampling of his radio-controlled vehicles. He also gave demonstrations.
A small crowd gathered as a tiny red and white helicopter hovered overhead. Purnell spun it right and left then around in circles.
He then put the hand-held controls down on the table to show how it could sit unmoving in the air.
"It's coaxial and that helps stabilize it ... it has two blades," Purnell said. "I did a presentation for the Rotary Club and sat my controller down for two minutes and it was unbelievable. It stayed right in place. I had three people who came up to me and bought them."
He said the hobby-grade helicopter sells for $120.
Purnell said his facility schedules indoor flying time for individuals and organizations.
The Kennebec Valley Model Aviators in Sidney meet and fly their radio-controlled airplanes at the complex on the first and third Wednesday of every month, he said.
Purnell said he rents out the facility, which also has a concession stand, for racing events and group parties. Schedules and events are listed on his website, graniteleisuretime.com/.
"There's this one guy who spent thousands and thousands of dollars on this and never showed it to anyone because he was ashamed," he said. "He kept it in his basement, but said he had to get out of there and tarred over an area outdoors (for racing)."
Marcel Bosse is a diehard radio-control enthusiast from Caribou. He actually raced his radio-controlled vehicle last September in the World's European F1 Stock Car event in England.
"I didn't do good," said Bosse, who attended the show and belongs to the Roostook County Car Club. "There were 79 drivers and I placed 50th. I travel to races throughout the East Coast and got this opportunity to go overseas. (The hobby) is a lot of fun. I like to meet people and try different things."
Purnell said the hobby is growing in Maine. There are a number of large raceways in the state for radio-controlled vehicles, including Maximus Hobby Shop in York and Ray & Robbins Hobby Center in Falmouth.
He said there were 50 entries in a race held last year at Granite Leisure Time, and 65 at a competition in York.
"We held a Race Against Hunger right before Thanksgiving and we had 70 (entries)," Purnell said. "It's for all ages, not just kids ... but this gets them off the couch. They might not like sports, but they like racing, and this gets them out doing things."
He said the Race For Hunger took place the week before Thanksgiving and all proceeds were donated to the Augusta Food Bank and the Oakland Food Cupboard.
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