R/C Cars

If you don't know me or follow us on social media, then it could be hard to believe that I own a Radio Control Car (RC Car). My cars are battery operated; but there are many hobby level scale RC Cars that are gas powered as well. I never imagined that I would be looking to RC Cars to help me find comfort and therapy as I recover from Epileptic seizures. It has proven to me to be so helpful that I use it as therapy daily for day to day tasks; that can lead to feeling overwhelmed. Through the topics of RC Cars, Thoughts from JuJu will help to provide a little more insight on the world of RC Cars and the amazing benefits of being part of the RC communities.

(SCX10 II Baja Body at Monkey Face. Chico, Ca. Butte County, 2018)

RC Crawl Community

The Radio Control (RC) Crawl Community has been an amazing experience, I am extremely happy to be able to share with you. I can honestly say I have found a ton of friends, brothers, and even family in this community. Despite our challenges, background, or statuses; we are welcomed and accepted for who we are, and what we love to do. Playing with our rigs is just one of the many things we do in this RC Crawl Community. Keep reading to find out more about this great community!

(Photo: WETHANDS BRAND Compound Raid by Chico Creek Crawlers, 530 Crooked Crawlers, and Black Sheep Scalers in April 2019 in Redding, Ca)

What is RC Crawling?

Rock crawling is known as an extreme sport. It is a form of off roading and can be seen using stock or custom vehicles. Radio Control (RC) Crawling brings this awesome lifestyle down to a smaller scale. We use our RC Cars to crawl pass various obstacles in different terrain, especially in rocks and even water! Can't get a visual? Check out the video below! Thank you Julio Ramirez with Chico Creek Crawlers for this great video!

(WETHANDS BRAND Compound: April 2019 - Redding, California)

How it Started

It was about 6 years ago, we were living in Dublin, California at the time. My husband's mom owned a home with a huge backyard that we had our traditional wedding ceremony & reception in. My husband, Curtis Gould Jr, Owner of WETHANDS BRAND (aka RC Curtis Garage) recently came home with a remote control car he bought from Toys 'R' Us. For those who don't know what Toys 'R' Us was, it was one of the largest toy store where we were able to go get just about any kind of toy we can dream of. The store's commercial played a song, almost everyone can relate to, "I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys 'R' Us kid; there are a million toys at Toys 'R' Us that I can play with. From bikes to planes to video games, the biggest toy store there is! I don't wanna grow up cause baby if I did, I wouldn't be a Toys 'R' Us kid." Well, I guess we all grew up because today I don't believe there is a Toys 'R' Us store that exist in 2019. Okay, back to Curtis's remote control car. Needless to say, the first purchase didn't meet his standards, so we went back to the toy store and got another one. The second one didn't do it either, so we went back to find another one. At one point we went back too often that our card declined the transaction to purchase and return at Toys 'R' Us on that same day. It was then when my husband discovered in Concord, California just off of Willow Pass Road there was a hobby store called, Hobby town USA. Little did we know, this was going to be the beginning of new chapters and experiences in our lives.

(Dublin, California: Traxxas Slash 2WD - ProLine Baja Bug, 2014)

The Need for Speed

In the beginning Curtis was into the fast cars, and the things he can make it do. Jump, twist, flip, and turn; so he spent his time and passion on modifying and designing the Radio Control Cars he invested in. From trial and errors to learning what he likes and don't like, the journey took us out exploring places we didn't realize was enjoyable right in our neighborhoods. Pulling up the garage door and playing out front was one of my favorites. The dogs would be out chilling, our daughter would be singing and talking to the driver in Poppa's RC Car. Curtis did jumps on trees as we took our daily family walk on the Iron Horse Trail. Often we'd walk to Starbucks or Panera with our little girl and his RC Car alongside. I am so happy we did this together and I was able to capture these memories for my husband, for us.

(Speedometer Read, 2014)

(Top: Team Associated B4.1)

(Helion Invictus, ECX Circuit 2WD - RC Curtis Fast Fave Videos on YouTube)

The Desire to Crawl it Right

Driving fast cars stayed with us for a few years, and followed us as we built our foundation in Elk Grove, California. Somehow my husband managed to build a small crawl course in the backyard of our 3000 sq ft cookie cutter home. We worked, played, and most of all LIVED!

