The NASCAR Vehicle

The original concept of a NASCAR race car was that is was supposed to be composed of stock parts-parts you would buy in an auto parts store. In some respects that is true but not totally. The race car is a high performance racing machine designed to withstand high G-forces when banking on turns. Let's look at what makes up this vehicle.

The first component most are interested in is the engine of a NASCAR racing vehicle. This engine actually is very close to that which you have in your car (provided you have a big engine) but it is customized so that it can withstand high temperature and torque. All parts in the engine of a are machined to within very tight specifications so that there is a minimum of friction. The carburetor is designed to let in the volume of air and fuel mixture required to sustain high speeds for lengthy spans of time. There are no fuel injectors in the race cars engine.

The first modification to the NASCAR vehicle was to smooth out the ride. Early races were run on tracks that were very bumpy and this causes a lot of damage. Today, the NASCAR vehicle is basically a body molded from sheet metal on a frame supported on the inside by bars made of sheet tubing. The vehicle is not a stock vehicle any longer as each component is hand-crafted and assembled. The car is built with safety in mind while giving it the ability to maintain speeds approaching 200 mph. Driver comfort is not the focus.

The NASCAR vehicle at one time was able to reach speeds in excess of 200 mph and that all changed in 1987 when Bobby Allison's race car flew into a section of fence at the Talladega Speedway in Talledega, Alabama. Fans were injured in the stands and NASCAR took action to restrict the speed of the vehicle through what is known as a restrictor plate. This also gave birth to the term "restrictor-plate racing."

The physics of the restrictor plate have to do with reducing air intake into the intake manifold of the engine. Less air will result in lower combustion thus reducing horsepower. The restrictor plate is a sheet of metal with four holes bored in it at precise tolerances. The plate is then mounted between the intake manifold and the carburetor. After that, the NASCAR vehicle should not be able to exceed speeds of 200 mph.

It would seem like the restrictor plate would resolve the safety problem but many professional drivers have been asserting that it creates more potentially unsafe situations in a race. If you think about the difference between a motor scooter and a motorcycle you can see where a restrictor plate could create problems. Many times a motor scooter has an accident where a motorcycle could have avoided it because of its increased ability to accelerate (a motorcycle can accelerate quicker to avoid an oncoming threat). It is the same complaint among almost all of the racers with restrictor plates. They have identified situations where the cars bunch up and the driver only has one choice and that is to slow down. Speeding up to avoid the congestion is not an option because the other cars may be at the restrictor plate limit too.

But as for now, the restrictor plate is a requirement in the race car vehicle on the majority of tracks.

By Christopher DiCicco

Chris DiCicco is owner, senior editor and website developer for NASCARsupershop.com, a NASCAR Apparel and Memorabilia Store for every NASCAR Fan.

http://www.nascarsupershop.com/

http://www.nascarsupershop.com/Nascar_Hats.html

http://www.nascarsupershop.com/Nascar_Helmets.html

Building Your Own RC Model

There is nothing else more rewarding in owning an RC vehicle than having to build one. It is of course recommended for novice RC hobbyists to go for ready made RC cars because it’s a lot less complicated to assemble and doesn’t consume such time in doing so. But when it comes to cleaning, maintenance and general check up, wouldn’t it be a lot better if you knew how to fix and maintain your car on your own?

When you build your very own RC car, there could be a lot of work to do but if you’re in for a tight budget, this should do it. Ready-made cars is going to cost you probably more than what you have been assuming because, after all, it’s already made, all it just needs is a little time for you to assemble. Not only that, if you build your RC model on your own, it would just mean you can carefully select the equipment and other important parts you want, gaining you extra satisfaction of a better RC model in the end.

Make sure that you have your tools needed for building your own model. You also have to read and understand everything that’s in the manual before you begin. This is just to make sure that you don’t miss anything and assemble one part on the wrong spot. Your building area will have to be very conducive for working which means you need a space for you and your kit alone. The parts of the kit are all important and losing one is the last thing you ever want to happen. So if you have kids and pets around the house, secure your kit and your work to make sure you don’t lose anything untraceable.

