Selah may have its own R/C raceway, but now Randy and Heather Sides are offering something more to offer hobby racing enthusiasts in the area.

They just opened TQ Hobbies four weeks ago, at 316 South 1st Street, in Suite 3.

Randy Sides is still getting used to running the brand new business, which specializes in higher end race car models.

“We offer mainly gas power and electric radio remote control cars,” Sides said.

This is a specialty store not just for Selah, but also for the greater Yakima Valley. Sides said while the Clover Leaf in Union Gap provides some entry-level models, TQ Hobbies offers higher end products.

“We’re more specialized in racing, the upper end of the RC stuff,” he said. “We’re specialized, pro-level cars.”

He is also getting used to tackling two jobs now. Sides co-owns Pro Plumbing in Sunnyside with his father. Sides has been plumbing since he was 16 years old.

Sides became enamored with the racing world at age nine, when he began racing remote control cars. He sidelined that hobby when he was 15 in exchange for racing real cars, which he focused on until last year.

During his racing tenure, he drag raced all over the western United States.

Four years ago Sides picked up remote control racing once more, and eventually decided it was time to phase out his drag racing career and replace it with a safer, more cost effective one.

So he sold his real car to invest in his new business.

“Real cars don’t make money,” Sides said. “This pays for itself.”

So far, he said his business has been well received.

“I’ve had good reception, mainly because I’ve got a lot of friends,” he said. “I’ve a lot to do with the track [in] Selah, and I hope it continues.”

The track he is referring to is the Selah Raceway located at 924 Buffalo Road. Kent and Nancy Horner run the raceway, and Sides said Kent Horner in particular motivated him to open his store.

The raceway began as a small track in a backyard, and then Sides helped move it to a real track with dirt and a timing system for the cars.

Sides said his hobby produces family bonding. His 13-year old son, Garrett, also races cars with him, and his 6-year old, Evan, has recently taken an interest.

“When we go racing, it’s a family environment,” Sides said. “It’s just pretty cool.”

Sides said his wife, Heather, is not really one for racing, though she is definitely supportive and works hard covering paperwork, books, and computer work.

“My wife is very supportive,” he said.

Sides, 34, has been a Selah resident for five years. He grew up in Terrace Heights and graduated from East Valley High School.

He and his wife married eight years ago. Heather Sides is a Selah native and graduated from Selah High School.

Even though his business is new, Sides said he would eventually like to move into a larger building. But he said he is content with letting his business grow where it’s at for now.
TQ Hobbies is open 5-9pm Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 698-6116.