Calandra Racing Concepts, Inc.
Team CRC was founded in 1993
by president Frank Calandra Jr. Located in Rome, NY, CRC manufactures, designs
and promotes radio controlled (R/C) model car products and model car racing.
Our experience bridges both electric
motors and internal combustion engine powered R/C cars in carpet, dirt and asphalt
varieties. Our staff consists of racing family members Frank Sr., Jr. and younger
brother Mark, as well as other local R/C racers that have joined our team of
dedicated employees. Calandra Racing is housed in a large 10,000 square foot
facility that includes test tracks for indoor carpet as well as adjacent outdoor
dirt and asphalt circuits.
CRC's model car racing roots date
back to the early 1960's when Frank Calandra Sr. began his model racing career
with slot cars. The senior Frank was passionate and enthusiastic about the hobby
that began to flourish in the 60's. Frank Sr. learned the foundation of electric
motor preparation and building in these early racing days. Also Frank Sr. was
known to scratch-build an excellent slot car chassis. Senior shared his enthusiasm
with his young son Frank Jr., bringing junior to the slot races at very young
ages. It is those early days that fueled junior's desire to race most anything
with wheels.
Frank Jr. starting his racing efforts
in motocross. In 1979, Frank began an 11-year career racing motocross in the
northeastern US. As always, Frank Sr. was there with physical, moral and financial
support. Senior acted as pitman, motor home driver, sponsor and all around assistant
to junior's early motocross career. Later, brother Mark joined in on the racing,
starting his 2-wheeled career at the tender age of 3! Yes, 3 years old racing
mini-cycles. A strong finish at the 1986 FIM World Motocross Championship in
Unadilla, NY highlighted Frank Jr.'s motocross success.
Strangely, it was also 1979 when
Frank Jr. picked up his first competitive R/C car, the Tamiya Rough Rider. R/C
racing in upstate NY was virtually non-existent in the early 80's. In fact,
the closest place to get parts for the Rough Rider was the famous Ranch Pit
Shop in California. All the way across the country! Frank and a few friends
organized some racing in 1980 and 81, but it soon dwindled down and the model
cars were put away until 1988. It was those idle years that Frank Jr. completed
his college degree recieving a Bachelors of Science in Robotics and Industrial
Engineering from the State University of New York, College of Technology.
With a big push from younger brother
Mark, the Calandra gang re-entered the R/C racing scene in 1988. Sr., Jr. and
Mark all had vehicles and raced local club events around central NY in the late
1980's. In 1990, Frank Jr. took a job with a local R/C manufacturer designing
various motor and chassis parts, as well as an AC peak detector charger. In
1992, Frank went on to win the ROAR National Championship for modified 1/12th
scale cars in Detroit, MI. in an extremely close finish with world-renown Tony
Neisinger and Joel Johnson.
The cold winter months forced the
CRC gang indoors to race each year. That indoor setting was perfect for 1/12th
carpet racing which was very popular. The result... a concentration in on-road
racing products including the revolutionary Carpet Knife 1/12th scale road
racer. The CRC designed Carpet Knife car kit is a mainstay in the highly competitive
1/12th scale division. The Carpet Knife has become the standard to which other
12th cars are measured. CRC car kit line has expanded with Road Course, Formula
1 and Oval car kits in both 1/10th and 1/12th scales. We utilize computer-aided
design (CAD) and computer-aided machining (CAM) processes in the manufacture
of all of our products.
With countless Regional and National
Championships to it's credit, CRC continues to support, sponsor and attend large
events in all forms of racing. In addition, our focus to has expanded to include
the entry-level market in R/C cars. As the new millennium begins, we continue
to bring innovation to the model car market, branching into all areas of the
market. Catch the wave and ride high into the R/C future with Calandra Racing
Concepts, Inc.
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