Whether you’re heading to a local club race, a major event like Motorama, or a track you’ve never seen before, proper race prep can be the difference between a frustrating weekend and a successful one.
In this guide, we’re breaking down exactly how to prepare for an RC race — step by step — so you can show up confident, organized, and ready to focus on driving laps.
This is the same process we use before big events, and it works.
Step 1: Identify the Track (Know What You’re Walking Into)
Before you touch your car, buy tires, or adjust setup — you need to understand the track.
Ask yourself:
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Is it big and flowy or tight with 180s?
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Smooth or bumpy?
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High grip or low grip?
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Indoor or outdoor?
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Dirt, clay, sealed surface, or carpet?
If you’ve never been there:
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Check Facebook photos
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Watch YouTube videos of previous races
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Ask locals
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Look up past setup sheets from that track
This information influences everything else — especially tires and fluids.
Step 2: Check the Temperature & Weather Conditions
Temperature matters more than most racers realize.
Shock Oil & Temperature
Shock oil thickens in cold weather and thins in heat.
Example:
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50°F day → 500–575 cSt may feel normal
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20°F day → That same oil feels like a brick
Cold weather = drop oil weight
Hot weather = increase oil weight
Even indoor tracks that aren’t climate controlled will be affected.
Tire Compounds & Weather
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Cold conditions → Softer compound
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Hot conditions → Harder compound
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Moist track (after rain) → May require different compound
You may not change tread pattern — but compound is critical.
Pro tip: Don’t just bring “whatever.” Bring what matches the forecast.
Step 3: Tire Planning (Don’t Guess — Plan It)
Once you know:
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Track type
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Grip level
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Temperature
Now you evaluate what tires you already have and what you need to order.
How Many Tire Sets Do You Need?
For a typical one-day race:
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Practice → 1 set
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Qualifying → 1–2 sets
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Mains → 1 set
High estimate: 3 sets per class
Some tracks allow you to run one set all day. Others (especially outdoor) are harder on tires.
We recommend slightly over-preparing — but not going crazy.
What Tread Pattern Should You Bring?
For outdoor dirt racing, it’s very hard to go wrong with:
These are extremely versatile and work almost everywhere.
If you think the track may transition (example: starting on Reflex and moving to Relapse), plan accordingly and mirror your tire count.
The key:
Have enough tires so you never have to “save” them during qualifying.
Step 4: Rebuild & Baseline Your Car
Once tires are sorted, it’s rebuild time.
This step includes:
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Cleaning the car completely
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Fresh diff oils
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Fresh shock oil
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Check bearings
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Tighten hardware
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Inspect arms, hubs, and driveline
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Verify smooth drivetrain
Show up confident knowing everything is fresh.
Don’t Get Lost in Setup Geometry
This is important.
For most racers:
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Stick with a solid baseline geometry
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Avoid drastic toe / anti-squat / kickup changes
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Focus on consistency and drivability
Most modern kits come very close out of the box.
Unless you’re racing at an elite level, baseline setup + good driving wins races.
Baseline Diff Oil Suggestions
Buggy Starting Points:
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7k / 7k / 5k
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10k / 7k / 5k
Truggy Starting Points:
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15k / 15k / 10k
Truggies typically need thicker fluids due to size and tire load.
Adjust for:
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Higher grip → Thicker
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Lower grip → Thinner
If unsure:
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Ask the local track
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Join a Facebook group
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Look up setup sheets from similar track types
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Ask someone at your home track who’s been there
Use the community — RC racers are generally very helpful.
Step 5: Travel & Pit Prep
Now that the car is ready — prep yourself.
Essential Pit Items
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Table
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Chair
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Extension cord
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Power strip
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Generator (if needed)
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10x10 pop-up tent
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Tent sides (for cold, wind, or rain)
Even if a track has tables and power — it’s smart to be self-sufficient.
Car & Tool Prep
Make sure you bring:
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Radio (don’t forget it!)
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Spare parts (arms, hubs, turnbuckles, bearings)
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Pit board
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Cleaning supplies
We have a full breakdown video on what goes in our tool and parts bag — but the big picture is simple:
If something breaks, you want to be able to fix it immediately.
The Big Picture: Show Up Ready So You Can Focus on Laps
Race prep is about eliminating stress.
When you:
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Know the track
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Have the right tires
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Have fresh fluids
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Bring the right pit gear
You can show up, hit the track, and focus on driving — not scrambling.
Preparation builds confidence.
Confidence builds consistency.
Consistency wins races.
Final Thoughts
If you’re new to RC racing — don’t overthink it.
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Start with a solid baseline.
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Bring versatile tires.
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Rebuild your car.
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Use the RC community for setup help.
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Stay organized.
If you have questions about race prep, setups, or what tires to run — drop a comment below or stop by Adrenaline RC Racing and we’ll help get you dialed in.
See you at the track. 🏁