Quick tutorials are a simple way to understand the settings of your car in a few minutes.
A subject, a short video, in order to answer 2 essential questions: WHY and HOW?
Different subject but how important today, the preparation of your equipment and accessories to properly approach a race or a training session.
VIDEO
CAR
I see it very often in RSRC Academy, our driving school. We talk about setups, driving, but we forget what comes before all that: a good preparation. Whether it's your car, your radio, but also all peripherals, tools and accessories.
First of all, the most important thing, you will have to prepare your car and your radio well.
A complete maintenance, (we will see it in another tutorial), is often necessary to avoid having technical issues.
It's always frustrating to go to a race and have to stop for a mechanical problem.
RC is motorsport! Anything can already happen anytime for no reason and out of your reach, so let's push to the maximum what we can control!
Indeed, every practice run, qualification or final counts! And for that, you must be completely confident with your equipment. If you have had your car fully serviced, it's a good way to be sure that nothing can happen to you during a long final !
This implies rigor, never forget that your RC car is not a toy but a race car!
Certainly miniature, but with characteristics close to the real ones that we watch on TV, as evidenced by the effect of the settings that you can apply during our various tutorials.
In my case, between each drive/training, I don't completely disassemble my car, but just do a complete exterior cleaning.
In this step, you will only need XTR car cleaner, and for the protection of plastics and against rust, GT85.
For each race, I change the fluids (differentials, shock absorbers) and check all the bearings. No need to mention a new air filter foam ;-)
During this step, please keep a note in your phone or a notebook in your carrying bag to follow your setup changes!
The basis of your setup must be known. As I write these lines, the temperature differences between morning and afternoon are enormous, and the shock oils will have to be changed between morning and afternoon for optimal suspension operation of you RC Car.
However, if you don't remember what you mounted, you are already making a mistake :-)
It is therefore essential to have the follow-up, or at least a note to know what you have changed. Same for the shock absorber pistons, which will greatly impact the grade of oil used, but also the differential oils.
Despite all the efforts of manufacturers, each manufacturer has its own production technique and from one brand to another, silicone oils will not have the same hardness for the same grade.
In your bag, you must therefore always use oils of the same brand, this is very important.
THE RADIO
You always have it in your hands, take care of it!
It is also often one of the most expensive stuff from your package...and it is also showing your personality, think about it!
Personally, I clean my radio externally before each race, including the steering wheel foam with a microfiber cloth and brake cleaner.
THE CHOICE OF QUALITY PRODUCTS
Technically, your car is ready.
However, are you confident with the reliability of your motor, servos and peripherals?
Unfortunately, I too often see drivers who also neglect these points.
RC is expensive, it's obvious (even if it's one of the cheapest motorsports today).
But when we see today the price of fuel to go to a race, and even more so for those who participate in the various championships.
It is unthinkable for me to imagine a trip for at least 200€ when you have saved 50€ on a servo that will break in the final when you had everything to win...
Same for nitro engines... It's unfortunate but it's happened to too many drivers that I've met during my career!
Even if it means racing less, do less training and use your equipment less, and invest in good products that will not let you down during important meetings for you.
This at all levels. I'm not even talking about tires, batteries at 20€ or servos at 30€ on Chinese websites...
It's perfect for playing in a parking lot, but not on a circuit.
You are also happy to follow the tutorials, to have instruction manuals in French or English, and a competent after-sales service, so support the specialized stores like RSRC ;-)
SPARE PARTS AND ACCESSORIES
Try to be independent with your accessories.
All your batteries need to be charged. This includes the radio, the car, the starter box, the glow plug igniter... and this is not a question of budget :-)
Quality tools will allow you to use your screws longer, if you screw up screws repeatedly, it is mainly not because of the quality of the screws, but of your screwdrivers bits might be at the end of their life...
In terms of spare parts, either you have a first aid kit with you (front arms, shock absorber rods, bearings, etc.), or follow this valuable advice: if all the members of your club use a car (Kyosho, Mugen or other), try to follow their choice!
I too often hear "I want to be different from others". I don't understand this choice.
Smart storage is also important. You need a part or a screw, but you have in your case some shock absorber pistons from the car you used 4 years ago?
Sort it out!
These are basic little tips, but I think it's essential!
You are now ready to talk about setup, setup changes and driving :)
If you see anything else I might have forgotten, please let me know in the comments!
See you soon for a new episode!
The Shark
Reno Savoya