Nascar Racing  » The most important tool for racing RC Cars

The most important tool for racing RC Cars

Believe it or not, the most important tool for tuning and

modifying RC cars, in any RC racer's pit box, probably isn't

even sold at your local hobby store. Despite thier absence

at hobby stores, you will see them laying on EVERY serious

RC pro's pit area.

The tool is, collectively, the pencil and paper. One of the

most enjoyable experiences in RC cars, besides buying a new

trick ride, is testing something new, in the hope you will

discover the slight edge, or even a HUGE edge.

Today's RC cars, buggies, and trucks have so many variables

that can be tinkered with, even the slightest adjustment can

have a drastic effect on the handling and speed of your

ride. Whether you race or just bash, you really should write

down the current operating state of your RC ride. Variables

such as ride hieght, camber, caster, the toe-in, the fuel

mixture you use, the charge time of your batteries, the

needle settings of your nitro, the running temp, how many

races you get in before you need to rebuild your motor, the

shock oil you use, and any thing else that you can think of.

As I've shared with the subscribers to my RC ezine, you

can't improve what you don't measure. If you are serious

about racing RC cars, you not only need to master your hand

eye coordination, but you should become compatent at

right. It really comes down to the way the human mind works....

adjusting your RC car to the conditions you race under. Your

RC car performs differently on asphalt at 10 a.m., with a

certain compound tire, than it will at 5 p.m., after the oil

and moisture has heated up from exposure from the sun. The

traction can vary greatly. And with all the excitement and

preparation of the day's events, writing down these changes

can be of great value for when you prepare your chassis or

tire choice for the following week. If you didn't write them

down, you will probably forget them.

And you weekend bashers might be thinking that you aren't

serious at RC, so it's not necesary. But let me tell you, if

you take the time to write down the current state of your RC

cars and trucks, when you eventually change something, or

fate throws a tree in your way and "adjusts" your car setup

for you, you will be able to measure your setup and get back

to that original state, with no guess work. That means less

down time, and more bashing. And if you are still at a loss

on how to get back to that original state, you've got it in

writing for someone else, like the local hobby store guy,

to look over.

I encourage everyone of you to write down your car's setup

info. It's not only useful, but it will multiply how much

fun you get outta your RC cars, trucks, and buggies. Heck,

this little tip works on real life stuff as well.

There is one more use for this very important RC tool, and

that is to write down your lap times. In order to improve

and gauge your racing level, you need to be aware of your

lap times. Most racing clubs can print out a copy of the

days races for you or post them to thier club website, but

to really measure your success, you should keep a log of

how you do from week to week. If you do, I promise you, you

will find a whole new appreciation of the RC cars hobby. You

will find your mind focusing and aware of ways to improve,

such as cornering better, or controlling your throttle just

right. It really comes down to the way the human mind works.

When it focuses on a goal, it tends to make make strides in

that direction subconsciously. So take my advice... write it

down and measure.

If you are looking for more information on how to drive and

wrench your RC cars better, you can download my ebook, The

RC Insider's Unfair Advantage Radio Controlled Car Secrets

Guide, at now at: http://www.rccarsecretsguide.com

About the Author

J.P. Turner, is the author of The RC Insider's

Unfair Advantage Radio Controlled Car Secrets Guide

(http://www.rccarsecretsguide.com) and also runs an RC blog, RC Smackdown http://www.rcsmackdown.com