Sarasota's only hobby shop has moved to a NEW LARGER 2,500 sqft location. We are now at the front of the current building in a space twice the size for even more room for inventory. We have expanded our product line to include even more of your favorite hobbies. Please stop by and check out our new store at 1872 University Pkwy next to Keels & Wheels.
We would like to welcome all of Englewood Hobbies, T & B Hobbies, and Hobbie Warehouse's customers to Machine's R/C Hobbies, Sarasota/Bradenton's Only Hobby Shop. We also are happy to serve Ace Hobbies and George's Hobby Shop customers who are looking for that special Remote Control car or truck. Machine's R/C Hobbies is your one stop hobby market place.
Shop where the Pros shop! Your #1 source for all your Radio Control racing needs. Remote Control Traxxas T-Maxx, HPI, Revo, Associated, and 100's more.
Come in and check us out if you have not been in lately. Working on our 4th year of business and a new larger location, we now have more inventory in stock then ever before. Radio Control cars, trucks, airplanes, helicopters, boats, tanks, and motorcycles in stock. We have over 3,000 R/C vehicles, parts, and accessories. We also do service, repairs and engine tunes on R/C cars & Trucks. Every Kit & RTR is on sale. We will also match any other hobby shop's advertised price in the USA and Tower Hobbies prices. Our Ultra Low Sale prices can't be beat. We are continuing to grow and expand, so please stop in and let us know what else you would like us to stock. We are now stocking Model Rockets, Testors paint, Plastic Models, brushes, model glue, pine wood derby cars, BALSA wood, Plywood, Basswood, airplane paint, covering, Wild Cat fuel, Kites, puzzles, wireless toys, remote control, slot cars, and more. Many new products to come.
Starting June 1st, please stop by our shop Mon-Sat to check out our weekly special. Each week we have a different item on sale with a price and deal too low to advertise.
Now easy to find - We are now located on the South West corner of University Parkway and US-301, 5 miles West of I-75 - between Keels & Wheels and Exotic Cycle, just East of SRQ Airport.
We have over 100 different radio controlled cars and trucks to chose from in stock. We also have R/C planes, boats, and heli's in gas and electric. We are fully stocked with replacement parts and options for all of the popular R/C vehicle brands.
We can special order most parts that we do not have in stock or you can order them from our web site and have them shipped to your home. Unlike most hobby shops, we order parts almost every day and usually get them in less then a week - no more waiting a month for a broken part that you need to get driving again.
Please drop us an E-mail if you have any questions or for any special parts you are looking for.
Or stop in and talk to one of our helpful and experienced employees with over 50 years of experience in Radio Control: Gene, Rysann, and Phil. Family owned and operated since 2005.
Thank you,
Gene 'the machine' Hickerson - Owner
2-Time National Champion, 3-Time RC Pro East Series Expert Champion, 3-Time ROAR Florida State Series Expert Class Champion, 2008 RC Pro Florida Nitro Series Champion
Pro Factory Driver Sponsored and supported by: CEN Racing, VP Pro USA, Maxy's Pro Racing Fuel, OS Engines, Futaba, Kolor Koncepts, Advantage Racing Products, BCE Racing Products, and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Ready to start a new hobby during these slow times? We can get you all set-up to start racing R/C cars with the best equipment available. We have all of the high end R/C racing cars, parts, and hop-ups. Whether you are an expert or a beginner, Machine's R/C Hobbies has what you want and need. We also do Repairs on all types of R/C cars & Trucks. Estimates are only $20. Repairs are just $40 per hour plus parts. Basic engine tunes are just $20. Please bring in everything needed to test drive your car for all repairs, including radio, batteries, fuel, starter, radio, ect. Your vehicles will be serviced only by Professional Factory racers & experienced R/C mechanics. Machine's R/C Hobbies owner has been an ASE Certified Platinum Level Master Technician since 1995 with an AS College Degree in Automotive Technology and has been racing R/C cars since 1987. Who is working your vehicle?
