R/C Racing Tips: Race Day Maintenance

Here at Hearns Hobbies, what do we do to prepare for a race? One of our RC enthusiasts, Brett, shared what he would do before a major race day and his overall maintenance routine for on-road races. Let us see what he does.

Summary

1. A Step-by-Step Guide on Race Day Maintenance
2. Watch and Learn from Following our Video

A Step-by-Step Guide on Race Day Maintenance

What should you do to prepare for a race? Here is our step-by-step guide on how to prepare for race day. Let’s get right into it!

How to Prepare for Race Day

Step One: Inspect

This step is something we all do, though admittedly some are more diligent than others. It might be simple, but by regularly checking your car after every race, your car will make a huge difference in the long run, so make sure that you do not neglect this step.

Let’s say you just came in from your run. The first thing you should be doing is taking the body off your car and having a quick look over for any damage you might have acquired during the race. While checking your car, look back at what happened at the race. Was it a rough race? Did the car get hit badly in any way? Was the car driving okay at the end of the race?

Once you answer those basic questions and give it a quick look over, you can now identify which parts of your car need your immediate attention or if it just needs a wipe.

Step Two: Remove the Batteries

After inspecting your RC, you can now take out the batteries. Remember not to immediately charge the batteries after taking it out; give it time to rest and cool down.

Tip: For those with several batteries, numbering each one will definitely help in keeping track of which ones you have already used or have yet to use.

Step Three: Brush

Once you take out the batteries, give the car a quick dusting with a brush or a blow over it with compressed air. Just be careful when working with compressed air; there is a chance that you might damage your bearings if you are not careful.

Tip: Giving it a physical brush over will allow you to see if anything is dislodged, loose, or not where it should be, so if you have time to manually brush it, that is the preferred method over using compressed air.

Step Four: Check the Tyres

Check the gluing of your tyres before every race; to do so, you have to forcibly pull the tyre away from the bead and see if there is any tearing or ripping. Feel around the tyre, and if you notice some inconsistency or if the tyre tears when you are pulling it off, it is a good sign to glue new tyres onto your RC.

Step Four: Check the Components

Using a driver, check over a few of the critical components of the chassis. Go over various screws and make sure that each one of them is tight and none of them are going loose. If you hear little popping sounds, then it is in fact tight, however, do not just go ahead and blindly tighten it because you might run the risk of stretching and damaging the thread. It is critical to check the damper unit shock absorber to make sure that it goes into the arm nicely, and you can also re-tighten it if necessary.

Tip: It is best to tighten everything manually. This way, you will be able to feel it and adjust the pressure accordingly.

Race Day Maintenance Tips

• Labelling your batteries will help you use each one equally and help you avoid using one that happens to be flat or one that has not rested enough.
• Regular maintenance is definitely the way to go; giving it a quick check before and after the race regularly and keeping it in good condition is way better than any thorough check that is done only occasionally.
• Having a trusty tool kit is a must. Get one for yourself that contains all the basics you need for repairs and maintenance.
• Invest in a high-quality tyre glue; this will make your tyres last a lot longer and save you some money in the long run, though they are on the expensive side.
• Remember that even if the car was good when it was last on the track, checking it is never a waste.
• If you can do everything by hand, do it. Doing it manually will give you full control and let you adjust certain things if necessary.
• Invest in a car stand; during repairs and maintenance, this will make your life a lot easier.

Watch and Learn! 

Watch Brett as he walks you through the process of race day preparation and maintenance! He will be sharing a whole lot of tips and tricks that will help you get ready for your day on the track. First, he will explore how to inspect your chassis and RC properly and give you some advice while he is at it. Learn some tricks for when you remove the batteries, brush or blow your RC, and check your tyres and components.

There you have it! Knowing how to properly maintain your RC can give it a much longer life, it is not a waste of effort, especially if it is going to save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Little things like this will guarantee that your RC will perform its best on the track and that you never have to worry about little accidents happening.

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