12 volt   

The 12 volt car or leisure battery brought along to race meetings to use as a source of power for chargers, soldering irons, fans etc…

2000’s   

Cells which have a 2000mAH capacity

22’s, 24’s, 25’s, 27’s etc…   

This refers to the compound of tyres a racer may use.

2-4’s (two-fours)   

Cells which have a 2400mAH capacity

3000’s   

Cells which have a 3000mAH capacity

48 DP   

The Diametric Pitch of the gears used in your car.  Most cars use 48DP gears (some use 64DP and have fine gear teeth).  Always check when buying new pinion and spur gears.

Ackerman   

The difference in turning angle between the inner and outer turn-in but less steering through the front wheel. Adjusted on the centre turnbuckle (remember to adjust the steering links to keep stable and less turn-in but more the front tracking level).

Additive   

A liquid you add to your tyres before a race to give extra grip/traction.

Armature   

The rotating part of the motor.

Associated   

‘Team Associated’ – the manufacturer of the TC3.

Ballraces   

Bearings which contain tiny ball bearings.  These have less friction than dry bearings (bushings).  Modified motors have ballraces in. Stock motors use dry bearings/bushings.  Most of the bearings in your car should be ballraces (if not, an upgrade will make your car quicker).

Brushes   

Motor brushes – one each side of the of the comm.  Situated in the motor endbell.

Camber   

The angle of the wheel in relation to vertical (top of wheel leans inwards). Adjusted on the upper wishbone turnbuckle. 

Castor   

The angle of the front hubs in relation to vertical (looking at the car from the side). Adjusted by moving the front upper wishbone or by fitting different hub carriers and bulkheads. 

Cells   

Another term for the 6-cell battery pack you use to race with.

Comm   

Shortened term to for commutator (the part of the motor armature in contact with the motor brushes.

Comm Drops   

Liquid that is supposed to squeeze a little more performance out of your motor.  You add one or two drops to the comm just before your race.

Comm Lathe   

A small lathe that is used to cut away the burnt surface of an armature comm.  Cutting a new comm will help maintain a motors performance and will extend its life.

Corally Connectors   

The preferred choice of connectors of many experienced racers.  Female connectors are soldered to cells, with male connectors on the Speed Controller leads.

Crystal (X-tal)   

A pair of crystals determines which frequency you use between your transmitter and receiver.  For each frequency, you will need one pair of crystals (one for the receiver and one for the transmitter).  Typically, you would have 2 or 3 pairs of crystals to give you different frequencies to change to if needed. Frequencies can be 27MHz or 40MHz.

Diff   

The Differential of your car.  4 wheel drive cars will have two differentials, one front and one rear.  The purpose of the diff is to help the car corner better.

Endbell   

The detachable part of the motor.  The brushes are stored in the endbell.

FTD   

Fastest Time Driver (also known as Fastest Time of the Day).  This the fastest time in a class achieved during a race meeting.  The fastest driver in a class will have achieved FTD.

FTQ   

Fastest Time in Qualifying.  At the end of qualifying, each driver’s fastest time is known as their FTQ.

Grid Start   

Usually used for the start of Final races (as with Formula 1).  Starting positions are based on qualifying times achieved during the Heats.

Heat   

A qualifying heat where you aren’t actually racing against the other people in your heat.  You are racing against the clock to get the most laps in within the 5 minutes. 

Heat List   

The list of heats printed after booking-in has finished.  The order of heats shown, will be the order that they will take place.  The Heat list will show:  

Your Heat number 
Your Car number (which is also your transponder number) 
Your Frequency 
Any changes relating to the Heat list (e.g. crystal change) should be notified to the Race Director.

HV’s   

Sanyo ‘High Volt’ cells

Inner Body / Undertray   

A protective cover to be used when racing in wet conditions so that the electrics of the car are protected.

Insert   

Means Tyre Insert.  An insert sits between the wheel and the tyre mounted on it.  Inserts can be foam or rubberised. 

LAB   

‘RC-LAB’ Evo7

Low end   

Acceleration

mAh   

The unit of measurement for the capacity of your cells. The higher the number, the more capacity, and more run-time you will get from them.

Marshal Points   

The numbers around the track represent the marshal points.  Your car number is also your marshal point, unless instructed otherwise by the Race Director.

