User:Donnie Park/Yatabe Arena

Yatabe Arena (谷田部アリーナ) is an multi-purpose all-weather indoor race venue in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; purpose built for electric radio-controlled racing, the first all-weather venue of its type in Japan. The venue is owned by radio-controlled car manufacturer Yokomo, which also serve as their private test venue.

The venue was originally built in 1989 by Yokomo as a replica of the circuit used for the 1:10 Off-Road Worlds in Australia to assist them in preparation that involved visiting the track to collect soil samples and wheeling a cart around the track.

It is one of the few venues to have hosted the IFMAR World Championships more than twice as it hosted three events in total, the 1995 Electric Off-Road, 2000 IFMAR 1:10 Electric On-Road World Championships (1:12, PRO 10 and ISTC); the only time three world championship races took place and in a controversial circumstance, the 2015 Electric Off-Road.

Dino Dalle Carbonare of Speedhunters regarded it in one of his posts as as "undoubtably [sic ] the mecca of Japanese R/C" and has been the non-American tacks to be listed on it's Top 10 list by Radio Control Car Action for it's May 1993 issue.

History
In preparation for the 1989 Electric Off-Road Worlds, Yokomo technicians came to the St. Ives circuit in Australia three months prior to collect soil samples that was sent back to Japan for analysis. Witnesses there spotted them wheeling a camcorder mounted cart around the circuit. With the data collected, Yokomo built a replica of the circuit.

The venue was opened to the public on October 1989

the circuit featured an awning built over the track

The venue hosted the On-Road Worlds in 2000 on its outdoor circuit

The venue was renovated in 2011, which saw a new building built over the existing on-road track

Accolades
Listed as one of the top 10 best tracks in Radio Control Car Action's 1993 Top 10 list, the only non-US track on the list.