Cost of racing an RC car

[KingBob]

So i was contemplating what car to get for next year whilewalking the dog, and i was running the numbers of what it costs to race a car for a year.

If you buy a new car, include shipping etc, say $500.
Most of us would buy a load of spares at the same time, say same cost as the car, $500, also covers spares during the year.
Tyres and wheels, assuming 6 months of racing in the year, 1 pair/month for club racing, plus 1 set for interclub, at $35/pair including rims, thats $420/year for just rears, more if you run 4wd.
Batteries (NiMh's), 4 or 5 for club meets, 5 or 6 for interclubs, plus a couple more if you run states, say 10 packs for the year, $1000.
And perhaps 2 bodies over the year, $80 for the pair.

Thats basically $2500 to run a new car for a year.

If you run the same chassis car for second year, it would only drop the initial chassis cost, so $2000 for year 2, and subsequent years.

Of course thats not including initial one of purchases, a decent motor/esc combo would be about $300, good servo for $150, various tools, carry cases etc $400, a charger for $200, and radio for $300.
Thats about $1350 in one of costs, but they can be used for any chassis.

Only talking average prices here, so excluding the initial items, it works out at about $210/month for a new car over a year, not including travel, nominations etc.

Not a cheap hobby!

[obzELiTe]

prob one reason I don't do to well. Two sets of tires for the season and the same set of batteries from two years ago

[Emlyn]

my cost in the last year

new car ( associated FT t4 truck)- $350

brushless setup - $450

tyres (well i use the ones that came with the t4 and some bowties)- $40

charger ( swallow eq) - $130

lipos battaries (trakpower) -$150 x2

spektrum (second hand off here) -$150

servo (hitech) -$70

hex drivers - $40

thats roughly the damage, all bought locally then theres other misc items like servo tape spare's oils etc.

hope this helps mate..:)

[KingBob]

See you're at $1500 odd, and thats with no spares, and a modest setup.

[Emlyn]

yeah never said it was cheap, and more has been spent but thats just the main stuff i use. :)

[eichkay]

I just dont think about it...

T4 $300 landed from USA (when the dollor was good)
Spares $200 locally yet to be touched in 8 months
ESC $270
Handfull of BL Motors $130ish each x3
Good quality tools brought this year ~$300
Battery's (switched to lipo x 3 = $450)
Tires in the current state of the track only good for 3-4meets $350-$400 for the year
Good servo thats yet to be broken $165
===========
Total about $2400
+ high end radio $400 (never mind chargers and pit gear like hauler bags)

This year isn't looking any cheaper tho, most likely running 2 cars and that means i have to double my lipo count at a minimum because its a MT ive gone and brought.

I think your count is about right but on the battery side id half the costs myself i was just running a 3 packs for club meets and brought 1 fresh one for a interclub, You can generally get away with minimal batteries if your running mod class's because fresh packs arn't as much a worry as if your running in stock class, but lipo's throw a whole new ball into the game really, some wont go that way and some will, its going to be a interesting year thats for sure.

[Mazimbwe]

Yeah, OK...but what are the alternative hobbies, that offer the same things that we like in RC racing, going to cost???

If you like motorized racing/competition you have to look at dirt bikes, quarter scale oval racing, go-Carts, 1:1 Car racing, etc, etc. Now there is no way known that you will spend 3K(including spares) in any of those hobbies and be fitted with everything you need to be competitive if you were starting from scratch...let alone running the top-end.

Even mountain Bike racing, if you want fast racing and timed competition, is not going to be as cheap as Racing RC.

[eichkay]

Yeah, OK...but what are the alternative hobbies, that offer the same things that we like in RC racing, going to cost???

If you like motorized racing/competition you have to look at dirt bikes, quarter scale oval racing, go-Carts, 1:1 Car racing, etc, etc. Now there is no way known that you will spend 3K(including spares) in any of those hobbies and be fitted with everything you need to be competitive if you were starting from scratch...let alone running the top-end.

Even mountain Bike racing, if you want fast racing and timed competition, is not going to be as cheap as Racing RC.


My old man keeps saying its such cheap fun and it really is, Its only as expensive as you make it anyways....

[KingBob]

And the $2500 is conservative really, look at the higher level racers who run 2 or even 3 cars, 3 times everything. And some buy new batteries for just states. Or even go to the nats over east, that single event could run you $2500.

I'd say the hobby is cheaper than drugs, but its probably not! lol

[eichkay]

Allot of people spend more on smokes a year.

[sleek]

:confused: I think club/interclub racing can be a lot cheaper than that.

You don't need to spend $1000 a year on batts (especially if going to lipo now) and buy a new kit and 2 body shells a year and write them off without selling. You should also be reusing your rims, and if tires are too expensive, don't race truck for a start. Spares - I've broken 1 ballstud in 4 years with the B4. I don't think you need to spend $500 in a year on spares. Maybe a few thrust races and spur gears etc.

$800 would cover running costs for one class.

[SNPY]

Do your homework first then you can save money .. e-bay, on-line hobby shops, even check the difference between shops in Perth and you will cut your costs .. talk to people, read up on what car you want to buy etc. then you wont make wrong purchases and be wasting money. Alot of it is just one-off purchases aswell .. so the second year you will really only be spending on spares and a little on upgrades.