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             Beginners Guide

What is a Mardave?

Welcome to our wonderful world of Radio Controlled Racing.

The following Guide is just one way we would like to be of help to new drivers.  

As a novice racer you are about to embark on a fantastic journey that will expand your mind, test your abilities and provide endless hours of fun!!!

To a novice the hobby of Radio Controlled Racing can seem very daunting. There are many different styles and sizes of cars and trucks. The equipment looks complex and difficult to operate. The racers use terms that are unfamiliar and have no real meaning to you. Have no fear. Even World Champion racers started out right
where you are today, asking "Where do I begin??”

We understand your concerns (We’ve all been there) and have adapted this online Guide to help you get over those initial hurdles quickly and onto the track having fun. This Guide is aimed specifically at the new racer and covers the basics of the hobby in a series of simple, easy to understand articles.

There’s a lot to learn so let’s get started!! Remember, all your time spent learning will be rewarded with a hobby that can provide a
lifetime of good friends, good times, and good memories!!!!!

See you at the track!

CHAPTER ONE:  Getting Started

1-1 What car do I buy?

Choosing your first radio-controlled car is a very important decision. Your choice can open the door to enjoyment, or leave you filled with regrets. To make a good choice you need to do more than read a few advertisements and head to the hobby shop with a hand full of cash.

There are basically three levels of radio-controlled cars commonly sold on the market. There are a number of cars that bridge the gap between the basic divisions, but most will fall more or less into one of these three levels.

The first is the toy car sold in local toy stores and electronic shops. These cars come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Most include a simple transmitter. The design of these cars makes them most suitable for younger children to use around the house. They can be a lot of fun, but for the purpose of racing they are almost useless. They are not very rugged, they offer none of the adjustments needed for racing, and parts can be very difficult to obtain.

The second level is what is commonly referred to as a "backyard basher". These cars are a big improvement over the toy cars and often don’t cost a lot more. They generally are rugged, well designed vehicles that can take an amazing amount of abuse and still come back for more. Many are quite fast and may even include a lot of features found on the more expensive racing machines. Unlike the toy cars, parts are readily available and can be provided by most hobby shops. These cars generally are sold at most hobby shops. Don’t let the name "backyard basher" fool you. The name is derived more from the driving style of their owners then it is from the car itself. The majority of radio controlled cars sold in this country fall in this category. For those not interested in organized racing these cars provide a wonderful alternative to the fully-fledged racecar. Many of the top racers in the country started out racing these cars against their pals in the local car park or school playground. You may not win a National Championship racing on the local car park, but you can have many hours of fun and enjoyment with your friends.

The highest level of radio-controlled car is the one designed specifically for racing. A great deal of research and development goes into these cars to make them light, fast, and agile. Most are constructed of composite materials and provide refinements like ball bearings to reduce friction and fully adjustable steering geometry. Generally these cars are among the best built and rugged on the market. Remember to win a race you first have to finish it and this fact has not escaped the designers of these cars. It is common for race level vehicles to be offered in two versions. The standard and the "Team Car". Usually the cars are identical in design, but the less expensive standard model does not come with some of the refinements found on the Team car. Often one of the major differences is the ball bearings are replaced with brass bushings in the standard model. This is done to allow the manufacturer to offer a race quality vehicle at a reduced priced to the racer on a budget. All the parts required to convert the standard model to the Team version are readily available and can usually be purchased one at a time. In this way the racer can start out with a less expensive vehicle and upgrade it to the full Team version over time. One thing to consider is that the Team version is usually quite a bit less expensive than purchasing the standard model and the upgrades separately.

Now that you understand the basic levels of cars available you need to make your first important decision. You need to give some serious consideration to what you really plan to do with your car and the capabilities of the cars on each level. You can take your backyard basher to the track and race with it. It’s very common for those just getting started to do exactly that and have a lot of fun in the process. You just have to keep in mind that your car may not be as fast or handle as well as a car designed specifically for racing.

