LIVERMORE FALLS – Breakneck RC Speedway at 15 Depot Street is currently home to Maine’s only oval black carpet RC [radio-controlled] car race track. There, group members can participate in races and qualifiers for larger competitions like the annual Snowbird Nationals races in Orlando, Florida. This year, Ryan Pablo and Brian Payea will attend the event from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, 2025.

Breakneck RC Speedway was formed around 20 years ago by Ronald Bryant, who passed away in 2017. Member Leo Jolin said that Bryant began with an offroad course before creating the oval track. “It was his way to get away from the real world,” said Jolin. Member Ryan Pablo said that Bryant called it his “playroom.”

Pablo shared that after Bryant’s passing, Jolin was the first to initiate an effort to keep the track open and that the rest of the group members quickly followed suit. “It follows the premise of a club, non-profit,” said Pablo. There is an entry fee for each race and that money goes toward rent and electricity.

Members come from all over Maine, some coming from Old Orchard Beach, China, Mexico, and Auburn. The group is open to all ages and skill-levels. Racers bring their own cars, but may borrow a transponder to track their car’s speed or amount of laps.

According to Jolin, there are two types of races that occur at Breakneck: short course races for larger RC vehicles and Pan Car races for smaller, faster, more technical cars. Pan Car races occur as a series of four-minute races made up of three qualifying rounds where racers complete as many laps as they can, and a main event race, identifying the winner as whoever finishes first.

There are many different divisions and classes of RC vehicles as well, said Jolin. He listed NASCAR, rubber tire, and SK modified as examples. Aside from the oval black carpet track, Breakneck also has “pits,” wooden work benches where racers can tune up their cars and make adjustments.

Pablo said that they usually see a full house on Saturday nights, that they are always looking for new members. “It sometimes feels like a dying hobby,” he said.

For more information on Breakneck RC Speedway, visit the Facebook page or call [207]357-3370.