Getting into racing

[BuggyBRO]

Hey all, i have a Kyosho Neo 3.0 currently with a 4.0 on the way. I'm looking to get into racing. Everyone keeps saying the kit cars are better made, my question is will my Neos be good for racing? Can I upgrade the important stuff or run them as is? I was gonna get into an MP11 platform but after seeing the cost of everything, seems like a waste of money to me. Being new i don’t even know how the fancy stuff works or how to even put them together correctly. I'm still learning how to tinker with upgrades, and getting the hang of tuning.

Will the Neos put me at a disadvantage? Is the MP11 truck beginner friendly and that much better of an upgrade? Should I find a used Mp10 or just buy into the newer platform?

After pricing out parts I'm a little sticker shocked.
I wish there was a new egg of the Rc World where I can build a cart and price out different build options. A one stop shop so to speak vs needing to figure out where to get this and that. Why doesn’t Kyosho offer the kit as a kit with a “recommended” list to complete the build that i can order exactly what i know ill need?

I'm overwhelmed to say the least

 

[CertifiedMike]

Have you contacted Kyosho about your questions?
Kyosho manuals are pretty thorough. My manuals for electric buggies have a complete hop up list as well.

Have you been to your local track? What are they running there?

While your Neo is an older design. It was also a world champion design.
Old doesn't mean slow.

You are a noob with lots to learn, lots of wrecks yet to happen, lots of wins and losses to be had before you are a world champ contender probably, right?
I don't think ANYONE here who races started out with the fastest, top notch, most expensive gear at the track.
Most ppl start on a budget.

You have a LONG way to go before you need to start worrying about beating the world champs at the nationals in the A main.

Enjoy what you have! You need to get out on a track and figure out what YOU need and not what all the pros in expensive race teams TELL YOU is important this year. YOUR needs will be different from the next racer. Experiment with hop ups, learn what the adjustments do on your car, figure out fluids and suspension, tires... Theres PLENTY you can do with your current buggies!
You will win and you will loose and you will make friends and maybe even piss a person or 2 off... the focus at the track should be on racing. Learning the ropes. Making friends. HAVING FUN!!! Those should be your priorities.
If you are only focused on winning, you are going to have a LOT of crappy days racing!

 

[BuggyBRO]

Have you contacted Kyosho about your questions?
Kyosho manuals are pretty thorough. My manuals for electric buggies have a complete hop up list as well.

Have you been to your local track? What are they running there?

While your Neo is an older design. It was also a world champion design.
Old doesn't mean slow.

You are a noob with lots to learn, lots of wrecks yet to happen, lots of wins and losses to be had before you are a world champ contender probably, right?
I don't think ANYONE here who races started out with the fastest, top notch, most expensive gear at the track.
Most ppl start on a budget.

You have a LONG way to go before you need to start worrying about beating the world champs at the nationals in the A main.

Enjoy what you have! You need to get out on a track and figure out what YOU need and not what all the pros in expensive race teams TELL YOU is important this year. YOUR needs will be different from the next racer. Experiment with hop ups, learn what the adjustments do on your car, figure out fluids and suspension, tires... Theres PLENTY you can do with your current buggies!
You will win and you will loose and you will make friends and maybe even piss a person or 2 off... the focus at the track should be on racing. Learning the ropes. Making friends. HAVING FUN!!! Those should be your priorities.
If you are only focused on winning, you are going to have a LOT of crappy days racing!

I have zero intentions on going pro. I don’t even care if I place top three. I was just simply wondering if what I have will work. If not, what do I need?

 

[CertifiedMike]

You should go to the track to verify that the car qualifies for the track but otherwise you should be set.

Those cars will be great on a track.

 

[Tunedfrog]

In reality if you have zero intentions on going pro and you don't even care if you place in the top three then anything will work.
Not to be a smart arse but wouldn't my statement be true?
I would say your Kyosho would be a perfect choice.
If it were me, I would go to some races just to watch and see what ends up on the podium at the end of the day.

 

[CreepyQuarryCrawler]

When I first got into racing I went to the track on an "open practice" time slot. I want to say ours was Thursday evenings. Open practice means you can typically run whatever.

I think for chatting, that's an excellent time to go, check things out and to ask the event staff some questions. There is typically way less pressure on them as there is no "live event" going on.

At the larger 1/8th track, our Race Director was up in the timing booth, super awesome guy! He was a AE team driver and would be so, so giving of his time (should have ran AE LOL).

