Where to start?

[stratcat]

I went to the local track saturday, they run on a clay oval, I thought it was pretty cool. I've been running stadium trucks and stuff in my backyard, but was thinking of getting into racing on the oval. I figure right now is the off season, I could get some practice so I don't suck quite as bad.. anyhow, where should I start? I really want a sprint car, but common sense says that you start a bit further down and work your way up, so I'm open to options.. I think I'd rather do nitro than electric...

right now I'm thinking an RC10GT with an OS engine, and from there don't know much more..

are there better options for entry level?

thanks in advance..

[Animal]

not knowing your skills with R/C cars. so im going to say this with a grain of salt.

the three top nitro classes are trucks, EDM, and Sprint. Start where you want. i have always precieved trucks as an entry level class. but alot of good racers choose not to leave it, and it is now one of the largest, and most competitive classes.

EDM and Sprint are about the same with EDM being a little faster, and a little easier to drive. Ssprint cars are just that Sprint cars fast short wheel based cars that dont handle for crap, and needs lots of driving skills, and patients.

you should start with the class of your choice. and go have fun. Ask lots of questions. learn how to set up a car. learn how to tune your engines. it takes lots of time and practice.

like anything there is a learning curve. the quicker you learn to drive the less chances of you breaking parts, and less chance of you spending lots of money and getting discouraged.

this is just my 2 cents worth, and im sure others will have theirs to add

[Matt Murphy]

I would suggest starting with a class that runs at your local track and has a good turnout of racers who are also getting started and learning, which at most tracks would be Gas Truck. You can always move up when you are ready. Talk to the track owner/promoter and see where he would recommend starting out. Nobody knows the local classes better.

Good Luck,
Matt

[kipp]

i would start with whatever class you plan on racing in. get a good car right off the bat and save yourself the expense of buying more then one car. when i first started racing rc cars my local hobby shop told me i needed a certain car to begin with. a few months later i was back in his store buying a good car.

[brockh]

You really can't go wrong starting out in the truck class....and with the gt you are buying a good truck that EVERYONE carries parts for. You really don't need to go to an OS engine unless you have it set in your mind that is what you want...the AE 15s are good engines as long as your allowed a 15 at your local track. I just recently got into driving a sprint car and love it but, I don't think i would have wanted to start out with that....as posted before they are not the best handeling things on the track so try your hand at a truck....if you like it and get the hang of it find someone willing to let you turn some laps with a sprint car, then make a decission.

[proline99]

I will assume your local track is RVR. You would be good with a rc10gt and OS engine.

My dad has a GT that we used to run at RVR that he is looking to sell. Wimpy, the owner
of the track, can vouch for the truck. If your interested my dad will sell it with a good
set of wheels and tires and the engine. Let me know, Josh Whittle

[stratcat]

I will assume your local track is RVR. You would be good with a rc10gt and OS engine.

My dad has a GT that we used to run at RVR that he is looking to sell. Wimpy, the owner
of the track, can vouch for the truck. If your interested my dad will sell it with a good
set of wheels and tires and the engine. Let me know, Josh Whittle

yes, it is over at Wimpys.. I am very interested in this truck, it don't really need to be a rocket, but something that will run good. Was he over there saturday night? The guys that were over there were super cool.. a big change from the guys that I ran pan cars with..

if he's interested, I can use it either with/or without electronics. I'll throw you a pm with my phone number..

[Slacker]

I've been going to RVR since it opened, and I would recommend the truck class at this track for a starting point. You can start with a Gt or XXX-nt right out of the box just add striker tires and your ready to go. The guys at RVR are ready and willing to help out. When the points season starts you can even start in a novice or intermidiate class depending on your skill level. I think you would have the most fun in gas truck then branch out to sportsman or Sprint we even run a Coupe class and a Four wheel drive touring class too.

[stratcat]

Thanks Slacker, I was really impressed with guys that were out there saturday, seemed to be real cool. I'm hoping to maybe make it out this saturday just to watch and gather more knowledge, hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can take Proline 99 up on the offer he extended to me and be out and running with you guys.

[aceedmonds]

just do it

[Slacker]

I'll be there saturday. I'll be running my gas truck and my sprinter

[races65]

I have seen proline99's truck in action and it is pretty quick. You can't go wrong with the GT. There are plenty of us running them at Wimpy's to help you out. I'll be there Saturday running my GT Truck and CW Sprinter as well.

[TQT2]

Guys, I don't know why trucks have always been regarded as a beginner class. I started with Sportsman EDM and worked my way into trucks. On the EDM the body is covering and protecting the majority of the wheels, they're less likely to get tossed into the air or thrown off the track. While trucks & sprints are more likely to become "tangled". Oddly, I've seen the best EDM drivers get behind the wheel of a truck\sprint and unintentionally become hackers. Not because they can't drive, just because of the width and the "open" wheeled vehicle.

