RC Magazines are hardly scarce as the popularity of the hobby has been on the rise. Thanks to the T-Maxx, and other popular RC trucks and cars, the land based segment of RC has grown at a very fast pace in the past few years. This has caused an explosion of newcomers to the hobby like has never been seen before.

Along with the increase of newcomers to the hobby, the content in many RC magazines has increased as well. You'll also find that there are a large number of magazines to pick from now. All of this can make deciding which magazine to throw your spare change at very difficult.

Just when you thought you had your favorite publication picked out, a new publication, RC Driver, hit the newsstand. Almost immediately after the first bi-monthly issue hit the stand, the demand for the magazine caused the publication to switch to a monthly format.

Is RC Driver worthy of some of that money you had been saving towards that new Losi? Does RC Driver offer a fresh approach to the RC scene, or is it the editorial equivalent of your mother's two-day old, reheated meatloaf? If you've been pondering the answer to those questions, then read on. We're about to find out.

RC Driver is the new kid on the block when it comes to RC publications. However, just because the publication is new, doesn't mean the staff that puts it together each month is. If you are familiar with the hobby, and take the time to reflect upon the names of the guys behind the print, you'll notice several names are very familiar. Many of these guys worked several years with other publications before setting out to create RC Driver. So if you think there's a lack of experience when it comes to the staff, think again.

I'm very impressed with the content and quality of the magazine. The articles are very well written, and the pictures clear and sharp. The layout is very clean, and a refreshing change from other publications I've read or subscribed to. The staff seems to listen to it's readers in regards to what direction they should take with content and new articles, which is the way a magazine should want to handle itself. While some of the topics in the magazine have been covered before, RC Driver tries to put a new edge on the material so that hopefully you'll find something new that you didn't know previously. They also write the articles in a manner that's easy to understand, for both adults and the younger crowd such as my 12 year old son.

When it comes to the younger crowd, this magazine is more family oriented than others I've come across. RC Driver avoids the girls in bikinis on every other page that I frequently see with other magazines. It's not that there's anything wrong with that approach, as it appeals to some people, just not to me. I find that focusing on the hobby, as opposed to pinups, is a much more refreshing change of pace. If I buy a magazine to read about the RC hobby I'd rather it cover the hobby, especially if my son or his friends are reading it. If I wanted swimsuits, I'd also pick up a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

I also like how many of the articles are centered around all ages, and people, as well. The RC hobby has become a big part of my families life. Not only do my son and I share the experience together, but my wife and my dad join in as well. So it's nice to see that some of the articles strike home in that regard.

One of the biggest things that I notice about RC Driver is that they have a good balance between content and advertisements. I've heard the staff mention that they like to keep the ad/content ratio around 40/60. From my research of the magazine, that seems to be right on the money. While I understand that advertisements are what help keep a magazine afloat, it seems that many publications let it get out of hand. I even enjoy advertisements to an extent, as they can often provide you information regarding a product or new release. However when I buy a magazine, I want to know my money is giving me as much actual content as possible. So I give RC Driver a big thumbs up for providing a good ad to content ratio.

RC Driver is what I consider a well laid out magazine, when it comes to the content mixture. I like the good mix of tech articles, reviews, and special features. While the tech articles and reviews are similar to other publications, some of the special features are something that I rarely see anywhere else.

A good example of a special feature article was the meeting that was arranged with Orange County Choppers in issue #8. You may recognize these guys from their television series, American Chopper, on TLC. RC Driver arranged a meeting with the guys of OCC, but didn't come empty-handed. They enlisted Team Associated to supply some Monster GT's, and Hardcore Racing for a special tribute truck containing styling cues from some of the custom bikes that OCC had created. Not only did RC Driver's editors and the guys at OCC have a blast, but I did as well while I was reading the article.

In issue #5 RC Driver took us backstage with the USHRA Monster Jam. We got up close and personal with some of the biggest names in full size monster trucks. While there was coverage of the big trucks, RC Driver didn't forget that it's readers are there to read about radio-controlled versions of these trucks. So you'll also read about how East Coast RC provided the entertainment during the intermissions with wild jumps and racing down in the same arena the big trucks use.

For the September 2004 issue, the staff of RC Driver took us to The Brickyard in Indianapolis. First and foremost it was an opportunity to provide exposure to the hobby for people who have only seen it from afar, or possibly not at all. They also staged a tournament in which several big Indy drivers competed against one another for top honors on the RC track. It turned out to be a huge success, and generated a huge amount of interest.

RC Driver doesn't lose track of the fact that many readers may be picking up the publication as newcomers to the hobby. So in addition to the articles that are geared towards the seasoned crowd, they also focus some information towards the beginner as well. After all, it's the beginners that help keep this hobby growing.