RC Country on Folsom Blvd - Sacramento, Ca.

We met so many great people while living in Elk Grove, and started to participate in gatherings and events that involved Radio Control Cars, specifically Rock Crawling. My husband explored many hobby stores, but fell in love with one in particular. I would assume it is because of the great guys working the Cars counter, or maybe it's the family feeling they give every time we visit. On days that I'm not feeling well or recovering from a seizure, Bruce would offer me his seat behind the counter because we often spend a great deal of time there. I am a sucker for motorcycles so sitting on BPC's chair made with a motorcycle seat was Heaven for me, and listening to his stories about his grandson always brought smiles to both of our faces. He gives the best and warmest hugs. I love that man. I'd have to say he is my favorite. Needless to say my husband also has his favorite. Steven Lee has grown to be a great friend, and we adore him and his family tremendously. I truly blame Steve for my husband's large investment in this RC Car lifestyle, but I also thank him for bringing such a wonderful experience into our lives. Oh right, I haven't even mentioned the name of the place; it's RC Country located on Folsom Blvd, in Sacramento, CA. The owner Chet is always there, and you can see how well he manages his store with the cleanliness, organization, and inventory; it's no wonder the store is always packed with customers.

Our first RC crawl gathering we went to with Steven was at Folsom lake in 2016. It was our first taste of crawler family fun, and we loved it; and wanted more! So we followed Steven Lee to night gatherings, gatherings at the GoodYear, to Fire & Ice in Sparks, Nevada, and to the Endurance Crawl at Prairie City, and the list goes on. How he dealt with us? I dunno.

It's a Lifestyle

Some people are runners. Their lifestyle may include often finding areas and events to run and participate in; bringing a connection to a cause, relating experiences, or simply because you're passionate about it, gives the lifestyle meaning & purpose. This is how I see, how we "The Goulds" see the RC Car lifestyle. On a regular Saturday you'll find us mowing our lawn or working on our rigs & crawling on our course; just enjoying each other and the beautiful weather. On event days you'll see posts, pictures, live videos, and mass multimedia of us celebrating awareness, and supporting each other's missions. Other times, you'll see us working to promote the benefits and opportunities in the RC World. Yes, it is our hobby; but it is also our lifestyle, that we take pride in living. More importantly it is the lifestyle we choose to maintain health & wellness. The RC Communities and the activities they do are often not recognized. Most will turn away with little knowledge or understanding of adults playing with cars. Some may not see the benefits of the monies invested. It's okay, we don't have to agree to everything or even anything. What I think we are responsible for as a human being is recognition. Recognizing the actions of ourselves & others, and how it can promote better choices, positive actions, and good decisions.

I think people often fail to see how amazing the RC communities is, and how critical they are to our society.

1. Support & Collaboration

I've been in this community for almost 4 years, and I've participated in more than a dozen events each year that promotes:

Collaboration
Support for people who have lost their homes, loved ones, lives; diagnosed with cancer, battling cancer, etc., needing money for college, needing a fresh start.

2. Health, Wellness & Education

This lifestyle, I've seen beautiful family bond, bond between a father & son, magic between a couple, chemistry between friends, commonalities among strangers.

One of the mission is to encourage kids & youths to get involved in the RC lifestyle. It keeps them and us out of trouble.
It teaches patience, determination, commitment, and endurance.
It promotes collaboration & communication.
It promotes innovation, and creativity.
It gives an opportunity for kids, youths, us (adults) to convey our artistic talents. Especially when art programs are very limited in schools these days.

(Raffle/Contest Winners, Take Control RC Camp & Crawl for Epilepsy, Friday's RV & Campground Retreat, 2019)

(Endurance Crawl to support Chics in Crisis)

3. Economical Support

Without the RC Communities, hobby stores or toy stores like Toys 'R' Us will be non existent.

The RC Communities naturally promote and market the RC business and products by using, posting, and talking about these products. Without these things happening many industries can be negatively impacted (e.g. decrease in YouTube videos, decrease in technology sales such as media or SD cards, media applications or technology such as cameras, etc.).
Social Media can take a huge hit, as well as Cell phone industry. The RC Communities rely on dependable technology to be able to reach a destination or capture a picture or experience. Something like the Endurance crawl require GPS tracking for mileage tracking & reporting.
Fundraising - The RC Communities are one of the biggest communities I have been a part of and have experienced that are directly supported by the community members and have often times exceeded more fundraising goals than many corporate organizations have been able to accomplish.

