| Radio controlled cars first appeared some | | | | off-road electric car).The 1980s saw a major |
| sixty years ago in the 1940s but the | | | | shift away from what many described as "toy" |
| technology at the time was crude and, | | | | cars towards truly precision crafted models |
| although cars could be run at speeds of up to | | | | of the very highest standards. Traditional |
| 70 mph, it was only possible to run them | | | | manufacturing materials were dispensed with |
| round and round in a circle on a tether.By | | | | as were many of the established production |
| the late 1960s however technology had | | | | methods. Chassis were now made from |
| advanced considerably and miniature solid | | | | high-grade anodized aluminium alloy, which |
| state radio control systems became available. | | | | was also used in the manufacture of |
| This meant that cars could be controlled from | | | | oil-filled, machined and tunable shock |
| a control transmitter unit with remotely | | | | absorbers. Many components normally pressed |
| controlled servo-assisted steering, throttle | | | | from plastic were also replaced with |
| and brakes. Radio controlled models could now | | | | high-impact nylon, including such things as |
| be run on a race track rather than simply in | | | | suspension control arms and wheels.Today's |
| a circle and the precision of control | | | | interest in off-road 4 wheel drive vehicles |
| available meant that they could be run in | | | | was also sparked during the 1980s with the |
| much the same way as a real vehicle.Despite | | | | introduction by Schumacher of the Competition |
| the advances in technology during the 1960s, | | | | All Terrain (CAT) vehicle which won the |
| it was not until 1976 that the first | | | | off-road world championship in 5 out of the |
| commercially available cars were seen. | | | | 10 years following its |
| Produced by Tamiya (a Japanese company with a | | | | introduction.Competition is of course the |
| reputation for supplying detailed plastic | | | | driving force behind any market today, |
| model kits), these early cars were very crude | | | | including the market for radio controlled |
| in mechanical terms and somewhat expensive | | | | cars, and for several years a strong rivalry |
| but, nevertheless, they sold well.Over the | | | | between Associated Electrics and Team Losi |
| coming years Tamiya concentrated its | | | | (founded by Gil Losi Jr., a racetrack owner |
| attention on the mechanics of these early | | | | from California) led to a rapid development |
| models and, by the mid 1980s, they were | | | | of high quality models, both technically and |
| producing some extremely popular models such | | | | in terms of the range of cars available.Today |
| as the Grasshopper, Hornet, Blackfoot and | | | | Associate Electric and Team Losi are still |
| Clodbuster with more powerful engines, | | | | major players in the market and have been |
| working suspension systems and textured | | | | joined by others such as the US-based Traxxas |
| tyres.This was really the start of the hobby | | | | company and the Japanese-based company of |
| radio controlled car as we know it today and | | | | Kyosho. As these major players continue to |
| quickly brought other producers into the | | | | compete against each other, and others join |
| market. These included Schumacher Racing (a | | | | the market, so the market for radio |
| British company which replaced the then | | | | controlled cars will go from strength to |
| standard solid axle with a ball differential, | | | | strength in the years ahead.For more |
| allowing cars to be finely tuned for | | | | information about radio controlled cars and |
| different track conditions) and Associated | | | | to pick up a free copy of our beginner's |
| Electrics (a California based company which | | | | guide to buying and racing rc cars please |
| introduced the model that quickly dominated | | | | visit today. |
| the off-road racing market - the RC10 | | | | |