wheres short course going?
 

hi I'm just interested in people's thoughts on short course racing in the uk. having looked on a lot of uk forums the short course sections seem a bit dead, so whats your thoughts - is it growing, or is it one of those things thats never going to take off?
I hope it does the trucks look absolutely fantastic, having said that- I thought electric 8th would have been huge in the UK by now - but that never really seemed to go anywhere.

I know what you mean. I've got 2 of them but it seems to be going quiet. A few run locally to me but not many and its very casual. I love it when I do race them but its the poor relation to my buggy racing and most of the lads I race with only run the trucks when they are saving the buggies for bigger meetings.

that might be the problem people don't see them as a proper race class
the other problem is us Brits are a funny lot we don't like change lol.
are they still big in the us?

Short course
 

I would say they look the nuts and can't wait to get one but I think this is the thing 1 it's a new class and it will take a while for people to get them and the cost of new motor 550 etc 150amp esc etc
2 maybe the tracks In the uk don't suit them as much as the U S A and short course racing in real scale is huge out there and absolutey cool to watch.
3 watch this space it will get more popular as local. Clubs and national events allow them to run and evolve with the ever increasing hobby/sport.
Durango sc for me..

as for motors a lot of guys are running them on 1/10 systems and 4wd with no issues. i think the 1/8 systems are over kill but if you do want a 1/8 system this is hard to beet for price and performance

http://www.giantcod.co.uk/ezrun-brus...-p-406416.html

I have just got one and has to be said I am loving driving it.

I think that the problem when they first came out was that you could only really get tyres suited for american tracks, which were not really suited for our astro/grass tracks. The cars handled pretty poorly and it put a lot of people off. Now we have schumacher minispikes, and pins, D-boots on the way, Kourse kings, they will all work well on the tracks that we drive on so I am hoping that more people will see the trucks going well and decide to have a go.

Personally I feel the 2wd trucks make a good beginner car, tough, handle the jumps and bumps well and with the right tyres easy to drive. They don't need expensive equipment to be up to speed either ( mine is currently running a budget savox, Lrp sphere reverse ,4 year old Novak SS 10.5 and 30c batteries) so fairly cheap.

I'm looking to do the short course nationals this year and I am hoping there will be a good attendance this year :thumbsup:

The 2wd ones are great, cheap, strong and look the part. I don't think the expensive 4wd cars have added anything.

I hope they take off, if it kept cheap I think it will have more of a chance. I love my slash, I need to get some minipins for it though.

We had a really good response to the UK Nationals this year and will be looking at running the series again next year.
More and more clubs seem to be running S/C and with some of the bigger events running them as a class can only be a good thing.
There is nothing like watching ten of these in a close race on the dirt at coventry.

I think the biggest problem is that no one can agree a set of rules for them that people stick with.

Should we have motor limits and classes?

Seems to be a free for all at most of the places ive run.

When youve got 3.5t 2wds trucks running against 10.5t 2wd trucks I think I know whos gonna win.

As a class in the UK, I think it has missed its chance to be big now.

If the right tyres were available early on, and if driving standards had been taken a bit more seriously, then the class would have been bigger.

Having said that, it is popular at Chippenham during the summer.

Wheres short course going? Sideways usually ;) :)

I raced most rounds of the UK SCT Nats last year, and it was much fun. The rules that are in place for that series work, they are simple easy to understand but effectivel. Putting motor limits or control tyres will just put people off as they will have more expense to have a race legal truck.

TBH I think the 'nationals' tag actually put people off taking part as they thought they would be outclassed, yes there where silly fast people but there where also beginners having there first taste of racing.

I'm looking forward to racing my truck again next year anyway!

Curious I took my son for a shake down at our local park this weekend we had his Durango 410, Cougar, and the Blitz. Seperately 3 familes all came over to watch as we'd laid a course out with cones and frisbies. All three asked about the Blitz, how much, where could they be purchased. All could see the 410 was loads faster but is was the truck which drew their attention.
I think the general public recognise the Truck more and can associate with it.

As a hobby we need to embrace this to encourage others in. I quoted the price of the RTR versions to all 3 sets of parents, none were surprised. This is an accessible format.

What's not to love about a big, near-indestructible orange truck?

I think it would actually be a great class for 1/8th clubs to get juniors in - nitro, by it's nature, is not really for very young kids.

I loved racing mine this year but I struggle to race one at my local club,buggy racers don't seem to take it seriously enough and think were all into crashing and going round the track the wrong way...never happened at the sc nationals and we all had a great time,I too race buggys but I can see the other side of sc truck ownership-you can't really bash a buggy in the park/forest/beach or on holiday but you can with a sc truck.
It should be promoted as a beginner class with stock 10.5 motors

I had one when they first come out and loved it, everyones car was pretty much standard with non sensored ezrun systems at hereford. Had to sell it when we bought i our first house. Would be tempted to get one again if one came up cheap.

As everybody has given up micro's in Essex loads have started short course and we are all loving it should be bigger next year i think cos they are great fun :thumbsup:

The rules are simple from what i have read :thumbsup:

Don't forget to get all your trucking buddies booked in to the Telstar winter series this Sunday (4th) :thumbsup:

Where in Essex are Short Course being raced?

I had a go with a friends 4x4 SC10 on Sunday and I'm sold on the class!

they are good fun i got a 2wd and 4wd!

My local club is building a new off road track, I'm definatly making sure its got jumps that get the best out of SC!!!