Corporate & Organizational Support

I believe it is critical to our society that collaboration happens because it provides the opportunity for growth. Since the start of us living this lifestyle, we've been able to experience great opportunities with different organizations that have gotten involved with the RC Communities to help support a common ground. I truly commend these organizations and encourage others to do the same and participate in corporate support of the RC Community events. It is truly amazing and powerful how we can help each other.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California

A huge thank you and appreciation to the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California for giving us (RC Communities) the opportunity to collaborate & support in the foundation's mission in Project Seizure Free, Youth awareness, Epilepsy awareness, and seizure education. Through this collaboration and support we are able to bring an annual event to the North Coast & Cascade Region focused on utilizing RC Cars as a therapeutic avenue for individuals coping with the challenges of Living with Epilepsy (LWE). Click HERE to find out more about the 2nd Annual Take Control Camp & Crawl for Epilepsy coming up on August 9, 10th, and 11th at Friday's RV Campground & Retreat in McCloud, California. The Foundation does not have any affiliation with Radio Control Car Industry but through their support for the Epilepsy Community members, they are proud to be participants of the RC Community. Check them out on Facebook: Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California.

(Photo from EFNC Facebook Post)

RC4WD

Above we talked about an organization that collaborated with the RC Community to provide support but initially did not have any association to the Radio Control Car Industry. I now turn the table and talk about an organization that stepped up to the plate and set standards for organizations that have no association with the Health Industry or the condition Epilepsy. I commend this organization for recognizing the opportunities in the benefits of RC Crawling to the individuals coping with the challenges of Living with Epilepsy (LWE). Through raffle prize donations from RC4WD we were able to raise a significant amount of funds to help give back to the community after the devastating fires that hit the North Coast & Cascade Region. Through their support and donation, a brand new RC4WD rig was raffled off to a kid at the 1st Annual Take Control Camp & Crawl for Epilepsy. Through collaborations like these we are able to bring two different worlds together to support the communities, the economy, and our society. Thank you to Tom, Isis, and the wonderful team at RC4WD.

Visit RC4WD Website

Hill Physicians Medical Group

Hill Physicians Medical Group is an Independent Provider Association, providing network from the Bay area, Stanislaus County, and up to Northern California. I met with the CFO and presented the need for support in Epilepsy Awareness and Seizure First Aid Training. This organization and many individuals who work there are great people, and provide huge support for the Epilepsy Community. Through their donation the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California North Coast & Cascade region are able to host an annual RC Car event for individuals Living with Epilepsy.

Additional Corporate & Organizations that support Epilepsy Awareness and through sponsor of the RC Car Crawl events & mission:

Neuropace: "An RNS System designed to prevent partial onset seizure from the source."
Mt Shasta Spring Water: "...Natural spring water to our customers in Northern California to Southern Oregon since 1988."
Bobby Arte: Oakland ART Director, Artist "Shifting Perception"
WETHANDS BRAND: Clothing brand with a message encouraging society to not be afraid to "Get Your Hands Wet!" Est. 2016.
Gouldini's Web Design & Services: "Making Magic Happen One Click at a Time!"
SAVOX: "With the best communication and IT equipment available, you are never alone."
Seven Suns Coffee & Cafe

Local Business Support

I think it is important to point out the local businesses that support the RC Communities. Sure some of you may think, of course they "have to" it's their business, and their customers. Truth is, No, they truly don't "Have to" but it truly helps both the businesses and the customers when we collaborate or create partnerships. Not convinced? Okay, let me try a little more.

How many of you have gone to "scout" for areas to crawl, you set a date, you post an invite, the day comes and BAM! you're hit with being kicked out of private property (we don't know the owner), recreation parks because we don't have permits, or couldn't register for an event because it costs way too much or you can't get the time off of work? Well, if you said "Yep, that's me!" to either of those questions, then you understand where I'm coming from. It isn't easy to go out there and enjoy our lifestyle. What is supposed to be fun & relaxing can turn into frustration and anger. This is why I commend the local businesses that help support this lifestyle and provide us the opportunity to enjoy their tracks, events, swap meets, GTGs, etc.

