When Craig Bowing walked into Hearns Hobbies recently, it wasn't just another customer visit. This was the return of an Australian RC racing legend whose cars have been on display in our cabinet for years, representing a golden era of competitive racing that many modern hobbyists have only heard about in whispers.

We had the privilege of sitting down with Craig for an in-depth interview about his journey from suburban Melbourne streets to the highest levels of American RC racing. His story isn't just about winning races – it's about the pioneering days of our hobby, when RC car kits were basic, tracks were makeshift, and the community was small but passionate.

For those who've admired the pristine vintage cars in our display case, this is your chance to learn about the man behind them. Craig's collection includes original Associated RC10s, rare Lucas cars, and competition machines that competed at the highest levels in the 1980s. These aren't just display pieces – they're time capsules from when RC racing was transforming from a niche hobby into the global phenomenon we know today.

What makes Craig's story particularly compelling is his decision to step away from the hobby at his peak, only to return decades later with the same enthusiasm that drove him as a teenager. His insights into how the hobby has evolved, combined with his plans to compete again at events like the Vintage Bash, offer a unique perspective that bridges RC racing's past and present.

The Early Days in Melbourne

Craig's RC journey began in the late 1970s with an Associated RC12E – not exactly the beginner-friendly choice most would recommend today. "That was the only thing I knew," Craig recalls. "There were really no buggies or anything. We're talking about when there were hardly any tracks." His local hobby shop in Blackburn introduced him to what would become a lifelong passion, though at the time, he was just a teenager ripping his 12th scale car up and down suburban streets.

The Melbourne RC scene in those days was vastly different from today. Chadstone Shopping Centre's car park hosted one of the few dedicated tracks, complete with McDonald's corner as a landmark. For Craig and his mates, Sunday meant heading to the Old Orchard Shopping Centre in Blackburn, where a temporary track made from fire hoses and boards taught harsh lessons about corner accuracy. "If you got the corner wrong, you hit the board," Craig laughs. "Then dad came in and stuck it back together somehow."

Craig's father played a crucial role in his early success. With an engineering background and experience racing Austin 7s in the UK during the late 1950s, his dad understood the importance of weight distribution and car setup. This knowledge transferred perfectly to RC racing, giving Craig a significant advantage. While other kids were just happy to make their cars go, Craig's father was applying real motorsport principles to these miniature machines.

The progression from casual street running to competitive racing happened quickly. Names like Greg Collings, Frank Malura, and the Tougher brothers became regular competitors as Craig entered the growing Melbourne racing scene. The transition from resistor speed controls to more sophisticated electronics marked the beginning of rapid technological advancement in the hobby. Craig remembers being among the first to use KO's revolutionary trigger-style radio system, moving away from the traditional stick controls that dominated the era.

Chasing the American Dream

The 1984 World Championships in Denmark opened Craig's eyes to international competition. It was his first experience racing on carpet – a surface that demanded completely different driving techniques from the rough outdoor tracks he knew. Meeting legends like Gene Husting and Mike Reedy planted seeds for what would become an incredible American adventure. The connections made at that event would change the trajectory of Craig's racing career.

By 1986, Craig was back on the world stage in Las Vegas, sharing a hotel room with four other Aussie racers including Jonathan Bourke. "We didn't have any money," Craig admits. Despite the cramped conditions and unfamiliar prototype cars, the experience reinforced his desire to race in America. When Mike Reedy extended an invitation to visit California, Craig saw an opportunity that would define the next chapter of his life.

What followed was perhaps the boldest move of Craig's racing career. In 1987, armed with a one-way ticket supposedly bound for the UK, he disembarked in Los Angeles and simply never got back on the plane. "I got pulled up by US Customs and got grilled," he remembers. For the next three months, he lived with Mike Reedy himself, witnessing firsthand how one of RC's most influential figures operated. Reedy's dedication to the craft – and his very specific way of making popcorn – left lasting impressions on the young Australian.

Craig's American racing resume reads like a who's who of prestigious events. He competed at the Ranch Pit Shop, scored pole position in modified class, and raced at legendary venues like Lake Whipple. Working at Twister Motors with Mike and Cindy Walker provided both income and access to cutting-edge motor technology. Craig learned to wind armatures, balance rotors, and understand the intricate details that separated competitive motors from championship-winning ones. His coding system on those motors became so prevalent that Greg Collings was importing them back to Australia.

