RC Cars - Getting Started In The Radio Controlled Hobby

The world of the radio controlled car, or RC car, can be an exciting one indeed, and it seems more people than ever are enjoying the power, speed and excitement that only radio controlled cars and trucks can provide. Many of us of course may remember those radio controlled cars and trucks we played with as children, and we may have fond memories of running those vehicles through the house, perhaps chasing the family dog, or the kid sister. When it comes to hobby quality radio controlled cars, however, things are quite a bit different.

For one thing, hobby quality radio controlled cars and trucks are quite a bit faster than those toys you may remember from childhood. Many electric powered radio controlled cars can reach speeds of 40 mph or more, while some of the best nitro powered RC cars boast top speeds of 70 mph or more right out of the box.

With speeds like this it is easy to understand why RC car and truck racing has become such a wildly popular sport. For many enthusiasts, racing RC cars provides all the fun and excitement of racing full size cars, without the significant risk and expense of the more dangerous sport.

Many RC car enthusiasts also love the fact that radio control cars and trucks are nearly infinitely customizable and upgradeable. Many manufacturers feature parts which are easily swapped out between models, making it easy to upgrade the engine, the transmission, the suspension and other important parts very quickly. Radio controlled cars and trucks come in two basic varieties – electric powered and nitro powered. The electric models are powered by an electric motor, while the faster and more powerful nitro powered models feature internal combustion engines which are designed to run on specially formulated fuel. It is these nitro powered monsters that are able to achieve those blazing fast speeds.

Most radio controlled car and truck enthusiasts recommend that those just getting started in the hobby begin by purchasing a well made ready to run car or truck. You may also see the term ARTR from time to time. When purchasing a radio controlled vehicle listed as ARTR it is important to determine what parts you need to get the vehicle on the road.

The benefits to the beginner of purchasing an RTR radio control vehicle are many, and those new to the hobby should definitely consider this option strongly. For one thing, a ready to run vehicle provides all the benefits of a hobby quality radio controlled car or truck, including the speed, maneuverability, realistic look and upgradeability, without the need to build the car or truck from the ground up.

After you have gained a bit of experience in the hobby, however, you may want to give building your own radio controlled vehicle a whirl. For many in the hobby, building their own vehicles is the best part of the hobby, and it can certainly provide a great deal of satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment. Building and racing your own radio controlled vehicle is one of the best parts of this great hobby.

Mike Eggert is an
R/C car and truck racing enthusiast, and contributor to the RC Car and Truck information website http://www.rc-hq.com

The Beginner’s Guide to the World of Radio Controlled Vehicles

Building, tuning and racing radio controlled vehicles can be a fun hobby for people of all ages and abilities, and there are some super fast and super powerful radio controlled cars on the market today. The hobby of building and racing radio controlled cars is in fact one of the fastest growing of all hobbies, and it is quickly growing in popularity all across the country and around the world.

Hobby quality radio controlled cars are quite different from the toys you may remember from your youth, and many of the best radio control cars can reach speeds of 40 mph, 50 mph or even 60 mph or more. With these kinds of speeds it is easy to understand the appeal of the hobby to adults as well as children around the world.

In addition, many of these radio controlled cars are designed to be easily customizable and upgradeable, with easily swapped out parts and easily added parts and accessories. This has made the hobby of customizing and tuning radio controlled cars nearly as popular as the hobby of racing them, and a cottage industry has grown up in offering tips and tricks for squeezing the most horsepower out of these great vehicles.

In addition to the better known electric radio controlled cars, there are a number of very powerful nitro powered radio controlled vehicles on the market, and these are among the fastest of all radio controlled vehicles on the market. It is often these gas powered radio controlled sports cars one sees raced in formal competitions, and their owners can often take these competitions quite seriously.

In fact, many radio controlled vehicles are true working vehicles, featuring high quality electric motors and fast, tunable nitro engines that operate in much the same way as their larger rivals. In addition, many radio controlled vehicles come with fully adjustable suspensions, many using the popular oil filled shocks and springs for nearly infinite tenability and adjustability.

The best radio controlled cars and trucks are truly miniature versions of the real thing, and they feature such touches as changeable gearing and smooth operating differentials that work in much the same way as those on traditional full sized cars. In addition, gas powered radio controlled cars are designed to run on special nitro fuel, and the high horsepower nitro engines, in combination with finely tuned exhaust systems, air filters and fuel tanks provide for powerful and durable operations under virtually any conditions.


For even more information about this exciting sport, stop by http://www.rc-hq.com