REMOTE CONTROL BUYING AND TUNING GUIDE

Choosing, Buying, Tuning, and Racing
Nitro Gas Powered RC Cars and Trucks
Nitro rc cars, gas r/c trucks, and nitro buggies that run on nitro gas fuel are the most popular and fastest growing segment of the rc car hobby.
Here's a couple tips and recommendations on nitro gas powered remote control cars and trucks to help you choose the right vehicle, get the car and nitro engine started, and tune it for more speed and power...

How to Choose A Nitro RC Car or Truck
So you want to purchase a nitro rc car or truck for yourself or as a gift for someone else and you're not sure what kit you should buy?
Well choosing your nitro vehicle is the fun part!
Offroad Nitro RC Trucks - Can take on huge jumps and be driven almost anywhere no matter how rough the terrain. Combination of speed, power, and durability make them GREAT for beginners to the hobby.
Onroad Nitro Gas Powered RC Cars - Designed to be raced on the street, at the track, or any prepared surfaces. Fastest top speeds but easier to damage if crashed. Smaller size makes it lowest priced of the nitro kits and an excellent value.
OUTSTANDING Nitro Buggies - When you want the ultimate in speed, acceleration, handling, durability, and absolute fun!
Next you'll have to chose between either a ready to run kit that comes prebuilt and includes a pull start nitro engine, the radio control, and all the radio equipment already installed or an unassembled kit that you or a friend put together and it may require purchasing the nitro engine, the radio, and additional equipment seperate. 
I highly suggest beginners start with a ready to run vehicle like from Traxxas, Team Associated, Sportwerks, and HPI Racing.

Buying - What You Need to Get Started...
While most ready to run kits include everything you need to get started already in the box, if you instead choose to buy an unassembled or an incomplete ready to run kit you'll likely need a few additional accessories to get your vehicle started and tuned.
To run your nitro car or truck you'll need a radio control with receiver and two servos, the nitro engine, and a way to start the engine.
Of course you'll also need nitro fuel made specifically for nitro rc cars and trucks to get your vehicle and the engine up and running. These nitro gas powered cars don't run on regular gas fuel from the pump, so make sure you get the right kind of fuel.
But don't worry about it..
Luckily, there are nitro starter kits made specifically for nitro vehicles which come with absolutely everything you will need to complete your kit. Many good rc hobby shops will have a complete nitro starter kit with all the accessories you'll need to get your nitro gas powered rc car or truck started plus offer additional parts and accessories to replace any worn or broken part or to upgrade your kit when you are ready for more performance!

 All About Tuning Nitro RC Cars And Trucks
The nitro engine is the heart and soul of any nitro rc car or truck so if you get the engine tuned and set up right while keeping it well maintained, it makes everything else a lot easier.
I suggest beginners tune and set up their engines according to the instructions included in the box which usually call for a slow break in period with the carburetor needles set to allow more fuel to keep the engine running cooler than normal race conditions. If the kit you buy is ready to run "as is", the default engine tuning settings should be sufficiently rich.
There are several different break-in methods you can use but the most commonly used one is to run the engine while the car is sitting off the ground at that rich setting for a tank or two and then for the next 3 or 4 tanks to run it on the ground at a low speed and gradually speed it up while you progress through each tank and leaning the high speed needle 1/8th of a turn at a time until it runs close to peak performance. Make sure the engine stays within a reasonable temperature range and make sure you see a good amount of blue smoke coming out of the exhaust throughout the throttle range to insure you are not running the engine overly lean.

Racing Radio Controlled Cars And Trucks For Fun
In my opinion, racing nitro rc trucks and cars is the most interesting and personally rewarding part of the rc car hobby. Whether it's on the track in an organized race, in the street, in a field some where, or your own backyard against your buddies, nothing beats the speed, power, sound, smell, and adrenaline rush of racing with these fast and powerful racing machines.
a common mistake for most beginners (and even many experienced racers) make is driving too out of control. The steering and throttle inputs on the radio are not an on and off switch, so be gentle! Rolling onto the throttle smoothly is often a much faster way around the track. Likewise, the car acts and turns more predictably when you are smooth with the steering wheel.
Before wrenching on your car and making tuning adjustments trying to find the perfect setup, you need to be able to get around the track without crashing. If you can't make a few laps without crashing, "and it has happened to all of us during tune and test periods, setup changes aren't going to help much unless your vehicle is just totally off for the conditions of the track and undriveable,unbelievible.