RC cars a total gas
You can't sit inside, but they're still great fun to drive and becoming very popular.
A day in the dirt with Traxxas's little dirt devil, the Revo 3.3
Sleek styling... taut handling... a race bred engine... all wheel drive... Such features are enough to get the pulse of any automobile enthusiast
pounding, though they are generally reserved for high performance cars that come from other countries.
Imagine the feats of speed and acceleration possible if such parts came together in a package about the size of a pair of running shoes. A British company called Traxxas did, resulting in a little racer called the Revo 3.3. I discovered this week that it's a total blast.
Remote control cars have been around for years as a fun pastime for kids and grownups alike, and most are familiar with the type that runs on batteries. My old 9.6V turbo Fast Traxx from about ten years back was one such toy. It was a ton of fun, and I'm sure it didn't feel a thing when it was crushed by my neighbors pickup truck. There is nothing wrong with an electric RC car, but for a serious overdose of power a nitro engine racing RC is the only way to go.
So, all of you Tim Taylors out there, listen up.
The Revo 3.3 comes from years of research and development in an attempt to create a ready-to-use machine for the enthusiast who operates it as a hobby or races it competitively. It exists in the higher end of the RC racer spectrum, though no matter your skill level or experience
with similar machines, there's surely one to appeal to your needs. Hobby shops tend to sell nitro powered racers from about $500 to $1000, depending on the engine and features.
Powering the Revo is a TRX 3.3 engine, and hearing it wind out is entertainment all in its own. The sound of these machines is one of the reasons they're so popular, and it isn't hard to see why. Give it full throttle, and the Revo absolutely shrieks as the suspension squats back and it sets off on the way to its top speed of around 85 kilometers per hour. That's enough to make an enthusiast out of anyone in a matter of seconds.
Another reason for the appeal of machines like the Revo is that they really offer something for everyone. If you're an off road fanatic, you might be impressed with a four wheel drive model that can tackle any terrain and take massive jumps you wouldn't dare try in a full sized machine. Different bodies are available too, and can be swapped on and off of the chassis in seconds for a customized look. The customizing doesn't stop there, either. The tuning market for RC cars is likely as big as it is for import compact
cars. A slew of performance parts, lighting and visual upgrades are available. And, just when you thought they couldn't get any more in your face, you can even order spinner wheels for your RC Racer.
Spoilers, springs, rims, tires, mufflers, intake systems and even nitrous injection can be added to the mix, and, unlike your teenage neighbors Honda Civic, they won't result in tickets. Many of the parts are adjustable for any situation or terrain. The adjustable suspension for instance is particularly impressive. It is of the same setup as the Ferrari F-50 and features self damping pushrod actuation which reacts instantly to changes in terrain. The brakes, made with composite calipers and semi-metallic pads are designed to be fade free lap after lap. Its mid-engine, all wheel drive layout is perfect for precise handling and dynamic balance- a setup used in cars like Lamborghini.
You can't sit inside, but they're still great fun to drive and becoming very popular.
A day in the dirt with Traxxas's little dirt devil, the Revo 3.3
Sleek styling... taut handling... a race bred engine... all wheel drive... Such features are enough to get the pulse of any automobile enthusiast
 |
| (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Imagine the feats of speed and acceleration possible if such parts came together in a package about the size of a pair of running shoes. A British company called Traxxas did, resulting in a little racer called the Revo 3.3. I discovered this week that it's a total blast.
Remote control cars have been around for years as a fun pastime for kids and grownups alike, and most are familiar with the type that runs on batteries. My old 9.6V turbo Fast Traxx from about ten years back was one such toy. It was a ton of fun, and I'm sure it didn't feel a thing when it was crushed by my neighbors pickup truck. There is nothing wrong with an electric RC car, but for a serious overdose of power a nitro engine racing RC is the only way to go.
So, all of you Tim Taylors out there, listen up.
The Revo 3.3 comes from years of research and development in an attempt to create a ready-to-use machine for the enthusiast who operates it as a hobby or races it competitively. It exists in the higher end of the RC racer spectrum, though no matter your skill level or experience
 |
| (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Powering the Revo is a TRX 3.3 engine, and hearing it wind out is entertainment all in its own. The sound of these machines is one of the reasons they're so popular, and it isn't hard to see why. Give it full throttle, and the Revo absolutely shrieks as the suspension squats back and it sets off on the way to its top speed of around 85 kilometers per hour. That's enough to make an enthusiast out of anyone in a matter of seconds.
Another reason for the appeal of machines like the Revo is that they really offer something for everyone. If you're an off road fanatic, you might be impressed with a four wheel drive model that can tackle any terrain and take massive jumps you wouldn't dare try in a full sized machine. Different bodies are available too, and can be swapped on and off of the chassis in seconds for a customized look. The customizing doesn't stop there, either. The tuning market for RC cars is likely as big as it is for import compact
 |
| (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Spoilers, springs, rims, tires, mufflers, intake systems and even nitrous injection can be added to the mix, and, unlike your teenage neighbors Honda Civic, they won't result in tickets. Many of the parts are adjustable for any situation or terrain. The adjustable suspension for instance is particularly impressive. It is of the same setup as the Ferrari F-50 and features self damping pushrod actuation which reacts instantly to changes in terrain. The brakes, made with composite calipers and semi-metallic pads are designed to be fade free lap after lap. Its mid-engine, all wheel drive layout is perfect for precise handling and dynamic balance- a setup used in cars like Lamborghini.