Let's turn the table a little bit. How many of you seen our local hobby stores get shut down? How many local businesses wait for the annual "big" RC events to make the majority of the income; only to pay for the rest of the "slow" season? Well, let me propose to you an opportunity that can increase your sales and your footprint in the social media and community "What's Happening!" Getting involved and supporting the local groups and events, even if it's not associated with Radio Control Car or your Hobby store, can help promote you in places you wouldn't think spending a dime on marketing at. Raffle prize donations, discounts on purchases, or even help in promoting the different events on your business page will help gather interests and spectators; then in result, can bring in revenue.

Shout out to the businesses we shout out here! Thank you for setting the bar!

Redding RC & Hobby: In my eyes, Redding RC & Hobby has really set the bar for local businesses supporting community events. A Small Mom & Pop Shop I would like to describe it. Gives me a warm feeling each time I go in there because they know you by name, they ask how you're doing, and they pay attention so they stay in "the know". The owners are two very supportive people, and are open to supporting and helping almost any of your ideas. They consistently collaborate with us and others to help promote the communities. Only 2 years we've been in collaboration, through their support and sponsorship the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California North Coast & Cascade region are able to provide resources by opening a Regional branch here in Redding. If you have't been to Redding RC & Hobby, you need to get out there. Bring your wife, wear heals if she wants; she'll have a blast chatting it up with Sheryl; otherwise tie on those sneakers and pack your rigs & planes to test it out right there on the property. Follow them on Facebook to stay in the know in hours of operation, discounts, events, and more!
Amain Hobbies: Located in Chico, California with their own custom track just down the street; these guys are equipped to make sure you have a great time during your visit. Recently renovated and now allowing areas and opportunities for customers to interact, and test their vehicles with the store's staff promotes great collaboration and connection between staff, customers, and spectators. Kudos are definitely given to this hobby store in being open to supporting different events and Non-profit organization's mission. Providing great sponsors and donations to help our communities. Great job Amain Hobbies, thank you for showing great best practice and attention to your customers and community!
RPP Hobby: Situated perfectly in Ukiah, California. RPP Hobby is definitely unique. The crawl course outside of the store has a personality of its own. Kudos to the team that put the crawl course together. I particularly love the details and scale items strategically placed throughout the track. Although this hobby store is not local to us, it definitely brings excitement for me when October comes around and the bells of the RPP Jamboree starts ringing in the air. I believe the team at RPP is really geared in their veins to make sure their customers and followers have a great time! Their focus and attention to detail to entertainment, excitement, and thrill definitely shows. Hope to see ya'll there at the Jamboree in 2019! Thank you RPP Hobby and Congrats and great success in the industry and community!
RC Country Hobbies: In the capitol of California, is one of the best hobby stores I have ever been to in California. This is not one of those save the best for last situations, but it almost seems like it naturally resulted in that way. Unfortunately RC Country Hobbies isn't a local hobby store for us anymore, we still travel down to Sacramento often, and when we do we have to make a stop at RC Country. Sometimes we don't even buy anything. It just doesn't feel right to leave town without stopping in at RC Country. For most of us, we walk in the door and make a right turn towards the Cars counter, where you'll sometimes see a line of guys waiting for the line of guys behind the counter helping other customers; but that's the great part. Although the store can get busy, the staff there is so good at what they do, they can get you what you need, help you fix your rig, and on to the next. Don't get your feelings hurt if they help you and then immediately move onto the next customers. You should be happy they are that good, and that you can stick around without being kicked out for not buying anything. One of the great things about this store is the owner listens. The staff at the Cars counters know what they are doing, they know what's in, they know what sells, they know what's needed. Chet gives the ability for his staff to collaborate and contribute to the store's processes so that they keep the customers happy, and coming back. Additionally, he approves the staff's participation, involvement, and sponsorship in events and gatherings which is why we like RC Country Hobbies, and we'll keep coming back even after moving out of town. Great job guys! Keep up the great work!

RC Crawl Groups & Companies

(Coming soon! JuJu lists various crawl groups and talk about how they bring impact.)

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