Im new!

[rookieracer]

Im new to this...dont have a car yet but intend to come along on the 24th Jan....any help or suggestions would be gratefuly recieved

[Si Coe]

When you come in, head to the far side of the rostrum (careful not to get in the way of people driving!) and you will see a small bunch of people pitting separately from the main group. These people aren't lepers, and they aren't kept away because they smell (well Shanks might be ) but they are the Bury Metro club. They are the people to talk to if you are local and want to know about racing all year round etc.

There will also most likely be a few decent bits of 2nd hand stuff on sale so watch the wall where the results go up.


If you were thinking in advance of what to get - we seem to run practically everything. Currently the Yokomo B-Max is the most popular car - with a whole 4 people using them! If you want to race at Bury all year a 4wd car makes more sense as we don't tend to separate classes in the Summer. You can run 2wd (or even trucks) but you'll be at a disadvantage.

[madmax]

their is a couple of us selling cars at the moment and this is about the right time to buy as people are getting new for the new year. in 2wd the x6 and b4 seem to be the dominating cars and they boath share alot of parts so getting spairs is very easy. in 4wd their is alot more veriation as you have the schumacher cat sx, yokomo bmax, team associated b44, are all good cars and if your budget can go to it the durango, for a beginner the bmax would be good as it is cheep or the cat as it comes pre built.

[rookieracer]

Excellent.....does anyone have anything for sale now?

[sly]

If you can`t wait till the 24th, there are other clubs in the north west area that you could visit to gather info and race.

[woOdy]

Originally Posted by sly

If you can`t wait till the 24th, there are other clubs in the north west area that you could visit to gather info and race.

Just be careful, this is a Bury Metro thread not a Southport 1! LOL

[JonyNitro]

Originally Posted by rookieracer

Excellent.....does anyone have anything for sale now?

you need a charger?? Lipo one?

[Ben.G]

If you would like to go into 4WD to start with and have a budget amount of money.

I would look out for a HPI Cyber 10b

I know 5 people who run them and they all love the car

http://www.hpieurope.com/kit-info.ph...100703&lang=en

[sly]

I know thats why i`d didn`t mention the name but simply mention other club to visit that was the careful part about my earlier post.

[pugboy]

a word of warning, the hobby is addictive, get ready to say goodbye to your bank balance, and girlfriend (she's just told me).... it's true, you can do it cheap-er, but not easily. Best bet to see if you like it might be an RTR or try and get a used package with most of the gear you need. I would come to the club first and chat to a few people so you don't waste money.

[T4miy4 Guy]

Originally Posted by pugboy

a word of warning, the hobby is addictive, get ready to say goodbye to your bank balance, and girlfriend (she's just told me).... it's true, you can do it cheap-er, but not easily. Best bet to see if you like it might be an RTR or try and get a used package with most of the gear you need. I would come to the club first and chat to a few people so you don't waste money.

I`d defineatley echo this

As its the best advice tbh

Andy

[qatmix]

Also apart from the money, you might find the missus doesnt always share the same enhusiasm for the Hobby.


I would definately go down on the 24th and chat to the guys there. To get a decent beginners car isnt too hard, but its great to have someone point you in the direction of a good base set-up that you can continue with as you upgrade. (like a lipo charger and batteries etc)

[rookieracer]

24th it is then!....after lots aof advice on here Ive narrowed my choice of car down to 2 possible options, the Step up stinger or a Madrat....budget has to come into it unfortunately but I can always upgrade as I progress...anyone agree/disagree?

[Si Coe]

There will certainly be a Step-Up Stinger present on the 24th. Not sure if anyone is currently using a Madrat though.

[rookieracer]

Excellent.....another daft question.....does a truggy count as a buggy as far as the club is concerned?...would it be eligble for racing?

[Shannow]

I used a MadRat at the last Bury indoor meet in Chadderton - They're a nice cheap little car.

