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Located in a strip mall behind a strip mall, Reaction RC Hobbies in Grand Rapids, Mich., has been in business for four years. The shop is owned by Jeff Brown and boasts 5,500 square feet of dedicated crawling courses.
The space felt like a secret clubhouse for rock crawling fanatics. Inside the setup was serious—rugged rock gardens, steep ascents, and technical obstacles designed specifically for 1/10th and 1/24th scale crawlers, keeping even the most seasoned drivers on their toes. A quick scan of the rigs around us told the story: everything from $100 budget crawlers to tricked–out $2,000 custom builds, all lined up and ready to roll.
We wasted no time. My younger son, running a starter model, went straight for a smaller hill, while my older son and I eyed a more challenging route. His rig, a solid mid-range build, had a decent grip but struggled on the sharper inclines.
Sure driving is fun, but this was about tinkering and tuning the suspension to get the best climb.
The spirit of tinkering runs deep in West Michigan culture, something that resonates within the RC crawling community. We have a long history of engineering, problem-solving, and hands-on craftsmanship. Whether fine-tuning a motor, adjusting weight distribution, or modifying suspension setups, the culture of continuous improvement and practical ingenuity is alive and well here. Many of the dads and sons at Reaction RC Hobbies embody this mindset, treating every tweak as an opportunity to learn and improve.
That’s the thing about RC crawling: it’s a constant learning curve. You don’t just drive these things—you diagnose them, fine-tune them, and sometimes completely rebuild them. The on-site tuning area was proof. Long tables, toolboxes cracked open, and plenty of back-and-forth between drivers discussing gearing, suspension tweaks, and weight distribution.
For a lot of fathers and sons, this hands-on approach replaced the traditional Pinewood Derby races.
A derby car is a one-and-done project.
An RC crawler? It’s a never-ending build. Swap in new tires, tweak the suspension, try a different motor—it’s all part of the game. My sons and I spent a good chunk of time here, making small changes that led to big performance gains. Watching them work through problems, adjust settings, and actually see the results on the course was the kind of learning no classroom could match.
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Hobby shops like Reaction RC Hobbies seem to be holding their own despite the rise of online competition. While buying parts online is convenient, there’s something irreplaceable about walking into a shop, seeing the products firsthand, and getting real-time advice from experienced enthusiasts. For many, the ability to talk shop, troubleshoot problems on the spot, and support a local business outweighs the ease of clicking "add to cart."
Need a part? No problem. The on-site shop had everything: motors, shocks, beadlock wheels, high-traction tires—if you could mod it, they stocked it—with knowledgeable experts to guide you.
The shop wasn’t just about selling parts; it was a gathering place. Conversations kicked off over tool benches, dads and sons swapping stories about their latest builds. Everyone started somewhere, and there was always another upgrade to chase.
What really stood out? The people. This wasn’t some ultra-competitive, cutthroat scene. If your rig got stuck, someone was quick to offer advice. If you didn’t know the best way to balance weight distribution, someone would show you. The donation-based entry fee wasn’t about making money—it was about making a space where anyone could show up, tinker, and crawl.
We saw fathers and sons working together, debating adjustments, celebrating small victories. One dad gave his son a few pointers, then let him take charge—watching as the kid adjusted his crawler, tested it, then went back to tweak it again. That’s what this hobby is about.
My boys weren’t just excited about driving; they were excited about building, about understanding how things worked, and making them better. Michigan’s largest indoor RC crawling course isn’t just a track—it’s a proving ground, a workshop, and a place where families come to build, break, and rebuild together. And for us, it was just the beginning of a new tradition.
For those looking to dive deeper into the world of RC hobbies, there are a couple of longtime local favorites worth mentioning:
Riders Hobby Shop on 28th Street in Grand Rapids, Mich., has been a go-to for hobbyists since 1987 (I was still in diapers), offering a wide selection of RC vehicles, parts, and expert advice.
Cobblestone Hobbies on Lakewood Blvd. in Holland, Mich., has continued to serve the community since 1973, with its dedicated customer service and extensive inventory of RC and model-building supplies.
These local shops, much like Reaction RC Hobbies, prove that hands-on expertise, community, and the joy of in-person tinkering still have a place in an increasingly online world.
Eric McKee is a lifetime resident of West Michigan. Married with two energetic boys, he spends his days balancing work with dad life. Also, a firm believer that Almond St. Claus Windmill Cookies are the ultimate snack (and maybe a little too good).
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