Courtesy of Pop-Up Rally
By Christine Graf
Remodeling contractor Craig Volkommer, owner of Details and Improvements, is on a mission to teach basic construction skills to young people. About three years ago, he established Pop-Up Rally, a business dedicated to radio controlled cars.
“I started this business to teach kids how to use hand tools—how to bend things, tighten things, cut things—how to work with their hands. Working with models has really helped me improve my own skills that I use in my remodeling business,” said Volkommer.
A life-long radio controlled car enthusiast, he teaches kids to assemble, modify, and build hobby-grade radio controlled cars.
“It can be assembly projects or custom-built bodies, and it’s also repairs and maintenance,” he said. “They are hobby grade cars, so all the parts are interchangeable.”
This summer, Pop-Up Rally will be conducting a summer enrichment program at SUNY Adirondack. Designed for children ages 8 and up, participants will learn to build, repair, and race radio controlled cars.
After the cars are built, they will be raced on an elaborate rally-style race track, one based off the renowned Dakar Rally. The track includes many obstacles including jumps, turns, and bridges. It can be configured in a multitude of ways.
People can also book Pop-Up Rally for birthday parties or other events. In order to have room to set up the track, the venue must have an indoor or outdoor space that is approximately the size of a tennis court.
“Participants drive the car around the track competing for a better time,” he said. “Navigating around the track is fun. It’s physically demanding, and you chase your car all over the place. It’s interactive, and it’s working with your hands.”
As a remodeling contractor, Volkommer recognizes the importance of teaching children to work with their hands. The skilled labor shortage has made it virtually impossible for him to find employees for his kitchen and bathroom remodeling business.
“I’m at the 20-year mark, and I have been working on my own for the past couple years because finding help has been really tough. I do complete finish work–working in museum-like houses– and it takes a special kind of person. Not all carpenters are the same.”
Because he works alone, he is able to complete an average of 10 bathroom and two to three kitchens per year. A referral-based business, he works with several local designers and custom cabinetry companies.
For more information, visit Pop-Up Rally on Facebook and Details and Improvements on Facebook