437LikesIs RC a cash grab anymore?
12-06-2023, 03:34 PM
#106
Tech Regular
Being an old racer, coming from the era of SCE and SCR Nicads, I would say that racing is probably cheaper now than it was back then, when the $ is adjusted to inflation. The difference, I think, is that people nowadays have greater number of different hobbies and activities that splits the disposable income. Also, some of the fault comes from the manufacturers that started to release "new" kits every year and get people into thinking that they need the newest kit/part to be competitive. Back in the days, new versions of cars were released several years apart. You could very well race the same car for 3-4 years and still be "up to date". Parts, batteries, servos, ESC, ... are much more durable today. Cars should (and are) be competitive for quite a few years if maintained properly. Truth is us mere mortals won't be able to fully exploit the last ounce of performance out of our car.
Martin Paradis
Martin Paradis
12-06-2023, 03:58 PM
#107
I'm also convinced that it is cheaper today than back then. People usually tend to conveniently forget about things like inflation when they basically just want to complain instead of doing a real, honest, fact-based comparison. Add the ever-present nostalgia-factor on top of that. No, actually most (not quite all though) turns this hobby took during the last 20-25 years were for the absolute better. Doesn't mean it's flawless these days, although quite a few problems of today were not caused by the manufacturers but by us racers/customers ourselves with our demands. But one's own misery is never the fault of the guy in the mirror, it's somebody out there, right? 
12-06-2023, 06:12 PM
#109
If manufacturers are hurting, then they should limit their number of sponsored drivers. Also, they might make more money if they sold updated parts instead of an entire kit. For the past few years, it seems that less than 20% of a new vehicle is actually updated. Why not sell each part individually or as a complete kit. It seems they would make more money doing so.
12-07-2023, 04:38 AM
#111
Tech Master
Most people think to easy about brushless. You still have to do the maintenance of replacing bearings, rotors (if you want to have it optimized) and outline sensors if you want to have it perfect. And then when no blinky is used you need to find all the correct settings to your motor. If you follow the used market it is surprising to see how fast motors, ESC's and batteries are sold by racers to get the latest all new again.
And that is what I did mention before. You can try to hunt for so called team material or with some effort create your own team material.
And that is what I did mention before. You can try to hunt for so called team material or with some effort create your own team material.
What? Just one motor?
21.5 class only runs on even numbered Saturdays, when the moon is visible and Jupiter's red spot is facing earth.
21.5FT runs if the moon isn't visible.
And neither of those racers will show up if there's a fog. Then you'll have to run 17.5.
No worries though. As soon as one class gets popular, we'll create another one so you can go motor shopping again.
So don't forget to add the cost of a soldering iron. And a transponder.
21.5 class only runs on even numbered Saturdays, when the moon is visible and Jupiter's red spot is facing earth.
21.5FT runs if the moon isn't visible.
And neither of those racers will show up if there's a fog. Then you'll have to run 17.5.
No worries though. As soon as one class gets popular, we'll create another one so you can go motor shopping again.
So don't forget to add the cost of a soldering iron. And a transponder.
As for the motor setup stuff I am 99% sure that both of the UK national champions would have simply taken there prefered wind of motor out of the box, checked the endbell timing is visually around 25 degrees and bolted them in to their cars where they would stay pretty much all year. If they needed more top end for a long straight add turbo, if they needed more grunt in the infield then add boost.
The whole "stock" thing doesn't make any sense at all ..... spending a bunch of money on special parts to make a car work better with a less powerful motor rather than building a kit and throwing in the same mod motor that you ran the last season(s)... really!
12-07-2023, 04:51 AM
#112
No Mod class.
We have 25 different super strict 2wd stock classes.
Bring the wrong Esc, you cant race. Its that strict.
We have 25 different super strict 2wd stock classes.
Bring the wrong Esc, you cant race. Its that strict.
12-07-2023, 08:41 AM
#114
Obviously, stock class is where the money is and where most racers want to stay. If you all don't like it, demand your track to run mod and only the novice will run 17.5 stock. If your track doesn't like it and tells you to go kick rocks, open your own track. Then you can run only mod and carpet the entire track, walls, and even the parking lot.
