Information Density: HPI Racing – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

[H3] Latest Videos

[IMG: nano-TTR BMW 2002 turbo taking on the new nano-Track!]

[IMG: The legendary 1973 Porsche Carrera RSR]

[IMG: Our tiny test track is underway! And it’s going to be an epic racing arena for our Nano TTR cars]

[IMG: Bow down to the Sport 3 Falken Porsche 911 GT3 RSR]

[IMG: Meet the Mini-King Flux Ford Bronco Big Kahuna 4400]

click to watch more HPI videos

#160585 Savage X 4.6
GT-6  Blue1/8th 4WD Nitro Monster Truck
Specifications:Length: 534mm
Width: 445mm
Height: 255mm
Wheelbase: 336.5mm
What you need:4 AA batteries for transmitter:
HPI Recommends #101939 Plazma AA
batteries
5-Cell NiMH Hump Receiver Battery:
HPI Recommends #160153 Plazma
6.0V 1600mAh NiMH Receiver Battery Pack
Glow Igniter & Fuel Bottle:
HPI Recommends #160077 Nitro
Starter Pack
16-25% Nitro Fuel
Battery charger for receiver battery:
HPI Recommends Reactor 200 – #118049
(US), #118050 (UK),
#118051
(EU)
Reactor 600 - #160236 (US), #160237 (UK), #160238 (EU), #160239 (AUS)

Get the free
Savage X4.6 Poster & Manual here!

[H1] What are Radio Control (RC) Cars?

