Jay
09-09-2008, 03:34 PM
PARKERSBURG - A new hobby shop in south Parkersburg is finding a place in the area's remote-control racing community.
Sinister Hobbies at 1596 Dupont Road in Parkersburg is owned by Joe Shepherd and Rex Curry. The shop sells remote-control vehicles and accessories and sponsors races every Friday night at the softball dugouts off of Gihon Road.
Curry said the shop has been open for about three months and sells power boats, cars and trucks of several varieties.
For Curry, RC racing started as a hobby he can share with his sons, Lex, 18, and Adam, 11.
"We started probably about five years ago. We saw one at a car show. We went home and ordered one off of ebay. We got to racing and that's where we ended up," Curry said.
Remote-control cars make a good family hobby, Curry said. The entire Curry family enjoys participating in race events each Friday at the dugout.
"This is something that gets a little noisy, but you can sit down and talk and race," he said.
Curry is no newcomer to running a business. He has operated Curry's Auto Service in Vienna for the last four years. His experience with that business has been a benefit in running the hobby shop with Shepherd.
"My friend Joe got his boy into it. He asked what I thought about a hobby shop. I said I thought it would be a pretty good idea. It's a big financial burden for one person so we went together. In a couple weeks, we were up and running," he said. "Running a business and being familiar with the cars and stuff, knowing how to fix them, really helps."
Curry said RC cars may be small, but they contain smaller versions of most of the components found in full-sized vehicles. That's why it's important for Sinister Hobbies to offer repair work and other services.
"We fix them, paint them whatever people need," Curry said.
The shop is in the building that used to house a gift shop owned by Curry's mother.
"That was my mom's old gift shop. She passed away about three years ago," he said.
Curry said he enjoys working with his friends and family to continuing expanding the local RC community. He said he has been affiliated with the Ohio Valley Remote Control Car Club in the past and enjoys being a part of a larger community. Everyone is friendly, he said."
"I was a member for a long time. That's who I got associated with when I first got into RC racing. I was vice president two years ago. I had done a lot of racing on the asphalt track they have. I'm going to race with them some more next summer. People are just out to have a good time," he said.
RC racing continues to grow in the community, Curry said. Ron Seldomridge, owner of the dugouts off of Gihon Road, offered a venue for racing in south Parkersburg.
"We started a track probably five years ago. I just got a little bit overwhelmed with everything going on and let the guys run it. They started their hobby shop and have taken it to the next level. They're pretty much committed to making it work out. They are starting to get better turnouts," Seldomridge said.
Curry said the sport will continue to be a success.
"I want to see the sport grow. It's really an affordable hobby. The initial investment is a little expensive. Your average car or truck is $500, but you can blow that in a weekend jet skiing or close to it," he said.
Sinister Hobbies at 1596 Dupont Road in Parkersburg is owned by Joe Shepherd and Rex Curry. The shop sells remote-control vehicles and accessories and sponsors races every Friday night at the softball dugouts off of Gihon Road.
Curry said the shop has been open for about three months and sells power boats, cars and trucks of several varieties.
For Curry, RC racing started as a hobby he can share with his sons, Lex, 18, and Adam, 11.
"We started probably about five years ago. We saw one at a car show. We went home and ordered one off of ebay. We got to racing and that's where we ended up," Curry said.
Remote-control cars make a good family hobby, Curry said. The entire Curry family enjoys participating in race events each Friday at the dugout.
"This is something that gets a little noisy, but you can sit down and talk and race," he said.
Curry is no newcomer to running a business. He has operated Curry's Auto Service in Vienna for the last four years. His experience with that business has been a benefit in running the hobby shop with Shepherd.
"My friend Joe got his boy into it. He asked what I thought about a hobby shop. I said I thought it would be a pretty good idea. It's a big financial burden for one person so we went together. In a couple weeks, we were up and running," he said. "Running a business and being familiar with the cars and stuff, knowing how to fix them, really helps."
Curry said RC cars may be small, but they contain smaller versions of most of the components found in full-sized vehicles. That's why it's important for Sinister Hobbies to offer repair work and other services.
"We fix them, paint them whatever people need," Curry said.
The shop is in the building that used to house a gift shop owned by Curry's mother.
"That was my mom's old gift shop. She passed away about three years ago," he said.
Curry said he enjoys working with his friends and family to continuing expanding the local RC community. He said he has been affiliated with the Ohio Valley Remote Control Car Club in the past and enjoys being a part of a larger community. Everyone is friendly, he said."
"I was a member for a long time. That's who I got associated with when I first got into RC racing. I was vice president two years ago. I had done a lot of racing on the asphalt track they have. I'm going to race with them some more next summer. People are just out to have a good time," he said.
RC racing continues to grow in the community, Curry said. Ron Seldomridge, owner of the dugouts off of Gihon Road, offered a venue for racing in south Parkersburg.
"We started a track probably five years ago. I just got a little bit overwhelmed with everything going on and let the guys run it. They started their hobby shop and have taken it to the next level. They're pretty much committed to making it work out. They are starting to get better turnouts," Seldomridge said.
Curry said the sport will continue to be a success.
"I want to see the sport grow. It's really an affordable hobby. The initial investment is a little expensive. Your average car or truck is $500, but you can blow that in a weekend jet skiing or close to it," he said.