| Genuine basketball enthusiasts are aware of | | | | |
| the significant role played by Wilt | | | | Associated Electrics Powers Out |
| Chamberlain in the sport. If you wish to be | | | | |
| able to have more fun with your radio | | | | In 1984, this company, based in Costa Mesa, |
| controlled cars, knowing the history of RC | | | | California, manufactured the RC10 off-road |
| cars will enable you to better appreciate | | | | electric racer. It was the first RC car that |
| what you have now. | | | | Associated Electrics produced which did not |
| | | | use nitromethane-powered engines and was not |
| Tamiya Goes First | | | | for on-road use. An RC car that's built to |
| | | | last and endure, the RC10 had a sleeker |
| This Japanese toy company was better known | | | | design, was made from non-corrosive, |
| for producing plastic or die cast toys. In | | | | aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, and with |
| 1976, however, Tamiya was the first to | | | | powerful shock absorbers and differential |
| produce toy cars that were defined as | | | | featuring. Its design and features quickly |
| "suitable" for remote control. The prototypes | | | | made it the electric king of off-road |
| of RC cars were crudely built, but they still | | | | competition. |
| sold rapidly. | | | | |
| | | | Go, Team Losi, Go! |
| Afterwards, Tamiya was able to improve and | | | | |
| innovate by focusing less on scaling and more | | | | Gil Losi Jr. was born to a racing family |
| on the toys' radio control feature. The new | | | | which owned the famous Ranch Pit Shop R/C |
| RC cars produced by the Japanese toy giant | | | | racetrack in California. Upon establishing |
| were better looking, tougher, customizable, | | | | Team Losi, Gil created the JRX-2, a buggy |
| easy to repair, and with more powerful | | | | that was immediately set in competition |
| engines. These RC cars sparked worldwide | | | | against the RC car of Associated Electrics. |
| interest in the hobby. Classic products from | | | | Team Losi's also credited for being the first |
| the Tamiya RC car product line include the | | | | to use all-natural rubber tires and creating |
| Blackfoot and the Hornet. | | | | a whole new RC car category: the 1/18 scale |
| | | | Mini-T electric vehicles for off-road use. |
| Schumacher Makes a Difference | | | | |
| | | | Other important RC car manufacturers are the |
| The UK firm Schumacher made a splash in 1980 | | | | U.S. based Traxxas and the Japanese firm |
| by introducing the use of ball differentials | | | | Kyosho. |
| in RC cars. This improvement allowed RC car | | | | |
| hobbyists to enjoy quicker and smoother | | | | These fine old companies continue to dominate |
| maneuvering on and off the track. In 1986, it | | | | the racing scene up to the present. Racing |
| produced the all-powerful Competition All | | | | any of their cars will instantly make you |
| Terrain (CAT) vehicle, a recipient of | | | | part of the great history of the RC car |
| numerous World Championships. | | | | industry. |