Motor Springs   

These are located on the endbell and hold the motor brushes against the commutator.

National   

Means a National meeting that forms part of a race series for which there are rounds at tracks all over the country.

New Shoes/Boots   

A new set of tyres on your car.

Oil (Shock Oil)   

The oil used in the shock absorbers.  Different viscosities are available for different track types.  Viscosity is usually measured by a number e.g. 20WT, 40WT, 60WT, 100WT  (WT represents the level of viscosity.  The higher the number, the thicker the oil)

Oversteer   

When your car turns, the back end of the car has a tendency to spin out.

Peg Board   

Used before a racing starts when drivers are practising.  Taking the peg which represents your frequency will mean no-one will can use that frequency until you have finished practising.  Avoids interference during practise.

Pinion   

The smaller gear fixed to the motor spindle which drives the spur gear.

PT / PT Number   

Personal Transponder.  The PT Number is the unique reference number for your personal transponder.  

Punch   

The noticeable ‘kick’ your car has when accelerating.  Will come with experience.

Racing Line   

The optimum line to take around to track to get the best lap times.

Ride height   

The distance between the ground and the underneath of the chassis of your car.  Usually around 5mm or 6mm.  

Rostrum   

The construction used by drivers when racing.

RPM   

Revolutions per minute.  RPM figures are usually quoted in motor specifications.

Servo   

The device used to control steering (and in some cars, throttle also). 

Setup Gauges   

Precision gauges which are attached to each corner of your car to help accurately set camber, toe-in, toe-out, and caster.

Shell   

Bodyshell

Shock spacers   

Spacers which fit to the body of the shock absorber.  Can be added or removed to make the car harder or softer.

Shock Springs   

The Springs on the shock absorbers

Shocks   

Shock Absorbers

Slicks   

Slick tyres (no tread)

Speedo   

The Electronic Speed Controller which varies the speed of the motor.

Split Time   

Because the heats and finals are 5 minutes long, at the end of the 5 minutes, we can’t measure the final amount of laps as 15½, 16¼ etc.  When the 5 minutes are up, every driver gets so many seconds to complete the lap they are on.  This time is known as the split time e.g 15/305.12 means the driver completed 15 laps and took 5.12 seconds to complete their final lap when 5 minutes was up. (5 mins = 300 seconds)

Spur   

The larger gear driven by the motor pinion.

Staggered Start   

Each driver starts after 1 second intervals.  Usually used in qualifying heats, where you are not racing against each other, but against the clock.

Stock Metals   

Panasonic cells called ‘Stock Metal Hydrides’

Toe-in (Rear)

The angle of the rear wheels in relation to parallel, (looking at the car from the top). Adjusted on the lower rear turnbuckles or by fitting different hubs and wishbone hangers. 

Toe-in & Toe-out (Front)

The angle of the front wheels in relation to parallel (looking at the car from the top). Toe-out is when the wheels point outwards, toe-in is when they point inwards. Adjusted on the front lower turnbuckles.

Top end   

Maximum speed

Track temp   

The temperature of the track.  Useful to know when deciding what compound of tyre to run. 

Tranny   

Transmitter

Tranny Warmer   

A fabric cover for your transmitter to keep your hand warms when racing in the cold weather

Transponder   

A small electronic device emitting a radio signal which is used to count your laps electronically.  When your car passes the ‘loop’ in the track, your car is counted.  Much more accurate than manual counting.  Also see Personal Transponder.

Treaded (Wets)   

Treaded tyres for use when racing on a wet track.

Trim   

Refers to the steering trim that is adjustable on your transmitter.  Adjust the trim if your car doesn’t run in a straight line.

Understeer   

When your car turns, the front of the car won’t turn in enough to make the corner.

Weights   

Small lead weights added to your car to bring the minimum weight up to the legal BRCA set limit.  (Required for National meetings)

Winds   

The ‘Winds’ figure represents the number of turns the wire have been wound round the motor armature.  27 Single (or 27x1) means one strand of wire wound round the armature 27 times.  12x2 (or 12 Double) means two strands of wire, wound round the armature 12 times.  Basically, the lower the number of winds, the faster the motor.

Wing   

The rear spoiler mounted at the back of the bodyshell.