luffy99

I was heavily into nitro rc in the early to mid 2000's. I had a nitro TC3 an RS4 and 2 nitro cars by megatech a rc10GT and an ofna buggy. Even a nice mugen seki on road car. then took a long break and was forced to sell most during the 09 recession. I rebuilt my old ofna in 2018. Then this past October I picked up an X-Maxx and last week picked up a losi Mini T. Now I am looking for a nice on road car but it seems like most Nitro cars are 1/8 buggies or truggies or even gas-powered 1/5 scales. The only 1/10 i find are nitro buggies or electric. Has the industry phased them out? I am loving running my brushless motors but I miss that 1/10 on road sound especially when second gear kicks in. Should I just stick with electric?

tak4

Yes.... they have.

I used to drive a Kyosho V One... and loved it to bits. But the class has really been eclipsed.

The 1/10 EP is easier to work on and out-performs the nitro counterpart, even with the two speed. The 1/8 nitro GT meanwhile, allows you to have the nitro experience with a much tougher platform that is also easier to drive. The EP is also cheaper to get and run.

The good news is low-end brands (mostly chinese) are now offering 1/10 nitro touring RTRs for cheap. This has helped boost the interest again where I am at... but it fizzled fast because you can get a race spec ep touring for much cheaper with SNRC, Xpress and Sakura providing dirt cheap race spec chassis....

bertrandsv87

iTrader: (2)

1/10 nitro cars are really used in big events now, since the major slowdown...They are still fast....

Bundy_Bear

iTrader: (11)

Definitely since i got into nitro 1/10th on-road racing in South East Queensland (Australia) in about 2000 numbers have declined. Now only one club locally races nitro on road and on a club day they would be lucky to get enough numbers to run a class of 10th scale nitro tourers. Is better at larger state or national events pre-covid. Electric numbers in on-road boomed over this time, but think recently they may have even declined.

Roelof

Looking over here in Europe on the larger events there were mainly 1/8GP and 1/10EP drivers hired to run the 1/10GP cars. With a very busy race schedule we have seen in th last years it seems like most of them are focussing on their owwn racing class.

TeamCarnage

iTrader: (31)

In the US, the broad answer is yes, numbers are down. But nitro is down in general. Go to the Miami Grand Prix, the upcoming WinterNats in Florida, or andyNational Fuel Roar event and the Sedan numbers are still impressive. Sedan racers are passionate about the class and are a hearty group. Sedan isn't going to fade away.

nitrodude

iTrader: (8)

It used to be that a lot of racers would run 200mm sedan and 1/8th on road on the same weekend. Many have had to choose one or the other, because of cost/maintenance/time. I used to run both, but as time went by I had less time to work on my cars, or less willingness to put in the time, and I started spending more than what I wanted to spend. I chose 1/8th, mainly because of less maintenance, but also because its a bigger class.

1/8 IC Fan

iTrader: (102)

To some extent yes. In the US sure, and it is unfortunate - but with the demise of many venues only the hardcore 1:8 IC drivers remain. Our track in Germany is still running 1:10 IC no issues and some of the 1:8 IC drivers are running both. My son ran 200mm to keep sharp, but as there are no venues close, its moot point now. Its just a sad truth as we have discussed on many threads. Its not an easy class, and takes time, time that unfortunately many no longer have or are willing to invest, not to mention the drop off in manufacturer support (sponsorship of venues).

I wanted to add that I do not think Infinity is doing the class any service by offering a 220mm car after this phase dies out... they could instead focus on newcomers....

Bundy_Bear

iTrader: (11)

Having made the change a year a go from 200mm 1/10th IC nitro tourer to 1/8th IC pan car class i find Dominic Greiner comments about 1/10th class to be right. Read full interview at https://www.jumpstartrc.com/intervie...ominic-greiner or here is screen shot.

1/8 IC Fan

iTrader: (102)

that is a good point Bundy. My son when he stepped into 1:10 IC found it harder. He started in 2wd 1:8 Pan, and we thought he would ease into it, but not the case. He runs 1:8 IC 4wd now, and finds it easier to drive than 1:10 for certain - which may be attributed to his 2wd pan background, but he describes the 1:10 as twitchy, moody and less forgiving to come back from a setup error.

Billy Kelly

iTrader: (9)

There’s a new outdoor on road track opening in the spring. They plan to run nitro 1/10 and 1/8. And alternate weekends for electric. Very curious to see how it goes. Group I raced 1/10 last year offered them the chance to run 1/10 nitro. But only couple came out the first race. And never came back

rmdhawaii

iTrader: (4)

IMO, the biggest challenge with nitro is noise and complaints - spouse, neighbors and business owners. If it were possible to silence it down to 50-60db, nitro would be a lot more popular. I'm surprised the R/C industry hasn't made this their #1 priority - even for off-road. It's not about what we want. I love the sound of nitro!! It's what the non-RC community will tolerate.

Roelof

I do not think the topic and reason is about the noise. on most gas clubs the 1/8 is more alive than 1/10.

Lmow20

I wonder how the European ban on Nitro fuel above 16% will affect things? Perhaps a push back to the .12 engines of 1/10 touring cars

Roelof

No effect at all. The 1/8 was already running 16% over a decade by now and the new EU law is actually 13% by volume so a small change that had no effect on the previous 16% by volume. Only the offroad guys are whining a lot because they always have run on 25% and now the have to run half the nitro content, to me it is a lack of experience and so more a feeling that thei think it will not work. Also bashers who liked 25% or even more are complaining that their .32 engines will not run on the new EU 16% but even then the famous LRP 32X has noted in the manual how to run the engine on 16%