The most common cause of dissatisfaction amongst novice racers is that they expect a lot more from their inexpensive vehicle than it is capable of delivering. If your goal is to compete in organized racing then only consider cars designed for that purpose. If your wallet is a little thin then choose a standard version and upgrade it over time.

Your most valuable source of information when choosing a car can be found right at the racetrack and it’s free for the asking. The track organisers and the racers are always more than happy to help a novice get off to a good start. They can also be extremely helpful in choosing a complete package of equipment that matches your budget whether new or second hand. Come to one of our meetings and let it be known that you’re a novice looking for some advice on your first car. Plan to spend some time. In general, racers tend to be a very friendly bunch and they love talking about this hobby. Once you open the floodgate you’re probably going to end up learning more about what car to choose then you ever thought you wanted to know! Just keep in mind that racers tend to love their cars and may show just a tad of bias towards that particular make or model (Schumacher of course).

1-2 What format of racing is the best?

Radio controlled cars are raced in just about every format that full sized cars are raced. Road course, off-road, oval, and even drag racing are available. In addition radio controlled cars come in different sizes called scales. The racing classes are also divided by body style. Typical on-road classes in America include NASCAR, Sedans, Indy cars, and GTP. Here we have Touring Cars, Buggies, Stock Cars, Formula one, Hot Rods, Bangers, etc.  Off-road cars are primarily divided into trucks and buggies. While most cars will accept number of different body styles the differences between classes aren’t limited to just the body. At Yorkshire Model Racing Club you are welcome to bring anything electric, but we race 1/12^th scale electric with more or less any bodyshell, but predominantly V12 Hot Rod or saloons made by Mardave. These are probably the strongest, cheapest and most fun radio controlled model car available anywhere today.

An off-road truck is a considerably different vehicle than an off-road buggy. They may share the same basic design and run on the same track, but things like length, width, weight, tyre size, and suspension design make them very different vehicles.

There is no single best format for racing.  A lot depends on your personal preferences and what formats are available in your area. There are, however, a number of things the novice should consider when choosing what type of racing to become involved with. In very general terms the cost of racing goes up in direct proportion to the size of the vehicle. By far the most popular size is 1/12 scale. These cars are reasonable in price, easy to store and transport, and don’t require a huge track. In comparison a ¼ scale oval racer can easily weigh thirty pounds and just about fill the luggage area of an average estate car.

Another consideration is the type of power used to propel your vehicle. Radio controlled cars are available in both fuel and electric powered models. Most people recommend the novice start out with an electric powered car. Electric powered cars tend to be easier for the novice build and maintain and allow him to concentrate more of his efforts toward learning to drive the car well. For those living in climates with long cold winters the electric car is definitely the better choice. Due to the fumes emitted from a fuel powered car there are very few indoor tracks that allow them.

Once again the best place to decide on the format of racing you like best is at the track where you intend to race. If you go during a scheduled race you’ll be able to see all the different classes race and decide for yourself which one interests you the most. If possible visit both an on-road and off-road race before making your decision. Don’t make the mistake of just looking through a magazine, choosing the car you like best, and buying it. You may be in store for a major disappointment when you start looking for a place to race your car and you find out that there is no place that race that format in your area. If you come along to one of our meetings, please make yourself known. You will be welcome and we will give you as much help as we can.

 1-3 Where Do I buy My Car?

As your interest develops in racing radio-controlled cars most likely you’ll pick up one of several magazines devoted to the hobby. These publications are a great source of information and can be invaluable to the novice. It won’t take long, however, before your drawn away from the articles and end up scanning the ads for the mail order suppliers. You’ll be able to find just about any brand or model of car you might have your heart set on at some very attractive prices. Before you grab the phone and your credit card you may want to stop and think things over for just a minute.  Many mail order suppliers offer good service and great prices. They also deliver the goods right to your door (if you happen to be in) and can make shopping very convenient.

