It all started when I saw some one with a RC10. I think I was 14 at the time. I had always liked radio control cars but had only had toy ones up that point. After seeing that car I knew that I had to have one. I had a decent road car, but it only worked on very smooth surfaces.
I saved up some money and purchased my first hobby grade RC. I purchased a used Tamyia Blackfoot from a kid at school. I've got to tell you that truck was a blast. I had a lot of fun with it, but it wasn’t that cool Team Associated RC10.
So I got my first real job and saved and saved. I lived outside the big city, so when I had saved enough I took the bus across town to the hobby store. I went there and bought the RC10 and a radio. I didn’t have enough money to even consider getting a ESC. In fact thinking back I’m amazed that I ever was able to afford it. Minimum wage back then was $3.05 per hour.
I rode back on the bus proudly with my new purchase. I had to be picked up by my parents at the end of the bus line because I lived too far out of town. My Parents went camping that weekend and I went with them. I built the RC10 in one day at the table in the trailer.
One of the kids camping had a Grasshopper that had a 8.4 battery. My RC10 with the stock motor that came with it, and the mechanical speed controller. It destroyed the Grasshopper in a race. Needless to say I was very happy.
A drivers licence and girls slowed down the interest in RC cars for awhile.
Fast forward to early university days. My friends got back into racing RC around this time. I pulled out the old RC10. Unfortunately everyone was into stadium trucks now. The newer trucks with their new stealth transmission were pretty fast. So it was time for an upgrade
I purchased a RC10T. I purchased the bearing kit for it ($80 ouch!), and used the radio out of the RC10. I ran the mechanical speed controller for a bit until I was able to purchase an Novak 410 M1C speed controller. Eventually I got into the modified class and was running a 12 turn double.
I had an artistic friend with an airbrush and had him paint some pretty cool flames on it. Unfortunately while changing a battery on a windy day caused the shell to blow away. It landed underneath a car that was baking up and damaged it, and virtually destroyed the paint job. I never ended up replacing it, or fixing the paint job.
I disassembled the RC10 for some reason. I think the parts are still in my parents house somewhere.
So back to the hobby store. My RC10T needed a radio as the ole one had broke. They did a pretty good job of talking me into a new truck instead. I can’t believe what you can get for the money know! So I ended up getting my son a Traxxis Rustler. The store wanted to buy my RC10T from me. They wanted it for there collection of old RC models. They did not have an RC10T. I turned them down, I just didn’t want to part with it.
My 7 year old has had plenty of toy RC’s. When I got the Rustler battery charged and showed it to him he was pretty excited. I was happy that the ESC had a option to reduce the power by 50% But you know what? I didn’t need to. I can’t believe how good of a driver her is.
The only thing more fun that one RC, is two. Back to the hobby store I went. I purchased a new radio and while I was at it I upgraded the ESC. Back I my younger days we were snobbish about ESC. If someone got one with reverse we would all bug that person because you cant use reverse in a race. In my older years I know that was a stupid line of thinking. Not having reverse for the few races I was in, in a year? Of course the modern ESC allow you to have reverse and just shut it off for the races.
And since I was upgrading I figure why not get a brushless motor? Needless to say it was an expensive day. It was worth it though. I have been having a blast driving with my son. Now I have to get something my three year old can drive!
The only thing I appear to be missing is one part from the three piece wheel. I sure I have it , I just have to find it. I have also finally stripped the ruined paint job off. The body is damaged, but I'm going to keep it for nostalgia purposes. I will probably pick up a T2 body from AE.
Curtis
