Ready for the next step
 

Last year I received some great advice here in regards to upgrading my son's ECX radio to a flysky. It turned out I ended up ordering a new version of the ECX truck a few weeks later and we have been bashing together ever since. It has been great spending time together. We have started to go to a local track and this is where my questions come up...

I would like to get a buggy to race at the track. My son is an excellent driver and on practice days even though he is only 9 will beat a lot of the drivers there with a car that is twice as fast. I was thinking of getting a buggy. Something like a 10B4.2 but I have no clue where to start. We are on a budget since we are mainly bashing our two other trucks and have to keep them up. If possible I would like to start on the entry level side and see if he can get into some novice races. Plus I think we have just as much fun working on them together. So if I have to part it up then that would actually be a bonus. Any suggestions or other car ideas?

Any of the top brands in the RC racing scene are great. If you could start with a kit and add your own electronics...that would be the best route to go IMO. You probably would end up ripping out all the mediocre electronics when buying a RTR. Maybe search/look around at some used stuff that people have raced as most serious racers do take good care of their equipment (not always true, I know). And some hard-core racers must get their hands on the latest and greatest thing out there on the market...leaving behind a possible top qualifier on the auction blocks.

A couple of questions to let others know which direction you want to take...
Does the track that you plan on racing at have a Novice Class or a Spec 17.5/13.5 Class or even a "Run What Ya Brung" Class?
Budget?
What type of track is it...high bite clay/outside loamy dirt track?

I like the idea of a used buggy. I could probably tackle that as I have gotten used to repairs, etc this year. What would be a good price for a used Buggy?

I will have to check the wall the next time we are at the track. I did notice they had one race going with all different types of cars and trucks at one point. I think it was a novice class as the racing had a lot more flips and crashes compared to later in the evening. It is hard packed clay that is indoors. They have an outdoor track that looks very intimidating to me. We would need much more time under our belts before we attempted that. As for budget that is a good question. My original thought was to get a ECX boost since I was familiar with them and they use a lot of the same parts. But then after buying the car, upgrading the gears, drive shafts, ESC and motor I figured I would be around $200. So if I could get a better brand for the same if not better used…I think that would be the better route. But then again taking the next step is all new to me….

One more thing to think about. If you do have a high bite track and thinking about a mid motor buggy, there will be a need to purchase new batteries i.e. square/shorty packs or saddle packs.

I'm probably the wrong guy to maybe suggest some stuff, as I sometimes have gotten a wild hair up my you know what...in the past I liked to be the oddball when showing up at a track. The RTRs that I know of that are the closest thing to Ready To Race...Team Durango's DEX210 and Serpent's SRX-2 .

But the DEX210 would have to be raced in a 13.5 Spec Motor Class (a couple of parts needed to convert to mid motor:() and the SRX-2 would have to be raced in the Mod Class and is a rear motor buggy :(.

The last track I raced at had a Slash Spec Class...you just pull one off the shelf; charge a battery and go! Or you could even rent a Slash for the night! That was a great class to watch as everyone was pretty much "equal" .

RustyUS, I started out running a Spec Slash class. It was the most fun I have ever had in racing, where the only thing that mattered was the driver. I became a Slash setup master and had all the cool tips and tricks. Then I upgraded to 2WD buggy when the Spec Slash class started to thin out. Once it was completely gone, I went into 4x4 SC, and that is where I am today. Open classes really do require having the biggest motor you can find these days... Kind of sad. I miss spec classes.

To the OP, Team Associated's B5M would be the best for an indoor track as it has a lot of parts support and you can buy it as a kit for you and your son to put together. I put together my B5 with my dad, and I do admit some parts are very hard, it was a lot of fun. I'll put together a kit of typical parts that I use. I'll even send you a setup for my B5 non-M that should be a great starting point.

B5M; http://www.rcplanet.com/ProductDetai...HKkaAivA8P8HAQ
ESC; http://www.amazon.com/Atomik-RC-120A.../dp/B00I03LAEE
Motor; http://www.atomikrc.com/products/ato...rushless-motor
Servo; http://www.atomikrc.com/collections/...-digital-servo
Battery; http://www.atomikrc.com/products/ven...-with-uni-plug

I assume you already have a good radio and charger. If this is too much, a used B5 is also a very viable option.

That is the one thing I dislike the most to do, collector1231. Lay it all out in front of someone, and watch the eyes open wide. The initial cost of everything needed is overwhelming at times, I know. After dumping $$$ for the "good" stuff; putting the "top shelf" gear into a RC is even more sticker shock to some.

But, the sunny side to racing, the money needed....tapers off greatly.

Thank you for all the help and ideas. It looks like I have some more reading and research to do. In the meantime I think I will keep an eye out for a good used car to possibly get us into it.

I'll throw this out here to the OP (denon) ...I have a new unassembled B4.2 Factory Team buggy in box, that I need to get posted in another thread section. Only one thing wrong with it....the shock oil bottle is cracked inside the sealed plastic parts bag.