The Cars We Race
In many forms of RC racing the classes and style of racing is representative of the full-size version it recreates. 12th oval racing at BMCC is no different, even down to the contact element of some of the classes during the racing. If you have never seen full-size oval racing before, a quick search on YouTube or Facebook for the class of car you wish to race will give you some ideas for paint schemes, and the style of racing involved in that class.
Most forms of full-size Motorsport involve a single qualifying session before the main race. This is not the case in oval racing, nor in the 12th oval version. On a normal race night at BMCC the drivers will have 3 qualifying heat races plus a “final” race. Your 1 best lap score will give you a place on the grid for the finals. It’s also worth noting that the heat races are mixed. This means that a complete novice will be able to race the champion driver in the class they are competing in. This may sound unfair, and in all other types of RC racing this does not happen, even if there are 40 drivers in a class, a new driver would not be allowed to race the top drivers. To make things harder for the top drivers we have roof grades in 12th oval, exactly the same as the full-size version. This means a novice driver will have almost a complete lap head-start on the established drivers in the class they are racing in. The roof grades start at white top, and as a driver gets more experience, and better results they will move through the grades from white to yellow, blue, red and Superstar.
In most forms or RC racing the car and equipment needed can only be used for a single class. A F1 car is no good if you suddenly wish to try touring car racing! In 12th oval again this is not the case. The majority of the kits come from a company called Kamtec. The base parts of all the kits are the same, wishbones, rear pods, axle, wheels etc etc. This makes it very easy for a novice to start in the 1300 Stock Car class, and when experience is gained use the majority of the parts to either move up to the 2lt Saloon class, or the Hotrod class. The kits themselves are quite cheap, and extremely strong. Kamtec can supply anything from new washers to everything you need to go racing. On race nights CT models have a stand at the club selling all the spares you may need, so any breakdown does not mean the end of a fun nights racing at BMCC.
All the classes at BMCC run to the current BRCA construction rules that can be found on the BRCA website.
Useful Links
1300 Stock Cars
1300 Stock Cars is a brilliant starting point for a new racer. That said there are many experienced drivers that choose to stay in this class too. 1300 Stock Cars is the most popular class raced at BMCC for this very reason. The cars are quite basic in construction and have large plastic bumpers. Contact in this class is allowed, but in a limited way. A driver can spin the car in front to gain a position, or pass without penalty, but full on “banger” type racing is not allowed. 1300 Stock Cars are powered by a 4.8v NiMH battery, and a 540 size brushed motor. They all use the same electronic speedo meaning the racing is very close and competitive.
2lt Saloons
Often referred to as the “big brother” of the 1300 Stock Cars. These cars use the same basic running gear as a 1300. In this class the contact is greater, and the cars are harder to drive. They can be powered by a 13.5T or 10.5T brushless motor and a 1-cell LiPo battery or a brushed motor and 7.2v NiMH battery. There is pretty much free choice on the make of motor and speedo in this class. This means there can be a large difference in power between some of the cars. Also the construction rules for this class let drivers change and modify their cars unlike in the 1300 Stock Cars. This is a class not for the faint-hearted.
Hotrods
This is the only non-contact class raced at BMCC. The Hotrods are the fastest cars on the ovals. They can use the same basic running gear as the other classes, but the rules are quite open and let lots of other manufacturers parts be used. The cars are powered by 13.5T brushless motors and 1-cell LiPo batteries. They have no external bumpers and use lexan shells. Generally theses are the hardest cars to drive meaning that this class mainly attracts the most experienced drivers.
In addition, BMCC are currently running a brushed Hotrod class. This class uses the 1300 Stock Car construction rules, but with no external bumpers (internal foam bumpers allowed) and they must use a lexan Hotrod shell.
Mini Stocks
This class again uses most of the standard parts of the other classes. The main difference is that the Mini Stocks are not allowed any suspension on the front or rear of the car. This can make them tricky to drive! They have external plastic bumpers, and like the 1300 Stock Cars, limited contact during racing is allowed. The cars are powered by 17.5T brushless motors and 1-cell LiPo batteries. Again the choice of motor and LiPo is open and can also be powered by the same 4.8v motor and speedo that the 1300 Stock Cars run.