OUR CLUB OFF-ROAD TRACK IS NOW OPEN AGAIN!!!! We have been working with the county for over 2 years, and our non-for-profit club's new track is now finished and is open for FREE practice 7 days a week. Nitro & Electric Off-road racing on a huge 175 x 85 supercross clay track. Our 1st Club Race was April 6th, 2008. In May we had 55 ENTRIES, making our club already one of the largest in FL. Everyone is welcome and All R/C cars and trucks are allowed. You must have ROAR Insurance to race - available at the track. The track is locate in Rotonda West. Click here for more info
TEAM Machine's R/C Hobbies Shocks The World Again! Sunday October 28th, 2007 in Charlotte, NC, Andrew Smonik and Gene Hickerson put their CEN Racing Matrix Pro FRE's into the A-main event at the 2007 IFMAR 1/8 Off-road Pre World Championships. The team drivers finished 4th & 6th against the very best drivers in the World, the 2nd and 3rd highest finishing USA drivers. Get your CEN Matrix today at Machine's R/C Hobbies. Results: http://www.neobuggy.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2933
***SUPPORT THE LOCAL HOBBY SHOPS THAT SUPPORT THE RACES.
Already have a R/C vehicle and ready to Race it? Join a R/C car club. Click the tab above to see the local car tracks and flying feilds.
Radio Control Car Q's & A's:
Q - What does R/C mean?
A- R/C stands for Radio Control
Q - Why are the R/C cars & trucks in Hobby Shops more expensive then at Toys R Us and Radio Shack?
A- The Remote Control cars at Toy stores are just that - Toys. The Radio Control cars at Hobby Shops are scale versions of full size cars. The R/C cars at toy stores are designed with only 1 thing in mind - cost. The R/C cars at Hobby Shops are designed for performance and durability. Every part is replaceable and available for purchase at the Hobby Shop and can be fixed yourself the same day. Toy R/C cars do not have replaceable parts. If something breaks, you have to return it to the manufacture and wait months before they repair it and ship it back if it is even possible. Hobby Shop cars are also much faster and have a longer range due to better radio controllers and receivers - up to 1 mile range on some.
Q - I see generic R/C cars on Ebay for as low as half the price. Is it worth saving a few dollars to get a knock off car made in China from Ebay?
A- 1st : Ebay has some great deals at times, but you have to know exactly what you are looking for and the experience and knowledge to know that you are not getting ripped off. Plus Ebay is not strictly regulated and can be an unsafe purchase. As long as the Ebay seller ships you a package (even if the box is empty), they are not responsible to refund your money. I hear horror stories every day of customers who never received their order or received something damaged or completely different then what they ordered.
2nd : The knock off cars on Ebay are usually made in China, while the cars in Hobby Shops are made in Taiwan or Japan and designed and distributed by manufactures located in the USA. Companies such as Team Losi, Team Associated, Traxxas, CEN Racing, Kyosho America, RC America, Horizon Hobby, and Hobbico all have large warehouses in the USA with 1,000's of replacement parts and hop up accessories on hand. The sellers with look-a-like cars on Ebay usually do not have any replacement parts available and do not have any customer service if you have a problem with you vehicle. Even though they may look similar to name brand cars, most of the parts are not interchangeable, so if you loose control and smack a curb, you car will be useless and will become trash just like the toy cars at toy stores. Spending $200 or more for a toy car that can not be repaired is an expensive lesson to learn.
Q - Are there tracks, fields, and courses for R/C cars, boats, and planes?
A - Yes. Manatee & Sarasota County have R/C flying fields. There are model boat clubs that meet and race in ponds and lakes all over Florida. Just like Go Karts, BMX, and Motocross, R/C cars & trucks are raced on street and dirt tracks all over the state. Just about every type and size of nitro& electric powered R/C cars in hobby shops are raced in their particular class. Wether you like Nascar/Indy oval, Off-road/Supercross, or F1/Sedan Road Course racing, there is a class in R/C for you to compete in for less money then any other form of MotorSports. And the best part is that R/C racing is 100% safe with no risk of injury.
Please stop in our store front hobby shop to see all our products in person. We also have videos, magazines, and other literature about Radio Control vehicles.
We have all the major R/C brands in stock, plus many more: TEAM LOSI, TEAM ASSOCIATED, TRAXXAS, KYOSHO, MUGEN, HUDY, CEN Racing, HOT BODIES/HPI, OFNA/Jammin, Parkzone, Hangar 9, Pro-line, Maxy's Fuel, Novarossi, OS Engines, Mega Engines.
Owner Gene "The Machine" with his future racing star daughter
