“At age 30 a good friend ended up paralyzed in front of me and that was pretty much it for me,” he said.

The accident took place while Bacon was living in Houston, Texas. He moved there at age 19.

About a decade ago he moved back to Fort Dodge.

Bacon’s motocross career spanned about 15 years. During that time, he suffered a number of injuries.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Remote control racecars make their way through an indoor carpet track at Crossroads Mall recently.

“I had a few surgeries and broken bones that happened when I was 17, 18 years old,” he said. “After that things stabilized a little bit and just a few separated shoulders and collarbones, but nothing too severe.”

Still, Bacon was ready for a new challenge.

“I decided I needed a different outlet,” he said.

That outlet turned out to be remote control car racing. He took up the activity in 2007.

It has taken him across the nation to compete with other racers.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Bradley Peterson, of Ankeny, holds up his remote control racecar at Crossroads Mall recently.

In 2016, he won a national championship in Alabama, he said.

“It’s definitely a lot more forgiving on the body,” Bacon said.

The experience of indoor racing was one he wanted to share with others in his hometown.

Bacon recently opened an indoor carpet off-road remote control car track at Crossroads Mall in Fort Dodge.

It’s called the Tony Bacon Racing League.

“I wanted to bring something different to Fort Dodge,” he said. “Carpet off-road is a new type of racing.”

He credited Larry Jessen, general manager of Crossroads Mall, for helping him get started.

“If it wasn’t for Larry Jessen, this wouldn’t have happened,” Bacon said.

The track features about six different jumps, which is an aspect of motocross Bacon particularly enjoyed.

“I always liked the jumps,” he said. “We want the jumps to be better than most carpet tracks out there. We want this to be fun.”

The response so far has been impressive, Bacon said.

“We have guys here from all over,” he said. “Knoxville, Ankeny, Williamsburg.”

The race on Tuesday night had more than 80 entries.

“We are already running out of room,” he said “It’s getting big.”

He said anyone can join.

“We have a bunch of different skill levels,” he said. “From people that just bought cars to guys who have been doing this for 20 years.”

He said the ages range from 7 years old to 70 years old.

Bradley Peterson, of Ankeny, was one of the participants.

“I go all around for this,” he said. “This brings me back to my hometown.”

Peterson said he is originally from Lake City, but considers the Fort Dodge area his home.

Omaha, Nebraska; Blue Springs, Missouri, and Hutchinson, Kansas are just a few of the stops Peterson has made to race his car.

Peterson said his love of racing comes from riding ATVs in high school.

“I would race RC in the winter,” he said.

He said he has been involved with indoor racing for the past four years.

The cost of the hobby can vary, he said.

“It can cost as much as you want really,” he said. “A good starting point is $300 to $400. Some of the guys who are super serious will spend $1,000.”

In terms of racing, Peterson said speed isn’t necessarily the most important aspect of the car.

“How fast isn’t really our concern,” he said. “We kind of judge how fast we want them to go based on the track.”

On most nights, the participants do a practice run before the race.

During the race there is a qualifying round.

“We are all racing on on our own clock,” Peterson said. “We have so many laps in say five minutes.”

In the finals it’s about position, he said.

“Our main event is racing for position,” Peterson said. “So whoever gets first, second, third, and so on.”

But the result isn’t that important, Peterson said.

“It’s about being able to come to the track and race with friends,” he said. “It feels a lot like family at the track.”

Peterson said he has plans in the spring to visit Phoenix, Arizona, for one the top five RC races in the nation.

Alan Larson, of Gowrie, is one of the more experienced racers.

“I’ve been doing this 15 years,” he said. “I am getting too old. I can’t keep up with these kids, but it’s fun. I don’t drink or do anything else anymore so I got have some way to spend my money.”

He planned on being there a while Tuesday night.

“It’s going to be a late one,” he said. “Last time we went to midnight and we have more entries this time.”

Larson races in the four-wheel drive class, he said.

“It’s a 10 scale car,” he said. “I like 8 scale better.”

He said the 8 scale is nitro powered, while the 10 scale is electric.

“There are 8 scale electrics too,” Larson said. “It’s about power, how they handle. Everyone likes something different.”

He added, “I don’t care if it’s 8 scale, 10 scale, I just want to be out racing.”

As far as what can be changed on the car, Larson said it’s very similar to a real car.

“Or you can just drop it down and go,” he said.

During the race there’s usually no more than eight cars on the track at one time, Bacon said.

Bacon said he hopes to expand the track in the future.

He also has another goal for kids to take advantage of the space.

“What I would love to do is get five to six of these cars in here for kids to come in and have a birthday party,” he said. “Order pizza and make a night out of it.”

“We’re not there yet,” he said. “But that’s something I’d like to do.”

Bacon said the time he has invested is worth it to see others enjoying themselves.

“Even if it’s for four or five hours, when I look at adults that have stressful lives and bills, and work they may not like,” he said. “If it’s for four or five hours, I can turn them into kids again and see them smiling and having fun with friends and making new friends, then I am making the world a little better.”

The league gathers at Crossroads Mall on Tuesdays starting at 4:30 p.m., Thursdays at 5 p.m., Saturdays at 8 a.m., and Sundays at noon.