MONROE - Ryan Mellenberger received his first radio controlled car for Christmas when he was 10, and he envisioned racing the toy at high speeds and working on it like a NASCAR crew member.
Soon Mellenberger, 37, was hooked on radio controlled cars. And now his childhood dream has turned into a lifelong passion.
He's the owner of Discount America Hobby and Motor Sports and president of Cheese City Xtreme R/C, a club for radio controlled car owners, who race at an outdoor track and indoors at his hobby shop.
Cheese City Xtreme R/C will begin its indoor racing season Saturday, Oct. 30 upstairs in his hobby store, which is east of Pick-N-Save. The indoor racing season runs from Oct. 30 until the end of April. The outdoor season usually starts in May.
Cars run on a track that's 80 feet by 50 feet and carpeted - with wooden jumps and a 50-foot pit stop area where owners make adjustments during the competition.
"It's just like NASCAR," Mellenberger said. "Pretty much anything you can do on a car you can do on these cars."
After graduating from MATC, Mellenberger built a radio-controlled car track in his backyard in Browntown. He also went to Janesville for races and then leased some land at Monroe's SLICE, where he built an outdoor racing track that's 200-feet by 90-feet.
That track has served racing enthusiasts from throughout the region for eight years.
"I got hooked on racing," he said. "A lot of people think you need to spend $3,000 or $4,000 to get started. Someone can get started for $200 for everything. You can spend more if you are an addict like me."
Mellenberger has seen several advancements in the sport since he started. Some of the off-road trucks that race during the indoor season can reach speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour. In general, advancements have produced higher speeds, more efficient handling; and better durability, he said.
Cheese City Xtreme R/C has 60 of its 100 club members in Monroe. However, big races draw 100 to 200 people, including radio controlled car enthusiasts from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and across Wisconsin. The club has members from 6 to 60-years-old.
Cheese City Xtreme charges $10 for club members to race on Saturday and $15 for non club members. The club does rent cars to spectators who want to try racing.
The club runs a weekly race and has season point standings for each class. For some of the bigger races, Mellenberger said cash awards can be won. But most, he said, compete for the love of competition; and to spend time with each other.
"It's great for fathers and sons or fathers and daughters," Mellenberger said. "It's a little more challenging than a video game. It teaches a lot of sportsmanship and building skills. You won't become a millionaire by winning a race. "
Soon Mellenberger, 37, was hooked on radio controlled cars. And now his childhood dream has turned into a lifelong passion.
He's the owner of Discount America Hobby and Motor Sports and president of Cheese City Xtreme R/C, a club for radio controlled car owners, who race at an outdoor track and indoors at his hobby shop.
Cheese City Xtreme R/C will begin its indoor racing season Saturday, Oct. 30 upstairs in his hobby store, which is east of Pick-N-Save. The indoor racing season runs from Oct. 30 until the end of April. The outdoor season usually starts in May.
Cars run on a track that's 80 feet by 50 feet and carpeted - with wooden jumps and a 50-foot pit stop area where owners make adjustments during the competition.
"It's just like NASCAR," Mellenberger said. "Pretty much anything you can do on a car you can do on these cars."
After graduating from MATC, Mellenberger built a radio-controlled car track in his backyard in Browntown. He also went to Janesville for races and then leased some land at Monroe's SLICE, where he built an outdoor racing track that's 200-feet by 90-feet.
That track has served racing enthusiasts from throughout the region for eight years.
"I got hooked on racing," he said. "A lot of people think you need to spend $3,000 or $4,000 to get started. Someone can get started for $200 for everything. You can spend more if you are an addict like me."
Mellenberger has seen several advancements in the sport since he started. Some of the off-road trucks that race during the indoor season can reach speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour. In general, advancements have produced higher speeds, more efficient handling; and better durability, he said.
Cheese City Xtreme R/C has 60 of its 100 club members in Monroe. However, big races draw 100 to 200 people, including radio controlled car enthusiasts from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and across Wisconsin. The club has members from 6 to 60-years-old.
Cheese City Xtreme charges $10 for club members to race on Saturday and $15 for non club members. The club does rent cars to spectators who want to try racing.
The club runs a weekly race and has season point standings for each class. For some of the bigger races, Mellenberger said cash awards can be won. But most, he said, compete for the love of competition; and to spend time with each other.
"It's great for fathers and sons or fathers and daughters," Mellenberger said. "It's a little more challenging than a video game. It teaches a lot of sportsmanship and building skills. You won't become a millionaire by winning a race. "