Mark C what trucks you got?

good stuff so the interest is still there
i know that ledbury welcome them at there club days

MERCC at Braxted started running them just before the end of their season, guess they'll be at it again when next year's starts up.

There are a few SC starting to appear at Coastal as well now.

We raced at Braxted for the last few rounds.
There is also a new off road track coming soon :woot:
Eden Park, Herts and more when the weather gets better :thumbsup:
Southend indoors

Looks like Short Course is definatly on the ascent in East of England, after seeing a truck tackle the Moto X track next to our On road I think a few of the Colchester drivers will be investing in SC!!
Especially with our new track being built beside the On road track.

I really hope the momentum from the SC nationals can continue over the winter, it was a really fun series and great to take part in.

So many new faces can only be a good thing, there were also lots of young racers that were either just starting in RC or entering their first race series :)

We did the first SCnat round at silverstone this year and really enjoyed it. A few niggle that needed ironing out, but I assume they were dealt with as the season went on. We didn't get to the rest due to having so much other racing in the year, but next year I do hope to get some more in depending on the 8th race calendar.

SC are the nuts though, i ran the Durango 4wd at the nats and it handled great, much safer than the buggies. I'm now running the Blitz and I must say that 2wd is much more fun to race. :)

I agree with what someone said that 8th should take it on as a class to encourage the kid etc. to race without all the danger and so on that 8th has. It has a more scale to scale size with 8th too and a lot of the 10th lads just see them as cumbersome 'crash and bash' nuisances that just ruin their days racing. But to be honest, they just don't like another class crashing their little party.

It should take off, just give it a bit more time. i'm already noticing a number of 10th drivers going over to 8th, so obviously people are looking for different classes to race....why can't this be SC?:thumbsup:

SC trucks are quite popular at A1 Racing in Grantham - quite a few previously nitro 1/8th racers have gone the electric SCT route for both outdoors in the summer and indoors over winter.

The majority are 2WD and we have been getting 8-10 trucks per heat 2WD and 5-7 4WD per heat.

It's still competitive racing, a few more incidents of "rubbin's racin'" but no one seems to get overly stressed out if there's a few shunts, lots of shouts of 'Sorry' and laughter on the rostrum in most races.

They certainly seem to take more abuse than buggies - the bodyshells and big bumpers helping the survivability of the vehicle - a great introduction for beginners and they can look really good with lots of bodyshell to express your creative side.

Some still think that big 550 motors are the way to go, but in the majority of cases a reasonable 540 can 9- 10 turn is ample power for either 2WD or 4WD - it keeps it close and interesting, hope the class expands.

at broxtowe threres a heat of sc normally around 10/12 drivers sometimes more,most of which looking forward to sc nationals next year:thumbsup:

associated sc10 ft and associated 4*4

Gordy, I have to say support for the class in the west midlands seems very low. At the MAM series they have been struggling to get enough entered for a single heat at the Kidderminster rounds so far.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with the class don't get me wrong, just that in our region they don't seem to be capturing the interest of drivers but maybe that will change.

I've not driven one, not even the Kyosho version, so can't comment on if it is a good class to race or not personally.

Just trying to answer your question based on the "local" scene buddy.

Trying to drum up some support for SCs at Silverstone's Tuesday nights at Pitsford if anyone is interested:

http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87048

this always fires me up for racing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bguuL...eature=related

motor limit ?
 

Is there not a motor limit ? Turn and size wise. Usa have 17.5 dont they?

most people run 10.5 540 motor in 2wd and no limit on 4wd sc trucks.some races will allow a no limit motor in 2wd.i personally run 10.5 and find it great its got enough power and seems to be the sweet spot for 2wd

S.course ,is there an opportunity?
 

Hi,in reply too your post.
It would be a worthwile opportunity too keep sc as a relatively straightforward and cost effective class .
I feel sure the appeal of these large ,relatively sraightforward mechanically vehicles, an ideal entry level, and cheap way of going racing.
Unfortunately most racers who support race series need to progress with there chosen models ,spending on tyres motors ,batteries ect to gain more performance /questionable more pleasure.
So personally I consider too many rules to control the class will kill it dead.
The direction I personally consider worth persuing;running a new race format,for example3x8m or 2x10 min qualifing heats ,fastest laps 3 cosecutive 2+2 from each heat or WHATEVER YOU FANCY .
Longer run times might help running to hot motors although a possible lower limit of say 7.5 or 8.5 for 2wd leave 4wd open.
What an opportunity for some great paint jobs ,sponsors!

we used to run them at my old club,probably 10 of us,all good racers and very good close racing,we had a good laugh,most sold them because we told off for having fun:eh?:.........i now run at A1 racing and the encorage having a laugh:thumbsup:so iv bought a DESC410:woot:

Short course should be encouraged and embraced by all RC racers,it is a much easyer class to get into racing,"because" of the very relaxed rules.The trucks can withstand bumping into each other much better than the more serious open wheel racers.

Buy/try a Short course truck and please go racing,if you really are good at it,you might later move onto open wheel racing,where it is very important not to bump into other cars etc.

IMHO,Short course racing trucks could be a very solid foundation to all types of RC car/truck racing for the future.

:wub SCT`s :thumbsup:

I am egerly waiting for HPi`s new 1/8 SCT to land :drool:

SHRCCC SHORT COURSE IS GREEN FOR GO!

on my list........:thumbsup: