Chip Foose is literally a chip off the old block—the block being Chip’s dad, Sam Foose, whose custom cars were frequently scaled down to model size in the heyday of plastic kits and rattle can paint. Chip first got his hands dirty at a tender age, working alongside Sam at Project Designs in Santa Barbara
Throughout most of RC history, the complexion of the industry had been relatively slow to change. Along the way, niche classes like came to fruition, but the inception of these niche classes occurred sporadically. As the New Year dawns, it always invites a time for reflection. In retrospect, more niche classes have sprung out of [...]
Often overlooked and frequently dreaded, turn marshalling is a very important part of racing. Although in a perfect world nobody would ever crash during a race, the reality is that crashing, flipping your car and getting pinned into the wall can happen numerous times during a race, and it is every turn marshal’s responsibility to [...]
I know what you’re thinking. What in the world could I possibly tell you about glue that you don’t already know? Yes, it comes in tubes and makes things stick together, but it’s not quite that simple. There are many different types of adhesives out there, and each has its place in the world of [...]
Updating speed control profiles has become all the rage t hese days allowing users to set their ESC’s to the same trims and setting the pros use in major races. LRP has released its USB Bridge which allows users to link up their SXX and iX8 speed controls to their Mac or PC and install [...]
Soldering is one of those tasks that you either really enjoy or greatly despise; RC maintenance is often like that. Even if you are a nitro guy, soldering comes-up more than you’d think, and if you run electric, soldering is a vital necessity. Most beginners—and some veterans—are intimidated by soldering jobs, but if you keep [...]
I don’t claim to be the best racer, but I’ve been around long enough to see what works and what doesn’t. Here are some timeless tips that I flat out guarantee will make you a faster racer. 1. Slow Down: The number one reason I see people going slow around a track (i.e. not winning) is [...]
Even in this RTR age we’re in, there’s still a whole lot of building going on in RC. There are still plenty of kits and lots of hop-ups and modifications that can be done to pre-built vehicles. Wrenching is easy. Anyone one can throw a kit together and go race. And, anyone can slap some aluminum goodies [...]
Although you can easily spend hundreds of dollars on a single RC upgrade, there are numerous upgrades that you can make without breaking the bank. Sure, brushless motor systems, fully-digital transmitters, 11.1V LiPos and race-tuned nitro engines are among the most expensive and sought-after products, but there are actually tons of upgrades that can be [...]
Although some “serious” hobbyists only drive their RC cars and trucks at the track, the fact remains that the majority of RC vehicles are “backyard bashers” that tear up the streets, forests and extreme areas around the country. Warning! What you are about to read should not necessarily be attempted at home. Whenever bashing, always [...]
RC is expensive, and that is a fact. If you are into RC, chances are that you even have more disposable income than the average person. But just because you have a little extra money to burn, it doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t benefit from being able to save a few bucks as well. Stretching [...]
It’s a fact: RC vehicles are laden with on-board wires. And to top it off, wires are delicate and often left of out in the open, where they are susceptible to damage and sometimes look plain old sloppy. From the very beginning, RC owners have searched for ways to combat loose wires. Over time, four [...]
There was a time when Ready-to-Run (RTR) vehicles were a small, alienated segment of RC. Over the last ten years, however, not only have they gained respect among hobbyists, but they are partially responsible for keeping the industry afloat during hard economic times. Thanks much in part to Traxxas, RTR vehicles are much better than [...]
Suspension tuning is not a simple thing. A typical RC car has more adjustments than you can shake a hex driver at, and choosing the right thing to adjust in the right way in the right situation takes years to learn. One of the more subtle tuning attributes on a car is droop. A lot [...]
