FAQ's

Here you will find the most commonly asked questions to help you on your way with R/C Car Racing.  If you need further info contact one of the club committee listed on the contacts page.

What do I need ?
To start with a radio controlled car.  Cars from Tandy, Dick Smith, or Kmart while good, are a bit  out of their depth for racing.  Cars produced specifically for the sport of racing are usually best and include manufacturers such as Tamiya, Losi, Assocaited, Duratrax, Kyosho just to name a few.

Which are the most popular cars, and why?
2 Wheel Drive
In Off-Road racing the most popular class is 2wd Buggy because they can be raced at all levels and are less expensive than 4wd's and Trucks. Three companies currently make top level competition 2wd buggies, they are Losi (Triple X), Associated (RC10B4), and Schummacher (Fireblade). Of these the most popular are the Associated RC10B4 and the Losi Triple X because of their high performance and relative parts availability in Australia. The Losi XX CR' and Associated RC10B2 are slightly older models that are still well supported by parts backup and more than capable of winning at club level.
Some companies that manufacture 'entry level' (less expensive) 2wd buggies are Duratrax (Evader), Traxxas (Bandit), Tamiya (Madcap). These buggies will all compete competitively at the beginners level and are a good way to see if you are enthusiastic about the sport; but are not on the same level as the higher spec buggies mentioned above.

4 Wheel Drive
The most popular 4wd buggy by far at the moment is the Losi XXX-4 . Although competition kits are manufactured by Yokomo, Schummacher (Cat series). Losi has 90% of the Australian market due to the superior handling of their car on Australian tracks, availability and their competitive price.
Entry level 4wds are manufactured by Kyosho (Lazer Alpha) and Tamiya (Dirt Thrasher, Baja Champ), but are however not very competitive above the begginers club level.

Truck
Competition Trucks are manufactured by Losi (XXXT) and Associated (RC10T4). The Losi XXXT and Associated RC10T4 are the most popular owing to their high performance and relative parts availability. The XXTCR' and RC10T3 are older models still more than capable of winning.
Entry level Trucks available include the Traxxas (Rustler), Duratrax (Evader ST), Tamiya (Stadium Thunder). Again these are not very competitive above the begginers level.
 

On Road
In the On-Road arena Touring cars are by far the most popular class. Competitive kits are manufactured by numerous manufacturers including:- Corally (C4), HPI (RS4 Pro #), Yokomo (MR4TC Pro, YR-4 Type J), Kyosho (TF-4 type R), Tamiya (Evo), Neo, Losi (Street Weapon), Associated (TC4), etc. Anyone of these cars is competitive at almost any level, although currently the HPI RS4, Associated TC4 and Losi Street Weapon could possibly be considered the most competitve.
Competent entry level Touring cars are available from many companies, the most popular are the Tamiya TA-03 and TL-01 as well as the Kyosho TF-2.
Another popular class is the Mini class being a control class with only the Tamiya Mini (M03) allowed with minimal upgrades.

Does the club race petrol cars?
Yes, but at On-road only. Unfortunately the Off-road track is not really large enough to run petrol cars and the proximity of a residential area does not lend itself to this class.  However at on-road this has become one of the most popular classes.

How much do they cost?
A complete race set-up, including radio, batteries, charger and car can be in the vicinity of $1700 for quality equipment. However if you are willing to by second hand or purchase basic racing kits, you can have a competitive racing package for under $600

Where can I buy a car?
New: Unfortunately there isn’t a  local hobby shop in Townsville that fully caters to this market. But this is starting to change.   Toyworld however do offer some good entry level cars and have started to offer some quality competition cars.  Competition cars can also be sourced from a variety of places.  Some club members sell new car kits imported from overseas.  You can also purchase on-line at Towers Hobbies or Stormer Hobbies (search for them on the web).
Old: Second hand cars are often sold by club members upgrading or changing to another class. This is often the best way to get started. Check with other club members to find out if the price is good. Most people are fair as they prefer to see more racers joining the club rather than ripping them off for a few extra bucks.  Another good source is Ebay, but again check the price and only bid what you can afford.

How fast to they go?
The record speed obtained by a 1/10th scale electric radio control car is in excess of 150km/h. However when racing most drivers are trying to manoeuvre their car around a racetrack and not break speed records. Off-Road Modified buggies reach speeds in excess of 50km/h down the main straight. On road cars paticularly nitro's are slightly faster.

What do I need to race? Do I need anything extra?
To begin racing you need only take the things you need to run your car; namely your car (of course), your radio, battery and battery charger (240V power is available on race days at the track).
There are some extra things you can take to make sure your race day runs smoothly. Although one battery will do, it is useful to have 3 or more battery packs (batteries perform better when given time to rest between uses). Most experienced racers like to have one battery for every race on the day, this is however not necessary to begin with. Some spare AA size batteries for your radio are also a good idea.
Unfortunately RC cars do sometimes break, and for this reason it is prudent to bring some basic tools, as well as some common spares, nuts and bolts and the instruction manual for your car. Lastly spare frequency crystals help organisers to help you avoid radio interference's and frequency clashes.

How long is a race?
In RC car racing races are run over a fixed time period. Most electric races are 6 minutes long, with off-road Four wheel drives and Modified Trucks racing for 5 minutes. When the designated time period for the race is complete, drivers are required to finish the lap they are on.
The winner of the race will then be the driver who has completed the most laps. If the number of laps is the same the driver who completed them in the least time is the winner.

