How OTW came to be:

Off the Walls RC racetrack and hobbyshop was finally conceived after 25 years and 11 business plans for the idea.  OTW is run as an LLC but zero profit is taken from the track, when and if profits are made they go back into the facility for improvements.  If by some chance real profits are made and the business shows promise for the longevity the facility would be moved to a larger building in a higher traffic area.

Jesse Walz is the sole owner and operator.  He was first introduced to RC racing in 1991 at the age of 11 when he found a track at the fairgrounds near his home.  He was hooked instantly and spent a month doing chores for the neighbors to save for a used JRX-Pro that a racer held for him.

He raced consistently through the 90’s and helped the club with track maintenance and race directing.  His father drove him to larger races around the Pacific Northwest during that time and he picked up race sponsorships to help with costs.  He continued to race on a shoestring budget while attending college in Utah studying business management in the early 2000’s.  

Late 2000’s he helped AROARA  in Anchorage while they raced at “The Swamp” for outdoor and also rented temporary space in churches.  Clubs and volunteers made for challenging logistics and folks like Ken Best carried the programs year after year until inevitable burnout.  There were flaws in that model that were identified and used for further growth.

Mid 2010’s Jesse was living near Boise, Idaho and helped create a 501c (federally recognized non-profit club).  With a zero dollar land lease donated by the City of Eagle a national level outdoor track with covered driver’s stand, sprinklers and powered pit areas.The outdoor program helped simultaneously fund a commercial lease for a permanent indoor offroad carpet track.

Moving back to Alaska in 2021 Jesse looked to transform AROARA similar to the Boise operation but could not get a  Board of Directors on the same page with same goals.

Using savings, a HELOC loan, credit cards, a sabbatical from his career, a relatively cheap building, long 7 day weeks for months and help from some amazing volunteers, OTW came to life.  The goal currently is to get the daily tasks hired out and see if we can keep the lights on or even grow to a larger facility.  Again, zero profits are taken from this venture by the owner; it is merely a labor of love and gift to the community.  Daily volunteers like Dustin Croft have been helping consistently while we try to get this business to float on its own.  Your involvement and support directly influence the path of RC racing in the Valley for the coming years.  Will you help us write the next chapter?