Hello Racers! 

With our Track Building getting close to completion, we wanted to cover a topic that is important to us! We want our all of our racers to have a great experience at our track, but in order to do so we want everyone to display proper racing etiquette! 

1. The Drivers Stand: 

• Don't Cut in line: If there is a line of drivers trying to get on the stand, wait your turn. To build on that, it is important to wait for the drivers from the previous race to exit the stand. 
• One of the worst things you could do on the driver's stand is to yell at other drivers, marshals, or employees of the track. Most marshals will not flip over your car if you are yelling at them. If no one sees your car after an appropriate amount of time goes by, it would be okay to nicely call for a marshall. 
• "When on the stand be aware of how you are standing on the stand, having your radio hanging out, or leaning way out makes it difficult for other drivers to see sometimes. It’s called the drivers’ stand, not the drivers’ slouch. Stand up when racing. You’ll drive better and you’ll be less likely to block the view of other drivers. Also, if you have a preferred spot on the stand, get there first. Don’t be the last guy on the drivers’ stand and expect other to move for you." - adapted from RC Truck Stop

2. Driving: 

• Let off the Throttle: When you are waiting for a marshall to pick up your car, let off of the Throttle. It is not safe for marshals to pick up your car if  your holding down the throttle. 
• If your Car breaks down take it off the track: Pretty Simple. 
• Don't intentionally try to crash into other racers: This should be obvious, but be good sport and don't ruin someone else's car or race on purpose. Plus we all pay for parts, and know how the expenses add up. 
• That being said, if you accidentally bump into another racer, wait for them and allow them to re gain their position back. Once you do this, you can try to pass with a clean pass. 

A few notes in general:

• Watch Language: There are families and children that come out to race and spectate. We want it to be a friendly environment. All in all just pay attention to your audience. 
• "If you are having a bad race–and all of us do at some point–do not take your frustrations out on your truck. You have a couple of choices here: either slow your pace down and finish your race or pull your vehicle off the track at a safe spot and wait until the race is over to get it. If you happen to be in the unlucky position of being yelled at on the stand, be the bigger person and let it go, leave the battles for racing on the track, not on the stand or in the pits." - adapted from RC Truck Stop

A few notes: Content was adapted from RC Truck Stop and Track Etiquette by Shaun Duffy. 

After doing some research I finally narrowed down some of my favorite RC youtube channels! These are in no specific order. So check all of them out! 

#1 Ultimate RC  

This channel has been around for quite a bit and unfortunately the owner no longer posts videos. However, if you are looking for product reviews this is by far one of the best channels! There are also some videos entitled: "In the Workshop" which show you step by step instructions for a variety of mechanical work. Also if you are looking to watch some awesome videos of RC Cars being driven around the track! Then this is the channel for you! 

#2 Live RC 

This youtube channel is perfect for watching the latest races! It's great for keeping up with RC news and watching live stream races. They broad cast races like ROAR Fuel Off-Road nationals! Imagine waking up, sipping on a cup of joe, eating eggs and bacon, and watching Races all over the country LIVE. 

#3 Short Course World 

This channel is the Jack of all Trades when it comes to Short Course vehicles. This channel includes kit reviews, tool videos, a "How to Build" series, Q & A videos, R/C phone calls with friends, and more! If you want to know how to put a car together, maintain it, or find out which short course will be a good fit for you, this is the channel to go to! 

#4 Neobuggy 

This channel is based out of Europe and captures all of the edusportsonline scene over there! It covers the EURO race series and interviews professional RC drivers. This channel also has footage of Worlds! It's perfect to see what is going on in RC all of the world, and to find out the latest information on professional RC Drivers. 

#5 edusportsonline TV

This channel is similar to Neobuggy in the sense that it covers the European RC scene. But it also includes some tutorials on how to build certain cars and behind the scenes footage of these large races. The video quality is pretty good and one of my favorite parts is that they show the rankings of the drivers as you would see in Nascar or even horse racing. If racing was going to be broadcasted on TV this would be the channel to do it. 

#6 The RC Network 

This channel reveals new cars all the time and will review them so you know what you're getting before you make the purchase! They also have features like Tool Tuesday where the go over the latest tools and how to use them. This channel shows you how to upgrade cars and will review things like tires as well. I find this channel helpful when trying to figure what the best things to put in and on my car. I also get enjoyment out of the running videos, in order to see how the car handles. 

#7 RC Overload 

While this channel covers a bunch of RC Cars it also features Drones, planes and more! There are unboxing videos, but I am entertained more by the bashing, jumping, and drifting videos! This channel will also show you how to build a Sakura, HPI Baja, and more! He also show cars like the Losi Mini Cooper! All around fun on this channel!

