My name is Lee Passehl, and I race Radio Control Cars. I have been racing RC cars for 17 years now. I plan to write many blogs about my sport and how my autism helps and hurts my abilities at the track.
These cars are not toys; they are engineered to race competitively and handle well at very high speeds. They are made out of materials such as carbon fiber, aircraft aluminum, and titanium. They are also made out of high durable plastic and designed take a good hit up to 35-40 miles per hour without breaking. Some are electric powered and can cost from $125-$500, and there are nitro powered cars that can cost from $300-$700. The transmitter that I use to control my car has a mini computer inside. My transmitter (or radio for short) can adjust how sharp the wheels turn and how fast they turn as well, how much the wheels accelerate or spool up, and how hard or soft you want the brakes to engage. My dad works on the car for me.
I am a four-time national champion. In August of 2009, after a 13-year long journey, I achieved my life-long dream by winning the Tamiya North American Finals, which earned me a trip to Japan to compete in the Tamiya World Championship. Right now I am running nitro powered on-road touring cars, and I am running electric powered off road two-wheel-drive buggies. These are all new classes to my father and me, and we are just learning how to run these machines. We started running nitro touring cars in February of 2011, one day before my 26th birthday in a race called the “KO Propo Nitro Grand Prix” a race held in a transit center outside of Los Angeles. This was my first big race running these types of cars. I finished 7th overall against some very good competition from across the nation.
I started racing electric off road in fall of 2011 at an indoor RC race track near Anaheim, CA called West Coast RC Raceway. Off-road is fun and very challenging to run because you’re going over jumps and you have to learn to time the jump right, not to mention some of the greatest professional radio control car racers in the world race here in Southern California. I don’t race in this class in off road right now, but someday I might.
I hope to get some good comments from you, thank you.
Here's a photo of my nitro
powered 10th scale car. Speeds up to 65 MPH.
Here I am with my 1st Place
Trophy. The dog tag was the award I received for being the Top Qualifier.
Top 10 Finishers in the UF1
Series... I am in front row, middle.
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Submitted by: sinbowman Date: January 23, 2012
Hey Lee my Step son Marcus is 15 now and he read your story and is.now even more exited about RC Car racing his.communication skills are affected so I his father would like to express to you that he LOVES the world of RC and we are trying to obtain equipment and vehicles to race on the indoor track called The Las Vegas RC Raceway. The thong needed are far from our reach rigjt now bit someday man we hope to see you somewhere you are his new Hero and his biggest inspiration. Thank you for being you and doing what you do. Sean And Marcus.
Submitted by: sinbowman Date: January 23, 2012
Hey Lee my Step son Marcus is 15 now and he read your story and is.now even more exited about RC Car racing his.communication skills are affected so I his father would like to express to you that he LOVES the world of RC and we are trying to obtain equipment and vehicles to race on the indoor track called The Las Vegas RC Raceway. The thong needed are far from our reach rigjt now bit someday man we hope to see you somewhere you are his new Hero and his biggest inspiration. Thank you for being you and doing what you do. Sean And Marcus.