But you also have to consider that building things like these doesn’t happen in one go. Remember the saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, this might not be Rome but still, you wont be able to build a desired RC model immediately.

Learn more about building RC cars at this site http://racing-radio-controlled-cars.com

By Shareen Aguilar

Keeping Your RC Car Steady

RC car racers have to make it a point that collision should be the last thing that can damage their vehicle. But, with the speed RC cars are capable of doing while on track, collision is a common scenario. If you are a newbie to handling RC cars as a hobby, there are some basics that you need to know. These basics are good for the type of RC vehicle that you own and for your own knowledge in RC racing.

First of all, shock absorbers or as it is popularly known, shocks, keep the vehicle suspended parallel to the tires and ground below it. A good set of shocks assure the owner that the chassis of a RC car doesn't touch the track nor does it cause the tires of the car to stray away. Keeping a good set of shock absorbers is the tricky part, so before entering any racing competition, test several set of shocks which you think would be effective in keeping your RC car chassis off of the racetrack.

Everybody knows that shock absorbers consist of a good set of springs as this allows the car to maintain the standard height from 0 level. For better performance though, a soft type of spring is preferred. As mentioned, it is better for you to test several springs at a time before entering a competition. You'll be the judge of the height of the chassis from the ground and whether the “feel” of the spring already suffices your preference.

To put your RC car under smooth control even if it bumps another car on track or experiences an ordinary bump, be sure you have the right amount of shock oil absorbed on the springs of the car. An appropriately positioned pistons absorb the excess energy caused from a collision or impact. This results to the steady motion of a vehicle.

Keeping your RC car free from unsteady movement and unnecessary bounce will give you peace of mind when driving it around or even when in a competition.

Racing Radio Controlled Cars is a perfect site in the internet to learn all about RC cars, tips on racing and maintenance

By Shareen Aguilar

Rc Beginner Basics: How to Get Started With Radio Controlled Car Hobby

Within each person is a high, a desire to expand one's horizons. While some require a huge physical and monetary challenge, embarking in a radio controlled car hobby is much less demanding and more practical to turn into a reality. But a radio controlled hobby is no joke to deal with. It could turn nasty if you don't get yourself ready for it.

The desire is just the start of passion and a time-consuming journey which can be one of your life's' greatest rewarding activities.First you need to determine which you would prefer to have: toy RC kits or hobby kits. Hobby kits are higher in quality but require more expertise.

A good way to test if the hobby is for you is by purchasing the toy kit first and then stepping up to the more sophisticated hobby kit if you get the feel for the hobby. Toy kits are assembled and even available in toy stores, while hobby RC cars require assembling capabilities and a bit more than basic knowledge.

There are a host of RC car types available for you, and only you can determine which suits your fancy. There are scale models which are 1/20 of the original, and there are others which are life-size or even bigger than the original. If you're just getting started the smaller the better and more manageable.

They vary in speed depending on size and power source. There are two types of power source available for a typical radio controlled car: electric and fuel. In terms of speed, engine powered ones are more reliable and exciting to use. However, electrically generated ones are much more user-friendly as far as maintenance is concerned.

Since you are beginner, always choose the lesser evil and upgrade to a higher challenge only when you are knowledgeable enough to do so. Electric-powered motors require a radio system to keep them going. These include a transmitter, a receiver and servos. Servos are placed in both the vehicle and the receiver.

They serve as connecting nodes between commands from the transmitter to the receiver. The battery pack is rechargeable, though it takes much longer to charge. Some tools for the hand are also needed for the routine maintenance checks. Engine-powered ones also require a radio system. But its battery is non-rechargeable by electricity.

An igniter is also needed, since it relies on fuel combustion to move it at awesome speeds. Nitro models don't usually operate on gasoline. It requires a different mixture of chemicals for combustion. You will definitely need a bottle for fuel storage; lest you run out in the midst of the action.

