Believe it or not, there is more to driving an RC car than just starting it up and flicking the switch. Learning the fundamentals are essential for beginners and even advanced drivers, and practice makes perfect (or close to it) to avoid mishap or even damage to any RC car, regardless of the level of complexity or power.

Calibrate the Controller

The controller is the primary device for driving the car, and its important that you become very familiar with it. If a controller does not fit comfortably in the driver's hand, then problems may begin right away. Make sure the driver is aware of all the device features, such as speed limiter knobs, as well as calibrate the steering radius before driving.

Do not smash the Throttle!

Slow and steady is the name of the game. Don't smash the throttle especially with more powerful cars. The basic principle is always go slow and gradual not just for keeping the car under control, but also to preserve the integrity of your RC car's gears and transmission. Going full blast will strip down the spur and main gear, especially if you have a powerful battery and brushless motor.

Visibility - Seeing is Driving

Often missed as a basic tip is the selection of the RC car's driving area. With any area, the driver must always have a clear line-of-sight to the car; if you cannot see the car, you cannot drive it well. The RC's scale is a factor, as smaller scales will be harder to see from a distance. Also make sure your car is suited for the track - off-road cars do well on dirt, on-road cars will struggle with grass and rocks. Drift cars have slick tyres suited for smooth tracks, and crawlers thrive with scale obstacles.

Maintaining Speed

When driving, make sure you do not "Pulse" the throttle - which is squeezing the throttle intermittently while driving. Doing so will strain the gearbox and waste a lot of battery power, as the RC car will be struggling to slow down or brake every time you release the throttle. Remember, the car brakes if you push forward (reverse) the throttle, so understandably the car will be under a lot of stress.

Finally, please watch the video below to learn more of the basic skills (as well as some basic physics lessons!) that you need to be familiar with when it comes to driving; its a handy video tutorial to keep returning to to keep enjoying this awesome hobby. And for radio control battery safety, do check out our article of essential steps here!