We have put this getting started section together to try and help you get started with model car racing in Ireland. From our experience we have had many potential members arrive along at our club with a car unsuitable to race. Mostly its because of what someone read on the internet about this or that car, but you cant beat advice you will get from local racers. We are not saying you should buy the most expensive or fastest car, on the contrary, we would like to help you choose the right car for your ability and budget, taking in some of the factors below.

You will learn more by dropping by and talking to racers and looking at what we have for a half hour than you will with a week on the net At the very least send us an email and we will do our best to advise you.

The track is open every wednesday evening from 7pm, this is a great time to come by and speak with us as the club members will have plenty of time to chat as we are only practising.

The Club

If youd like to see more about the track and the setup at the club, Click here to see the About the Club page.

At the DMCC we race electric cars only, at the moment only 1/10th off-road. The cars are loosely based on Baja Buggies or Sandrails. They are powered by lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries similar to what`s used in laptops. There are a number of different brands and routes you can take to get into RC car racing, but some of the main points you should consider before you buy are:

1. Can you get parts easily? You will break or wear out parts on your car, and if you cannot replace these easily, your car will become useless.

2. Can you get help and advice about your car? If you have a car that no one in the club knows about, it can be hard for experienced members to advise you or help you fix it when it breaks.

At the DMCC some well-known brands are raced and the above two points will always apply to them. These would be Associated, X-Ray, Schumacher and Yokomo.

At the DMCC we race two wheel drive and four wheel drive. Beginners are best advised to start with two wheel drive. Some people think 4WD is cooler, more advanced etc. but trust us when we tell you to start with the simpler 2WD.

There are also two classes Clubman, where there are restrictions on the type of motor and Open Class where there are no restrictions. Again, beginners will need to start with Clubman.

The best advice we could give is to speak with members of the DMCC and ask them for help and advice before you buy. All members are very open and willing to help anyone interested in the hobby.

1. Lithium polymer battery, this powers everything in the car. It would not be included with a RTR or a kit. LiPo Charging Sacks are mandatory at the DMCC Please Click here for details

2. Radio Receiver, this receives the control signals from the driver and feeds them to the ESC and Servo. This would be included in an RTR car, but not in a kit.

3. Timing Transponder, the electronic device detected by the club timing computer.

4. Servo, takes the steering signal from the receiver and moves the wheels left to right This would be included in an RTR car, but not in a kit.

5. ESC (electronic speed controller), takes motor control signals from the receiver and drives the motor. This would be included in an RTR car, but not in a kit.

6. Brushless Electric Motor, drives the wheels. This would be included in an RTR car, but not in a kit. The number of "turns" denotes the power of the motor, you should be careful of this when buying. The lower the number the more powerful the motor.

Below is a battery charger and two types of Transmitter (radio control).

The Transmitter you choose is a personal preference. Again, this is somthing we advise to drop by to the club and have a look at each type before you buy one. Usually you can choose which type that you get with a RTR model. They do not come with a kit type model

There is a wide range of battery chargers to choose from. These dont come with a kit or a RTR model

Beginner Race Classes

All beginners and people new to 1/10th off road must start in the 2 Wheel Drive Clubman Class. This is limited to 10.5 Turn motors or greater.

There are 4WD Clubman racers at the club, but this is low in numbers. Beginners will not be allowed race in the Open classes until you can prove you can drive, as you can do damage to yourself, people on the track and other peoples cars!!

And just in case we haven`t stressed it enough, drop by and talk to us at our venue in The Naul before you buy a car!

What exactly do I need to buy if I want to race?

To simplify all of the above, if you want to get set up to race here is a list of everything you will need on your first days racing...

2 Wheel Drive Car (seriously, start with 2wd)

Transmitter and reciver (they are bought together)

Lipo Battery to fit your car

Lipo Battery charger

Lipo Battery charging sack

Servo

10.5 Turn Motor. This is for the clubman class, if its your first time racing, you WILL be in clubman

Electronic Speed Controller (ESC)

Wheels to fit your car.

Tyres. We only allow one type of tyre on our track, the Hot Race Buggy Foam.

Tools. A 1.5mm, 2mm and 2.5mm Hex driver. Also a 5.5mm and 7mm Nut driver. These can be bought in a set. You can build up tools later as you find the need for them.

Here is a list of manufacturers of most of what you need. Its not exhaustive, but all of them are used at the club and can be trusted. None of them have any affiliation to the club. Click Here

LiPo (Lithium Polymer) Charging Sacks are mandatory at the DMCC Please Click here for details

There are a number of factors that help decide the cost....

• If you buy all equipment new, costs will run high, you are looking at €700 plus.
• If you buy a used car, and a mix of new and used electronics you are looking at somewhere between €500 to €650
• We have looked recently at cheaper options for beginners, as we understand its an expensive undertaking, specially if you arent sure its a sport you want to keep doing. So we have tried and tested a number of options and have come up with the Tamiya Neo Fighter Buggy (DT-03) Kit #58587. If you get in touch with us we can point you in the right direction to purchase the car. Also our sponsor, MSD models, can supply the electronics and all you need to go racing for a good price. If you go the Neo Fighter route, you can race for €250!!

Finally, in case you haven`t got it, before you buy anything..... at all... drop buy the club and have a chat with us. We may save you a fortune! (and give you tea and bickies)

Happy racing!