What are the rules?
At major race meetings such as State and National titles the governing body O.R.R.C.A. strictly apply a set of standard rules. These rules cover things like car and wing dimensions, minimum vehicle weight, motor specifications, track standards, driver conduct, etc. To view these rules click on O.R.R.C.A Qld Rules and follow the links where applicable.
At club meetings the rules regarding technical specifications are slightly relaxed in order to ensure as many people as possible can join in the fun. General rules for racing are much the same as full scale racing with drivers being encouraged to pass cleanly, make way for faster cars when being lapped, and not cut corners.  For more on the clubs rules click here.

What is Marshalling? How do I Marshall?
In RC car racing the drivers from the previous race (or their nominated substitute) stand in strategic positions around the race track; their job is to right crashed cars and replace disturbed corner markers etc. Any car that has broken down is placed upside down at the track perimeter.
When marshalling try to watch only your corner and not the race, marshal any crashed cars as quickly as you can, but take care not to disrupt any other cars on the race track. It’s best to marshall a car as you would expect your own car to be marshalled.

What are the classes we run?
For Off-road classes click here.
For On-road classes click here
If there is sufficient numbers of a particular vehicle we will run a class just for them.  For example if you and 2 or more friends want to race moster trucks we will give them a go.

How do I make my car go faster?
If your car doesn't have ball bearings then installing them is the first step as they can drastically improve the performance of your RC car. Not only will your car go faster but you will get longer run times, wear will be reduced and parts will last longer.

Replacing the mechanical speed control (that comes with many entry-level cars) with an electronic speed control (E.S.C.) has many benefits. An E.S.C. is more efficient and more reliable than a mechanical unit and will produce faster speeds, longer run times and more progressive throttle response. Another benefit is that you gain a spare servo unit.

Greater speeds can be obtained at the expense of run time by 'gearing up'. This involves changing your cars final drive ratio by either using a bigger pinion gear or a smaller spur gear. (The pinion gear is the small metal gear fixed to the motor, the spur gear is a larger plastic gear that the pinion drives to.) When using this technique be cautious not to overgear - gearing up too much can overheat and damage your motor. One or two teeth larger on the pinion gear will usually be beneficial.

You can also make your car go faster by installing a quicker motor. Whilst in racing this is usually not an option, as racing classes are classified by motor type, using a quicker motor during practice can help you sharpen your skills.

Lastly many manufacturers offer lightweight parts specifically designed to make particular models go faster.

Whilst everyone wants a fast car it is important to remember that the fastest car doesn't always win, just as important is how well the car is set-up for track conditions and how skilled the driver is in piloting their car around the track.

What is set-up? How do I set-up my car?
Simply put set-up is changing your car so that it performs better for the track conditions. Current RC race cars are designed to allow the driver to change any number of things in order to obtain the perfect set-up.
Although a cars performance is dependent on a large number of parameters, the most important thing is tyre choice. The best performing Off-Road tyres are soft compound products from manufacturers such as Losi and Pro-line. There are a large number of different tyres designed for RC car racing (both On-Road and Off-Road), the best way to find out what works best at your local track is to ask a racer on race day.
Other common variables are spring tension and suspension geometry. Generally using a stiffer spring on the front will provide less traction on the front of the car (the same thing applies to the rear). Altering suspension geometry changes the amount of contact patch of the tyre on the track at particular times as your car enters and leaves a corner. Your cars manual will commonly provide information on how each setting will effect the handling of your car.

Why should I race my car?
The reasons for racing RC cars are the same as for competing in any sport. Racing is fun, it allows you to test your driving skills against people who enjoy RC cars as much as you do. Competing against others allows you to develop your skills and improve your racing reflexes. RC racing allows you to gain knowledge of the technical aspects of the sport such as suspension geometry, electric motor operation etc. The main reason though is fun, you meet many new friends whilst racing RC cars; you will find that a race day isn't just a sporting event its a chance to talk with and enjoy the company of other racers.

How does a race meeting work?
The first thing to do when you turn up to a race meeting is enter. Go over to race control (the computer) and the race director will take your entry fee and put you in a class that matches your car and experience level. (Your first 2 race meetings at TMORC are free). Racing is $5 per class Off-Road for the first class and $3 for each additional class.
After the race director has taken all the entries he may call a drivers meeting, at which he will give the details of the race day and answer any questions. You may practice on the track before the drivers meeting if you have time. After the drivers meeting a list of the races in which each driver is to compete is posted on a board (usually on the drivers stand). On the board you will find your race number, the crystal frequency you are to use (this will tell you if you have to change your crystal) and your flag colour. A flag is a coloured sticker that you place on the aerial of your car so that it can be identified by the race director for the purpose of lap scoring. Flags will be available from race control.
The race director will inform all of the racers when the first race will be. When the race before yours finishes be ready to place your car on the grid. Place your car on the grid, turn it on and make your way to the drivers stand. When all the drivers and marshalls are ready the start signal will be given and the race will begin.
When you have finished your last lap park your car in a safe spot (off the racing line), come down off the drivers stand and collect your car. Quickly put your car away in your pits and make your way back out to marshall the next race.

What is a frequency clash?
A frequency clash occurs when 2 drivers with the same radio frequency (crystal) try and operate their cars at the same time. It doesn’t matter if one car is on AM and the other on FM if they are still using the same frequency. When this happens one of the drivers will not be able to control their car! Fortunately it is possible to change your frequency by changing the crystal in your radio and the crystal in the receiver in your car. If you plan on racing a lot you must have at least 3 sets of crystals. The race director will allocate frequencies for each driver in a race to avoid clashes. Always remember because someone may have the same frequency as you; never turn your radio on in the pits unless you have the race directors permission.
The ORRCA Qld rules inlude a list of allowable frequecies available for surface models. Make sure you use one of these frequencies, some overseas radios use frequencies allocated for other use (e.g. airline communications). Use of other frequencies at club race days is not permitted and can attract fines from Federal Communication Authorities.