Your local Hobby Shop has a vested interest in helping you have a successful start in the hobby. He can offer you advice and assistance that no mail order supplier can hope to match. As a novice you may need a little assistance getting your kit assembled and race ready. It’s common for a Hobby Shop owner to spend a little time helping a novice customer before the car has ever hit the track. He’s more than willing to devote this time and effort to a novice because he loves the hobby and he knows that the more of the initial problems he can help you through, the more likely it is you’ll be a customer for many years to come. Unfortunately, there are no model shops in the area that sell Mardave kits or spares, so see next paragraph.

Trackside spares are a good source for kits and spares. You can see what you are buying, get plenty of local advice and use the parts straight away. No traveling to Hobby shop or waiting for the post to arrive. Here at Yorkshire Model Racing Club we stock kits and a complete selection of spares for the Mardave V12.

1-4 What do I need to know about radios?

The radio is your link to the car. It is comprised of several different components including the transmitter, the receiver, the crystals, and the servos. Radios range from very basic models to highly adjustable computerized models that display their information on built in LCD screens.

The Transmitter

The transmitter in a radio system is the part you hold in your hand and use to control your vehicle. There are two different styles commonly in use. The stick radio and the steering wheel radio.

Stick radios are an adaptation of airplane transmitters converted to be used by land vehicles. They are rather square and boxy looking with two control sticks, protruding from their front. One stick is used to control the steering; the other controls the throttle and brake. Stick radios are very common and they are readily available, some racers, including some world champions, prefer them.

By far the most popular style of radio is the wheel radio. The wheel radio has a pistol grip design where the radio is held in the left hand. Using the left index finger on a trigger controls the throttle and brake. Pull back for throttle, push forward for brake. Turning a large knob, or wheel, with the right hand, controls the steering. Some wheel radios can be reversed for use by left-handed drivers. If you need this feature make sure it is available on the radio you choose before you make your purchase.

The Receiver

The receiver does exactly what the name implies, it is mounted in the car and receives and decodes the signals from the transmitter. Receivers come with either two or three functions or "channels". Each channel operates a single function such as steering or throttle. Racers rarely if ever use a third channel so the less expensive two channel receivers are fine for our needs.

The Crystals

The crystals determine what frequency or "channel" the radio and receiver operates on. In this case the term channel does not mean the same thing as the channels on a receiver. The crystals set up the main operating frequency of the transmitter and receiver and all the information for all the receiver channels passes over this frequency or channel. This will be explained in detail later in this section.

The Servo

The servo is a motorized device that plugs into the receiver and converts the electronic control signals into mechanical movement. All radio controlled cars use a servo for steering. Fuel powered cars also use a servo to activate the throttle and brake. Electric powered cars use a "speed controller" for throttle and brake. Normally your radio will include two "standard" servos, but not always. There are dozens of different sizes and types of servos on the market, but they can all be roughly compared by two specifications, transit time and torque.

The transit time is the time required for a servo to turn sixty degrees. It is expressed in seconds. The lower the transit time, the more responsive it will be to control inputs.

Torque is the amount of force the servo can generate. It is expressed in inch/ounces. The higher the torque rating the more power the servo can generate.

To confuse things a bit not all manufacturers rate their servos at the same voltage. Some use 4.8 volts and others use 6.0 volts. When comparing servos take this into consideration. Servos rated using 6.0 volts will have improved transit time and torque ratings compared to the same servo rated at 4.8 volts.

Many experienced racers use high-speed servos for steering. This improves the cars response time and gives it more precise steering. For the novice this approach may create problems. Very quick steering will make the car seem twitchy and unpredictable in the hands of an inexperienced driver.

High torque servos are used where strong forces must be overcome. A typical example would be the large, heavy front wheels on an off-road truck. A high torque servo will have the power required to turn these large wheels and improve the trucks steering.

Generally the novice should start out using the standard servos that come with the radio. You can add more expensive servos latter as your driving skill and wallet allow.

