What do you 10th offroaders think of us 18th microers?

[c0sie]

Serious question here..

Im keen to know exactly what you 10th offroad guys'n'gals think of the offroad micro scale scene, especially the National Series and the major one-off events we do.

My aim, as always, is to promote the micro scene and section to the best of my abilities so gauging how the 'outsiders' see the micro scene could potentially help us grow.
--

And, how many of you reading this know that one of your 10th offroad types is our current reigning National Champion? (Craig Harris)

[Lee]

I think your just like us but smaller

But on a serious note, i think the micro scene will always struggle to get away from the toy image, i know they are not, but i think others see them as toys where as a bigger car may be seen as a race car. The other side of theings is that you are limited in a way to indoor events as i would imagine it is difficult to host an 18th event outdoor, unless its an all astro track and it has a very flexible layout to enable you to create a technical track for that size of car.

[c0sie]

I agree with you there Lee. Even after 3.5 years of doing this I still have to get over the 'toy' hurdle.

As far as racing outside goes, its never really been tried in any huge numbers, but I think thats mainly due to the size as you've said.

We live indoors for the time being atleast...

The hardest part for me is trying to get major manufacturers and distributors in the UK to get over the toy thing aswell.
We had a tonne of support when it all first kicked off but its slowly dwindled down, althoguh saying that some of our most loyal retail supporters still stand by us and help promote us as much as they can.

We also had a nice amount of 10th guys attend the last National series thanks to the publicity that Jimmy'n'Vicky have give the micros by writing us some brilliant race reports on the site...but im greedy and want more followers lol

Thanks for the reply though

[DCM]

the only aspect I don't like about it, is that the cars are not really 'equivalent' in durability and off-the-shelf performance.

[blitzboy]

forgot to add this but at one of our regional meeting paul at eastrax ran his blaze in open class with a few non point s running drivers and he lasted the whole 5 minutes and mullered half the drivers ,, eastrax would be a good venue for some 1/18 fun me thinks

[c0sie]

Both valid points from Chris and Steve, and Chris' point is one that I never thought of.

Maybe its the fault of the organisers for arranging 'crazy' tracks that test the durability of the cars, and then maybe it is that the cars are put us as 'play things' more than racers.

Nevertheless, there seems to be a very small change in recent releases with the new LRP Shark Pro and Shark ST coming 99% race ready, and the XRAY M18T nearly ready to race all bar some decent shocks.

The strange thing to me though is that in the USA there is a HUGE micro following, with their Micro Nationals easily seeing 280+ drivers, and major support for the main manufacturers, yet we never see and kind of major race spec releases from those people?

Wierd huh..

[Northy]

I really do fancy a go at this, but all the Nationals and events seem to be "down south" really No micro racing scene at all up here

G

[Chrislong]

In terms of racing, its ace and an attractive class.

In terms of cars. I don't consider the options to be very good - as the ones currently available in the UK need plenty of mods to be competitive (and to be taken away from being toys). The AE 18th scales look to be the business, but experience (and general opinion from the people I ask before I chose this time around) tells me they're not what they're cracked up to.

For the class to take off, what it needs is a car to be out, competitive from the box but not RTR - not just another toy with a few alloy parts pretending - with no need to change shells, find the right wheels and tyres, fit the better shocks etc etc. so its just a case of choose car, choose running gear, assemble, setup and race.

The LRP Shark 18 Monster Pro looks to tick all but the bodyshell boxes - hope other chassis follow suit

What IS attractive, is Lipo being allowed......

[blitzboy]

Originally Posted by Lee

I think your just like us but smaller

But on a serious note, i think the micro scene will always struggle to get away from the toy image, i know they are not, but i think others see them as toys where as a bigger car may be seen as a race car. The other side of theings is that you are limited in a way to indoor events as i would imagine it is difficult to host an 18th event outdoor, unless its an all astro track and it has a very flexible layout to enable you to create a technical track for that size of car.

they re just as good indoor lee as out door , im currently planning my revenge on the touring car scene with my blaze and brushless

[blitzboy]

having been a 1/10 driver for the last year i can now say that im proud to be the owner of a 1/18 scale blaze and i thought 1/10 off road was fun ,,, these are mental and just as fun if not more plus with the sign of the times and these babies are the way forward im even considering doing cardiff too hehehehe ,,, plus the forum is the bomb and all the guys are really helpfull ,,, body paint ,cosie tom bowman , mr speedy and dan osbourne cherrs for the help so far guys ,big up the micro scene

[Chris Doughty]

I have seen pictures from most of the tracks from last years national series and I would have liked to have raced on most of them.

the biggest thing I found when going 'into' and unknown class like micro is knowing what stuff to buy or get to be 'fast'

if you want to dabble at 8th Rallycross, you know you need a .21 engine
10th scale off-road or TC, or even 12th scale, you know you need a 'good' 540 motor, you can find a list of them on the BRCA website.

the micro scene seems to be a bit unknown when it comes to motors/batteries and stuff.

there are places out there to find the information and ask, but it is not presented to you.

things do seem to be changing though, its certainly possible to buy an RTR LRP or FTX car, use the stock motor that comes in the kit with a LiPo and be fast, and the car is great too!