As a beginner, I found EDM easier to drive. Sure they have a designated "pro" class in Big Block EDM, but at some tracks you can also find a "Pro-Truck" or "Big Block" truck class. EDM's are a blast and after 5 yrs of running nothing but GT and elect. truck...I'm tempted to get back into the EDM class.

Either way you'll have fun. Have one of the "fast" guys help ya with handling, speed will come with that.

[stratcat]

TQT2 - that's for that perspective man..


for now, I think track rules are I have to run as a novice.. but, the way things are working out, I'm going to end up with an XXX-NT through a trade and an RC10GT that's been already set up for the track. I think I'll figure out which one works the best to begin with for me and run it in the novice class, and the other when I get some experience I'll run in the EDM class... the bug has bitten real bad..

and thanks to the guys that were there tonight that put up with my questions..

[Slacker]

I think one of the reasons the truck class is a good one to start with due to cost. You can buy a rtr truck for a lot less than going into sprint or edm just to find out this is not what you realy want to do. With a truck you can set it up for off road or oval or play with it in your back yard (did I say that out loud!). Either way if your hooked on dirt oval your probably going to get in any and every class you can. JUST HAVE SOME FUN!!!

[AceRacing8]

Theres nothing wrong with run truck, for one the cost and second for a good edm or sprint you are looking at about 500.00 to 600.00 just to be competitive or you mite get lucky and someone is selling out, a GT10 starts at 350.00 and that comes with a motor that is killer your sprint cars and edm don't come with a motor and a good motor runs about 250.00 and up, ask animal how much he paid for his, ALOT. For truck being for beginners class thats wrong. I say start with a truck and if you start get bored with the class then move on but you will find out that class is just much fun as the other. Thats my two cents!!!:rolleyes:

[mkiiracer]

I love running my gas truck. its a lot more challenging than an electric truck and compatition is always tuff. if more people would run them at my local track id run it more often.

[Animal]

as Aceracing stated truck racing around here is at a preimium, and one of the largest classes we have. we do seperate the novices from the more advanced drivers on a weekly bases though.


i persoanlly dont have anything against the truck class, infact im thinking about getting one to play with. they are a good change of pace from sprint car racing. but with the wider tires, and wider wheel base makes for an easier to drive, easier to handle truck. the truck class is also more forgiving when it comes to the competition, and chassie setup. meaning a truck the doesnt handle perfectly, can still race and be competitive, with out being out to lunch. try that with a sprint car or EDM. dont think so.

trucks are fun and again one of the largest, and most competitives classes around this area.

[Dirtdog]

Gentlemen, let me state the obvious. If it were not for the RC10GT, about half of the sprint car conversions wouldn't exist. All EDM's and Sprint car are based off some manufacturers truck or buggy platform. Trucks can be slow and clumsy or quick and nimble, it just depends on what you do to them. I race sprint cars, and I take exception to a previous remark about them handling like crap. The addition of a top wing and front wing gives a sprint car the tuneability that no other car has. My OFF sprint car has an adjustable top wing. I can move it forward or backward depending on the forward bite to improve my handling. Here locally sprint cars are alot faster than EDM cars with comparable engines. I do not intend to start a car preference war here just stating the facts. We as racers should embrace the truck racers. It is not what someone races than is important ,as much as having them join us playing with RC toys. Racing at a track is just a good way to play with your toy and not have people look at you funny. I am 57 years old. I get some strange looks from people when I go to a parking lot or out in the street in front of my house to break-in an engine in one of my cars. At a race track no one is concerned, because we all have to be alittle crazy to be there anyway. The rambling thoughts of an old nitro gearhead.

[maddog]

Your getting a lot of good advice, the main thing is to have fun and be involved. I just started running myself a late mod (the same class a buddy of mine runs). It is a blast, I am not that great yet, but I am just out to learn set up and hopefully speed will come once the control is there. Once you get on the track you will be hooked. Best of LUCK...

[willthethrill]

stratcat clean out ur PMs

[stratcat]

Your getting a lot of good advice, the main thing is to have fun and be involved. I just started running myself a late mod (the same class a buddy of mine runs). It is a blast, I am not that great yet, but I am just out to learn set up and hopefully speed will come once the control is there. Once you get on the track you will be hooked. Best of LUCK...

where do you run at dawg?

Will, cleaned out..

by the way, I think my plan (at this time) for racing domination (yeah, right) is going to be an XXX-NT in the truck class, and RC10 in the EDMs for now.. when I get control of these and start holding my own, I'll entertain building a sprint car.. it'll be later this fall I'm figuring before the experience and cash is available to do it.

until then though, I'm going to try to have fun..

[maddog]

I run mostly at Allen's in Rochester and may start to go over to Jacksonville. I am also considering the sprint class if I can improve on my late mod. I have always been an open wheel fan.