An example of generating interest among newcomers was an event RC Driver set up for the March 2004 issue. They got permission from The Home Depot in Eldersburg Maryland to stage an RC event in their parking lot. The intention of this was to generate interest in RC vehicles among those who had probably never even seen one outside of a toy store. Together with vehicles from Traxxas and Losi, and with the help of the Maryland Racing Team, RC driver kept a constant vigil in the parking lot. They allowed interested parties to watch, drive, or ask any questions they had on their mind. Newcomers are the lifeblood of the hobby, and an event such as this shows that RC Driver is just as committed to help promote the hobby as they are with providing veterans useful information and reviews.

For a newcomer there can be a serious learning curve when starting out. I've also seen there's a lack of good information about how to get started as well. Whether you go electric or nitro, unless you happen to have a friend in the hobby, you are bound to have many unanswered questions. In issue #4, one of the editors walks a newcomer through the basics of the hobby. Armed with a Megatech Nitro Razor XT, they walk through items such as preparation, break-in, and learning to drive, with a light-hearted humorous approach to the subjects.

Many magazines, including RC Driver, have a section devoted to painting your car and truck bodies. However RC Driver went beyond that in the June 2004 issue, and staged an event to show some interested hobbyists how to paint their own bodies. Using materials supplied from several manufacturers, the "students" were given a walkthrough and hands on experience creating their own bodies that they could keep when finished. I'm sure that each one of them learned a considerable amount about this aspect of the hobby throughout that day. In addition anyone reading the article on the event could learn a few pointers as well.

The monthly columns are the backbone of any magazine. They are often the areas that the seasoned hardcore fan checks out first, hoping to get a new perspective that they haven't explored or considered. RC Driver is no exception to that rule. Since its introduction in the fall of 2003, the number of monthly columns has grown to encompass many aspects of the hobby. You'll likely be familiar with sections such as Editor's Inbox (Letters to the Editor), Inside Groove (Editor's Column), and Showoffs (Reader's Rides). However, some of the other columns prove to be the most interesting, and help provide you with a wealth of knowledge.

The monthly column entitled Truck Talk covers the truck aspect of the hobby. While it generally focuses on trucks like the Maxx or Savage, there are times when it may vary and discuss how to make a ramp, or talk about a Losi Mini-T that's been converted to nitro power. A good example of something you'll find in the Truck Talk section was the article called "Flash or Fury", from April 2004. It discussed various upgrades for the Traxxas T-Maxx and whether they are useful from a performance perspective, or just simply eye candy.

The Finish Line column is all about painting and body work. This column teaches you some tricks and techniques that will help set your car or truck apart from the crowd. In the June 2004 issue of RC Driver, the column discussed multiple effects such as fades and shadowing. After you try a few of these techniques you may find that you never want to run a single color body ever again. Other Finish Line articles have discussed topics such as vinyl graphics, air compressors, and spray cans.

The Small Talk column discusses aspects regarding mini and micro trucks and cars. The mini and micro segment of the hobby has grown substantially in the past few years, especially since the release of the Losi Mini-T. So RC Driver has a monthly column that caters to this particular niche of the hobby. In issue #8, Small Talk covered the topic of upgrading the shocks on your Mini-T. Other Small Talk articles have covered items such as Radio Shack X-Mods and how to race tune a HPI Micro RS4.

As you might have guessed, Nitro Worx covers the nitro aspect of the hobby. This monthly column covers aspects such as nitro maintenance and eliminating air leaks. While some of these topics may have been covered before in other publications, I always enjoy reading them again. Often I still manage to pick up a tip or trick I hadn't seen before. If you're not familiar with the topic, the editors do an excellent job of breaking the information down in an easy to understand manner. One of my favorite Nitro Worx articles was in issue #8, which covered the issue of tuned pipes. RC Driver did an excellent job of explaining how and why a tuned pipe can help, or hinder, a particular motor.

The nitro guys have the Nitro Worx column, but RC Driver didn't forget about the electric guys. The column devoted to electrics is called Wired. The wired column has covered several items, from mounting your electronics to building battery packs. In issue #6, Wired covered the aspect of electronic speed controls, and how to set them up to maximize their potential. Throughout the article you learn things such as how an ESC works, setting the frequency, setting the drag brake, and all about Shottky diodes. Wired can be a very informative section for the electric crowd, and RC Driver does a good job of making that information available.