#8 IJumpRC

You guess it! This channel is full of RC action videos! Who doesn't want to watch a RC Car vs a Watermelon? This channel is pure fun and adds an exciting twist to RC! Also who doesn't like to watch videos with a series of RC Fails? If you're looking to be entertained or wonder what it would be like to beat up on your cars then check out this channel! 

#9 1967illya 

This channel is all about projects! Have you ever wondered how to make Angel Eye LED's for your RC Car? Well here's your chance! This channel is also full of rock crawlers and extreme hill challenges! Want to mix things up with your crawler? Then this is the channel for you!

#10 Drone Racing League 

To finish up this top 10 list we are bringing in the rear with Drone Racing. Imagine this: Neon Lights filling the room, First person Point of View Racing, an empty football stadium with nothing but the sounds of engines, and the night crawling over the walls as you race for the podium. Drone Racing can be done in abandoned buildings, stadiums, and around major landmarks. You have to see this for yourself in order to believe it. 

This ends our round up of awesome RC channels! What are your favorite channels, that make the cut? Leave in the comments below! 

Welcome to the world of radio control! edusportsonline is all about helping new comers or beginners decide which type of RC Car is best for them. This series will also include a bunch of other tips and tricks that all RC Car drivers won't want to miss! 

Today we are going to start at the first basic question you will want to ask yourself. Should I buy an electric or nitro car? 

To start, we are going to make a list of things you should know about each type. You can then look at this list and decide if a nitro or electric rc car sounds like a good fit for you. 

Electric RC Cars:

1. A rechargeable battery powers these cars. 
2. Lower maintenance compared to Nitro Cars.
3. You can run this indoors. 
4. Cleaner than Nitro Cars, and don't need engine tuning. 
5. Typically cheaper to run. 
6. These cars are much quieter and practically silent compared to Nitro Cars. 

Electric Cars are much faster then Nitro cars with upgrades. Typically, manufacturers stock Ready to Run (RTR) models with basic parts that are mostly plastic. If you are really into speed, you can upgrade to better, more durable metal parts for higher performance.

60+ mph here we come! A lot of the expensive items are a one time purchase and then you can use them in almost any electric car you buy! They also last a long time, if you take care of it! 

Nitro RC Cars

1. Nitro cars use fuel. 
2. If you love the smell of fuel, the sound of a loud engine, and exhaust fumes filling the air, then you will love what nitro has to offer! 
3. This type of car can run for a longer duration of time compared to electric cars. With Nitro, once your car runs out of fuel, you simply fill it back up and keep running! No waiting for batteries to charge! 
4. You should only run nitro cars outside. Running them indoors can lead to toxic exhaust fumes overwhelming the air quality. 
5. Requires more maintenance and mechanic work. 
6. If you wish to race, you must have a pit person who can refuel your car mid-race. 

Summary from Beginning RC

Sources: RC Web Car, Beginner RC Cars how to choose the best, ( 2016). 

Beginning RC, General Buying Decisions: Nitro vs Electric

We are back again with some helpful information on RC Car Batteries! This article will help you determine which type of battery is a good fit for you and the advantages vs disadvantages of each type. 

Note: When choosing a battery you have to make sure you have the proper charger that works with that battery type. 

Let's Get into it!

LiPo: 

Advantages: 

• LiPos are lighter and smaller in dimension. 
• Not limited in the shape or size they can come in.
• Have higer capacities and voltages - this can potentially allow for more speed and power. Typical Voltages include: 7.4V, 11.1V, 14.8V, and 22.2V
• They discharge energy at a different and flatter rate which is what allows them to have more power. This allows for a more consistent stream of energy to your motor.
• Charge Faster

Disadvantages: 

• LiPos can be dangerous. If the battery is not stored properly or if it becomes damaged and punctured, fire could occur. 
• They have a shorter life span meaning they last between 300 and 400 cycles. 

"LiPos are made of carbon and highly reactive lithium, which can store a lot of energy.  With the flat structure the inner resistance is smaller (UPOWER)."

NiMH: 

Advantages: 

• More User Friendly
• Typically can endure more charging cycles, meaning they potentially have a larger life span. 
• They cost less then LiPos. 
• Not as likely to catch fire if punctured.

Disadvantages:

• This battery loses power throughout the run, meaning your car slowly loses power until the battery is completely dead. 
• Heavy Weight 
• Lower Voltages: Typically come in 3.6V and 7.2V, etc. 

"NiMH batteries use hydrogen to store energy, with nickel and another metal (such as titanium) keeping a lid on the hydrogen ions. It often comes in a cylindrical shape.(UPOWER)."

 What are your opinions on these Batteries? Leave us a comment below! Check out our Batteries Here. 

Sources:

• Nosy Nation: LiPo vs NiMH: What's your battery of choice? (2016). 
• UPOWER: 8 Difference Between Nimh vs Lipo Battery