The bible for learning how to tune your radio-controlled RC car!

New 176-page version with over 20,000 more words, new, more complete explanations, new chapters including:

• training,
• driving,
• more on nitro engines,
• an approach to mental preparation

This book draws on more than two decades of experience of the author, Joseph Quagraine, in the world of scale motorsport.

He began racing RC cars as a hobby as a teenager, progressing to become a professional driver in the mid-2000s. After completing his studies in mechanical engineering and industrial design in 2009, he set up his own company, JQ Design Ltd, and brought to market the car he had been designing over the past few years.

JQ, as he is known, is passionate about the performance and engineering of racing cars. After decades of research into how vehicle dynamics affect the performance of scaled-down versions of racing cars, it was time to put all his knowledge on paper.

This book is unique in that it is the only one to cover the theory of race car design, the practical applications of tuning and its effect on RC car handling. The book concentrates on 1:8 scale nitro buggies, but the information is relevant to all scales and classes, even full scale. The laws of physics are the same for all. Here are some of the points covered in the book:

• Why do we need tuning?
• How is a car supposed to work?
• Tires, load transfer, pitch and roll
• Roll centers
• Alignment
• Shock absorbers
• Differential
• Tire selection
• Settings for different track conditions

"There was little information available about car setups when I started, and it was mostly superficial, and to understand what was going on, the only resources available were written specifically for full-scale cars.

I decided to gather my ideas and knowledge and put them into a book, because progress always happens when people stand on the shoulders of those who came before them. I hope this book will serve as a starting point for future race car engineers, and that they can build on what I've presented here." - Joseph Quagraine