I'd advise against going for an RTR version though (of either car) - It's worth spending a bit more and getting better radio gear (Ansmann RTR radio gear is AM and you can struggle getting crystals) and speed control (so you can put a hotter motor in it without frying it).

Get a ball race kit too, only cost around a tenner and well worth the money.

[pugboy]

It comes down essentially to what you want to spend. There is no doubt that the RTR type is the cheapest way to start, and then if you like it and find you are lacking cause of machinery, you could then flog it and start again.

As some of the others said, there are a few recognised cars, both 2 and 4wd. If you were to start with just 1 car, although not as quick round the track, I personally would go 2wd as they are simpler and generally cheaper to run...as a rough comparison to the RTR, a competitive 2wd set up would comprise:-

2nd hand rolling chassis (B4 Factory Teams are always popping up on here/ebay and are still more than competitive) - say £100 with a few spares

Second Hand Brushless combo - roughly £100 quid second hand (LRP/Nosram as example)

Radio gear plus high speed servo - You can go 27 mhz, 40 mhz or 2.4 Ghz. This is something worth speaking to people about, most use 2.4 these days as they don't need crystals and there is less faff but they are still a fair bit more expensive. I would recommend a Sanwa Gemini 40 meg set (if you are going sticks rather than steerwheel) which can be had for around £50 second hand, then another £40 for a servo.

You'll need a set of lipo batteries, but 2 sets is the norm. I'd buy new from somewhere like DMS, or alternatively one of the Hong Kong shops on ebay. Check the BRCA battery and motor list for approved ones if you think you might compete in BRCA sanctioned events (this means NAtional and Regional meetings, but does not apply to the vast majority of club meetings where almost anything goes as long as it's 7.4v lipo. Budget around £80 for 2 sets of lipos, and £30-40 for a charger. The chargers are 12v input generally so you need a mains adaptor, or a car battery really for outdoor (around a tenner for a mains power supply, you can get these on ebay). Car battery, about £40-£50.

A few sets of tyres and wheels is handy although generally Schumacher minispikes outdoors and minipins indoors (for rears). If it's 2wd, same as rears plus maybe some staggered ribs which are a good allround tyre and last forever. Say around £50 but look on here/ebay for people selling second hand wheels.

You'll need some tools/toolbox and table and chair, say another £80, depends what you already have.

As you can see it can soon mount up!

I would go to Bury and mither as many people as you can, ask lots of questions and just watch how it all works. You'll find 9 out of 10 are more than happy to give advice. We might look serious sometimes when we crash, but at the end of the day it's a bit of fun.

Good luck and hope you're not too put off!

[MikePimlott]

Good Post Chris.

REMEMBER buying cheap is buying twice.

[rookieracer]

Is Acoms radio gear any good?

[Si Coe]

Its basic starter level stuff. I'm using the Acoms 2.4ghz set myself and it works, its just cheap and plasticky. Others have had issues with theirs though.

As for the trucks part: Indoors we are currently running a separate truck class (as well as separate 2wd and 4wd classes) but outdoors we normally just mix everyone together. The club has at least 3 regulars who have and race trucks (me being one of them) and 1 who only runs a truck. We certainly wouldn't turn someone away from a club meet for having a truck. You won't be able to race regionals etc as these don't have a truck class but its no biggie.

The 2.4ghz set with the brushless Stinger looks ok, better than the 27mhz stuff you get with most RTR's.

Buying most brushed RTR's is a bit pointless. Even if the radio gear is OK, you'll soon find the motor too slow and want to upgrade, which normally means a new speed controller too. And at that point you'll probably want to go brushless which means more money.

The same goes for batteries. Most shops will offer deal packs with a charger and battery pack, but these will be NiMH (nickel metal hydride) batteries. Do not get these. It is far more sensible to invest in Lipo (Lithium Polymer) batteries right now. They just work better.

Personally I'd get the following:

Brushless Stinger (cheap, simple, robust and pretty nippy - ideal for learning)
Hpi Lipo (cheap, will last a whole meeting with topping up)
Fusion Lipo Charger - Basic but 12V and AC