I started out with an ECX Boost, Horizon Hobby's entry level brand and vehicle at that time (2013/2014).
I don't know if you could get any cheaper before you step down to toy grade. I put Proline wheels and tires along with upgrading everything on the chassis (steering setup, electronics, suspension, gearing, etc); It was awesome!

At my first local 1/10th event I placed second in 2wd open.

My point is, you can go with almost anything as long as it's allowed and they have a class for it.

I eventually upgraded to higher end race platforms but get started with what you have.
If you know you're going to go a few times, maybe have a few spares like a set of front arms or something.

I don't know what commonly breaks on that rig in poor landings but it is good to have a few things. Especially if your track doesn't have a hobby shop or offers other brands.

Nothing like charging batteries, driving 45 minutes away just to break a front arm on your first ten minutes.

If you enjoy it and think you'll be a regular build a small spares organizer for it. Each of my race cars had one. Consumables or easily broken parts. Arms, drive shafts, shock rebuild kits, retaining pins, stuff like that. Don't go crazy, I still have every single one of those parts I bought. But they'll be priceless at an event and you need something.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Ritz413]

Especially where you seem to be approaching racing from a purely fun perspective instead really trying to go pro etc I don't think you need to spend crazy money on upgrades or new cars. Talking with the guys at your local track, you will find out who is helpful getting you started....and who is taking everything so seriously they aren't any fun to talk to at all. Best of luck!!

 

[xjtorc]

You should go to the track to verify that the car qualifies for the track but otherwise you should be set.

Those cars will be great on a track.

This. As long as the vehicles you have meet the class specs and you are allowed to run them...run them.

When you go to the track for the first time, you'll notice there are fast guys running certain kits, certain upgrades, blah blah blah and everyone else trying to copy them. Don't let that get to you and spoil racing. Run what you brung and have fun. The slowest guy at the track will often have the newest nicest kit...I've said this for 20 years and I stand by it...being fast and having fun has nothing to do with the kit. On a dirt track, the only setup advice you should take from anybody when you're new to racing is what tire works well for the track surface.

 

[BuggyBRO]

This. As long as the vehicles you have meet the class specs and you are allowed to run them...run them.

When you go to the track for the first time, you'll notice there are fast guys running certain kits, certain upgrades, blah blah blah and everyone else trying to copy them. Don't let that get to you and spoil racing. Run what you brung and have fun. The slowest guy at the track will often have the newest nicest kit...I've said this for 20 years and I stand by it...being fast and having fun has nothing to do with the kit. On a dirt track, the only setup advice you should take from anybody when you're new to racing is what tire works well for the track surface.

That’s exactly how it is when I shot pistol matches. People buy these tricked out guns and guys with a stock glock come in and dust everyone

 

[ohsnap]

No truer statements than:
Certified Mike's "...lots to learn, lots of wrecks yet to happen..."
XJTORC - "Run what you brung and have fun. The slowest guy at the track will often have the newest nicest kit..."

The old saying goes "To finish first, you must first finish."
Practice and hone your driving skills and you'll have fun - and be competitive (with someone) - even if you don't win, come close to winning, or have the fastest or "best" vehicle.
I've seen good drivers with "obsolete" cars/trucks lap much faster vehicles.

BuggyBro - "After pricing out parts I'm a little sticker shocked."
I hesitate to guess how much I've spent on parts repairing damage that was caused when the car was faster than I was capable.
The wreck that didn't happen, saves you money.

 

[81exige]

as someone with no racing experience and unable to (tracks too far and upkeep costs are just too high), is it even worth going for the latest and "greatest" if you're hitting the track as a noob? only justification I see is if the manufacturer of your choice tends to stop making parts as soon as a newer vehicle releases

 

[luke66]

Imo, anything that fits the size qualifications is 'raceable' Will it do well? Depends on the time or money invested into your rig. I have a Arrma Typhon V5 that is semi-track tuned. I have done basically no upgrades rather then tires and I love it. Would I win a race? No. Would I enjoy it? Absolutely.

 

[CreepyQuarryCrawler]

Imo, anything that fits the size qualifications is 'raceable' Will it do well? Depends on the time or money invested into your rig. I have a Arrma Typhon V5 that is semi-track tuned. I have done basically no upgrades rather then tires and I love it. Would I win a race? No. Would I enjoy it? Absolutely.

Well said. Buutttt there's race DNA in there. All Arrma did was dress down their race kits; Team Durango