The monthly Flip Syde cartoon is something unique to RC Driver. Throughout the past few months I've discovered that most people either love it, or hate it. I've never been a huge comic fan, but I find myself strangely drawn to the monthly happenings of Flip Syde, Marshall, and yes even Dirt Slander. I usually take the time to casually flip through a magazine when I first get one, without concentrating on really reading anything in particular. Flip Syde, however, is the exception to that rule. It's a lightweight and quickly read section of this magazine, so I've found myself reading it during that initial skimming of the publication.

While the monthly columns may be the backbone of a magazine, many people are anxious to hear about a new, or untested RC vehicle, being put through its paces. After all, most of us want to know what kind of car or truck we'll be getting for that chunk of change we're going to be spending at the local hobby store. RC Driver has this area covered very well, with several product reviews in each issue. I've seen as many as eight full reviews in one issue, and the newer issues have even started to cover popular RC watercraft as well.

In issue #7, the RC Driver crew tackles the task of reviewing the XRay T1. XRay is no stranger to the electric touring car scene, and there's no doubt that many of those who race in this class had their eyes on this car. RC Driver did a very thorough testing of the T1 and ran it on both carpet and asphalt, both of which are areas it'll see frequent use on by racers. In addition to the testing, they documented the various features of the car itself and did an excellent job of detailing the extra items they used to prepare the car for running.

RC counterparts of Top Fuel dragsters are fairly rare in the hobby. Other genres seem to overshadow this fun and exciting niche that many hobbyists haven't even experienced. So I was overjoyed to see that RC Driver reviewed one of Megatech's latest releases, the Rolling Thunder. RC Driver did an excellent job of covering the various aspects of the dragster, and documenting such areas as the steering, differential, and transmission. I was a little disappointed to find out that they only used a parking lot that allowed them to reach 45 MPH, especially considering Megatech's claims that the model will break 60 MPH. While it was explained in the article that the Rolling Thunder RC Driver used for testing was a preproduction model, of which there was only three of, I still feel like they could have pushed it a little harder in this case.

The Associated MGT has been a truck that has caused Associated fans to salivate for over a year. In the May 2004 issue of RC Driver, it was put through its paces. RC Driver punished the truck with testing at a construction site, pavement, and even a large grassy area. Their conclusion was that it was a very tough truck that withstood a great deal of punishment. Once again, as with other reviews, they took the time to point out the various features of interest regarding the truck. Aside from hearing how the truck drove and handled, the components themselves are very important information for someone looking to possibly purchase the truck. I'll also give RC Driver kudos for having the guts to address the fake shock reservoirs. When I first saw the truck, I wondered what in the world Team Associated was thinking. It seems that RC Driver and I were on the same wavelength.

Listing off the things I like about RC Driver is an easy task. I love the ad to content ratio, as it gives me a lot of material to read in each issue. I find that it takes me about twice as long to cover the articles in RC Driver as it does other magazines that I read. I also like the unique articles such as the Orange County Choppers special, as it's a refreshing change of pace, but still tied into the RC hobby. I also notice that RC Driver seems to do a very thorough job of reporting on racing events throughout the country. Many of these events may not have been covered before. If they were, coverage had previously been miniscule.

I think that the staff of RC Driver knows their trade very well, and does an excellent job of putting it in print each month. The monthly columns do an excellent job of covering the various aspects of the hobby, so that the magazine will have a little something for everyone. It's easy to see that the editors at RC Driver are doing their best to improve when they can, based on what their readers have to say. I think that considering how new the magazine is, it feels like it's been published for much longer than it has. Without a doubt the staff plays a large role in this.

My list of dislikes about RC Driver is short, especially now that it's a monthly publication. The one thing that I've noticed is that throughout the past few issues they haven't spent much time covering vehicles soon to be released. Hot items that have everyone waiting in anticipation, such as the Losi Sport Truck and the Traxxas Revo, have not seemed to garner much attention from RC Driver. If they could cover upcoming releases such as those better, I'd see very little else that could be improved upon.

You've read about the various areas of the magazine above, and heard about what I consider to be the strongest reasons why RC Driver is such a well rounded publication. Naturally the next question is, should I get a subscription? My vote is, absolutely. I fail to see any other magazine on the market that offers this amount of content on a monthly basis. Considering this magazine hasn't even made it through its first year that is simply amazing. Judging by how hard the staff has worked to make the publication as well as it is, up to this point, I can only expect RC Driver to get better from this point on.

If you still have doubts as to whether or not you should subscribe to RC Driver, you might want to check out their current offer of a free issue. Once you sign up you will receive your first issue, and following that a bill for a years subscription. If after viewing the first issue you decide you don't want to subscribe, simply return the bill marked "Cancel". The trial issue will be yours to keep. So you don't have anything to lose, but in return you may just gain a new favorite source of RC information.