What car to get the kids into racing

[tamiya monkey]

Hi all, ive never raced before but after watching some just for fun racing at wombwell in between the 1/5th scale touring cars i thought about getting a couple of cars for myself and the kids (8 and 11 year old) to try it out, they already run buggies and monster trucks but thought about trying racing out.

Now i dont want to spend a small fortune on them and i was looking at some tb02 or tb03 kits on stella, are these any good out of the box for club racing.

[atf300]

or maybe a m05 pro

[Percymon]

What's everyone else racing ? The one thing you need is a plentiful supply if spares so don't find yourselves off track for weeks because your local shops/suppliers are supporting other makes.

In Japan the DT02 chassis'd cars are popular for entry level competition.

[TenzoR]

go with what's popular near your area ...

usually for on road it's vta, mini,or blinky class.

[mongoose1983]

If I was you I would check with the local clubs and hobby stores to be sure you're getting something that might be of use because it's no fun having one super RC car model when the other people are using other type of runners.

[qatmix]

If you are in rotherham you will be near Don valley RC club. They race onroad cars on friday nights. Pop in, its a friendly club. They race 1/10 TC and mardaves etc.

here is a link

http://biwsdv.weebly...l-car-club.html

1/10 TC is cheap to start racing with, especially at club level. Tb03's will be fine to start, and will remain competitive at classese such as 17.5t blinky. I wouldnt get a tb02 as they are more delicate (Especially the diffs).

Looking at their age you want a car that can race on the street so they can get in practice. The tb03 is a plastic tub chassis so wont have any issues with being scrubbed against tarmac etc. I personally wouln't buy an older TC (Unless its a TRF) as parts can be hard to find, so it might be cheap until you have an accident and then have to pay £45 for a part you cant buy anymore.

I would personally pop in, see what you fancy and then post back. But a TB03 / Ta06 would be great cars to start off with assuming they race TC and you want to run Tamiya.

[hammerstien]

Mardave v12 with abs body great starter car can be bashed about and not expensive to fix or to buy new and get racing

[alfagta]

i would have to agree about the mardave/schumacher supastox cars, the fast growing 1/12 circuit class is great , very fast , very cheap and super tough, they are superb for teaching the young uns about chassis maintenance and also set up , in my experience the guys that run in these classes are far less ' up themselves ' than some of the off road racers and touring car racers that take model car racing far too seriously for my liking , each to their own though , its just that turning up at a small rc club with over 3 grands worth equipement and sneering at the 14 year old kid with his near stock tc4 or tb02 or what have you does nothing for improving the accessability of the hobby ,

my best advice is to visit your nearest clubs , talk to people there and choose the one that is most welcoming, they will advice you what is best to run at their events.

happy racing,

[Hopperboy]

Mardave or an M-chassis would be my vote. At Broxtowe (off J27 M1 on Saturdays) there's alway a healthy heat or two of Minis and they take some serious abuse.

[Stuart1336]

I have two kids, a son 8 and daughter 6. I bought two Tamiya Wild Daggers as part of the reliving my childhood thing with the kids. A month ago we went to the nearest club and they went in the kids race. The kids race is held on the touring car circuit and they can run any car. It took about 2 seconds to realise the Daggers don't like going in a straight line but on the bright side when they go head on with another car they tend to just run over the top of them!

Inspired by the event I bought myself an Associated TC4 kit. I had also found a Carisma M40S on eBay for £30 delivered. Then I found out about controllers. I bought a Core Tx (£70) that you can program. I then got my son (8) out practicing with the Carisma. A touring car is far easier to control. With the Tx I can cut the speed, slow the acceleration and even slow the steering so he doesn't over steer. I cut up some carpet to use as markers in the road and he has started coming on very well with reduced damage!!

