R/C Tech Forums - View Single Post - 17.5 Blinky, too fast for beginners?
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Old 11-13-2014, 07:14 PM
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Magnet Top
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For beginners a few things are certain. They need to have other reasons to race besides placing well to keep them enthusiastic about racing year over year.

1. For many beginners the look of the cars is what is appealing and hooked them in the first place. Scale bodies and "scale" looking tires help get people in and keep them enthusiastic even when the early learning curve whips their spirit. I think for most a "Scale body" with spec NON dish tires looks cool, not TC cars. Many racers take great pride in what scale body they use, how they paint it up ,trim it out, what rims they use etc. etc. Also, they are usually respectful of other racers to maintain their pimped out bodies and as a result over time they become great drivers. Many people are motivated by the looks as much as the technical and speed aspects of racing.

2. A spec motor !!! Why force beginners to play the motor of the month idiocy that 17.5 dictates. The learning curve is bad enough, take motors out of the equation.

3. 25.5 turn motors on carpet and 21.5 on asphalt is ideal. It is the right speed for beginners. Speed kills enthusiasm for many beginners

4. The overall expense has to be low enough to "hook" new racers in and keep them in... not catch and release Both initial cost and cost over an entire season has to be low. The slower spec motors, durable "scale" bodies and tires that last many race weekends are ideal to keep costs down.

See this video:

It is our Scale Spec Class ( Seattle RC Racers ). with 25.5 spec motors based on VTA/USGT rules created by our club's Competition Committee. It isn't limited to only beginners, its a class for anyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DJwb...0h0LR7kdbdA3BQ

IMHO, this "Scale Spec" class should be a ROAR Nationals class. IMHO , VTA is nice but the body choices limit its appeal to a wider range of racers. Our Scale Spec class incorporates VTA bodies and tires. That being said, leave 17.5 TC as stock. There is nothing wrong with it. Stock doesn't have to be a beginner class, ROAR should add a scale spec class at national events with a spec motor ( 25.5 for carpet , 21.5 for Asphalt ) and scale bodies !

Jake D.

Last edited by Magnet Top; 11-13-2014 at 07:30 PM.
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