Triple Nickel Raceway (TNR)

Together, let us seize our moment!  Triple Nickel Raceway (TNR) is one of Florida's premier off-road RC racing facilities.  It is a public facility located on public property for all to enjoy, but needs help.  Read further...

Photo from January 6th 2018 - Track Maintenance Day:

On May 3, 2012, the Polk County Off-Road RC Club found TNR in complete disrepair.  Its members adopted the RC racetrack in coordination with Bartow City Park officials and rebuilt it from a dirt field into the world-class RC off-road racing facility that it is today.  Since that time, the RC Club has traditionally maintained the track, but can no longer do it alone.  

The RC Club is just a small group of private citizens who recognized TNR's deep history, tradition, and potential, who wanted to help bring TNR back to its former glory (see history below).  Busy with their lives just like everyone else, the RC Club burnt itself out trying to maintain the track (through time, money, and physical effort) for public enjoyment and official races.  The Polk County Off-Road RC Club culminated its active official race-related efforts in January 2017, but is now ready to get going again in concert with the public. 

This GoFundMe campaign was established on Feb 2, 2018 as a part of an overall vision to seize the moment by enabling TNR to retain its world-class standing as a premier off-road RC racing facility while also serving as an outstanding public recreational RC option.  The donations collected through this GoFundMe campaign will help offset TNR's ongoing maintenance, upkeep, grooming, and race-event related (see dontation usage disclosure section) costs.  

TNR Vision:

1.  Effectively balance recreational use with official RC racing events.
2.  Continuously engage and be transparent with the public - this is a public venue for public use.
3.  Recognize that the vast majority of TNR users are responsible and caring individuals who mean well.  Channel that assumption for good.  
5.  Advocate for the RC hobby by maintaining TNR as an excellent off-road RC race facility, and outstanding family-friendly recreational choice.
6.  Maintain a relationship with Bartow Park authorities to prevent RC track abuse and neglect.

It is our hope that we (the public), can collectively help keep this public venue alive so that people of all ages and skill levels can continue enjoying what TNR has to offer for years to come.

TNR's History:

TNR has been around for around 30+ years, and is one of the oldest off-road RC racetracks in Florida.  Its condition has varied throughout the decades.  In 2012, the Polk County Off-Road RC Club found TNR in severe disrepair.  It had deteriorated to just a dirt field.

With the approval and funding assistance of Bartow City Park officials, Polk County Off-Road RC Club became the city's first pilot Adopt-a-Park sponsor, and spent the next two years building up TNR to the world-class off-road RC racing facility that it is today.  

It is the only off-road RC racetrack in Florida to offer a driver's stand with wheel-chair access.

TNR's continued existence is not the result of a single person or club.  It is the RC race track's tradition and long history of memories for countless children, families, and adults of all ages, that has allowed it to stand the test of time.  Let us keep the tradition alive.

GoFundMe Owner:

Who is maintaining this GoFundMe site?  How can I be sure that my donations are going to actually be used for TNR's maintenance, grooming, up-keep costs, and race-event related expenses (as appropriate)?  

The person who setup this site is an active duty (20+ years) military officer who joined the RC hobby in June 2017 and got hooked after spending time and becoming a part of TNR's allure.  This dedicated individual (who will soon be retiring and remaining in the local area indefinitely) will do whatever it takes to ensure it remains open to the public for all RC enthusiasts.

Donation Usage Disclosure:

While the vision for TNR is to maintain it as a family-friendly venue, it is still a premier RC racing facility.  The Polk County Off-Road RC Club may periodically host official ROAR-sanctioned or club races.  Proceeds from these events will go toward this GoFundMe site for further "race-related" purposes, and will stay separated from any donations contributed for general maintenance, grooming, and upkeep.  

Please specify whether or not your donations are intended for general recreational maintenance, grooming, and upkeep, or for 'racing-related' costs.  If no indication is given as to what the donator prefers, the default will always be recreational.  

We will maintain transparency with the public on donation levels for both money bins (recreational vs. race event/race-related).  We will also strive to maintain transparency with what any donated money goes toward with expenses.

Other:

The RC club will always communicate any official racing events as often and early with the general public as possible.  The events are generally a day or two, and held monthly at most.

Photo Montage: