Stech WernerOne thing that makes RC cars popular is that you can do everything that normal cars can do. You can rally, drift and drag race with your friends or even join a league. Drag racing, in particular, has become a very popular RC car racing event with so many leagues all over the world. You can find local drag racing leagues and some international highly competitive leagues in your local area. Whether you are competing in a league or just having fun with your friend, drag racing is quite entertaining. Entertaining and fun as it may be, you will need to have the right RC car for drag racing.
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Why An RC Car For Drag Racing?
The reason why you would need a specific RC car for drag racing is due to the stresses as well as the conditions that are present during drag racing. During a drag race, the forces exerted on the RC car might be different as compared to the usual off-road conditions. Also, during a drag race, the conditions might be tricky. As such, it is always necessary to cater to the RC car during drag races.
The best RC car for drag racing is one with great brakes and good acceleration. For a beginner, it can be difficult to pick the perfect RC car to give you an edge when drag racing but hopefully this guide will give you an idea of what to look for when picking a car for drag racing, including the leading drag racing cars in the industry.
Understanding Drag Racing And RC Dragsters
Drag racing is a speed race that is conducted over a very short distance. The race can involve multiple cars or it can be one car at a time with times being recorded. The typical race track for normal car drag racing is about a quarter of a mile, with RC cars it is much much shorter than that.
RC dragsters are model cars designed to shine at drag racing. They work like the ordinary electric or gas-powered model cars that we know, but they come equipped with a number of special components which make them suitable for drag racing. Some dragsters are normal RC cars that are modified to suit drag racing while some are built from scratch to form super dragsters. A typical RC car for drag racing can go up to 60mph but there are some that can reach speeds of 100mph. As usual, the speed is determined by the components used in the RC car.
There is two type of drag racing tracks: on-road and off-road. Taking this into account, you should pick your RC car according to the drag racing track that you will be frequenting the most. RC cars used on an on-road drag racing track are usually fast and move in a straight line. There are no curves and turns on drag racing. Dirt racing tracks usually involve a rough but straight track. This means that the type of tires you use when dirt track drag racing is different from the type you would use for on road racing.
What To Look For When Buying An RC Car For Drag Racing.
There are several concerns or parameters that you will need to look out for when it comes to finding an RC car for drag racing.
Motor
A great motor for drag racing is one with a brushless setup. Brushless motor can support up to 14 volts in power which is gives it make boost when accelerating.
Drivetrain
The drivetrain is what you need to boost your speed as you shoot down the strip. Your drivetrain should be tunable or tweak-able to allow you to get both speed and take off.
Suspension
When a car is moving at top speed, there is a need for balance otherwise it will easily topple over. Good suspension is key to keeping a vehicle grounded and under control.
Tires
Depending on the drag race track you will be racing on, you are going to need to choose your tires careful to ensure that you get the best traction possible. On-road drag racing requires foam or rubber on-road tires. Off-road drag racing requires you to have tires that will dig and maintain tracking in loose dirt or sand.
The Best RC Cars For Drag Racing
With that, here are the top reviews of some of the best RC cars for drag racing in the market.
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K’NEX Burnout Dragster
The Radio-Controlled Burnout Dragster leads the pack of drag racing RC cars. It has an electric motor with full steering and top speed. It has peel-out wheels and a protective nose cone for protection against crash-related damage. It also comes with a 27 MHz radio control that supports full steering.
Pros
- There are three different models to choose from: the BurnOut, the Scorpion Racer, and the Sprint Sport.
- It can be configured to use different frequencies to avoid interference when racing two or more cars at the same time.
Cons
- It requires up to 9 batteries at one time.
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Traxxas XO-1 1/7 Scale AWD Supercar
Traxxas is a well known and respected RC car brand and the Traxxas XO-1 1/7 Scale AWD Supercar does not disappoint. It is a powerful high-speed RC vehicle built for all drag racing tracks. It has an ET 2400 3s brushless motor system that can go above 70mph. It has a Control switch for launch and 2.4GHz radio frequency control.
Pros
- The control switch for launch also gives the car maximum acceleration and traction
- Perfect RC for beginner and intermediates because of the power and intensity of the engine.
Cons
- It does not come with a battery or a charger.
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RJ SPEED 2004 Pro Mod Drag Kit
Scaled at a size of 1/10, the RJ SPEED 2004 Pro Mod Drag Kit is the perfect kit for someone who is looking to build their own customized drag racing car. The kit contains electronic motor and related components with spur gear and rolling chassis.
Pros
- The kit comes with the body, rolling chassis, spur gear, and electronic components.
- Great kit for RC car building, easy to put together even beginners can use it.
- Highly customizable RC drag car kit
Cons
- The kit does not come with wheels or tires; users have to buy those separately.
Conclusion
One man’s meat is another man’s poison; The reason why we say this is because what is awesome to us might not be awesome to you. So, after reviewing all of the above RC car for drag racing, you will need to make your own decision. In time to come, you will be able to enter drag races like the one below!
