Gasoline RC Cars 101

Being female, boy toys such as airsoft guns and gas remote control cars never interested me. The only time remote control cars came to my attention was through my brother, a remote control car enthusiast, whose hobby is to assemble model remote control cars from scratch. He would race them with my nephews and collects them for posterity. His eyes would light up whenever we pass by shops in the malls that sell remote control car kits of his favourite sports cars. He would scour through all nook and cranny there is in Quiapo and Hidalgo just to look for remote control car spare parts, components, and accessories. He seemed to be in heaven whenever he would visit shops loaded with remote control car models from Ford, Mustang, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari to police cars, race cars, and ordinary cars of every make, brand, and model including those from his favourite, Tamiya, displayed in the store. The variations and choices are endless.

So, here begins my interest about this hobby (and for some, a ‘passion’) called remote control cars. What is so interesting about them that make people get hooked? Remote control cars are model cars that are typically controlled from a distance using radio transmitters sending off radio frequency or signals. They are powered depending on the type of car’s engine. Electric cars, for example, are powered by electric motors and rechargeable battery cells. Nitro cars, on the other hand, are fuel-driven models that use small combustion engines fuelled by a special mixture of nitromethane, methanol, and oil. Gasoline remote control cars, as the name would suggest, are large car models that are powered by small gasoline engines that use a mix of oil and gasoline.

Remote control cars come also in different car grades based on complexity of make and design. The most common ones are ‘toy grade’ cars that are pre-assembled.  Most of them are electric-type cars powered by electric motors and rechargeable cells. The more complex types are called ‘hobby grade’, that come as either ‘ready-to-run’ cars requiring minimal set-up or as ‘almost ready-to run’ cars that come in disassembled kits that require more customized assembly depending on user preferences for competitive car performance.   

Remote control cars also come in different model types depending on suspension. The most common are on-road and off-road models. On-road models generally limited or non-existent suspension and are suitable for smooth surfaces. Off-road models, on the other hand, are built with fully-functional suspensions that can be used on various types of terrain or road conditions.

Indeed the complexity and variety of remote control cars today is the primary factor that makes it so interesting to both novice enthusiasts and veteran hobbyists alike. The wide range of possibilities for customization by model, parts, accessories, and components according to user preferences is enough to make it a creativity-inducing and time-consuming hobby like no other. It takes a lot of creativity, patience, attention to detail, and passion to enjoy this unique hobby. It is no wonder why my brother got so hooked into this. For him, this is the ultimate entertainment.