Driving technique questions...My track's finished!!

[jim007]

There is plenty of talk on here about upgrades, new products, bash stories etc, but I thought I'd ask a few questions about actual driving techniques...
I don't get along to any track days or events with work and such getting in the way so I've started building a track in the backyard as well as some indoor tracks in the living room for me and the kids to have some fun on.
Trouble is I'm not the best at controlling these cars around a track and it's hard for me to teach the kids when I don't know much myself.
Anyway, I was wondering if there were some tips and hints anyone could offer to help improve driving skills.
We are using Micro-T's for the indoor track and will have some RC18T's for the backyard soon. !amazed


<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited ]</span>

[Dazz 68]

These little cars are quite hard to learn to drive well as their small size makes them very twitchy.I race a 1/18th Anderson occassionly and there are some simple things you can do to make them easier to drive.First of all balance the car,use a little lead and some Blue Tac to evenly balance the car left and right, front and back.If your radio has END POINT ADJUSTMENT use it to desensitise the steering by turning it down,this and the extra lead weight help to stop the car traction rolling and spinning out all the time,also use the EPA to turn down the power to make the car go slow enough for the kids to control ,turn it up as they improve.With practise you will be able to correct the attitude of the RC18 mid air and land just about any jump with use of the throttle and brake but this will be almost impossible with the Micro T
A lot of the mods you see people on here doing to their cars are for show but serve the dual purpose of making them more durable and handle better.

[jim007]

Well I'm getting the outdoor track pretty smooth and am confident the micro's will handle it quite well.
The one thing I've managed to work out for myself on my indoor tracks is that I shouldn't go as fast as I can! lol
My best laps are when I just try to drive smooth and plan the next turns as soon as possible.
I know what you are saying about controlling the car in the air... I used to be able to flatten my mini-t out by manipulating the throttle as it flew off jumps (had a mamba comp-x brushless set up).
The micro's don't quite have the same torque out of the box! lol

[Emlyn]

do you have any pics??

[jim007]

I'm at work at the moment... (hard at it) ;)
I'll pop some pics up when I get home.
I'm at the stage where I'm wetting it down and compacting the track. Even after just 24 hours it's getting pretty firm.
It's about 15' wide and roughly 27' long. Not that big but it's the best track in St Arnaud! lol

[jim007]

This is my first days effort...
http://a194.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/106/l_6b2d5a71120325d468a58ba16c8c5821.jpg
http://a609.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/78/l_80913a5225a2b97b04518b0a18febe60.jpg
http://a598.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/104/l_f15983ac4c4f6a3e52c58e5568553fb5.jpg
http://a556.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/100/l_12518ec1b64a620ec250042987d9d9b3.jpg
No pics of 2nd day but all I've done is wet it down, fill a few dips and flatten some bumps...
Will keep doing that until it's firm enough and smooth enough. Not sure how long that's going to take but it will be worth it in the end!

[*TOP DOG*]

looks great! wherdya live ill come 'test' it out aha good work.

[jim007]

I'm in St Arnaud VIC... a damn long drive for you!
That's half the reason I'm building it is I live over an hour away from the nearest track. Now I have one at my back door. I can't wait to get it finished!!!

[jim007]

My track layout is finally finished. I just want to get it a bit smoother and firmer. I'm also going to landscape it a little and set up some lights for night time racing. I designed the track so you can run either way so it's like two tracks for the price of one. lol

http://a925.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/29/l_e59441573f142a598a314ca7fa9c3744.jpg
http://a681.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/4/l_32ef01a7b043b3bf4e12e551a6f398e0.jpg
http://a422.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/2/l_0407f293625d2cbbf142bc89c82c8925.jpg
http://a814.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/50/l_08319b6635e66c548f4177727674e7cd.jpg
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Mon May 12 2008, 09:06PM ]</span>

[Dan]

wow that looks mint!

[jim007]

Thanks Dan. I pretty happy with how it's turned out.

[Emlyn]

that looks siC !yikes

[Scott]

i want to buy a mini just to drive at your track now lol =P top job.

[jim007]

Thanks for the comments. I tested it out for the first time last night. Even though the track isn't as smooth as it could be yet the micro just loved it. The jumps seem to be just the right size and there is a good variety of twists and turns. I took some vids which i'm editing together. I'll pop a youtube link up when i get it finished tonight. Nothing too exciting but was fun making it. lol

[jim007]

Dang, the pics aren't working atm as the site they are linked to is down for maintenance. i'll fix that tonight too if they still don't work.

[Emlyn]

what happens when it rains? do you have a tarp or something?

[jim007]

When I designed it I did try to keep drainage in mind but it was very difficult to make a track that didn't have at least a couple of places that water can pool. Even though there is a slight slope. I will have thick grass in the centre of the track between the lanes which will hopefully help absorb the water. If rain does become an issue then I guess I will have to buy a big tarp. Lucky the track isn't too big. lol

[jim007]

Pics are fixed.
I heard there is a lot of rain coming on friday... I guess I'll find out how the track handles an inch of rain.

[stretch]

I like it, turn your backyard into a race track. This guy is not married right, or his wifes last name use to be brock.