DIY Network

RC Giant-Scale Off-Road Racing From "Radio Control Hobbies" episode RCH-301

The Giant Buggy from Traxxas takes to the dirt track at My Race Place in Smyrna, TN.

In this episode of DIY's Radio Control Hobbies, host Chris Chianelli visits "My Race Place"®, an RC dirt track just outside Nashville, Tennesee. In this segment, that track gets put to the test with some giant-scale off-road racing. Also put to the test: and the 1/8-scale Kyosho Inferno® 4WD racing buggy Chris modified and tuned up earlier.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

After getting the feel of the newly tuned racer (figure A), Chris got down to some serious racing with the local RC hotshots (figures B, C, and D).

4WD buggies are low-slung and fast, so when they take a jump on the dirt track, they fly high and catch some serious air. You can help control the angle or "attitude" of the jump through the careful application of throttle. If you flip the throttle while the vehicle is in the air, you can increase the angle -- raising the nose of the vehicle -- while it is in the air. The objective is to land the buggy on all 4 wheels, or with rear wheels touching ground first. If you hit the brakes while the buggy is airborne, it will likely have the opposite effect and drive the buggy into the ground nose first! Not only will that put you behind in a race, but it may damage front suspension components.

So today's lesson: Never hit the brakes when your vehicle is in mid-air unless it appears that your buggy is about to flip over backwards.

Also, when your vehicle does land, make sure that you're off the throttle. Apply throttle only after the wheels are on terra firma. Landing with the throttle wide open can be tough on the vehicle's drive train.

RESOURCES :

Kyosho Inferno®
Great Planes Model Distribtuors
P.O. BOX 9021
Champaign, IL 61826
Website: www.bestrc.com

GUESTS :

Lyle Monroe, Jr.
My Race Place
606 Shetland Drive
Smyrna, TN 37167