How To Start R/C Racing
Do you want to bash or race?
Bashing is any r/cing that is done that is not controlled or on a track. If you are racing your friends in a parking lot or jumping large hills or just making speed runs to see how fast you can go this is call bashing and can be a great way to start and lots of fun getting to know the controls and getting used to hoe the car handles. Below in the video is an example of Bashing. We are on a track but there are really no rules. You run what you bring, no time is kept we count laps just buy saying them out loud, and most importantly we are just with a group of friends have fun.
R/C Racing is done on a track which is controlled by an operator, time is kept, and you will have regulations and rules to follow on the track. This can be the most fun because it will test your cordnation skills and you will have to have the car setup correctly to to win the checkered flag. Below in the video is an example of R/C Racing. There are different classes in the video the class is 1/8 nitro late model cars.
What type of R/C vehecile do you want?
There are many different types to choose from: Buggy, Truggy, Monster Truck, SC (Short Course Truck), Car.
Buggy
The most poupalr at the track. Mostly used for off road but can be used on road as well.
Truggy
A mix of monster truck and buggy mostly used for R/C track racing off road but can be raned on road as well.
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Monster Truck
Mostly used for bashing running over things big air jumps and more. Great for off road but can be raned on road as well.
SC Short Course Trucks This class has became super pouplar about a year ago both on the track and bashing, because of its low cost entry point. Kids love them and they just look so cool verey similar to the real short course trucks. The short course truck can be raned both on road and off road.
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On Road Car These can only run on road only and will have the most speed. So if you are just a speed junkie this is the class for you.
Now on to the size R/C car that you will want. There are so many different sizes to choose from: 1/24, 1/16 1/10, 1/8, 1/5 just to name a few. Just remeber the smaller the number after the hash (/) the larger the car will be here are some examples:
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1/8 th scale buggy 
1/10 th scale buggy 
1/5 th scale buggy Do you want Gas, Nitro, Or Electric?
Now this needs to be a presonal decesions because all of them have there plus and minus.
Electric: This source has become the most pouplar as of late because of the invetion of lipo batteries and the brushless motors. Now lets weigh the pros and cons.
Pros: Quite want disturbe your neigbors. They are the fastest R/c cars out there. You cost of running electric will be cheaper in the long run because you just have to charge your batteries and keep running.
Cons: Batteries wont last as long as any other set up. Cost more to get started because if you want to run all day you will have to buy extra battery packs and a better charger.
Nitro: Nitro engines have come along way over the days because of technogly and they are really fun. So now lets way the pros and cons of running nitros.
Pros: Cheaper to get started in nitro. As long as you have fuel you can run all day without having to wait and charge batteries just pull over and refuel up and keep running. Have the actual sound and smoke of a real running car (boy what a thrill there is nothing us quite like it).
Cons: It is noisey the sound of the motor may disturbe your neighbors or if you are at the park the crowd may just not want to hear it. Nitro will cost the most in the long run the more you run the more you pay nitro fuel is around $20.00 a quart. Nitro motors can be very much a pain to deal with sometimes you will have to retune your motor for warm and cold weather. The nitro engine will have to be broken in. This was put in under con but it is really not such a bad thing I have always loved breaking in a new motor but there are many who do not like this part of nitro they just want to run.
Gas: 2 stroke R/C Engines are found in 1/5 scales R/C and has grown in great popularity as of late. The huge size and weight of these R/C cars will impress, and bring a crowd out evey time you fire it up. Now lets way the pros and cons of gas engines.
Pros: Very fun and more lifelike driving because of its size. Easy to work on because the parts you are working with are larger and makes it easier for parts to go back together. Very cheap to run you will use ruglar pump gas and 2 stroke oil. You can run up to 45 mins on a tank of gas so nothing to get in the way of all the fun you can have. The noise and the smoke gives you the feel of like you are driving the real thing.
Cons: Very loud especially if you get a tuned pipe and have 2 or 3 other friends racing with you they can be very loud and your neighbors will not like that at all. Because of the size you will need a larger area to run in. Very expensive compared to the other sizes R/C cars the parts are bigger and more expensive so look to pay more for parts and upgrades.
These are just a few things to consider when starting R/C but the most important part is to just have fun with whatvever you do decied. Please keep in mind to at least get a hobby grade R/C car over a toy grade R/C car. A hobby grade R/C means its a better quality and also whatever breaks or wears out you can just buy that part and fix that and keep rolling. With toy grade R/C example something you get from walmart, radioshack, toys r us there is no upgrades and if something breaks you are just stuck with an expensive door stop. Hope this helped and you learn something new in some way. HAVE FUN!!!!!!
