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There are many different types and scales of racing. A simple way to think about the various types of racing is in terms of circuit , off-road or oval racing. In each of these types, RC cars run on either fuel with internal combustion engines (known as I.C. cars) or are electric (battery) powered. The final thought is then on the scale (size) of the car or bike. In this section you will get a good overview of each;
Hover over each link for a brief description and click on the following link to find out more :
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Circuit racing is all about precision. Not only in terms of the racing line but also with regards to the car set up. Typically the racing is very close and ultra competitive.
If you like it dirty this is for you. Although there are some fabulous indoor circuits to keep it clean and make a perfect winter hobby. There is some unique skills required, for example try and keep the aspect of the car steady of a jump, takes precision control of use of the throttle and brakes. A hole load of fun.
Some awesome technology. With cars reaching speeds of over 70 M.P.H the motors run up 40,000 RPM. Motors range in size and complexity according to the scale. The fuel is a mix of Oil, methanol and nitro. Potent stuff. Learning to set-up the motors is part of the fun but ultimately very rewarding.
Don't be fooled into thinking these are slow. Powered by various assortment of batteries depending on the scale, these cars have unbelievable acceleration. Tuning the motors is all about getting the most of a charge. Electric racing is some of the most competitive around.
We race on permanent outdoor tarmac race tracks throughout the UK, and are
the most popular scale for IC racing in Britain and probably the rest of the
world. Because the 1:10th scale cars easily suit most of the UK tracks, a big
following for the racing has evolved at local and national level. The cars we
race look good, drive fast and are very easy to get hooked on!
We actually race two different types of cars, the longest established of which are the slightly larger 235mm (this is the width of the chassis) cars, which are wider, and run larger engines and big wide tyres to handle the power. There is a loyal following for this class and with the influx of new drivers each year the title is always hotly contested. Relatively few technical rules allow almost as much or as little modification of the cars as you like, although as ever, good driving skills at high speed will get you up there with a fighting chance! The bodyshells look fairly simple in design, but give extreme downforce and with very little effort work well straight from the box.
The smaller of the two types of car are called 200mm, this is currently the most popular car and all of the major manufacturers worldwide produce a model. They tend to be a little more realistic scale version of actual cars and they are great to look at and even better to race! This type of car tends to be the ‘cross-over’ point between IC and electric racing and at our race meetings we often enjoy the best racers from both pitted against each other, making it very competitive as well as good addictive fun. These cars have the flexibility to run on foam or rubber tyres and can use Group C (wedge style, high downforce) or saloon (road car style) bodyshells.
All the cars we race are 4-wheel drive which makes for good handling, and makes it possible to use all the power available from the highly tuned engines. The engines can generate well over 1 horsepower and as the cars weigh less than 2kgs you can imagine just how fast they can go. All of the cars also have two gears and automatically change up and down, giving an even higher speed on fast parts of the circuits! Because of the worldwide popularity of the 1:10th scale cars now it means the choice of chassis and engines etc. is almost endless and there are many parts available to customise each car to find that extra performance, or to look good in your own style. As your experience grows you can explore different set-ups for the car and look for tenths of a second, to try and close the gap between you and the leader.
The BRCA run several national championships and these are well supported with a large spectrum of driver ability and equipment. The format for these races is practice, qualifying and then the finals. The finals are between 10 and 30 minutes long, meaning that at least one pit-stop is required which really adds to the excitement! In these events you get awarded points based on your position and these count towards the British national championship.
British drivers of 1:10th scale cars have been successful outside the UK too, racing in Europe and other parts of the world. Best result is a victory at the European Championships, but with the popularity enjoyed here in the UK you can be sure we’ll be trying to bring more silverware back to Britain!
If you’re thinking of trying it out, then there’s a whole load of pre-built reasonably priced models now available and this is where most people start. Because these cars are strong and versatile you can run them on a car park if you want before you hit the track, but once you’ve experienced the thrill of racing you’ll probably be hooked for a long time!
Ready to get started then see this getting started guide.
If you want to enjoy some good racing outdoors with friendly opposition, then find your local track/club or get in touch with the BRCA who will point you in the right direction to some good fun.