What's funny is, most of you sportsman racers, who are crying about there being too many slower classes, won't bump up to mod. Y'all might go there for a couple races, realize you can't win and are replacing too many parts, then go back to stock motors.
What's funny is, most of you sportsman racers, who are crying about there being too many slower classes, won't bump up to mod. Y'all might go there for a couple races, realize you can't win and are replacing too many parts, then go back to stock motors.
12-07-2023, 02:32 PM
#115
I'm still running a Mugen 7R fleet (7R Eco, 7R Nitro & 7TR Eco) and can still easily find parts at any given moment, moving to a 8R generation won't get me to the Worlds but will get me $2K shorter. Buying into the newest is entirely up to each individual and not always will make you any faster, just stay comfortable with what works with you and exploit it, nothing else to it.
12-07-2023, 03:12 PM
#116
You would think manufacturers would actually make more money if they would run models longer. What I mean is you would purchase parts to upgrade for maintenance or even locate upgraded parts to better what you have.
The thing is with new kits coming out I thought the whole reason with the new kit is they redesign yes and fix flaws? Why is it that they redesign a little bit and not fix the issues that everybody complains about. Why should I have to buy a kit car build it and then buy these optional but needed parts in order to make a kit good.
This is a good subject but the title is like that got me I was like hhmm then laughed
The thing is with new kits coming out I thought the whole reason with the new kit is they redesign yes and fix flaws? Why is it that they redesign a little bit and not fix the issues that everybody complains about. Why should I have to buy a kit car build it and then buy these optional but needed parts in order to make a kit good.
This is a good subject but the title is like that got me I was like hhmm then laughed
12-07-2023, 03:24 PM
#117
Easy: profit margins are bigger for option parts than they are for kits. They simply make more money this way.
12-07-2023, 03:26 PM
#118
Because when your car wears out, and you buy a new one, you don't want it to have the same known problematic issues. I'd want the new one to have been improved.
Most brands do offer the upgrade parts. I upgrade and string along old cars for a while. Think my ebuggy is 4 years old.
Likewise, the manufacturer doesn't want you jumping to another brand because of known issues that they can fix in the kit.
Remember how we all switched between AE and Losi every 2 years? Not necessary anymore.
Most brands do offer the upgrade parts. I upgrade and string along old cars for a while. Think my ebuggy is 4 years old.
Likewise, the manufacturer doesn't want you jumping to another brand because of known issues that they can fix in the kit.
Remember how we all switched between AE and Losi every 2 years? Not necessary anymore.
12-07-2023, 03:36 PM
#119
You would think manufacturers would actually make more money if they would run models longer. What I mean is you would purchase parts to upgrade for maintenance or even locate upgraded parts to better what you have.
The thing is with new kits coming out I thought the whole reason with the new kit is they redesign yes and fix flaws? Why is it that they redesign a little bit and not fix the issues that everybody complains about. Why should I have to buy a kit car build it and then buy these optional but needed parts in order to make a kit good.
This is a good subject but the title is like that got me I was like hhmm then laughed
The thing is with new kits coming out I thought the whole reason with the new kit is they redesign yes and fix flaws? Why is it that they redesign a little bit and not fix the issues that everybody complains about. Why should I have to buy a kit car build it and then buy these optional but needed parts in order to make a kit good.
This is a good subject but the title is like that got me I was like hhmm then laughed
The TC6.2 wasn't a total departure from the 6.1. For a short while, TC6.1 owners could buy the relevant updated parts needed instead of a whole 6.2 kit.
12-07-2023, 03:48 PM
#120
They don't have to release entirely new from the ground up kits. They can release updated kits. And for owners who bought one earlier, they can offer option/updated parts. This has been done.
The TC6.2 wasn't a total departure from the 6.1. For a short while, TC6.1 owners could buy the relevant updated parts needed instead of a whole 6.2 kit.
The TC6.2 wasn't a total departure from the 6.1. For a short while, TC6.1 owners could buy the relevant updated parts needed instead of a whole 6.2 kit.
That's what I was talking about in post #105. They should come out with upgraded parts kits, rather than just the entire kit.
Is RC a cash grab anymore?