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.