Model cars come in many different shapes and sizes but with acceleration
times of 0 to 60 miles per hour of less than two seconds, and top speeds in
excess of 75 miles an hour. Is it any wonder that 1:8th gas powered radio
control model cars are considered the formula one of all radio control model car
racing.
Racing 1:8th circuit radio control gas cars will add a whole new meaning to your understanding of the word excitement. Once you have driven a 1:8th car and experienced its awesome power, and stunning cornering speed, you’ll never be satisfied with driving anything else, and be back for more
Your 1:8th scale IC powered four-wheel drive car can be built from one of the many available kits now on the market. Powered by a racing 3.5cc two stoke engine capable of delivering over two brake horse power, your just minutes away form the most mind blowing experience in model car racing. Your car complete with engine will be a high tech 1:8-scale model-racing car. All cars have front and rear suspension independent suspension controlled by fully adjustable shock absorbers and springs. In addition you’ll have disc brakes and automatically shifting transmissions. All this topped with a sports car style bodyshell painted to your own individual team colour scheme and designed to for you, to get the best from your car both mechanically and aerodynamically.
1:8th racing is a great activity and hobby for all the family to participate in, and as well as racing as individuals, many father and son teams compete in racing events. Once you’ve got used to the thrill of driving your own car around one of the purpose designed scale circuit located throughout the country you’ll be able to compete in your first event.
Following a practice session you’ll have tuned your car and engine for maximum performance. With your engine running you head for the drivers rostrum, whilst your pitman puts your car on the track for one of your qualifying races. Having qualified for a final you wait on the drivers rostrum as tension mounts waiting for the flag to drop. Accelerate hard into the first bend as you jockey for position with your fellow racers. As the race settles down you’ll have to think about the first of your scheduled re-fuelling pit stops. Head down the pit lane to your pitman, a full tank of fuel taken on in seconds, and you blast back into the action. Well could you handle it? If the answers yes, then come 1:8th IC racing.
For more information please email the sections Public Relations Officer listed on the contacts page
Large Scale Circuit racing takes place on outdoor tarmac tracks situated
throughout Britain, the tracks in this country are around 4 to 5 metres wide and
up to 310 metres long.
The cars are normally 1:5th scale, though the Offroad and Trucks are 1:6th. The length of the car is about 900 mm, and they are 380/390 mm wide and 245/255 mm high depending upon the actual full sized car based. For racing they have a minimum weight of 10kg and maximum of 12 kg.
The engine is limited to a 23cc 2-stroke engine running on normal petrol station fuel plus 2 stroke oil. Drive is to the rear wheels only, but can be by cog, chain or shaft & brakes must be fitted. These come as either discs on the lay shaft or outboard discs on the rear wheels or drive shafts, many have discs all round, usually cable operated but some now use hydraulic.
As a rule kits come complete with everything apart from radio gear, pre built and ready to race, even the cheapest. They can be ‘upgraded’ by adding on parts bringing them into line with the ‘top of the range’ cars, or to accommodate the individual driver, by adding adjustable differential and clutches, putting hydraulic brakes all round, or changing to alloy or carbon components. Tyres are moulded rubber with tread patterns and grades of rubber, normally fitted with foam inners, to suit track conditions and driver’s preferences.
The BRCA Large Scale section runs three classes of Saloons. The ‘Eco Class’ for standard kit cars costing below £600 (less radio gear), ‘National’ which is for all other saloon drivers, and ‘Super National’ which is the top 12 drivers from the previous year’s ‘National’ series, in their own ‘premier league’. Sports/GT, F1 and Trucks are run depending upon entry numbers. Offroad, Stockcars and Bikes are run at separate meetings.
There is a national championship run over 8 rounds, with the driver’s best 4 meetings counting, these meetings are run at venues throughout the country including Ireland. Normally you would get 3 qualifying rounds with your highest scoring round used to determine your final position, the top 8 qualifiers going to the ‘A’ Final, the next 8 to the ‘B’ etc. The first two drivers from each Final progress to the next, so in theory you could keep moving up from last qualifier to a place on the ‘A’ Final grid! Medals and trophies are given to the first three in each Final down to the ‘D’.
