Bishop Alexander revved up over R/C racing

A cloud of dust lingered above Francis Street in Hanmer Sept. 23, carrying with it the sound of cheers and the high-pitched revving of machine engines.

If you looked past all the dust and flying rocks, you could see miniature vehicles racing around sharp turns and flying off jumps as they crashed to the ground and into each other leaving only plastic carnage in their tracks.

It meant one thing - the second annual Remote-Controlled (R/C) Car Buyout at Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School (BACCSS).

The R/C Club from BACCSS competed against students from École Secondaire Catholique Franco-Cité, who travelled from Sturgeon Falls to take part in the event.

Each student paid $2 to watch the action, with money raised used to purchase additional cars so more students can participate in subsequent races.

The R/C Club at BACCSS currently has 10 members. Teachers like Paul Mailloux hope the R/C events will entice more students to take part in the unconventional sport.

"At our school, we're really into cars and sleds," Mailloux said. "We thought we'd move away from the traditional sports and try something a little more unique.

"Hopefully the club will only get bigger from here."

The fun doesn't end at the finish line, though, as teachers at the school incorporate racing aspects into their regular curriculum.

The manufacturing and wood-working class constructs the track. The Grade 9/10 workplace math class measures and divides the track into equal parts and the specialist high skills major class records the event. Teachers also use the cars in physics and math questions.

Grade 11 student Darian Prevost admits he's not much of a "gearhead," but he still enjoys competing against other students.

"I think it's awesome," Prevost said. "You get to race against your friends and upgrade your cars.

"It's just a lot of fun."