Different types of RC tracks – Guide for newbies

As technology progresses , so does RC world. There are quite a few ways one can spend their afternoon with RC vehicles but taking them out to the track happens to my favorite.

Lets break it down, here are different types of RC tracks out there for beginners and expect hobbyist.

In any high-stakes race, your victory depends on the skill and your ability to adapt your vehicle according to the track.product145

Here’s a list of different types of RC tracks

There are two main types of tracks:

On-road Tracks

On-road races happen on paved streets and proper roads.

RC vehicles are popular sports cars which can reach top speeds of 60 mph. Cars can be 4WD and are a lot fun to drive. You can typically make parking lots, or any street as your on road racing tracks.

Off Road Tracks

Things get really interesting when we talk about off-road tracks. From loose dirt and loam to rubber mats, off road tracks have seen huge evolution.

These severely test your abilities as a driver and rely heavily on throttle control.

Once these two main categories are defined, lets jump into different types of subcategories:

Classic Dirt Tracks

Off Road tracks get major points for their “Cool Factor”. Speed is less prominent as these tracks are filled with obstacles. The fun is maneuvering around those roadblocks to get the fastest lap time.

As a negative, these tracks are really costly for vehicles. Extensive maintenance after race is required so your buggy or truck is in top shape for next competition.

If not cleaned, dust can mess up your engine. Tires also need to be changed as high wear and tear can happen. Before race, these tracks usually get watered to keep the dust and gravel settled.

Clay Tracks

Are you tired of getting too dirty? You can look at clay tracks! Closely related with dirt tracks, clay tracks are usually made of a mixture of clay and sand, sometimes 70% clay and 30% sand. It is basically just like dirt in a baseball field.

Sometimes clay tracks can get holes and lumps after races, to avoid that calcium compounds can be used to hold the surface together better. Many high racing circuits prefer clay over dust so you should definitely check out clay racing.Read more

Carpet Tracks

Normal indoor carpet usually is not suitable as it causes fuzz and carpet will not last much long. Carpet tracks are also a lot easier to be setup and removed. Other good brand carpet tracks include Fast Track, Daytona and Rubber back carpet.

Ozrite carpet has special anti static feature which prevents electricity build up and thus it works great for electric cars flying on high speeds.

AstroTurf

AstroTurf or artificial grass which is popular in Hockey, Football and other sports fields has made its way finally to R/C racing.

It is very surprising as the track for recent IFMAR (International Federation of Model Auto Racing) championship held in Japan was complete green AstroTurf. This is the first time a grand scale championship has happened on AstroTurf.

Your cars and trucks stay relatively clean and little to no cleaning is required on cars after any race. Traction grip is great and you can easily race on wet outdoor tracks.

Sugar Coated Tracks

Latest technique on the horizon sugar coated tracks provides extreme traction. Water prepared sugar when sprinkled on dirt provides more traction than laundry detergents and tracks with diesel fuels.

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