The Legendary Cars on Display

The cars in our display case aren't just static models – they're race-worn warriors with stories to tell. Craig's original Associated RC10 sits exactly as it finished its last race, complete with mysterious carbon fiber chassis kickup that his father sourced from somewhere Craig still can't identify. "This car was bulletproof," he emphasizes, pointing out the custom aluminum steering and reinforced shock towers that kept it competitive against newer designs.

Perhaps even more significant is Craig's Lucas car – a machine so rare that most Australian RC enthusiasts have never seen one in person. Lucas cars represented a revolution in 12th scale design, with modified rear ends that transformed handling on high-grip surfaces. "If you didn't have a Lucas car, you were screwed," Craig explains. The prototype versions he raced were hand-cut chassis that preceded the limited production runs, making them even more historically significant.

The Schumacher CAT that Craig owns represents another piece of RC history. As the first four-wheel-drive off-road car from the innovative British manufacturer, it showcased Cecil Schumacher's forward-thinking approach to RC design. The car's crash-back front end – using rubber bands to allow the front suspension to pivot backward on impact – was just one of many clever solutions that made Schumacher a respected name in racing circles.

Each paint job tells its own story. Craig's early Australian cars featured red, gold, and white schemes with minimal paint to save weight – crucial for competitive 12th scale racing. His later American designs evolved to black, white, and fluorescent orange combinations that stood out on busy racing circuits. These weren't just aesthetic choices; they represented Craig's evolution as a racer and his adaptation to different racing environments.

Planning the Return to Racing

After decades away from competitive RC racing, Craig's return started tentatively. "I'd snuck out to a few events," he admits, "just sat out the back where no one knew who I was." But the pull of competition proved too strong to resist. Encouraged by Aaron Deakins and others in the Melbourne RC community, Craig began appearing more regularly at local events, rediscovering the camaraderie that makes RC racing special.

The upcoming Vintage Bash has become a focal point for Craig's return. Plans are underway to build a period-correct Works 91 car and potentially restore his original RC10 to running condition. The challenge of building a car from scratch after so many years away might intimidate some, but Craig approaches it with characteristic enthusiasm. "I've still got all the tools," he confirms, though he admits to throwing out boxes of vintage parts during a property sale in 2021 – a decision that now causes visible regret.

More ambitious still are Craig's plans to compete in the Over-50s class at Bairnsdale. The prospect of racing a modern Yokomo RS2 touring car represents a significant technological leap from his last competitive drives in 1988. Modern touring cars with their sophisticated suspension systems, LiPo batteries, and brushless motors are worlds apart from the modified motors and NiCad packs of Craig's era. Yet the fundamental skills – smooth driving, consistent lap times, and racecraft – remain unchanged.

The RC community's response to Craig's return has been overwhelmingly positive. Fellow racers who remember his name from old magazine results are eager to see him back on track. Younger drivers, curious about the sport's history, pepper him with questions about the "old days." This bridging of generations exemplifies what makes RC racing special – it's a hobby where past and present constantly intersect, where vintage cars can share the track with cutting-edge machines.

Lessons from a Racing Legend

Craig's journey offers valuable insights for modern RC racers. His emphasis on setup knowledge, inherited from his father's real racing experience, remains relevant today. "Weight was always critical," he notes, explaining how lessons from full-size Austin 7 racing translated perfectly to RC. Modern racers obsessing over chassis balance and weight distribution are following principles Craig's father understood decades ago.

The importance of community shines through every aspect of Craig's story. From Ray Wood housing him in Sydney to Mike Reedy opening his California home, the RC racing community's generosity enabled Craig's success. These weren't just competitors; they were mentors, friends, and supporters who understood that growing the sport meant helping talented newcomers. Today's RC racing community continues this tradition of mentorship and support.

Perhaps most importantly, Craig's story demonstrates that passion for RC racing doesn't fade – it merely hibernates. His 30-year hiatus from competitive racing didn't diminish his enthusiasm or his memories. Watching him examine modern cars with the same wonder he must have felt seeing his first RC12E proves that the fundamental appeal of RC racing transcends technology. It's about precision, competition, and the satisfaction of making a miniature machine perform at its absolute limit.

For those considering a return to RC racing after time away, Craig's experience offers encouragement. Yes, the technology has advanced dramatically. Yes, the competition is fierce. But the core of what makes RC racing special – the community, the challenge, the pure fun of it – remains unchanged. As Craig prepares for his racing comeback, he's proof that it's never too late to rejoin the hobby you love.