This page of the HPI site is for people who have never been
exposed to Radio Control Cars before and want to find out more
before trying one out for real.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could have a
scale model car that you could control? Have you ever seen someone
playing in the street with a radio control car and wondered what it
would be like to drive your own car? Or did you once have an R/C
car many years ago, and you want to see how the hobby has
changed?
It's much easier than you think to find yourself involved in the
radio control car hobby! Many people have R/C cars as children but
give up the hobby as they get older. Now's the time to remember how
much fun it all was!
Probably the most popular Radio Control models are radio control
cars, also known as R/C cars or RC cars. These range from the types
of cars you see in toy and electronics stores to the types of cars
that companies like HPI Racing offers. R/C cars can be off-road
buggies, trucks, monster trucks, cars, street trucks and much
more.
Radio control cars come in two basic forms: "toy" style cars or
trucks that are advertised during cartoon shows on television and
sold at electronics and toy stores, and the "kit" type cars or
trucks that are sold only at specialized hobby shops or mail-order
companies and are available as a build-it-yourself kit or "Ready To
Run". Toy-style cars are often advertised as "remote control",
while hobbyists refer to kit-style cars as "radio control".
HPI specializes in the kit-type R/C car or truck, which can come
assembled or in kit form, meaning you build it yourself or with a
friend. While the kit R/C cars and trucks cost more at first, they
are more durable and faster than toy R/C cars. You can also repair
this type of R/C car or truck, which is usually impossible or very
difficult to do with toy R/C cars. The cost to repair a car or
truck is only a fraction of the cost it would take to send a
toy-style kit to its manufacturer (if that is even possible). You
can also upgrade an R/C car or truck to make it faster, stronger,
more durable, more adjustable or just make it look nicer. All HPI
R/C car and truck kits have optional bodies that you can replace
whenever you want, meaning while you may have a street car today,
you can have a street truck tomorrow, or a sedan, racing coupe,
sports car, or nearly any other type of car you desire!
[H2] HPI Racing offers many types of R/C cars
*One of our most popular types of kits are the truck kits, which
can run just about anywhere, taking jumps, dips, bumps and more!
Because of large rubber tires and long shock absorbers, these
trucks can run on dirt, grass, the street and almost any type of
surface. These kits are equipped with 'Nitro' engines, which use
real fuel, make lots of noise and put out real exhaust smoke! HPI
also offers all of our Nitro-powered trucks in RTR versions, which
means you don't have to build anything at all. We have nimble and
fast electric 2WD trucks, 4WD trucks and massive monster trucks in
both electric and Nitro versions! The Savage line of trucks has
been hugely popular since its introduction several years ago, and
are worth looking at for their legendary toughness and tremendous
speeds!
Also very popular are the HPI Nitro series of cars, which
feature similar engines as our trucks, real rubber street tires,
four-wheel drive for stability and real working shock absorbers!
These are just a few features of these exciting cars and only part
of what make these kits extremely popular. These kits are perfect
for teaching children about real cars, as well as other R/C hobby
techniques like teamwork, communication and more. The "RTR" version
of our famous Nitro RS4 is built out of the box, while the
extra-powerful Nitro RS4 3 18SS+ arrives in kit form so you can
have the fun of building the car yourself.
The electric-powered versions of our "on-road" cars run on
batteries and electric motors, and are slightly easier to build and
maintain than the Nitro versions. Quiet and easy to maintain,
electric cars are very popular where hobbyists can only drive
indoors.
At the "top of the heap" are the car kits that we release for
racers and R/C enthusiasts. These include the Hot Bodies line of racing
cars. Completely adjustable for racing conditions and extremely
durable as well, these all-out racing machines are for the racer
who wants the highest-tech, most capable kits that are available
today.
For more information on HPI cars visit the Kits
Page.
[H2] What type of kit should you get?
This is one of the first questions that R/C newcomers ask anyone
in a hobby shop or internet forum. There are
many things to consider, such as what areas you can run the car or
truck in, how much time you can spend working on the car or truck,
etc. You will have lots of fun looking at all the different kits
HPI has to offer, though!
We've split up the decision-making process with these three
questions: Should I get an on-road or off-road kit, Should
I get a Nitro or electric kit, and Should I get an
RTR kit or a kit I have to build? Read our responses to
these questions and see what type of kit suits you best.
Should I get an on-road or off-road kit?
On-road kits can hit high speeds and they look like the cars you
see on racetracks and streets around the world. With four-wheel
drive (4WD), they are easy to drive and you can get realistic
treaded tires and bodies for scale realism. However, driving off
your curb or over holes in the road is not what these are designed
to do. HPI offers on-road kits in both electric and Nitro versions,
in various sizes, so it's easy to find something that fits your
situation.
Should I get a 'Nitro' or electric kit?
*Electric kits are slightly easier to assemble and maintain than
Nitro kits, are nearly silent (so you don't bother your neighbours)
and can just be switched on to get running. You can also run
electric kits indoors, while Nitro kits must be run outdoors only.
A well-tuned electric car can keep up with a Nitro car on a small
parking lot track, but on a large track the Nitro car will easily
pull away from the electric. The batteries that power the electric
car's motor and steering can be recharged from a 12-volt car
battery or a wall socket. Charging typically takes 15-30 minutes,
and a battery will last about 5-10 minutes, depending on the type
of motor used and how fast you are driving.
*'Nitro' is a term that refers to the fuel-powered cars that
many R/C manufacturers offer. These kits feature a real
fuel-burning engine, a 2-stroke engine similar to those used in
lawnmowers and other devices powered by small engines. Ovearll, a
Nitro car or truck is just as easy to build and care for as an
electric car or truck. The Nitro engine provides realistic sights
(smoke), sound (tuned pipe), and smells (exhaust), which is a huge
reason for the Nitro class's popularity. While the electric kit
must use several battery packs to achieve run times of 30 to 60
minutes, all the Nitro kit owner must do is make sure his
transmitter and receiver batteries are sufficient and fill the
car's fuel tank every 5 to 10 minutes.
*Another group of kits offered by HPI are the petrol-powered
kits such as the Baja 5B buggy and Baja 5T truck! These use normal
pump petrol like you would use in a real car, mixed with 2-cycle
engine oil, in a large engine similar to those used in lawn
trimmers and other gardening tools. These kits are huge, nearly a
meter long and are much wider than any other HPI cars or trucks!
The extra cost of these massive kits is offset by the fuel cost,
which is much lower than regular nitro car fuel, costing just
