Trackside Tuesday: MHOR R/C Raceway
At ARRC Live we recognize that the community and stories we share are the Heartbeat of this Industry. We’re not only talking about the stories we share on this platform but the stories we share among each other. With all that being said, we’re bringing you a new Trackside Tuesday! The goal of this series is to not only promote all the tracks that enable us to create these memories and do what we love, but also to share the stories behind our tracks and the track owner life!
This Tuesday we’re catching up with Chadd Brockman from MHOR R/C Raceway! MHOR R/C Raceway is located in Aurora, Colorado and is actually one of the oldest R/C Tracks in the Country. In the interview below you’ll learn about their founding date and how it is still run by the original family that opened the facility. They’ve hosted some of the legends of our sport over the years and continue to run an incredible program/facility. Brockman opens up about the importance of supporting your local track and what it’s like to run the business/be successful in it. It was such a privilege to learn more about a track that’s been around for a little over 33 years! We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did!
What made you decide to open up your own Track? Share some history!
My parents opened MHOR RC Raceway (pronounced “More”) December 17, 1986. We had been racing on the other side of town and my dad thought it would be a good idea to open a track on our side of town (Aurora).
Tell us about your facility and what it features?
MHOR RC is the oldest track in the US with the original owners and original location. We have hosted 2 ROAR Nationals. 1998 ROAR Stock Off-Road Nationals & 2003 ROAR On Road Nationals. In the 90’s we were voted in the top 10 best tracks in the world by RC Car Action Magazine.
We started with just a indoor Dirt Off-Road Track. In 1995 we added a Outdoor track. The outdoor track has gone through many changes. First it was a Dirt Off-Road Track then in 2000 we changed it to an Asphalt On-Road Track. Then in 2018 we tore up the asphalt and took it back to a Dirt-Off-Road Track. We then decided in 2019 to change it to a 1/10th Turf Off-Road Track.
What is your favorite thing about owning a Track? Least favorite thing?
I love the people in this hobby. I love helping new people get into RC Racing and watching them enjoy the sport/hobby. With being around for 33 years I have had the joy of watching generations of family’s come through my door. I have watched kids grow up, come back with their kids and now I am starting to see their grandkids come in.
What I dislike, Just like in any business. Bills never stop coming. If I could just run the hobby shop without having to worry about the paper work and making sure I had enough money to cover bills, that would be the perfect scenario.
What’s one thing you’re looking to add or a project you want to tackle at your facility (if any)?
I want to work harder on how to videos to help more people out. I have acquired a vast amount of knowledge that should be shared to make it easier for new people to enjoy this sport/hobby.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a business?
Just like in any business it has its good years and its bad years. We have struggled through the bad and savored the good.
In the 33 years we have been in business we have seen 80+ track open and close in the state of Colorado. You have to run it like a business, not like your personal hobby shop.
What has been the most rewarding part of the track owner life?
I enjoy helping people grow and watch them as they take their knowledge that I have taught them and sharing it with other racers.
Tell us about your favorite memory that took place at your facility?
Over the years there are so many good memories. From Mike Reedy ripping his pants to watching a racer win his first A-Main.
What would you tell others who are interested in opening their own track?
Don’t do it. Lol.
Owning a track is hard work. It takes a lot of love and passion to keep a track going. You have to treat it like a business, at the end of the day you are there to make money, if you don’t make enough money you can’t keep your doors open. Customers have to come first. I have seen too many tracks hoard parts for their personal vehicles when a customer needs those parts to finish a night of racing.
What’s your favorite: Off Road, On Road, Oval, Monster Trucks or Rock Crawling?
My first love has always been Off-Road Racing. But I really love all forms. I think each racing style has its benefits:
Off-aroad teaches you suspension setup
Oval Teaches you repetitive lines
On-road teaches you driving lines and fluid motion
Rock crawling teaches you finesse & planning
Monster Trucks teach you that sometimes it’s just fun to punch it and run over stuff. Lol.
What’s the best way to get involved with your track and keep up with you?
Best way to get involved is come in and introduce yourself.
Facebook, is were most all of the current info on the track is. But we also have Instagram, Twitter & TicTok accounts to keep people informed.
You can watch races live online
Indoor track - http://mhorrc.liverc.com
Outdoor track - http://mhorrc1.liverc.com
Anything else you’d like to share or promote?
Please try and support your local track. We all know that shopping online is just a click away but without your support your local track can’t survive and then you won’t have a place to race.