Frequencies

No matter what brand or model of radio you choose, they all operate on a set of frequencies that have been assigned for use by radio controlled land vehicles. Radio controlled airplanes operate on a different set of frequencies and therefore cannot be used for radio controlled cars. The frequencies for radio-controlled cars are commonly referred to as channels and are split between two major carrier bands, 27MHZ and 40MHZ. There are six different channels assigned to the 27MHZ band and 30 channels assigned to the40MHZ band. A set of matched crystals, one in the transmitter and one in the receiver control the channel that your radio operates on. These crystals can be easily changed and allow your radio to operate on any of the frequencies assigned to its band. It is important to remember that the crystals for 27MHZ and 40MHZ are not interchangeable. If you buy a 27MHZ radio it can only operate on the six channels assigned to the 27MHZ band. A 40MHZ radio can only operate on the 40MHZ channels.

When buying your first radio it is not important to understand how all this works, but it is important to understand how it is used at the track. When two radio controlled cars are operated at the same time they must be on different channels. If they are on the same channel the receiver in the car has no way of determining which of the control commands from the two transmitters it is supposed to follow and will try to follow them both. Naturally both drivers end up losing control and damaging their vehicles.

To avoid this situation a frequency control system is used. This will be explained in detail in a latter chapter. For now it is sufficient to say that when you buy your radio you should always buy a second set of crystals on a different channel. This will allow you to change channels and avoid conflicts with other racers. Most importantly, you must remember to turn off your transmitter when not actually racing. Someone could be on the track with the same frequency crystals as in your transmitter and though you may not be racing, you will cause interference to their car.

Modulation

Modulation is the technical term that describes the method used to encode the control signals on the basic radio wave sent by your transmitter. There are three types of modulation commonly in use today.

The first is AM or amplitude modulation. As the name implies this form of modulation varies the amplitude of the radio signal to encode the data. This is the method used in the least expensive radio systems. The performance of AM radios is on a par with other forms of modulation with one notable exception. The AM signal is vulnerable to interference. Any electrical noise is capable of modifying the information carried by the radio wave and therefore causing your car to act erratically. This is commonly referred to as "interference".

The second form of modulation used is FM or frequency modulation. The information in a frequency-modulated signal is encoded by varying the frequency of the signal. The main advantage of FM radios is that they are much more resistant to interference than AM systems.

The most expensive and least common form of modulation is PCM or pulse code modulation. The information carried by a PCM signal is in the form of a series of pulses. Once decoded this results in a pulse stream that resembles a digital signal. PCM radios are extremely resistant to interference and also offer a very important additional feature. Because the receiver is a digital device it has the capability to store information. This stored information is used to create a fail-safe function. Any loss of radio signal by the receiver causes it to enter the fail-safe mode. It will access the stored information and set the control functions of the car to some predetermined safe conditions. This feature is very popular in fuel powered racing avoid "runaways" should the radio signal be lost.

Computer Radios

The state of the art in radio systems today is the computer radio. The systems operate identically to their less expensive counterparts, but they offer an array of sophisticated features. Many will allow you store the set-up information for several different cars and or tracks and switch between them at will. Most offer LCD screens to view stored information and access the various controls. Features such as antilock braking, programmable steering and throttle curves, and complex servo controls are common on these radios. While all this capability may be very attractive to the novice, a word of caution is in order. These radios can be very complex to operate and can be very confusing for the novice. Learning to drive presents it’s own set of challenges and adding a very complex radio system to the mix may do more harm than good. A maladjusted computer radio can make a car nearly impossible to drive and the last thing a novice needs is to have his radio working against him.

A little time spent choosing a radio system that your comfortable with will be repaid every time you go to the track. The good news is that there are so many good systems on the market it is very difficult to make a bad choice!

PHEW!

If you have read this far. you are obviously very keen to get started, So the next thing to do is come to one of our meetings. We look forward to seeing you and promise you a great time. Check out the Calendar page to find out when we are having our next meeting.

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