pennies per hour of running. Engine maintenance is also less
intensive and the size of the kits make them seem much more
real!
Should I get an RTR kit or a kit I have to
build?
"RTR" means Ready To Run, and in the case of HPI's RTR kits the
only preparation that is needed requires about 30 minutes or less
before you're running the car or truck. The amount of preparation
needed varies from kit to kit. This option is good for hobbyists
who don't have time to build a kit, want to easily add another R/C
kit to the collection, or anyone who is buying a kit for a younger
relative.
Any HPI kit that is not labeled "RTR" is a "kit", meaning it
must be built up from parts that are included in the box. This is
usually not as hard a process as it initially sounds, our
instructions are extremely thorough and our kits easier to build
than ever before.
*These questions and their answers should help you decide what
sort of car or truck you might want to try out for your first R/C
kit. As you get more involved with the hobby, you may find that
your first car isn't keeping up with your interests, or you have
found a new group of friends to race with, or a new area to play
in. For instance, your HPI street car is lots of fun in the school
parking lot, but it can't drive through the field next to the
school, so you might decide to pick an HPI truck that can run
off-road. Many hobbyists have several cars so they can play on any
type of terrain or surface! Start with one and see how you like it
first, though.
[H2] Where can I find a kit to buy?
This is one of the easiest questions to answer. Use your local
telephone directory (look under "hobby shop or dealer") or our
Shop Search page to find a hobby shop
near you. You can also try a mail order company that advertises in
one of the many R/C magazines around the country. For many
hobbyists, an online retailer of hobby products is their only
choice because of location and convenience.
[H2] Where can I run or race a car or truck?
Part of the process in deciding what type of kit you get should
involve the area you have around you, where you can run a car or
truck. Cars generally need a paved surface to run on, open parking
lots such as schools, churches, office areas, etc., provide plenty
of space to play on. (Make sure to ask permission if you need to!)
With trucks, the type of surface doesn't matter too much because
they can drive on pavement, dirt, gravel and all types of ground.
Long grass isn't the best place to run in, but for short periods of
time it is okay for the truck. Open fields, vacant lots,
construction yards and other places are perfect places to run or
race an HPI truck. Again, make sure to ask permission if it's
private property!
Most of HPI's customers enjoy simply running their car or truck
by themselves or with a friend or two. Running the car up and down
the street or through a field or vacant lot can be lots of fun, but
it's ten times as fun to drive around with another car or
truck!
However, some of our customers find that just driving on their
street isn't as much fun as they thought, and want to actually
compete with other R/C car or truck drivers. These people need to
RACE!
If you want to try racing the kit you buy, you
will find yourself involved in one of the most exciting and fun
activities you can participate in! For some R/C hobbyists, nothing
can come close to racing against a group of other drivers each
week. All HPI kits can be raced, it's just a matter of finding
enough racers to form your own race class at a local track. Most
race areas are on-road (paved) tracks, because it's easy to find a
parking lot that isn't used. Other locations are off-road,
featuring all-dirt surfaces with lanes separated by boards or
plastic pipe.
Racing can be an activity enjoyed every few months or you can
dive in and surround yourself with the terminology, routines and
competition. It's entirely up to you, but for some hobbyists
there's nothing else that compares.
To find a track near you, see our Links
page.
[H2] What are the advantages of the R/C hobby?
Like any popular hobby, radio control cars have a mass appeal
that draws people in, often for good.
Do you enjoy putting parts of a kit together to make a single
operating machine or structure? Have you ever wanted to make one of
your scale model cars move on its own? Have you ever wanted to race
a car, but realized the costs involved were prohibitively
expensive? Have you ever wanted to teach your son or daughter more
about real cars and how they work? Do you have a competitive spirit
but don't have a good way to release it? Do you enjoy working with
and learning from others for a common goal? Do you enjoy good
sportsmanship in a friendly, open setting? Do you enjoy meeting new
people with common interests?
A "yes" in answer to any of the questions (and many others not
mentioned) is a perfect reason to try R/C and see how it fits into
your life and busy schedule.
Building a kit from parts you get in a box is a form of
entertainment that most people can understand. The grin of
satisfaction and happiness from "building something from nothing"
is one that almost can't be explained. Have you ever built a piece
of furniture, rebuilt or repaired your car, put together a model
kit, written a story or simple computer program, pieced together
several items to make a single working piece or assembled anything
from instructions? If you have ever done anything similar to these
things, you understand the joy that will come from building your
first (and second, and third...) radio control car kit.
The first thing most people do when they run their car or truck
is race it up and down their street or neighborhood parking lot.
Running an R/C car will always bring out a crowd who is eager to
find out what a speedy little car is doing zipping around the
place! Meeting new people and telling them about your new hobby is
one of the joys of R/C. People have always liked miniature things,
and anything you can control (like your R/C car or truck) is even
more exciting! Explaining everything about your car or truck is a
great way to meet new people, make friends and impress your
neighbors!
Racing an R/C car is definitely a unique way to have fun
and hang out with friends and acquaintances. Spending a
day at the track is cheaper than a night at the movies, with race
fees costing about €5 to €10 (£4 to £8) at
most tracks. You can quickly find a friendly person there who can
give you advice, tips and other help, and eventually you'll get a
friend to two to go with you and have fun as a group! While many
HPI cars and trucks never see a race track, we always encourage
this activity as a way to meet new people, learn more about your
car and get more involved with the hobby! Our HPI Challenge events are just one way to have fun
racing, plus you may have a track near you! See your local phone
directory for hobby shops and if you don't have a location nearby,
you can always ask permission to use an empty car park or vacant
field.
Many parent/child "teams" can be seen at any R/C track or event,
working together on one or more cars and racing or just having fun.
Usually, the parent has been involved with the hobby and wishes to
share it with their child, or the child has gotten his or her first
R/C kit and both paren

[H3] Latest Videos

[IMG: nano-TTR BMW 2002 turbo taking on the new nano-Track!]

[IMG: The legendary 1973 Porsche Carrera RSR]

[IMG: Our tiny test track is underway! And it’s going to be an epic racing arena for our Nano TTR cars]

[IMG: Bow down to the Sport 3 Falken Porsche 911 GT3 RSR]

[IMG: Meet the Mini-King Flux Ford Bronco Big Kahuna 4400]

click to watch more HPI videos