Nitro R/C Cars - Big People Toys

Remember playing with your radio control car in the yard as a kid? At least, playing with it until the batteries went dead. At four miles per hour. Ah, yes, what fun it was! Well, times have changed, and radically.

General Information

Now they make nitro cars that are capable of 50+ miles per hour, and have real, honest-to-goodness engines in them! In fact, every part is the same as a real car, just smaller! All things from drive shafts and u-joints to mufflers and shocks can be purchased and upgraded for these little guys.

Because of their size and power, I cannot recommend a nitro car for a child's first radio control toy. They are extremely fast and powerful, and very hard to control for a complete beginner.

They have finely tuned suspensions which allow them to grab BIG air off of jumps, and land without a single bounce. They have cool bodies made of Lexan that are very hard to bust, and can be custom painted. They have real rubber tires with optional foam inserts for very realistic handling and racing. In short, they are mini-monsters that are a barrel of fun.

Accessories

Of course, nothing is too easy, and nitro cars need some things before they will run. They have glow-plugs like a diesel engine, and they use igniters to heat the plug up so the engines will start. They also require nitro fuel, which as of 2009 is about fifteen dollars a quart.

It is also recommended to get all the tools necessary to work on them. Almost everything on a nitro car can be altered with a few Allen wrenches or screwdrivers. Custom tools are available, however, which can make the nitro car enthusiast's job much easier come maintenance time.

Batteries are also involved, and are used in the radio transmitter and the steering and throttle servos located on the car. A servo is the box which controls the linkages to the carburetor and steering assemblies. Sometimes, depending on how the car is driven, these will wear out as well.

A temperature gun is a must when running nitro cars. Engine temperatures can tell the user a lot about how the car is running, and if there is too much or too little fuel being fed to the engine. On most nitro engines, the temperature should ideally be 230 - 250 degrees. If the nitro engine exceeds 270 degrees, it could be in danger, and it is time to inspect for problems like air leaks or a lean fuel mixture.

Manuals and information galore are available for free on every make and model nitro car, and there is no shortage of folks who will help you both on forums and at the local hobby shop. While they are a bit pricey, once the initial hit is taken, nitro cars are a fun hobby that is very rewarding and tons of fun!