DIY Network

Radio Control Dragsters: Introduction From "Radio Control Hobbies" episode RCH-403

	Mike Ogle, dragster expert and president of Grand Motor Sports.

Ever wonder what is the fastest accelerating type of vehicle in all of radio-control racing? This episode of DIY's Radio Control Hobbies is where you find out.

Host Chris Chianelli visits a unique RC race track just outside of Greensboro, North Carolina -- specifically, a 1/10-scale drag strip. Radio Control Hobbies is at the track during the weekend of International Model Drag Racing Association's (IMDRA) "Showdown Nationals."

RC drivers from all over the country are gathered at this event to compete with some of the fastest RC cars in the world -- models that can reach speeds in excess of 80 mph in under two seconds.

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From zero to sixty in under 2 seconds! Not even a Ferrari can do that. From the start line, this car can reach the spot where host Chris (the tiny spot at the far end of the track) is standing, a distance of 132 feet, in 1.6 seconds.

That's Acceleration!

RC dragsters are the fastest accelerating radio-controlled vehicles in the world. To get an idea of the type of acceleration they're capable of, consider that the standard RC drag strip is 132 feet long, a 1/10-scale replica of a real, full-sized drag-racing strip. These finely tuned racers can traverse that distance, from start to finish line, in about two seconds. When it comes to RC on four wheels, this is the fastest you're likely to find.

At the event featured in this episode, about 100 racers participate in the International Model Drag Racing Association's "Showdown Nationals."

The track where the races take place is outfitted with a starting "tree," just like real drag-race drivers use, and a sophisticated computerized tracking and speed-measurement systems.

The Racers

Chris visits with Mike Ogle, RC dragster expert and president of Grand Motor Sports, to discuss some of the latest RC Dragsters offered today for the beginner -- those in the ready-to-run and almost-ready-to-run classes.

If you're just getting started in RC drag racing, the main choice you'll need to make is whether to go with nitro or electric power. There is also a variety of body styles and classes available.

In the nitro category, Mike shows the Dark Thunder® nitro dragster from Megatech® (figure A). This model comes ready-to-run, right out of the box, and features a pre-painted body, a powerful Q16 engine that produces 1.6 horsepower (figure B), skinny front drag-tires, a rear wing and slick drag-racing tires in the rear. This model retails for around $300, including the radio.

Figure A

Figure B

Megatech's nostalgia-styled funny-car, the After Burner® (figure C) is built on the same platform as the Dark Thunder, and has the same engine, but features a different chassis and body style. The two cars race in separate classes. The After Burner is also a ready-to-run model and features a wheelie bar. This particular one has been modified with a smaller fuel tank and smaller servos to lighten the load and increase speed (figure D). Like the Dark Thunder, it retails for around $300, including the radio.

Figure C

Figure D

	Figure E
	Figure F

In the electric class, Mike shows off top fuel-rail racer, funny car and pro-stock (figure E) models, all from Grand Motor Sports®. In this type of racing, the electric models are just as fast as the nitro-powered ones -- in some cases even a little faster. In fact, the currently held drag-strip speed record is a distance of 132 feet completed in 1.53 seconds by an electric racer.

The main advantages of electric dragsters include quietness, ease of operation and simplicity of adding on modifications or swapping parts. There's also no hassle with such things as tuning engines and mixing nitro fuel.

Conventional 05 electric motors, like those used in other electric-car models (figure F) work fine in electric RC dragsters. However, the motors can be modified and tuned especially for drag-racing applications. More powerful motors, with very powerful internal magnets, are available for serious racing. It's those types of motors that can break the 2-second barrier -- the magic number in RC drag racing.

In the segment that follows Chris visits with Tim Cross, President of the IMDRA. He also visits with Adam and Randy Pace, a father and son team who travel the country competing in RC Dragster events.

Important: This demonstration provides some of the basic information for operation of these particular styles radio-control model dragsters. There are variations in assembly for each particular model. Read and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions and safety precautions that come with your RC model -- whether it is one of these particular models or another. Additional information about assembly as well as running, troubleshooting and fine-tuning the model can typically be found in the manufacturer's instructions.

RESOURCES :

Special Resources for Radio Control Hobbies, episode 403

Megatech International
North Bergen, NJ
www.megatech.com

Grand Motorsports
Mount Vernon, IL
www.grandmotorsports.com

Team Walbern
www.teamwalbern.com

International Model Drag Racing Association (IMDRA)
www.imdra.com