The Consequences of Discovery

"We saw that it was in our hometown, looked like a well maintained track, held regular races, and had a hobby shop with everything we needed. We browsed through some of the content on the website and watched some videos shot at the track. Then we saw there were rentals. Drew practically demanded we drop what we were doing and go immediately. The first week of December we came in, rented trucks, and fell in love. It was the longest couple of weeks ever, but finally Santa was good to us as there were four trucks under the tree. We practiced the week after Christmas and participated in our first race on New Years Eve. We’ve been hooked ever since."

Family Time = Race Time

Andrew Higgs has 3 kids who regularly travel with him to the races most weekends. Two of which who drive (Drew & Matthew)  and the youngest (Owen) comes to hang out and enjoy the community. Additionally, there are many weekends when Higgs brings a family friend who races with his kids. We asked Andrew what it was like to have a whole family of RC drivers. It is not super common that every family member drives and spends the whole day at the races. "It is expensive, but worth every dime! Race day is pure chaos for me. The kids are a rowdy bunch, so someone always breaks something. Between us racing and marshalling, there is never enough time. I wouldn’t have it any other way though."

Not only is RC good for family time, but Higgs tells us why it's a great sport for the kids to get in to. "It is a great family friendly activity, at least at Adrenaline. It feeds the competitive nature, but without a ton of pressure to perform. It is also teaching them you can’t always win. Some days the luck (or skill) just isn’t with you, but rather than give up you try to salvage as much as you can points-wise. Basically, it teaches the whole lemonade out of lemons lesson. It is also way cheaper than buying a real racecar or gokart!"

Let's Talk Setup 

Higgs recently launched his brand new youtube channel, Rowdy Chaos, that documents his races through vlogs and breaksdown how he built out his racing trailer. If you haven't checked out his videos yet, we highly recommend it. 

"I drive a TLR SCTe 3.0 and the Team Associated RC8B3e and B64d. The kids are both driving 4wd Traxxas Slashes, but I do have another B64d and a TLR SCTe 2.0 for when they are ready."  In regards to brand loyalty, Higgs prefers Team Associated. He doesn't have a strong reason for choosing this brand other than some of the best drivers like Ryan Cavallieri are associated with the brand. 

We talked with Higgs about his decision to buy a trailer dedicated to RC cars, and he is genuinely loving his decision. "Having so many cars running, the trailer has been amazing. I have everything organized so I can open it up and start working. There really isn’t a pit setup time. Just open the door, take the cars off the wall, and get to work. It is my little rolling garage. It is a bit of an investment, but worth every penny. I highly recommend it. The only downside is not pitting inside the shop and being in constant chit-chat with the other drivers."

Over the last 7 months the Higgs family has officially accumulated 12 RC cars. Higgs jokes," not sure if that is good or bad, but for 7 months, yikes!"  

Advice for those thinking about it...

If Higgs could go back in time and tell himself one thing when we started racing it would be to start with 4 wheel drive trucks. He thought the Traxxas Slash 2 wheel drive was a great entry car and great for bashing, but it does leave a lot to be desired on the racing side. He does believe starting with the slightly more challenging 2wd car allowed more learning opportunity for control and patience, as it does not always want to rotate in the corners. 

His RC Car Routine..

His goal is to make it to the track to practice at least once a week. However, Higgs explains his summer has been insane, so it hasn't always been a realistic goal. With fall approaching and the new school year, getting back in to a routine will help. Much like having a little league sport after school, Higgs will bring his kids to the track to practice. 

He races every time Adrenaline RC has a race, plus they committed to the ROAR Region 2 as well. Occasionally they will make time for a special race here and there. The furthest Higgs has ever traveled is to Alabama for the AMS 8.0 Race earlier this summer. They can't wait for 2018 as they hope to hit up Motorama, Psycho Nitro, AMS, Wicked Weekend, Region 2 ROAR races, and all of the Adrenaline Races. They have a lot of exciting things to look forward to in the busy upcoming year. 

Last Minute Details Higgs would like to Include...

"Shoutout to everyone who helped us learn the ropes and get our feet wet. Thanks to the entire Hardison family for making Adrenaline what it is. You have built an amazing community around the track and for that I am grateful. Also a HUGE shoutout to my wife for putting up with our new life. Check out our YouTube channel, Rowdy Chaos!" 

RAPID FIRE!!

1. Electric or Nitro?

Electric, but I do love the smell of nitro!

2. Pro-Line or AKA?

Pro-Line

3. Kit or Pre-Built?

Kit

4. Dirt or Road?

Dirt, but I’ve never done road. I’m a huge race fan, so if we had a track I would get a road car.

5. Track Racing or Rock Crawling?

Track

6. Racing or Practicing?

Race

7. Lipo or NiMH?

Lipo

8. Big air or keeping it tight?

Tight (because we break too much on big air… at least for now)

9. 1:10 Scale or 1:8 Scale?

1:8

10. Buggy, Short Course or Truggy?

SCT is more fun, but I do love the buggy

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! 

Goal:  Determine what is the best fit for you! 

RC Lingo:

• RTR- Ready to Run

RTR

Recommendations: Racing- Slash 4x4 There are other monster truck and vehicles people use for fun here. 

These are cars that essentially have everything you need to immediately start running the car. No building required. 

Pros

1. Ready to go right out of the box. The most you might need to do is charge the battery.  It has everything you need. Note: The Chargers and things that come with these may not be amazing, but will get the job done. You can upgrade anything at anytime. 
2. You don't need to worry about purchasing a lot of extra equipment to support your car. 

Cons

1. You don't get to learn all the ins and outs about what makes your vehicle run. If something breaks you'll have to learn how to replace it. Where as RC Car Kits force you to build the entire car from the ground up, allowing you to get familiar with each part. 
2. There occasionally could be a factory production error, that would cause something to break within the first few minutes using your car. While every part can be replaced, it is disappointing when your brand new car stops working in the first 2 minutes. However, this is very unlikely. 

Kit

Kits are a box full of parts that you are required to put together. You are building your car from the ground up.

Recommendations: 

Pros

1. You get the satisfaction of building your car from the ground up. Nothing makes you more proud of yourself then successfully building your car. 
2. You become more emotionally attached, and learn to appreciate the car more.
3. There is more opportunity to customize how your car is built. After all, you are the one touching every screw and bolt. You can choose how you want to mount certain things and you can choose to put better parts in the car straight from the beginning.
4. You know the car from the inside out. When something breaks or isn't adjusted properly, you will have more confidence to fix it. Even if you don't remember every step of the build, you will be familiar. 

Cons

1. These cars can take 4+ hours to build especially if it's your first time. Each kit comes with a step by step manual that guides you through it, but patience is the name of the game. 
2. "If you have particularly unsteady hands or low confidence in your mechanical aptitude, it may be best to start with something prebuilt and slowly get your hands wet with repairs & maintenance."
3. You will have to buy additional items in order to make it work. Most kits don't include electronics like motors, batteries, tires, body paint, charger, etc. 

Overall, we typically recommend that first time users buy a RTR car.  If you really are committed to the hobby then go for the kit. Patience is key. Most high quality racing cars are kits but RTR are good for beginners. Some kits are more expensive then RTR because they are higher quality. What are your opinions and tips when deciding between kits and RTR? 

Feel free to come in to our shop if you would like further assistance! 

Sources: "Hobby Level: Kit or RTR?" Beginning RC.

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