Model (R/C) Car Racing in the North East
Discussion
Hi Everyone,
As you will see from my post count, I'm not a regular contributor, but I have lurked around here for a good few years reading these forums on a daily basis.
I know there is a big interest in cars and motorsports in the North East, so I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce model car racing to those in the area.
Most people will have owned at least one Radio Controlled car, especially in their younger days, but you may not be fully aware of the sport of model car racing. The UK has one of the most pro-active governing bodies, and radio controlled car racing is recognised as a branch of motorsport by the MSA.
We are very fortunate in the north east of Scotland to have 2 very strong clubs. We race indoors during the winter months at the Betteridge centre in Newtonhill and outdoors during the summer months at the permanent tarmac circuit at Stonehaven. We are currently trying to proactively promote the sport and get it out to a wider demographic. The sport is fiercely competitive, with the cars being made from mainly carbon fibre, and the time, effort and skill involved is very close to full size racing.
You can find more information on both clubs, including links to forums to ask questions, calendars, links, photos etc here;
http://www.sdrcc.co.uk/
http://www.grampianrcc.co.uk/
This Sunday we are hosting a 4-hour team Endurance event at the Betteridge centre in Newtonhill, this is a bit of a departure from usual racing (normally races last only 5 minutes), however feel free to come along and have a look if you are interested.
Feel free to PM/Email/post here if you want to find out more.
Thanks,
Marc
As you will see from my post count, I'm not a regular contributor, but I have lurked around here for a good few years reading these forums on a daily basis.
I know there is a big interest in cars and motorsports in the North East, so I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce model car racing to those in the area.
Most people will have owned at least one Radio Controlled car, especially in their younger days, but you may not be fully aware of the sport of model car racing. The UK has one of the most pro-active governing bodies, and radio controlled car racing is recognised as a branch of motorsport by the MSA.
We are very fortunate in the north east of Scotland to have 2 very strong clubs. We race indoors during the winter months at the Betteridge centre in Newtonhill and outdoors during the summer months at the permanent tarmac circuit at Stonehaven. We are currently trying to proactively promote the sport and get it out to a wider demographic. The sport is fiercely competitive, with the cars being made from mainly carbon fibre, and the time, effort and skill involved is very close to full size racing.
You can find more information on both clubs, including links to forums to ask questions, calendars, links, photos etc here;
http://www.sdrcc.co.uk/
http://www.grampianrcc.co.uk/
This Sunday we are hosting a 4-hour team Endurance event at the Betteridge centre in Newtonhill, this is a bit of a departure from usual racing (normally races last only 5 minutes), however feel free to come along and have a look if you are interested.
Feel free to PM/Email/post here if you want to find out more.
Thanks,
Marc
I feel that should offer some insight into this, so here goes...
Like most on here i took an interest in RC cars when i was younger, before i could get my driver's licence.
i heard about this club when i was a teenager and put my hard earned money towards a, relatively simple but expensive, kyosho electric powered RC car. I arrived eager to learn and desperate to try my car on a real RC track.
I was simply told that, in order to be competitive, i would have to spend the same amount as the grown men earning a proper wage. They would not even let me on the track and were rude/condescending when i asked questions. Altogether they were very unsupportive!
My personal advice is to use less money to buy a real car (just a scrapper for less than £1000, doesn't even need to have an MOT) and go to the SDMC instead. They will even give you a garage to keep it in for £10 a month and plenty of support. Regular events and rallies will mean u'll have a much better time in a real car.
Phoenixz
Like most on here i took an interest in RC cars when i was younger, before i could get my driver's licence.
i heard about this club when i was a teenager and put my hard earned money towards a, relatively simple but expensive, kyosho electric powered RC car. I arrived eager to learn and desperate to try my car on a real RC track.
I was simply told that, in order to be competitive, i would have to spend the same amount as the grown men earning a proper wage. They would not even let me on the track and were rude/condescending when i asked questions. Altogether they were very unsupportive!
My personal advice is to use less money to buy a real car (just a scrapper for less than £1000, doesn't even need to have an MOT) and go to the SDMC instead. They will even give you a garage to keep it in for £10 a month and plenty of support. Regular events and rallies will mean u'll have a much better time in a real car.
Phoenixz
Thanks for your comments. Not exactly the reaction that I was hoping for.
