Andy Malone - Editor Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Hi, I know a few people here do/used to indulge in a bit of RC car racing. I first raced as a teenager with my Dad, then after some time out for the usual "girls and beer" phase, I got back into it again in my twenties as I happened to work for one of the largest distributers in the country and got most of my stuff for free. At that time I was racing 1/10th touring, 1/10th 2WD and 4WD off-road and 1/12th circuit and doing some of the nationals meets, however after getting married and relocating across the country I drifted away from it and eventually sold off all my stuff. Anyway, skip forward 15 years, I took my 5yo son down to the local club to watch their buggy racing over the summer and he really liked it so I bought a RTR buggy for us to mess about with together (it's an FTX Vantage which is the one they race as a cheap stock class at the club) and we started playing about with it outside and practicing so he can start racing next summer. However, as is the way, I started getting the bug again and the club also happen to race GT12 cars indoors on carpet and I got tempted down to have a look... Three weeks later and I'm currently sat charging some lipo cells for my first race meeting tonight 🤦♂️ Looking forward to getting back on track and blowing off the cobwebs. Things have certainly moved on a bit since I last raced, especially with the electrics (lipos and brushless), and I'm going to try a wheel transmitter for the first time on a track, but I'm hoping some of the old skills are hidden in there still to call upon. Great fun building a car again though and feels a bit like a baby kit car (but able to be worked on in my warm office rather than a cold garage over winter). Pic of my car chassis below (old tyres for setup only)... Anyone here still racing? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy - a15cro Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 I used to race 1/10 buggy back circa mid 80’s for a few years, loved it but found as a teenager it got a bit competitive and potentially expensive to get anywhere need the front of the pack. Lads turning up with Associated RC10’s all tricked out and all we could do was dream……. Tamiya was my first couple starting with 2wd then 4wd shaft drive then I branched out to a 4 wheel chain drive Koyosho Samurai. Sold up to move over to model aeroplanes and then advanced to real bikes and then Westfield. I did venture back briefly to a Tamiya Toyota Celica but never raced it in anger, I just liked the look. it’s bringing back some great memories, Acoms Radios, electronic speed controllers were a luxury! I delved into IC buggy’s and have one sitting in the garage after having a blast round our local park, but it’s not the same unless you have a direction of travel and someone to race against. id love to get back to some electric racing but I think that all the local clubs have now closed down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Malone - Editor Posted November 30, 2021 Author Share Posted November 30, 2021 The first car I used properly was a Tamiya Manta Ray (borrowed from my neighbour who also had a Grasshopper). But the first car of my own was a Kyosho Lazer Alpha which I raced for a while, along with an old orange anodised tub chassis Team Associated RC10 my Dad won in an auction but the spares were hard/expensive to get hold of. Then when I got a bit better I ended up going towards Schumacher and had a secondhand Bosscat for a bit, before upgrading to Cat 2000 4WD and also Cougar 2000 2WD. When I came back to it again later I worked for CML Distribution (who distributed Team Associated, Yokomo, Reedy, Novak, and many more major brands) so I got everything at either a heavy staff discount (the same as the sponsored drivers) or completely free for testing/reviewing/etc... As such I ended up with a Team Associated TC3 and TC4, RC10B3, RC12L3, and also a lovely all carbon Yokomo BD10 (and randomly a Robitronic touring car as my local model became their distributer for a bit and wanted some local drivers to race it at big meetings for some exposure). What a life for an RC fanatic it was! I'm taking a much more modest approach now as my racing will be around family time, so I've got myself a secondhand GRP Schumacher Atom 2 GT12 car (the current but most basic version), along with a load of secondhand electronics from members at the club to get going with cheaply. We'll see how it goes and if my son gets into it before I start spending any big bucks again. Oh and the Acoms Techniplus Alpha... my first transmitter and one of my favourites! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy - a15cro Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 I had a Hornet as my starter, my mate a Grasshopper. Just discovered It was a Mauri Samurai not Koysho! and on investigation can across this on Ebay! Seen the price 😲 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165004269767?