"R/C cars are actually pretty amazing," McSwain says. "They are truly lifelike, as compared to a real car: the pieces and parts, the way the front ends are built, the way the drivetrain works. They are really responsive to change, just as a real race car is. Since they are pretty sensitive, the setup can be a challenge."
Springs, shocks, and driveshafts are just a few of the components real and remote racers share. When it comes to adjustability, racers have to take into account caster, camber, toe in, toe out, spring and gear adjustment, stagger, and weight distribution.
Take a stroll around Richard Childress Racing and you are bound to find about 10 guys who are into the remote-control car scene-including driver Kevin Harvick. During lunchtime, the guys can be found out behind the shop racing their cars. Among those in the RCR group who run R/C cars are fabricator Sam Tubbs and crew chief Kevin Hamlin, who oversees the cars prepared for Harvick.
"I've seen guys at the shop who have between $700 and $2,000 invested in their machines," Tubbs says. "They'll make adjustments on the cars, such as changing the valving in shocks and adjusting the caster and camber on the wheels. Some use their technical knowledge to fabricate parts as well. It all depends on how drastic you want to get."
Hamlin installed a new engine in his remote-control car. It packs so much power that the tires will actually stand up like a Top Fuel dragster leaving the starting line. Other mods include adding aluminum shocks, a steel driveshaft, and heavier springs.
Nadeau, on the other hand, is the first to admit that he doesn't know a thing about the mechanics of a remote-control car. He had someone set the car up for him at a recent race. Yes, a crew chief for a remote-control car.
What A Body
Nadeau has three remote-control cars, including a Chevy Monte Carlo "carpet car" that he raced to a third-place finish at the inaugural Oval Nationals held at Race City Motor Speedway in Mooresville, North Carolina.
McSwain owns five gas-powered remote-control cars-two 4WD trucks, two dune buggies, and a touring style car.
You can basically get a remote-control car in your favorite make and model, from Dodge to BMW, to touring car, to stock car. Even go-karts are available. Then it's up to you to customize the cars. The bodies come clear and ready to be painted.
Just like big-time racing, spending more money increases the chances that you'll have a faster running remote-control car. "The guys who are winning are spending the money," Nadeau says. "They are getting the good stuff, and you really have to do the same thing if you want to compete with them."
But there are limits to the tweaks of the trade. "A lot of times guys break down because they are constantly working on their R/C cars and forget to put something back," Rob Michael says. "Whereas if you just left it alone, you would be better off. The biggest trick to putting together a fast car, one that won't break down as much, is to be meticulous when you assemble it. Make sure everything is just right."