An introduction…

Hello,

The name is Josh and Tim’s asked me to write a little something on occasion for those of you interested in racing on-road.  I should probably start by telling you that I don’t know it all… In fact, I still feel like I know very little.  It’s not that I don’t know how to race or what to do to set up a car, it’s simply that I feel it’s always a continual process to get better.

I started racing a few years ago after stumbling across one of the best local r/c shops with a track I’ve ever been to.  I took an old Losi Street Weapon I had bought off a coworker and tried to lap the track a few times.  Like most new drivers, I was extremely slow and often wrecked… go figure.  It wasn’t until a few months ago that I dove in full blast and jumped into a points series.  Over the next few weeks, I’ll dive into my r/c story and how and what I’m racing these days.

Stay tuned…

Josh (@JHowardDesign on Twitter)

The Racer’s Edge – Introducing a new contributor to RCNewb.com

When I launched this site earlier in the year, I envisioned it being a culmination of things.  A sounding-board for my new-found passion, a place to share tips and tricks related to the hobby of r/c cars and, most-importantly, a place where folks that were also new to the hobby and sport could learn and get advice.  It helps to get a little advice for yourself from time-to-time too.

I’m happy to announce a new contributor, Josh Howard to the site who will be sharing his experiences of on-road radio-control racing as he dives into the competitive side of the hobby.  From the chats we’ve had on Twitter, I am excited to have him sharing his thoughts and perspective on the sport! His first post will arrive on Monday, so stay-tuned!

I encourage you to follow him on Twitter for updates on his r/c racing excursions.

Welcome Josh!

RC Newb Podcast – Episode 3: Back in the saddle again.

We’re back, both with another podcast episode and some more riveting R/C experiences to share.  It’s been a busy week and we’ve dug into some new topics such as shock rebuilding and sway-bar installation.  I even took a friend’s HPI RS4 MT out for a spin.  Sit back and enjoy!

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Traxxas Slash Body Design Template (PSD)

We’re expanding our R/C Body Design Templates with the introduction of a Traxxas Slash Body Design Template for Photoshop (PSD file).  It gives you the opportunity to get your ideas for that new body out in front of you and offers plenty of flexibility.  Check out the sample images below and then grab the template for yourself!

RC Newb Podcast – Episode 2: An Empty Shelf (Life)

We’re back with another episode, but nothing much has changed.  No intro music, no r/c truck and more ideas than I know what to do with.  So what does a person do when their radio-controlled vehicle is in the shop? They come up with a list of upgrades and hop-ups!

  • Bodies – Easy, visual enhancement.  You can really make the vehicle your own with a custom body.
  • Springs and Shocks – A simple and relatively low-cost performance upgrade for bashing or racing.
  • Tires & Wheels – Performance meets visual appeal.  If you’re thinking about hitting the track, keep an eye on what your competitors are running.
  • Undertrays and Overtrays – Protect your electronics and servos from battle damage by bolting on an added shield.
  • Sway bars and other chassis upgrades – Dial in your performance and handling whether you’re bashing or racing.
  • Motor and Electronic Speed Control (ESC) – The ultimate performance boost.  These will cost the most money, but you’ll get the biggest return in the form of speed.
  • Radios, servos, and receivers – With a little ingenuity (and a lot of money) you can rebuild your entire vehicle.  It’s been done.

I’ve also found some great sites that offer amazing deals on r/c parts and accessories.  Here are a few of my favorites:

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