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=165004269767&targetid=1279057021802&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9041124&poi=&campaignid=14727339348&mkgroupid=127909237815&rlsatarget=pla-1279057021802&abcId=9300672&merchantid=116557601&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtJeNBhCVARIsANJUJ2EOrbq5fSJ_4waMp7FHDBHiMBNvKJzJ_D_zdKNhtM1CgeQ-xYNL9JwaAn_0EALw_wcB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark (smokey mow) Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 I wasted much of my youth with RC cars and raced competitively from the age of 10 up till around 25. I started out like most at club level with Tamiya buggies and worked up through Schumacher, Losi and Associated at regional level winning the local championship some time in the distant past. After that I sold up all but one car a Tamiya mini to fly helicopters. That same year I entered the mini in the Tamiya day at the model engineering exhibition at Olympia and to my surprise won so decided to give Tamiya Eurocup a go. Three further years racing nationally in Eurocup with a best race finish of 2nd but multiple concourse championship wins. I wrote the race reports for Racer Magazine and also did a few Tamiya kit reviews for them. I enjoyed every minute and would be tempted to have another go but university forced me to stop and eventually the toys got bigger. I’ve still got somewhere in the region if 15-20 of my old race cars boxed up in the loft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Malone - Editor Posted November 30, 2021 Author Share Posted November 30, 2021 2 minutes ago, Mark (smokey mow) said: I’ve still got somewhere in the region if 15-20 of my old race cars boxed up in the loft. Vintage cars are selling for so much at the moment, you might be sitting under a gold mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 7 hours ago, Andy Malone - Editor said: after some time out for the usual "girls and beer" phase, Some of us stuck at this phase... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark (smokey mow) Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 8 minutes ago, Andy Malone - Editor said: Vintage cars are selling for so much at the moment, you might be sitting under a gold mine You’re right. The majority are Tamiya’s too. I sold an original 959 rally last year with an incredibly rare unpainted body and made over £700. Also got rid of an F201 at the same time for £300. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy - a15cro Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 I always wanted the Toyota Hilux with the gearbox, but it was too expensive at the time and now it’s even dearer 😳 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Parker (Red Spider) - Yorkshire AO Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 1 hour ago, Andy - a15cro said: I always wanted the Toyota Hilux I have one. Bought it in the early 80's, great car but the brass uj's wear out. I took it to a local model shop a few years ago to see about trading it in for a Buggy ( I've recently bought a Holiday Buggy). When I took it out of the bag, the guy looked like all his dreams had come true, he was almost speechless. Still got it, thinking about making a trailer for the Buggy. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano85 Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 This is my collection. Something for every occasion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy - a15cro Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 1 hour ago, Robin Parker (Red Spider) - Yorkshire AO said: I have one. Bought it in the early 80's, great car but the brass uj's wear out. I took it to a local model shop a few years ago to see about trading it in for a Buggy ( I've recently bought a Holiday Buggy). When I took it out of the bag, the guy looked like all his dreams had come true, he was almost speechless. Still got it, thinking about making a trailer for the Buggy. Wow! I’m slightly envious now 😁 my childhood right there in a picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry peel Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Tamiya cheetah then Tamiya rough rider to start for me. Local club was near Knaresborough. Used to try and race but being 14 ish and funding from a paper round etc. could never keep up with the adults that spent a fortune. Bought an AYK (think that is what it was called) raced that for a while and then as you say other priorities took over. Just sold a Traxxas X-Maxx that I bought second hand to play on an old airfield, Now that was fun just a bit load when I moved back to a town Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Parker (Red Spider) - Yorkshire AO Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Here you are @Andy - a15cro,just been in the loft for some photos. I will rebuild it sometime. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Malone - Editor Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 Well my first return to the carpet track went fine. First race out was a bit of a shambles as in the rush to get some final electrical issues sorted I barely got the tyre additive on before I needed to be out on track and it was like driving on ice with loads of snap oversteer. However as the night wore on I managed to find a bit better balance, driving rhythm, and get used to the very fast speed of these little brushless cars! I finished the qualifying phase 9th which is more than acceptable as a returning night, although my final didn't go to plan as a steering ball cup gave up the ghost and popped out three times during the race. Shame as the car felt the best it had all night and when I was running I was faster than the eventual winner. Absolutely loads of fun though so can't wait to get back to it next week! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.