Alamo Fire and Police Personnel Race at Winter Ranch

It wasn't a fire, accident, or crime that brought the Alamo Fire and Police departments to Winter Ranch RV Resort Saturday, January 28. But once there, they set the remotecontrol racetrack on fire with their fast racing, causing more than one accident.

At the invitation of Winter Gardens Raceway R/C Car Group, the Alamo Fire and Police personnel came to Winter Gardens Raceway for a challenge between the two departments, using remote-control cars provided by Winter Ranch residents and New Sun Racing.

Prior to the start of the race, drivers and spectators enjoyed delicious hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixings, chips, drinks, and a cookie. After preliminary instructions and practice, the singing of the National Anthem, and a prayer by Chaplain Dennis Key, police and fire personnel raced remotecontrol cars against each other, much to the delight of the capacity crowd gathered in the stands and on the golfcart terrace to enjoy the race.

With Mike Mulbrook as track announcer, there were races between the police chief and police officers, the fire chief and firefighters, and firefighters and police officers. Some of the audience even tried racing for the first time.

Alamo Police Chief Rick Ozuna commented the day was “awesome” and the track was like a “mini race track with guardrails and spectator seating.” All agreed the event was a huge success.

Winter Gardens remote-control race track, built by residents of Winter Ranch and Trophy Gardens, is a 1/10-scale model of NASCAR’s Kansas Speedway, with 11-degree banking on the three corners. The track is 15 feet wide and a total of 135 feet in length, with guardrails and a 70-foot straightaway. The race cars are 1/10-scale electric cars with transponders that tie into the track’s computer lapcounter system. The track complex includes a race car pit area, driver and spectator stands, a golf cart spectator area, and a concession stand.

The Alamo Police and Fire departments originally expressed interest in racing last summer when they came to Winter Ranch to present a Hurricane and Severe Weather Survival session. The chiefs mentioned they routinely hold challenge events between the two departments in other sports and asked if they could hold an RC-car challenge.

Alamo Police Department personnel competing included Chief Richard Ozuna, Adrian Rodriquez, Brandon Tovar, and Jesse Maldonado. Alamo Fire Department drivers included Chief Roy Contreras, Luis Alonzo, Damian Vasquez, Isaac Rendon, Michael Valdez, Gabriel Leal, and Lee Valdez.

Many thanks go to the Winter Ranch residents who provided race cars, helped with race setup, taught police and fire personnel how to operate the race cars, provided food, and operated the concession stand. •