Your point with regards to costs is a good one. We held a massive event in Union Square just under 2 years ago. The centre reckoned some 70,000 people passed through over the weekend, with viewing around the track we had setup in the region of 3 deep at times. I think we ended up with 2 or 3 new racers from that.
I think up until recently, the biggest difficult in promoting this hobby is the cost and complexity of getting the equipment together to come and race, and as you correctly point out, turning up and realising you have not got the correct equipment.
Myself and a few other members have spent alot of time in the past year to create a cost effective class which is new for 2012. All information regarding this can be found on the SDRCC website, link in my first post. A competitive car and everything required to come along and race, except tools, can be bought for around £300.
I guess R/C racing is like any other hobby, if you want to be at the top, it costs money, just like motor racing, Karting, motocross, etc.
Which track did you take your car along to? Stonehaven? Any idea when this was (year)?
Your point with regards to costs is a good one. We held a massive event in Union Square just under 2 years ago. The centre reckoned some 70,000 people passed through over the weekend, with viewing around the track we had setup in the region of 3 deep at times. I think we ended up with 2 or 3 new racers from that.
I think up until recently, the biggest difficult in promoting this hobby is the cost and complexity of getting the equipment together to come and race, and as you correctly point out, turning up and realising you have not got the correct equipment.
Myself and a few other members have spent alot of time in the past year to create a cost effective class which is new for 2012. All information regarding this can be found on the SDRCC website, link in my first post. A competitive car and everything required to come along and race, except tools, can be bought for around £300.
I guess R/C racing is like any other hobby, if you want to be at the top, it costs money, just like motor racing, Karting, motocross, etc.
Which track did you take your car along to? Stonehaven? Any idea when this was (year)?
I raced at the Stonehaven track for several years (actually ran the races for a while when mike gave it up) before I grew up a bit and had to work to pay for my real car,however I've missed it since and I always say I'm going to get back into it - I always seem to find something else to spend my money in though.
It's without doubt one of the best things I've ever done and the money you can spend is crazy but it's really worth it when you start getting good!
I gave it up just as there was talk of brushless motors coming in (I was running 3300 cells too - dunno what they're at now??),has that materialised?
Clark
It's without doubt one of the best things I've ever done and the money you can spend is crazy but it's really worth it when you start getting good!
I gave it up just as there was talk of brushless motors coming in (I was running 3300 cells too - dunno what they're at now??),has that materialised?
Clark
Clark,
We are at Newtonhill 10am to 3pm tomorrow (Sunday).
I remember racing with you around 10 years ago. I used to come up to Stonehaven from Fife to race. Didn't your Dad have a 993?
Myself and a few other guys at Stonehaven have put together a new class for 2012 specifically targetted at newcomers and returning racers.
All the info is on the SDRCC website, if you still have some of your kit, you'll probably find it will be suitable.
Yes, things have moved on quite a bit. The motors are "brushless" so no more lathes, skimming motors etc. The batteries are now Lipo rather than cells,so no more discharging, equalising etc.
Marc
Mods: I'm a little dissapointed this has been moved as it was specifically for those in the North East of Scotland, and as a regular reader I know a lot of guys from the area read and contribute to the Scotland section. Never mind.
We are at Newtonhill 10am to 3pm tomorrow (Sunday).
I remember racing with you around 10 years ago. I used to come up to Stonehaven from Fife to race. Didn't your Dad have a 993?
Myself and a few other guys at Stonehaven have put together a new class for 2012 specifically targetted at newcomers and returning racers.
All the info is on the SDRCC website, if you still have some of your kit, you'll probably find it will be suitable.
Yes, things have moved on quite a bit. The motors are "brushless" so no more lathes, skimming motors etc. The batteries are now Lipo rather than cells,so no more discharging, equalising etc.
Marc
Mods: I'm a little dissapointed this has been moved as it was specifically for those in the North East of Scotland, and as a regular reader I know a lot of guys from the area read and contribute to the Scotland section. Never mind.
With reguards cost. Yes i can get into silly money but you can also race to a good std for far less than a lot of people spend. Once you have a good car etc its mainly tyres you need to buy.
Also a lot of cost depends on what class you run. You could always race cheap with a mardave.
Good look with the club ive never been always fancied doing that much more gp think it was called but never got round to it. something else always came up.
Also a lot of cost depends on what class you run. You could always race cheap with a mardave.
Good look with the club ive never been always fancied doing that much more gp think it was called but never got round to it. something else always came up.
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