Getting Started

Getting Started

It can be a bit bewildering finding your feet in RC racing. A lot of us have been doing it for a long time, and it’s easy to get the impression that it’s all too serious and complicated to get started. Nothing beats getting down to a meeting and asking the racers some questions (honestly, all the racers we know don’t mind at all).

But as an aide memoir, here’s a little list of things you’ll need as you get ready for your first off road meeting (pretty much all of this applies to Rally Cross as well).

RC Kit

Pop down to your local racing club and spectate a meeting. RC Racers will be more than happy to give you handy advice.

  • A 1/10th RC Buggy. Although you can pick up cheap used buggies on Ebay etc, Many racers will tell you that building your ride from kit is an important and enjoyable part of the experience.
  • A transmitter & receiver. There are lots to choose from. I shall do a separate article on this .
  • Steering Servo. You want something that’s fairly quick, this Core RC one is a good start.. Core RC CR496 9008TG Digital Servo 9Kg .08 Sec (rcoctane.co.uk)
  • Electronic Speed Controller. You’ll want a 120a Brushless sensored ESC. The Hobbywing 10BL120 is a very popular starter ESC, its simple, tough, very well priced, enough features to get you through your first season. Beware, read the manual to find out how to set your Speed Control to Forward/Brake mode. Reversing on a buggy track is banned.
  • Battery connectors. When you chose your Lipo batteries, make a careful note what the connectors are. Most buggy Lipo packs have either 4mm or 5mm tube connectors, and a few use Deans connectors, XT120 or even Tamiya connectors. You need to be sure which because you will need the same connector on both your Speed Controller, and on your charger’s charging leads.
  • Motor. A 10 turn Brushless sensored motor is a good choice for your first buggy. Some thing with adjustable timing so you can add more ooomph as you start to get better. Surpass Hobby V4s and V5s are my personal favourite
  • Tyres, again, your local club regulars will be able to tell you what and where to buy.
  • Timing Transponder. Although something like this MRT R9852H MRT mPTX HSK Transponder [MNDISC20] – mrtwebshop.com will be accepted at most tracks (Mendip included), do check this carefully before buying.
  • Battery. A 2S (two cell) Lipo hardcase battery with a nominal voltage of 7.4 volts. Beware that most clubs will require you to run only batteries on their approved list, I suspect because they have been checked for adequately safe construction. see here for those lists Battery Homologation Lists (brca.org)
  • Lipo Battery Charging Case or Bag. This is completely non negotiable, this is the one item that for your own safety you should get as good as you can afford, and if it’s not up to scratch, will make you very unwelcome at clubs.
  • A lipo battery charger. 1st, find out whether the track you want to race at have Mains electricity for charging. Many don’t, and even more don’t guarantee it’s always available. To be sure, most racers will opt for a charger that will charge from either mains or a 12v DC battery (see below). There are lots on the market. Your main considerations will be can it Charge, Balance Charge and Storage charge 2s Lipos, Does it come with charging leads compatible with your Lipos, and if not, can you buy or make them from parts.