We raced last weekend. In practice it was a bit of a nightmare. After a few minutes I broke my steering servo and he broke his front suspension (weakened by a crash the I did at home). I put a new servo in mine and we both raced it. The track runs 4 heats then a final. He came 3,2,1 and then crashed in round 4 and broke the outdrive on one side and I didn't have a spare. I managed three fourth places. I think the crash he had may have been my fault as I turned up the steering and speed and it was too much for him.

This week I searched eBay for TC3's (older version of my car) and found one with a brushless motor and controller all ready to go for £90. I have bought this for him. Some of the parts are common with mine and our local shops carries most Associated spares. My daughter is now going to get the Carisma M40S to learn with.

So this is what I have found out

- The controller in my opinion is the most important thing with kids. Build them up. The Core is £70 there is a thread on this forum that shows the Tamco Tx is the same and only £50. You can get recievers for about £8 each. You can then use one Tx for multiple cars. We run three cars and I can have different setting for all three of us stored in the memory.http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69949&hl=

- Carisma M40S was a lucky find they are £130 new ready to run and parts are available from CML distribution and most dealers can order from them.

- If you have a local club that lets kids run any car then take what you have now to see if they like it first.

- My car so far has cost £350 ish. With hindsight I think I should have kept an eye on eBay and bought two secondhand cars of the same make and model.

- The TC3 should arrive tomorrow. I think its a lucky find. Worst case, it goes back on eBay and I will lose a few quid max. When you buy off eBay try and get a car that already has a motor and speed controller as they are expensive. I think when you start out you dont need top end stuff because your driving wont be up to it. What you buy on eBay can go back on eBay when you or the kids out grow it.

- With no previous build experience it took me weeks to finish my kit. Along the way I had to learn about batteries, soldering, tyres etc buy a RTR if you can.

- I have just bought two DEX210 RTR (off road buggy) for £150 each which is an unbelievably cheap price for what you get. I wont be letting the kids see them until the summer and a few more races as off road looks a bit harder. Building skill with the kids is easier with touring cars as we live in a close and can pop out for 5-10 minutes after school.

- The kids initially had a low attention threshold for RC (15 minutes max). I found that by not pushing it and making the cars manageable they have quickly grow to like it.

- My daughter wants to be part of it but at that age she cant really drive so she does the throttle and I steer. With the Carisma and some careful encouragement I think she will be driving on her own in a few months.

- The kids liked marshaling as much as driving. The club (Tiverton RCC) had a fantastic atmosphere, family friendly and good safe fun.

[tamiya monkey]

Hi all, ive not had much time since i posted this topic up, but i did spent some time looking around for a good friendly local ish club, i opted for A1 Racing Club on the edge of Grantham, they have 1/10th and 1/8th scale tracks, members have use of the track when racing is not on, so sounds perfect for myself and the family to get some practice in. Im popping to one of there tuesday evening meets either next week or the week after to have a chat with some of there members, get a feel for the the place and soak in the atmosphere and get some advice on what buggy to look for as a starter. Its around an hours run (55 miles) for me so not too far away. Will let you all know how i get on.

[Stuart1336]

Thought I would post an update.

My son and I raced last weekend and I was chuffed that in qualifying he came 2,1,1,1 and won the final with the TC4. Practicing I up the gearing but the he asked for it to go back which I did (pushy parents!).

I have picked up a few bargains on ebay including a factory TC4 as good as new with all electrics for £115. When I got the car it kept spinning out until I realised the diff was put together wrong. I'm getting quite good at rebuilding Tc's now.

Whatever car you pick stick to one model and get good at taking it apart.

We practice outside the house 2-3 times a week for about 10-15 minutes. I must say this has been one of the best father son things we have done. He enjoys the quality time with Dad as well as playing with cars.

[Tamiya1/10]

The best way is to pick out a few, and go through the plus and minus with your kids and let them decide in the end. Don't you hate it when your parents bought stuff for you without consulting you first. Is all about selling to your kids not what fathers knows best, though parents do know best or at least is for the best intension.