I actually like the indoor tracks and don't think they would be half as good as they are if it was outdoors.

[Welshy40]

Originally Posted by c0sie

Serious question here..

Im keen to know exactly what you 10th offroad guys'n'gals think of the offroad micro scale scene, especially the National Series and the major one-off events we do.

My aim, as always, is to promote the micro scene and section to the best of my abilities so gauging how the 'outsiders' see the micro scene could potentially help us grow.
--

And, how many of you reading this know that one of your 10th offroad types is our current reigning National Champion? (Craig Harris)

Harris is the micro champ, heard that a while ago, but think that this scale is more like an RC that you'd give your kids rather than use it yourself. Not for me. I still think Craig is better with a 1/10th buggy. He drove his TRX1 to tq at the worksop indoor finals (way back in theearly 90's with a normal front spring on one side and a rear on the other (on the front end) but he just drove it perfectly in qualifying. He shouldnt have changed the spring before the finals as he would have won it instead of finishing fourth (I think it was fourth anyway).

[Northy]

W-Mag?

G

[Mini-JT]

....

[frogger]

Originally Posted by Welshy40

but think that this scale is more like an RC that you'd give your kids rather than use it yourself

Have you ever even seen one we race with!?

Graphite, carbon fibre, sensored Novak brushless, lipo, Schumacher yellow Mini pins, carbon steel drive shafts and ball diffs, alloy suspension...... Not exactly ToysRUs Nikko cars.

[DCM]

Originally Posted by frogger

Have you ever even seen one we race with!?

Graphite, carbon fibre, sensored Novak brushless, lipo, Schumacher yellow Mini pins, carbon steel drive shafts and ball diffs, alloy suspension...... Not exactly ToysRUs Nikko cars.

yes he has, but you outline the issue with the kits themselves there... you buy a Vendetta ST or Blaze and got to add driveshafts, ball diffs, shock mounts and towers etc etc... that has been the biggest dissapointment.

CML have the opportunity to, if they want, order a spec'd up car from Duratrax but don't, so it leaves you to source everything else, spending more on upgrades than the kit itself, this is what has put me off, cause unless you source a used and upgraded car, to be competitive, you got a bit of a bill on your hands.

[frogger]

How many people buy their 10th scale cars and race them out of the box without upgrades? 18th scale cars, even hopped up to the hilt are still cheaper than 10th scale cars not only to build to run and maintain.

We have been able to buy the LRP Shark Monster Factory Team for quite a while in the UK. That has every available hopup for £160. There is also a new LRP distributor which means the kits will become widely available all over the UK through your favourite shop. DMS will stock them too in all shapes and sizes.

Xray M18 carbon kits and Associated RC18B FT kits have been available for ever too. Exotek have been making carbon race chassis for well over a year. Rob Knight put a stock RC18 on the national podium and Mark Stiles put a XRay M18 on the podium so you don't need a Blaze to be competitive (although I think everyone agrees it's the better race car).

The issue is not availability, cost, quality of the kits, it's what you know and what you are used to and how open minded you are for giving it a go. Who cares what size the car is, you are still standing on a rostrum driving it with your thumbs making it go round corners and over jumps. You are still arguing setups and tyres choices and have your own dirty little secrets that you don't share with nobody.

Saying these cars are just toys for kids are no different to my wife saying my B44 with Novak GTB and Trakpower saddles is just a toy for a kid. I guess both are right and wrong in the same sense.

[DCM]

but the RC18T isn't that good a car though.

What it really needs is for a company to make a serious car, and not an adaptation of something else. Thats what would turn this class round. Thats how I see it.

The problem with the cars now, that are cheap, is you are not upgrading for performance, you are upgrading for reliability.

[Northy]

Originally Posted by frogger

How many people buy their 10th scale cars and race them out of the box without upgrades?

Er..... most of them:

B4
XXX-CR
X11
XX-4
D4
501X
B44

All competative out of the box

G

[bondy]

Micros look cool and are way quick but ! The reason I do 1/8th is I got big fingers ! Feet ! Belly ! etc etc ! 1/18th 1.5mm screws just to fiddly !