There is a growing following of Large Scale with a very healthy level of competition within the ‘travelling circus’ of drivers competing in the National Championship. There are also more regional championships and ones aimed at the club level driver.
If you are interested in joining what many have described as ‘the most realistic’ scale of circuit racing, please contact any of the Large Scale Circuit Committee.
This class of racing is probably one of the oldest in the country and started
off way back in the 1970’s. The cars we race today are 1:12th scale replicas of
the modern day Le Mans prototype sports cars such as the Bentley and the Audi.
The cars are of a simple design but feature the use of latest materials such as carbon fibre and titanium. This makes them very lightweight which gives them their incredible speed and acceleration, making them probably the fastest of any of the electric classes of racing. They are powered by rechargeable electric batteries, with an electronic speed controller and small electric motor providing the drive to the rear wheels. Major manufacturers such as Associated, Trinity, Yokomo and Corally all market 1:12th scale cars and there is fierce competition at the top level between these major teams.
Here in the UK the racing takes place indoors during the winter on a special carpet surface. The cars use foam tyres and this gives them amazing levels of grip in the corners, making them real fun to drive. There are a large number of BRCA affiliated clubs throughout the country that run 1:12th scale cars and to be able to race indoors in the warm and dry on a cold winters day has to be a major attraction. They can also be raced outdoors on tarmac tracks and this is in fact the norm in sunnier parts of the world such as Japan and the US.
Unlike the other electric classes, the races are 8 minutes in length. This increased track time for your money, combined with the relatively low cost of running 1:12th scale circuit cars has to be one of the major advantages of this class.
A British national championship is run throughout the winter at a number of different venues across the country. These meetings consist of two full days of racing with qualifying and finals, just like the full size events. At the end of the season a national champion is crowed.
On the world stage Great Britain has achieved great things in 1:12th scale with our very own David Spashett being crowned world champion in 1994 and 1998, titles he holds alongside his countless European championship wins.
So if you’re looking for a type of car to race during the winter then you could do no better than try 1:12th scale circuit racing.
Motor sport comes in many different shapes and sizes, but it always involves
fast vehicles, skilful drivers and a healthy dose of competition. So it is in
radio control model touring car racing, a smaller scale alternative to the real
thing, but a format where speeds remain excessive, cornering is performed on the
limit, crashes are often spectacular, and each driver experiences an adrenalin
buzz that sends them scurrying back to the track for more.
1:10th scale electric powered touring cars are the most popular radio control race class in the world. The scale looking, four-wheel drive cars can be built from kits in just a few hours and are powered by small electric motors and six rechargeable cells. They are quiet, reliable and very, very fast. In race trim, the cars are capable of actual top speeds of 50mph and can be tuned to suit the particular configuration or grip level of the circuit. When waterproofed, the cars can even race in the rain.
Radio control touring car racing is a great hobby for any age and is an activity in which the whole family can become involved. With different tyre compounds, suspension settings and aerodynamics, racers quickly learn valuable technical skills. Artistic talents can be applied to great effect to create unique colour schemes for the bodyshells. Racing the cars requires concentration and finesse, with each movement made by the driver on the controller resulting in an immediate and precise response from the car. And just like full-size motor sport, the more you practice, the better you will get.
In Britain, 1:10th scale electric touring car racing is promoted by the British Radio Car Association (BRCA). There are BRCA affiliated clubs throughout the country who run regular events and for a beginner, the local club is the best place to start. A list of clubs is available on the BRCA website at www.brca.org. Alternatively, ask your local model shop for details of your nearest club. During the summer, the BRCA organises two seven-round British Championships, race series that take drivers to some of the country’s best purpose-built circuits to compete for the British titles. The top drivers go on to represent the United Kingdom in the prestigious European and World Championship events.
If you haven’t experienced the excitement of racing electric-powered radio control touring cars before, give it a try. It is one of the most affordable and rewarding forms of motor sport around, one that is safe, quiet and accessible to all, regardless of age or ability. And above all, it’s enormous fun!
