Building An RC Drag Car Racing Track

RC drag car racing can turn a fun hobby into a profitable business and it''s not as difficult as you might imagine. Of course, building a quality RC drag car racing track does require some cash in the bank.

Finding a smooth, level area is the first consideration in building an RC drag car racing track. The finest surface for RC drag car racing is ultra-smooth asphalt; the kind found in playgrounds and skateboard parks. Besides finding a level surface, it will also have to meet certain area requirements. Including a shutdown area, 200 feet is ideal; 150 feet should be considered a bare minimum. You''ll also need a width of at least ten feet for each lane.

The ideal RC drag car racing track requires extra traction. Although many tracks get by using a blend of sugar and water, for the best conditions possible you should use a special traction compound known as VHT. The problem is that VHT doesn''t come cheap; if you find a gallon for less than $10, pick it up. Of course, you can always invest in a drum of VHT for somewhere in the $750 range. Even so, a drum may only last you around ten races. Because VHT is so pricy, most people cut it with alcohol to make it last longer. Typically, VHT is applied only to first 60 feet of the track.

Of course, RC drag car racing wouldn''t be drag racing without a timer. Various types of timer units can found in most hobby stores, or you check out eBay for an older system. A new timing tree will probably set you back anywhere from two to three grand; unless it''s in mint condition, you really shouldn''t pay more than $1500 for a used one, and shop around if the price is even that high. If you''re patient, you might even be able to get a used RC drag car racing timing tree for under $1000.

Although certainly not a requirement, you might want to invest protection for runaway cars. The excitement of RC drag car racing stems from the thrill of breakaway speed and often results in out of control cars. You can buy and decorate boards for anywhere from $250 to $500, depending on how realistic you want them. In addition to protecting runaway vehicles, the boards also serve to mark boundaries; they add realism to the look and feel of the track that you can''t get from using pylons.

These are the primary expenses associated with building an RC drag car racing track. Once you get it up and going, however, you may want to look into the cost of trophies, a lighting system for night racing, and even cash awards. Of course, those kinds of expenses should only be considered after you''ve started bringing in money by charging entry fees for your races.

June Mala © 2006 KEO Business News