This year's Chicago Hobby Show was a little different, primarily because of a smaller venue, smaller booths from show regulars and the absence of large companies like HPI. See our full explanation on why we decided not to attend here.
This doesn't mean HPI representatives were not present, however. HPI Vice President Shawn Ireland, General Manager Dave Potter, Marketing Manager Kent Clausen and Sales Manager David Kouche attended the single public day of the show after visiting local hobby shops and tracks, talking with shop owners and employees, HPI end customers and racers at the tracks.
One of the great honors that HPI Racing has been able to enjoy from other people in the R/C industry are the accolades the Micro RS4 has received in the short time it's been available. Apart from the huge following of aftermarket companies that have sprung up just to provide options for the kit, just knowing that people at R/C magazines and other R/C companies enjoy running their Micro cars with their friends and coworkers is wonderful enough.
To top off the Micro's achievements for 2002, HPI was proud to accept the 2002 "Car of the Year" designation from the editors at Radio Control Car Action!
Thanks to everyone that has made the Micro RS4 so popular! HPI Racing will take our second R/C Car Action Car of the Year trophy and display it proudly in our US headquarters!
Visiting the local shops
Rather than spend too many days visiting the show, we decided to visit some of the local hobby shops in the Chicago area. We were able to meet and talk to the staff of the hobby shops, and we were also lucky enough to attend two fun parking lot races to see HPI cars and trucks in action. We're glad to see good support of HPI products in hobby shops and on the track!
 Shawn Ireland, David Kouche and Dave Potter in front of Stanton Hobbies |
 A great selection of HPI kits, among several other company's kits. |
 Plenty of HPI kits in this store |
 Located in an indoor shopping mall, the HobbyTown USA in the Oak Mill Mall is in a great spot. |
 How many HPI kits can YOU spot in this picture? |
 A race was in progress. Great location and lots of specators! |
 Three HPI fans gather for a quick snapshot. Nice Super Nitro! |
 A customer's Nitro MT, waiting to head out to the track |
 He loves his Micro so much, he put the decal on his off-road truck! |
 Right next to the shop, an open practice day for anyone to come out and "run what you brung" |
 PLENTY of HPI Power Fuel was available for all the Nitro guys to use. |
 Lots of bodies, too! This is a fairly typical selection of bodies, one we at HPI are proud to see. |
 HPI parts, HPI kits - what else do you need? |
 This gentleman had a wide selection of HPI kits on hand! |
 Hey, it's Joker! This guy volunteered his time to help Nitro racers with their engines at our HPI Challenge race. |
Frank
Lloyd Wright-designed homes in Oak Park
Frank Lloyd Wright is America's most famous architect, and his home, museum,
furniture and window designs still inspire art and architecture around
the world. Although his designs range from the Guggenheim
Museum in Manhattan, the fabulous Fallingwater
house in Pennsylvania and many other homes in Wisconsin
and Kansas
(among several US locations), it is Oak Park, Illinois which features
the largest concentration of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings, including
his personal
home and museum at 951 Chicago Avenue and the Unity
Temple. Literally down the street from the Hobbytown USA Oak Park
store, we found these fantastic houses that are museums and homes to families,
even today.
 318 Forest Avenue, built in 1902 for a banker who loved the visual and musical arts, as well as frequent entertaining. Can you imagine living in a national treasure? |
 333 Forest Avenue, commissioned in 1894 and rebuilt in grander style after a fire in 1922. This is not Wright's personal home as was noted here before, but has been in the same family for decades. |
 313 Forest Avenue, built in 1906. Actually a remodel, almost nothing remained of the original house! This house was moved from its original spot north of where it is now. Also a private home. |
Find out more about Frank Lloyd Wright from the official non-profit organization dedicated to preserving his works and also from Great Buildings Online.
At the show
 Cub scouts - must be the Chicago show! |
 Hot Bodies was on hand with their option parts and kits |
 Hot Bodies had the Savage 21 on display with their SUV body |
 Team Orion's new brushless motor |
 Boxed Micro foam tires and other Micro options |
 Many more Micro options! |
 Boxed Savage/T-Maxx tires, wheels and preglued sets from Team Orion, now, too! |
 Scotty from Trackside ran the races again, with luminaries from the manufacturers running |
 Tamiya's test track, showing off their tanks, Hummers and other neat R/C vehicles |
 Alclad now has their famous chrome paint in a spray can, plus tinting colors! |
 This company makes track sections perfect for the Micro! |
 Parma's booth showed off their new paints... |
 ...and some Parma truck bodies |