Not just for kids: Remote-controlled car enthusiasts lament lack of open spaces in Singapore

For another enthusiast, 48-year-old Faizal Kamis, regulations were what made him turn to remote-controlled car racing. 

Mr Faizal, who works as an audio-visual executive, said that he first got into remote-controlled planes and drones more than 20 years ago.

When drones became more popular and the authorities here imposed stricter laws on flying unmanned aircraft in certain areas, he got into remote-controlled cars instead.

Mr Faizal helps to maintain the Woodlands track and was one of the first few to discover it. The track had previously been used by those playing remote-controlled crawlers, which are slower and sport much larger wheels, among other differences.

Mr Raqesh said that he hopes their tracks can last. “Because seriously, in Singapore, there’s very, very little space and place to play,” he noted.

“I think we need more space because RC is not only for us adults. We bring our kids, play together, it’s a family-bonding thing, and to me, it’s a very healthy thing. Hopefully, the Government gives us an actual fixed place for us to really make the ramps we want.”

Mr Raqesh added: “In Malaysia and even in the US, the tracks are really cool, really big. And the ramps, wow, (the remote-controlled cars) can fly so high. Sometimes when we see that, we are jealous because we really can’t do it here.”

The community has been asking “relevant organisations” to have a designated place for remote-controlled car racing, but this is still in the works, he said.