Author: Ken Krysinski

Origins of the Remote Control Car

The beginnings of the remote control car can be traced back to the 1940s, when small, nitromethane-powered engines first entered the market. At the time, the only way to control an engine-powered model car was with a tether. While these cars were fast, they merely ran in a circle from the tether.

In the late 1960s, the first miniaturized solid state radio control systems were introduced, allowing model cars to have servo-controlled steering, throttle, and brake functionality that could be remotely controlled from a transmitter unit.Several early commercially viable remote control cars became available by 1966, produced by El-Gi (Elettronica Giocattoli), a company from Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Their first remote control car model was a 1:12 Ferrari 250LM. This was followed by their 1:10 Ferrari P4 model, which was first shown at the Milan Toy Fair in early 1968. Between the mid to late 1960s, a British company called Mardave also began to produce commercially viable remote control cars. Their first products were nitro- or gas-powered cars which were sold in the early 1970s.During that period, several commercial products were manufactured by small firms in the United States.

Most of these companies started out as slot car companies, then moved into the remote control car field, which was becoming more popular. Early kits were 1/8 scale nitro-powered aluminum flat pan cars powered by a .21 or smaller engine, with the bodies made of polycarbonate.In 1976, the Japanese firm Tamiya released a series of highly detailed but mechanically simple electric on-road car models.

Although more expensive, these kits and radio systems sold quickly. Soon, Tamiya began to produce more purpose-built remote-controlled model cars, and were the first to release off-road buggies with real suspension systems. This allowed remote control cars to be driven virtually anywhere, not just on bitumen and smooth surfaces. It was this development toward the off-road class that brought about much of the hobby’s popularity.

Author: Riz Davis

RC Cars: Toy or Hobby?

Radio controlled cars (RC cars) have been around since the 1960's, and they've held our attention ever since. This fascination with small radio controlled replica cars is not only beheld by little boys, but by male and female, young and old, too. Just what makes these miniature cars so popular? Well it could be the fact that this hobby allows you to own any car you can imagine, even if only in facsimile.

When Remote Control cars first began, they were made with 2-stroke model airplane engines and were created 1/8 scale. Today, RC cars can be found in a wide array of sizes and body styles. Chances are that any car you like will have it's counterpart in Remotely Controlled miniature.
There two grades of Remote Control cars, toy grade and hobby grade.

Toy grade RC cars are those you find in the regular discount stores and electronic specialty stores. These cars have no spare parts, and once they break or stop working they are unserviceable and meant to be discarded. These Remotely Controlled cars cost $20-25 for the 'basic' models, with the most expensive units topping out around $150.

Toy grade RC cars usually give you forward and reverse and left and right steering. Some only let you go forward and reverse, with the car turning in one direction while in reverse. Some of the toy grade cars are just now beginning to have proportional steering, but this would be in the more expensive models.

Unlike the toy grade cars, hobby grade RC cars do not share the problem of not having available spare parts. These hobby grade Remote Control cars also have upgrades ready to be fitted by the owner as well. If a part breaks or fails, it's really no big deal for the hobbyist as the parts are probably sitting on the hobby store shelf.

The most popular hobby cars can have at their disposal hundreds of upgrades from many different merchants. Available upgrades may consist of scale-realistic wheels to anodized aluminum struts. Some hobby grade cars have total conversion kits available that change the vehicle radically.

Today's RC cars come in both fuel and electric powered versions. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The electric Remote Control cars run cleaner than their fuel powered counterpart, but the fuel driven Remotely Controlled cars are much faster.

Deciding on which route to go on purchasing either a toy grade or hobby grade RC car really should depend on who the car is intended for. Any child would be happy with one of the $25 low end cars, and so would some adults.

If the car is intended for competition racing, the toy isn't going to cut it. Hobby level RC cars generally start out at the $350 range, and that's without accessories. If you're going to start Junior out at hobby level, you're going to have to whip out the credit card.

Author: John Taylor

Top NASCAR Car Racing Teams You Would Want To Be A Part Of

The need to belong is a universal need.And if you are a part of the professional car racing, you definitely want to be be associated with the top NASCAR car racing teams for last year.
Wonder what they look for in a portfolio?

