COCHRAN, Ga. — On Saturday in Cochran, many flocked to watch cars race around the oval for a national competition.
Over 600 people from all over the country are going the distance in the Dirt Oval Nationals.
People from 5 to 80 years old are operating remote-controlled cars, learning about basic mechanics, and strengthening their electrical skills.
David Thomson is the owner of Lil Cochran RC Speedway and Hobbies and says this is only his second year hosting.
"We have men, women, little boys, little girls," Thomson said. "It's neat! It's a fun family atmosphere. The neatest thing about the whole thing is just the diversity. You have five-year-old boys, 10-year-old girls, 73-year-old grandfathers. You have three generations that come out here together and it's just bonding time."
Thomson also mentioned that there are more people here from out of town than from Georgia.
Mark Clauss is from Pennsylvania and drove 12 hours just to come and race.
"It's like a big community," Clauss said. "Guys camp out, their families are together, and they're having a lot of fun here at the race track. When you come out, you bring the family with and the kids, they do have classes for the kids and the kids love it. Dad does have to help them set up the car, but they learn and they want to do it themselves and they have other friends that they race with. From the kids up to the dads and moms even, everybody has a fun time racing."
Clauss says he's been racing go-karts and full-sized cars for what seems like almost all his life. Once he got into RC's however, he couldn't stop.
"You do get all fired up inside just like you're driving a big car and you want to win but you have to keep your emotions in check because you're here with others and kids and ultimately you're here to have fun," Clauss said.
Colten White is 10 years old from Twiggs County. It's his second time racing for the Dirt Oval Nationals, and he says he goes in with a plan every time.
"You have to have a certain setup for it to go in the corners the right way and go a little bit faster than everybody else so you can win the race," White said. "Me and my family love racing with each other. It's really fun and even though we have different cars, we still have fun."
Kailie Tucker is 15 years old and from Tifton. She won first place last year in the Dirt Oval Nationals and said it was a rewarding feeling.
"There are not really many girls in this and I'm glad that I'm one of them in this," Tucker said. "I like tinkering with my cars."
Hotels were said to have been booked around the area, including in Eastman and some in Dublin, so this also brought lots of revenue to Cochran.
The next round for Dirt Oval Nationals is in July in Auburn, California.