1:8th Off-Road racing is fast, colourful, action packed and extremely
competitive. With racing at actual speeds of around 50mph, on a variety of
surfaces, the racing action is guaranteed to be exciting. 1:8th Off Road or
‘Rallycross’ as it is more commonly known, is one of the expanding classes of
model car racing. Although not a new class, in recent years the popularity of
the nitro engine has increased immensely, and as a result, Rallycross has seen
many new drivers start racing and indeed many drivers from other classes have
been converted.
Rallycross is considered to be one of the friendliest classes of model car racing. Whilst on the track the racing is very competitive between all drivers, however, once back in the pits, you will often see drivers of rival cars openly helping each other and generally having a laugh and a joke.
The cars that are raced are all four-wheel drive, powered by a 3.5cc nitro-fuelled engine with double disk brakes to bring them to a halt. All feature fully independent suspension, which is adjustable to suit the driver and the track conditions. With different spring tension rates, damper settings, anti-roll bars settings, and adjustable suspension geometry, to fine tune the cars handling. Different tyre patterns and compounds complete the set-up.
The construction rules laid down by the BRCA, limit the fuel tank size to 125cc. This gives sufficient fuel to race in the 5 minute qualifying heats, but as the finals are either 10, 15, 20 or 30 minutes long, it is necessary to have fuel stops. For this you need to have a good mechanic to re-fuel your car, and with the closeness of the racing sometimes the finals can be won or lost on the pit stops.
One of the nice things about Rallycross racing is that you can buy, off the shelf, exactly the same specification equipment that the top drivers are using. This in turn leads to a very level playing field, and it is the skill of the driver that decides the winner.
The BRCA runs a National Championship, which is open to any member of the BRCA. Within this National Championship there is a Clubmans Championship and also a Junior Championship. All drivers are entered in the National Championship, however, the top 24 drivers from the previous season and any driver who makes more than 1 ‘A’ final during the year is not eligible to compete in the Clubmans Championship. Junior drivers must be under the age of 16 on the 1st of January of the current season.
Like other scales, 1:6th Offroad is spectacular, exciting and lots of fun to participate in. However, unlike the smaller scales, we have more room in the cars, so can take advantage of the technical advances that our circuit cousins have made over the years. We have hydraulic disc brakes, 23cc Petrol engines, which can be tuned to very high HP outputs and we can use special tuned exhausts to further enhance the tuning! Together with highly sophisticated suspension and drive train technology, in some cases, the equal of full size competition cars, the whole package adds up to some pretty amazing racing experiences!
A 1:6th scale start grid is a rainbow of colour, but, as we are an Offroad section, the colour can soon disappear under a coat of mud or dust! The loose surfaces we race on provide a level playing field for the drivers, with driver’s skill and ability, rather than the amount of ‘shiny bits’, proving to be the defining factor in determining the outcome of the race. Indeed, this can be so, to the extent that a completely ‘Standard’ out of the box car, can beat a ‘Fully’ modified car. This is why, unlike the other scales, we only have one class of car, but two classes of driver, seeded according to their ability.
The sight of these 10 kilo monsters underway is quite awesome! It suddenly seems less like Toy car racing and more like scaled down Full-size racing. The noise and spectacle is second only to watching the real thing!
The 1:10th Off Road Section promotes and organises race meetings at Club,
Regional and National level and positively encourages the progress of drivers
from level to level. The pinnacle of the section - the National series, which is
widely regarded around the world as a ‘model’ for Off Road event organisation,
provides the results from which the British team is selected for European and
World Championships.
Our aim is to encourage people of all ages to join in, to compete within our rules and to go home satisfied; knowing that they have been allowed to achieve their best, in an enjoyable and friendly environment.
We race 2WD and 4WD buggies which are designed for many surfaces. Tracks, built on grass, dirt, astroturf, tarmac or mixes of surfaces, include in their design, features that are placed to test the driver’s skill and ability to the full. Humps, hollows, camber changes and a fast straight make for a perfect day’s racing.