What will be featured are the top teams according to revenue earned, value, and operating income. Mind you, these numbers are all in millions, and not your single-digit numbers.

1. Roush Fenway Racing - for this year, they were valued at a whopping $316 million, earned $189 million as revenue, and spent $39.1 million on operating expenses. They have DeWalt to back them up.

2. Hendrick Motorsports - there were valued for $297 million, operated on a budget of $38.9, and earned $163 million. They are currently sponsored by Dupont.

3. Joe Gibbs Racing - their value for the year 2007 was reported to be $173 million. Also, earned a revenue of $110 million and had an operating income of 23.6 million. Home Depot is their primary sponsor.

4. Evernham motorsports - valued at $128 million, earned a revenue of $89 million and operated on an income of $178 million. They have Dodge Dealer/UAW on their side.
5. Richard Childress Racing - they have a tag price of $124 million, audited for an operating income of $19.1 million and earned a revenue of $98 million. Shell/Penzoil sponsors them as of now.

Big numbers mean success

In this case, the higher the number, the more stable and successful the car racing team is. It is interesting to note that they they still managed to operate on a two-digit income and earning triple more more. They really do know how to do business. If you have a top notch and an industry leader to hire you to drive their racing cars, then it is the sweetest victory next to actually winning the car race.

Though his life seem figured out and grounded as a neurosurgeon, Vastine has one interesting and risky hobby, motor and car racing. It is only in a racing blog that he can openly share how he sneaks out to race in the mountains of Chengdu and all things imaginable and unimaginable about his motor and car racing

By Vastine Chater

RC Car Questions and Parts

When either building your own nitro car or buying prebuilt models, there are some accessories which are very important and main questions people ask when going into model shops. The specifications on cars can be very confusing to people new to the hobby so below are some of the most common questions asked.

What is a rc car kits modified motor

There are two types of modified motors, sport and hand wound. Sport modified motors are wound via the factory and the usually cost around £35.00. Whereas a hand wound motor have the arm wound by hand and the user assembles the device to give a better and higher performance output with the RRP around £60.00 These modified motors are ball raced and are able to be taken apart from servicing and cleaning.

You are able to skim the commutator several times throughout the motors lifetime to give a constant performance. There are several types of winds and turns which can have a range of 7 to 30 being the number of times the wire is wrapped around the arm. Winds are what is reference to as the pieces of wire on the arm and can have a range of 1, 2 to 5. In general, the smaller the turns gives a higher speed and power but will suck up the battery power.

A single wind will determine more of a punch while four will be smooth. Each motor should be suited to a particular car, type of control and track.

What batteries do RC Car take

A Battery for RC Car kits are usually called a Ni-Car and are the most important part as they are responsible for the power to your rc car motor. Even with a very powerful motor, it still needs a battery to give top performance. The prices can be anything from £10 for a cheap battery to £60,99 which is the most expensive allowed for racing.

The cheaper, lower end batteries are for home use with the most expensive batteries for competition racing. The Ni-cad batteries are the same type you get in DIY power tools so are used to taking a battering. As with everything, you get what you pay for so a more expensive battery will last longer and give better performance.

What are the different Speed Controllers

With each rc model you get a controller, but depending on what the RC model is depends on the amount of channels such as 2, 4 etc. A RC plane could have a 2 channel controller or 4 which means the more channels, the more of the same model you can have in the area if you are with friends.

The entry level controllers come with a mechanical control whereas more expensive controllers have electronic speed controllers. Overall are much more efficient and give you better control over your rc model with prices around £20-£190 and again, you get what you pay for. Many Petrol RC Cars come with easy to control speed controllers.

There are so many more things to learn, with much data on our website or all over the net.

Either way remote control cars are a hobby which is here to stay so gaining experience will lead to a long and happy hobby.

http://www.petrolrccars.co.uk has a large amount of info on rc car kits and parts

By Rob D Stone