They may not be racing V8 cars, but that does not mean they do not get an adrenaline rush.
The New Zealand Radio Car Association is hosting the internal combustion off-road national championships in Dunedin this weekend.
Race director Jamie Scott said the drivers get a "huge thrill" out of racing the cars, which can reach speeds of up to120 kmh.
Even though many drivers do not do a "huge amount of practice" the sport involves "serious concentration" and the drivers were "fierce competitors", he said.
Scott, who has been racing the on-road variety of cars for three years, said when he tells his mates he races radio cars they think it is "really easy" until they gave it a try.
"They get quite a shock when they realise there is more to it than moving a stick and pushing buttons."
In a sport that takes up a lot of time over the weekends it helps if the competitors have an understanding partner, he said.
Tomorrow's racing will involve 113 competitors from around the country, with a handful of entrants from Australia taking part in the event which will be held in Dunedin for the first time.
One of those competitors will be Kyle McBride (17), who came fourth in the world off-road championships earlier in the year.
McBride started his racing as a "nobody" and now he has got a "ton of sponsors" which help him travel to various competitions, Scott said.
While it cost about $500 to get set up in the sport, if someone wanted to get serious about racing it would set them back about $2000, Scott said.
The national championships will be held on a custom-built track on Waitati Valley Rd.
There will be two classes of racing - buggy and trucking - and 12 to 15 clubs from around the country will be taking part. Practice day and heats will be held today,with further heats held tomorrow and the finals on Sunday.