Buggies are purchased in kit form from specialist model shops and can be built in a matter of hours. The car will include fully independent suspension with interchangeable oils and springs for fine tuning opportunities. Six rechargeable batteries are used to power a noise-free electric motor. Drivers race for five minute periods to achieve their best possible result using both their driving skills and set-up abilities.
The 1:10th Off Road Section is the only section within the BRCA, that organises End-of-Season championships where drivers, after qualifying through their local Regional series, gather to compete against other drivers of equal ability from all over the UK. The most prestigious event of these is the Junior National Championships. This event is split into two age groups to produce champions in the Under 13 and Under 16 categories who are surely destined to be the stars of the future.
Why Trucks, an interesting question? Well of all the Off-road disciplines
trucks is the most fun, why? Because, with the exception of possibly 1:8th
Rally-X, nothing jumps as well as a Truck.
The Truck racing scene is one of the newer racing sections, with a history since 1996 when the section was formed. Then, there where only the electric versions available, but now we have the 2wd Electric, and Gas Stadium Trucks and now the new Monster Trucks.
Of all the model types available to the newcomer, and the more experienced, racer Trucks are the most durable and can be used in the park, garden etc...
The Truck racing scene is a developing part of the hobby and the Gas Trucks are growing in popularity, though still a, predominately, Midlands based class, it is now on the up.
A racing package could be yours for as little as £300 and that even includes paint for the bodyshell.
With many manufacturers now producing an off-road racing truck the choice is bewildering, so talk to those that know and understand the truck world. The popular trucks raced around the UK come from Team Associated and Team Losi, both USA based companies, and now we have the Japanese Mugen truck. The Team Associated RC10GT has been with us, in various guises, for about ten years and is bullet proof (in this game you don’t survive if a’int no good) The Losi XXXNT is the latest and most popular version from the Losi Factory. Mugen, has a strong history in the gas off-road sphere, but have only just ventured into the gas truck arena, with such a new truck it will be some time before we will see if it will stand up to the punishment.....from the track and the driver. All of these trucks are available, in varying levels, from entry to expert, my suggestion would be to talk to your local hobbystore and see what he recommends. Try to go for a kit you can see spares on the shelf for ‘cos your gonna bust it...’.
So why trucks? Well if you want to start racing, or perhaps you just fancy something different then why not come and see us at a venue near you. Or visit one of the Truck website.
This type of oval racing is the oldest of all the forms of oval racing, having been around since 1973. These cars were originally designed as a small copy of the full sized F1 item.
They are powered by a 3.5cc glow fuel engine and there are clubs around the British Isles that cater for these cars; they mainly have permanent racing facilities with computerised lap scoring. The tracks are oval in shape as per the full sized item, and racing follows the full sized rules as closely as possible, with contact allowed.
1/8th stockcars are both exciting and affordable, a sport where anyone can be
competitive.
This is the name that has been given to the latest class of radio controlled stockcars, which are in fact 1:6th scale, powered by a 23cc two-stroke engine. The cars themselves are based around a donor 1/6th scale off road car. The floor pan is used along with the running gear, but a stockcar chassis and body kit are added which are purchased separately as a kit. This class is quite new but tracks are rapidly appearing to cater for these cars. The racing is both close and fun; it is also cheap once the initial purchase is made.
Hot Rods have been introduced to the scene over the past few seasons. They are based around a flat pan aluminium chassis with 1:8th stockcar running gear and a 3.5cc glow fuel engine. The body shells are usually based around the full sized Golf, Cleo, Fiesta etc. The racing is close, fast and cheap, and this type of car is allowed to run at all tracks listed for the Oval section. The main object of the rules for this class is to reduce cost, so you don’t have to have a vast amount of money to race in this exciting class.
ASCAR is the latest form of oval racing to hit these shores, and is based
around the popular series that is running in this country at Rockingham Raceway
at Corby.
