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Toy cars for a living?: Canon City man betting there's money in remote-controlled fun.(Pueblo Chieftain, The (CO) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Oct. 20--CANON CITY -- Pat Fish is living life in the fast lane. Well, on a small scale anyway. Fish recently launched the state's only remote-control stock car racing, a mobile interactive business that allows drivers to race against each other on a small track using 1/18th scale-model cars. Puebloans have seen a similar business operating at the Colorado State Fair. There also will be a chance to see the racing track at the Haunted House event at the State Fairgrounds livestock pavilion through Halloween. "In talking with the company that developed the business, I learned there are those who have it and done really well," Fish said. "They told me the business will be as successful as the guy I am looking at in the mirror, so I thought it would be something unique to this area. And why not take a chance?" Fish decided he would have to quit his longtime job as Lindner Automotive Parts manager so he could be on the road with his new business. To keep the income flowing while Go Fish Racing is being established, Fish works mornings helping load UPS trucks, then he's off to the races. Fish has a large track that can be set up in different layouts and holds six race cars. He also has a smaller track that holds four race cars. A digital scoreboard keeps count of the laps and determines the winner when the first driver successfully completes 15 laps. "Its fun for the kiddos or the adults and it's really ideal for NASCAR nuts, so if you like stock car racing, this is your baby," Fish said. There usually are plenty of crashes, pileups and reverse-driving antics along the way. "It is very hard to learn to drive these cars in the beginning. Each driver stands at a console with a steering wheel and a shifter so you can make your car go forward or in reverse," Fish said. Go Fish Racing will be making the rounds at community events such as groundbreakings, Halloween haunted houses and parades where he charges drivers to join in at a per-race fee. Fish also will make his tracks available for company parties, team-building events or picnics, birthday parties or other private events, where he will charge a flat fee. Those who wish to sponsor a car can have their company logo placed on a car for some mobile advertising wherever Fish goes with his tracks. Fish started the business in September and has taken the racing tracks to the Harvest Festival at the Winery at the Holy Cross Abbey, to Apple Day in Penrose, a publicity event at an insurance company in Pueblo and to the Vineyard Christian Fellowship grand opening in Canon City. Fish is currently working on a plan to set up his racing track at the I-25 Speedway awards banquet and at the Pueblo Mall between Thanksgiving and Christmas to give shoppers a break between treks through the stores. For information, call 719-371-2192 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. To see more of The Pueblo Chieftain, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.chieftain.com. Copyright (c) 2007, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |