After a knee injury left him with limited mobility and some unexpected free time, Marcel Bosse needed to find something to keep him from going stir crazy.
So he headed to the nearest hobby shop.
“I went to a hobby store in Caribou and there were some guys racing radio-controlled cars upstairs, so I went to take a look. One thing led to another and I got involved in the Roostook CountyCar Club.”
That was 17 years ago. Now the 52-year-old equipment superintendent for Maine Military Authority in Limestone finds himself in his 15th year as club president and enjoying a radio-controlled ride that has literally taken him all around the country.
In a few months, his hobby will take him across the Atlantic Ocean as the Caribou resident has been invited to race in the annual Þth Model Stock Car World Championship competition in Nottingham, England.
“I’ve never been to England,” said the U.S. Army and Army National Guard veteran. “When I was in the Army, I went to Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and other countries around it, but never England.”
The chance to fill that gap on his passport came about as a result of a chance meeting with a fellow radio-controlled car enthusiast at a an exposition show in Augusta.
“We met at the Maine Motorsports show in Augusta,” said Pete Harkins, a diesel engine representative for Ford Motor Company. “I was there for Ford and Quirk Ford and he was there on behalf of Spud Speedway, where he’s the announcer.”
“We’re two guys with the same interests and the same philosophies.”
Bosse showed Harkins some cars he designed and built, and even found an empty room to race them in. Harkins was quite impressed.
On May 1, Harkins called Bosse from his Georgetown, Mass., home to ask if he’d like to go with him “across” the pond’ to compete at the Worlds competition Sept. 12.
He’ll be part of a four-man team (with Harkins, and Vermont residents Kevin Van Dusen and Greg Meadows) and one of eight representing the U.S. in a field of 96 total entries. Each competitor “drives” the cars in time trials utilizing six-car heats and their overall times are calculated to determine who advances.
“We have the same racing philosophies and he liked my car designs. All I had to do was get myself to Boston,” Bosse said. “The only money I need to bring is for souvenirs for the family. He’s even providing me equipment and accessories.”
Harkins, 38, has been racing RC cars since he was 11. He was even part of a pit crew for his cousin while he was racing stock cars on dirt tracks.
Bosse, who primarily races 1/10-scale cars, is currently awaiting the delivery of the 10-by-20-inch racecar provided to all the competitors. While competitors must adhere to certain weight, size and fuel restrictions, they are free to customize their cars however they see fit to improve handling, performance, and appearance.
The cars are Þ scale, powered by alcohol rather than an electric generator, and are allowed to bump each other off the oval track during races, which will be held outdoors — rain or shine.
“I’ve worked with alcohol-fueled cars before, but full contact racing and being able to bump people off the track is a big-time difference from what I’m used to doing,” said Bosse.
While he may not have a lot of experience with full-contact racing, he does have an edge on many of his potential competitors in that he has raced alcohol-fueled cars before and prefers oval track racing.
Bosse and Harkins will have the two days prior to the Sept. 12 event to practice and test their cars on the oval track before competition.
Although the foursome is traveling and preparing for the Worlds as a team, it’s every man for himself once the competition starts.
Just in terms of experience, Harkins has a clear edge as this will be his 10th Worlds competition. His best finish was seventh two years ago.
“I keep getting better, but didn’t have a great time last year because I could never really get comfortable using my car,” he said.
Bosse, who recently finished second in all racing classes (sprint and short course) he’s entered in his local Club season standings, is looking forward to the competition simply because it’s a racing style he has never tried. And the 10-day trip to Great Britain isn’t bad either.
“This is what it’s all about. My favorite part is travelling and going to different tracks and venues,” Bosse said. “Meeting people who race cars different ways, learning something new every time I go to a different track, and sharing knowledge with people of all ages.”
That sharing has prompted Harkins and Bosse to team up to found and run the New England Radio-Controlled Racing Association (NERCRA) as well as jointly design a new RC car chassis and kit.
“He has a flair for racing,” said Harkins, who also co-owns a hobby shop in York called Maximus. “We just hit it off right away, and him being a machinist and a mechanic, it’s an ideal partnership”
Ironically, Bosse, despite being a longtime mechanic and lifelong fan of NASCAR and other professional racing organizations never had a radio-controlled car as a child or teen.
“No, I never did,” he said with a chuckle. “I guess now I’m making up for lost time.”