Other none RC necessities

  • A BRCA Membership. You need to insure yourself for damage you might accidentally inflict on someone. This is the best way to do it (you get a full 3rd party liability cover) , and any club worth racing at will be affiliated to the BRCA and will insist on it. At Mendip, you cannot join the club, Marshal or operate an RC Vehicle of any kind without this. You get 3 race visits before you have to join at Mendip to see if if racing is for you, but even if you aren’t racing, we still strongly reccomend it.
  • A 12volt Leisure battery. Back in the day, we used standard car batteries. The only problem with them for RC purposes, is they are generally designed to be high output but lower capacity. Lipo RC batteries can take a lot of charge, so Leisure Batteries (The high capacity 12v batteries sold for use in caravans, motorhomes and boating) are a better bet. For racing, I find that a 100ah capacity Leisure Battery will comfortably do 2 or 3 meetings. Please be sure you have a leisure battery charger also! At Mendip, we have a Mains Generator on racedays, with a limited number of 13amp Mains plugs. Many people still use a Leisure battery.
  • Tools. As a starting point, any tools you need to assemble your kit are probably the minimum you need at the track. As you gain experience, you’ll probably need other tools for setting up your car like a camber, ride height and toe gauge. But those can wait until you have what you need for basic trackside repairs. Changing a gearbox or making repairs to a steering mechanism can mean doing a lot of fasteners, which makes an electric driver a very worthwhile buy. I use this one which is very good: CR792 | CORE RC Electric Screwdriver 3.6V – 1300mAh | Schumacher RC Racing (racing-cars.com)
  • A portable/camping chair, table and a beach towel (as it says in the bible, a frood should always know where his towel is). We have Pit Benches and some seats at Mendip, but you’ll still need the Beach towel, as it protects the bench, and it also helps to stop wayward screws rolling off the bench.
  • Good sturdy footwear.
  • A flask of tea/coffee/brandy. Refreshments not always available.
  • A high viz vest is usually mandatory for marshalling. Sometimes gloves are also.
  • A good hat that stays on in the wind and sunshades that also protect from wind are more often than not, useful.
  • A notepad and a pen will almost certainly come in handy.
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Mendip RC Raceway is an radio controlled car racing venue controlled and operated by the Mendip Model Car Racing Club. Mendip RC Raceway and Mendip Model Motor Racing Club respects your privacy and we will only use your information in the way we describe in this notice. When using your information we aim to be fair and transparent, and to follow our obligations under UK data protection laws. Your information is used for administering club membership, activities and competitions. The club committee is the data controller for the purpose of GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our address is Accommodation Road, Bleadon, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, BS24 0AP . Our club contact for privacy and data is the current Chairman, and the contact details are info@mendiprcraceway.co.uk. Collecting your information We collect your information when you fill in membership or competition event entry forms. You can give us your information using online forms or paper based forms. The information you give us may include your contact details (name and email address), personal information and identifiers (date of birth), and other information we require to enable you participation in events. When you give us information about another person, such as a child, parent, guardian, or emergency contact you should let that person know that you have given us the information. If you are under 18 years old, we may also ask for information from your parent or guardian. Using your information We use your information to administer your membership of the club and when you enter club events. For race meetings we will publish some of your information in the heat listing and the results, which may be in the public domain. Your information is used in these ways to fulfil our contract with you. We may ask you for emergency contact and next of kin details which we will only use in an emergency, and which is use for a legitimate interest. You should let the contact and next of kin know that you have given this information to us. We might use your information to send you marketing messages by email, by providing us with your details you have agreed that we can do this – you can change your mind at any time just contact us on the email address above. We will not sell your information to another organisation. To support your long term relationship with the sport, Mendip RC Raceway and Mendip Model Motor Racing Club we may keep your information indefinitely, unless you ask us to delete it. Sharing your information We may share you information with the British Radio Car Association as required by its General Rules for governing the sport, with our landlord company, with medical personnel, or any other person if we have to comply with a legal obligation. Our website When you use our club website we may collect information about you, in particular your IP (Internet Protocol) address, by using cookies. We use this information to improve your web experience. Cookies help us to recognise you when you return to the website, and they may also help you to login securely to our web-based services, including on line entry and payment. The club website might contain links to other websites such as online entry and payment sites, partners, and advertisers. If you follow links to other websites please review the privacy policy for each site because we are not responsible for information you share on those sites. Security for your information Your information is held securely by us. We have taken all reasonable steps, and have in place appropriate security measures, to protect your information. Your information is not transferred outside the European Economic Area. Your rights 1. You may ask us not to process your information for marketing purposes. 2. You are entitled to a copy of the information we hold about you, and to ask us to correct any inaccuracies. 3. You may ask us to stop using your information, and to delete it, although we may maintain a skeleton set of your information. If you ask us to do this we will not be able to continue our contract with you. 4. You may make a complaint to the Information Commissioner (www.ico.org.uk).

 

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