Nearly 180 elementary and middle school students showcased their creativity and engineering skills recently at the 11th annual RC Custom Car Open hosted by the Suncoast Science Center/Faulhaber Fab Lab.
The community race event featured custom racetracks and student-designed cars inspired by the theme “Four Seasons.”
Over eight weeks, 68 teams of young engineers worked alongside trained teen mentors to customize remote-control cars using high-tech makerspace tools, including 3D printers, laser cutters, and vinyl cutters. The program’s near-peer mentoring model allows high school student volunteers to guide younger participants through real-world design challenges while building leadership experience of their own.
Racers first presented their creations during a Design Competition, where judges evaluated craftsmanship, creativity, teamwork, and theme integration into the Four Seasons categories: Meadow Master (Spring), Lemonade Legend (Summer), Harvest Hero (Fall), and Chilly Champion (Winter). The excitement continued the following day at the Fab Lab with drag races, obstacle-course challenges, and a final Grand Champion showdown.
Highlights included:
· 180 student participants from over 23 Sarasota and Manatee County schools.
· 1,000+ volunteer hours contributed by teen mentors.
· Two custom racetracks themed around the Four Seasons.
· Family festival atmosphere featuring carnival games and food trucks.
· Cash awards and scholarships recognized innovation, craftsmanship, and teamwork throughout the program.
The 2026 RC Car Grand Champion title was awarded to middle school team Aqua Speed (Matvei P, Tikhon K, Lev K, and Prokhor I). In addition to wowing during both races, the team also took home a second-place design award.
“RC Car is a powerful example of what happens when students are given tools, mentorship, and space to explore their ideas,” executive director Ping Faulhaber said. “Not only are younger students building technical and life skills, but they’re also learning from teen mentors who were in their shoes just a few years ago.”
The event is entirely planned and supported by high school members of the Fab Lab’s RC Car executive committee, who design racetracks, teach workshops, and help make participation possible for families across the region.
Sponsors included the Gulf Coast Community Foundation Jarrett Family Fund, Steinwachs Family Foundation, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Sarasota Art Museum & Ringling College of Art and Design, Sunset Automotive Group, Bill Wagy Productions, Forza Wealth Management, and Publix Super Markets Charities. Special thanks to in-kind sponsors Sodi and Donato’s Pizza.
A full list of the winners and a photo gallery can be found at suncoastscience.org/rc-car.
Submitted by Jenn Sams Scott
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Suncoast Fab Lab students race custom RC cars at annual event
Reporting by Special to the Herald-Tribune, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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