The cars are based around the 1:10th scale IC and electric touring cars that are available with a NASCAR style of bodyshell to keep the look. The plan is to run two classes, ‘Pro’ and ‘Sports’, so that in the one the cars will be competitive from the box, whilst in the other drivers have the chance to tweak and set their cars to the optimum level. The equally paced cars rely on driver, set up skills and tactics, rather than a big cheque book. They race to a ‘Christmas Tree’ format for Finals, allowing a driver to progress from one to another if he wins, with Finals of 20 minutes duration with fuel stops. The main criteria is fun.
The Section races the 1:12th Scale - Mini Stox, Saloon Stox, Hot-Rods,
Stockcars and Bangers. The Mini Stox & Hot-Rods are commercially made and
available at model shops, while the Saloon Stox are basically scratch built
cars, the Stockcars have a number of small manufactures producing cars and the
Bangers are a derivative of the Hot-Rod with limousine type bodies. All the
cars are a reasonable representation of the full size, being raced on full sized
tracks. All construction rules can be found on the BRCA web site, under
Sections - 1:12th Oval.
As the Section name would suggest, these cars are raced on an Oval Track. All the tracks are indoors and all cars are raced on carpet. There are numerous clubs up and down the country. Not all tracks are the same size, some are quite small to some that are quite large in comparison, this all adds to fun of adjusting your driving skills to match the track conditions. Again many of these clubs are listed within the pages of the BRCA website, with contact names & phone numbers etc.
Mostly all clubs race all the year round; in addition to this many club come together to form Area Championships, these usually take place within the winter months. The BRCA National Series is run during loosely the summer months, usually starting in mid March going through to end of September. Although we are the 1:12th Oval Section, we have two types of racing - normally the Stockcars and Bangers will race at the same meeting (obviously in different races, as they are two different classes) - while the other cars (Mini, Saloon & Hot-Rod) will be raced at other meetings (again in different races). Therefore we have basically the Stockcar meetings and then the Saloon car meetings. This is for the National series of meetings; at club level some of the saloon cars may well be run on the same evening as the Stockcars.
Most clubs will have some form of trophy or trophies to be awarded (usually monthly). At National level there are trophies at each meeting to be won and there are end of Series Trophies for the top drivers. All ages, abilities are catered for and most clubs and venues have disabled access.
One thing that is apparent at the 1:12th Oval meetings be it National or Club events is everybody is having fun, there is the serious side to the sport (winning the trophies and or gaining more points for Series Trophies), but the main thing is to have fun.
Also, you will not break the bank if you wish to take up this form of racing, for as little as round £150 you could be on the track racing, and racing with the same standard car as the next guy.
These
models are raced on outdoor tarmac tracks and provide something a little
different from the usual car racing. They look fantastic on the track, with lean
angles up to 30 degrees from the horizontal, powerslides are common and even the
occasional wheelie from the more powerful bikes. But don’t be put off, it’s not
as difficult as it looks! Being a unique part of radio control racing, you will
be joining a friendly and helpful family of bike racers all over the UK who are
all eager to help each other.
Although 1/5 scale in size, these bikes use regular 1/10 touring car motors, speed controllers and batteries and only standard radio equipment is needed. The sight and sound of the I.C. versions is fantastic and are capable of speeds up to 45mph on the track. The models come either as pre-built and ready to run, or in kit form from various manufacturers. Specifications include oil damped rear monoshock suspension on single sided swingarm, chain drive, front disc brakes and working forks. These bikes have been successfully raced for many years, in national and local championships and always turn heads wherever they go.
Races are usually in a similar format to 1/10 electric cars, with the exception of 7 minute qualifying rounds and finals. Due to only one wheel drive and limited turning capability, bikes generally lap a bit slower than the cars, but make up for it in realism and character on the track. Once tried, hooked for good!
The RC racing scene encompasses a multitude of smaller more specialised classes from 1:18th scale mini touring cars right through to 1:6th scale motorbikes whose angle of lean through the corners has to be seen to be believed.
Some of these classes have purely a local following while others, such as the bikes, are incorporated into some of the regional race series. If you are considering an RC car, of any type, our
first recommendation would be to find your local club, go along and see what they race. By following this advice not only will you end up with a car you can race against other enthusiasts you’ll also find out the best local model shops and see what makes they support.
