Pit Post: How to Create the Greatest RC Club

  What Key Features Make a Great RC Club?

It’s safe to say RC clubs are the backbone of our hobby. They’re where we find friends, rivals, and the skills to push our toy cars to their limits. Across the UK, there are around 200 clubs catering to a wide range of racing classes. To thrive, an average club needs around 20 racers per meeting to cover the costs of maintaining its facilities and handling its outgoings.

That might not sound like much, but RC racing isn’t a cheap hobby. It’s a pastime that constantly evolves with new technology, updated rules, and growing expectations. Add to that the fact that at each meeting, only a handful of racers will walk away as winners, while the majority will face defeat—it’s clear that running a club is no easy task. What looks like straightforward fun from the outside is often a complex balancing act behind the scenes.

I’ve been helping to run a club for over a decade, and in that time, I’ve seen both great successes and challenging failures. I’ve met racers from all over the UK and listened to their advice and suggestions for building a better club community. Drawing on those experiences, and after conducting research online, I’ve identified some of the key features that I believe are essential for a successful RC racing club.

1. Friendly and Welcoming Atmosphere

The best clubs create a positive and inclusive environment. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned racer, a warm welcome and helpful advice go a long way in making members feel part of the community.

2. Well-Maintained Track and Facilities

A high-quality track is essential, with a good layout, reliable grip, and regular maintenance. Adequate facilities, like covered pitting areas, power outlets, and clean restrooms, also enhance the experience for members.

3. Dedicated Team or Committee

Behind every successful club is a hardworking team of organisers and volunteers. Their efforts in planning events, maintaining the track, and managing the club’s operations are what keep things running smoothly.

4. Variety of Events and Classes

Offering diverse racing classes, from beginners to advanced, keeps things exciting for all skill levels. Fun events, like team races or charity days, also help build community.

5. Consistent Practice and Race Days

A great club has regular schedules for practice and race meetings. This consistency allows members to plan ahead and stay engaged with the club.

6. Fair and Clear Rules

Clubs that operate with clear and fair rules for racing and conduct help create an enjoyable and competitive atmosphere. A good club balances fun with fairness to ensure everyone has a great experience.

7. Support for New Members

Helping newcomers with car setups, racing tips, or even loaning equipment can encourage more people to join and stay involved in the hobby.

8. Community Spirit

Ultimately, a great RC club thrives on the sense of community it builds. Shared interests, teamwork, and a spirit of friendly competition keep members coming back and make the club a fun and rewarding place to be.

What do RC Racers look for in an RC Club? 

While I have plenty of experience as a club organiser, I know my perspective might not reflect what racers really want. To get a broader view, I decided to ask the question directly: What makes a great RC club?

I posted the question across several Facebook groups and Reddit. I’ll admit, I was a little surprised that the response wasn’t bigger, but those who did reply gave some brilliant insights.

So, how do their views match up with mine? Here’s a summary of what racers shared:

• Welcoming Community: Many agreed that the people at a club are the most important factor. Friendly racers and supportive staff create a fun and inclusive environment. A good balance between competitive and casual attitudes helps everyone enjoy their time at the track.

• Catering to All Levels: Successful clubs balance the needs of beginners and experienced racers. Encouraging and teaching newcomers is vital for growing the hobby. Clubs with a focus on mentorship and positivity help create a strong, thriving community.

• Good Leadership and Organisation: A club's owners and organisers set the tone. Dedicated staff, well-run events, and clear communication are essential. Clubs with approachable and fair leadership are more likely to succeed.

• Atmosphere Over Facilities: While good tracks and facilities are appreciated, the atmosphere is what keeps people coming back. Even a simple track can be enjoyable with the right group of people. Conversely, a top-tier facility won't thrive if the atmosphere is negative.

• Track Design: Tracks should be fun, challenging, and suitable for all skill levels. A flowing layout that allows close racing ensures that competitors race each other rather than battling the track.

• Consistent Attendance and Community Spirit: Clubs rely on dedicated racers showing up regularly. A sense of family and camaraderie can make even casual meetings feel special. Clubs that celebrate achievements, no matter how small, foster a stronger bond among members.

• Avoiding Over-Competitiveness: Overly competitive behaviour, such as sulking or aggressive attitudes, can spoil the atmosphere. Clubs thrive when members appreciate close racing and respect each other, regardless of the outcome.

• Supporting Growth: Clubs that actively work to grow the hobby—whether through beginner-friendly initiatives, rental cars, or outreach—help ensure the long-term success of RC racing.

Some of my favourite comments: 

Scott O (Facebook)
It all starts with the people. The owners/operators AND the racers. Either one can break a track, but only both will make a track. Great ownership with crappy racers will not be a good place to race. A great group of racers with a crappy owner won't be good either. You have to have both. If you have good ownership and good racers, everything else takes care of itself. It doesn't matter how awesome the facility is if you don't have fun when you get there, but a dirt patch with a great group of guys can be a blast and successful forever.

Ashley P (Facebook)
For the Club Racers (who make up the majority of the attendees) I believe the greatness of the club is a result of the kind and positive characters of everyone racing week in week out. At club level accidents tend to happen not due to malice but as a result of a lack of skill. Seeing grown adults get stroppy with each other over their unintentional skill deficits is an unattractive part of the hobby. I love the club racing spirit I see where close racing regardless of result is appreciated for what it is. Our self worth shouldn’t be riding on the outcomes of our weekly club racing.

How do we make RC Clubs better for everyone?

After reading through all the comments, one thing stands out clearly: the community spirit of a club is what racers value the most. The attitude of fellow racers came up time and time again, alongside track design and atmosphere. I was pleasantly surprised to see how selfless most of the responses were. I had expected more individualistic answers, given the competitive nature of the hobby. But aside from a few concerns about negative attitudes, it’s clear that most racers simply want to enjoy the sport and be part of a positive environment.

Managing an RC club is no easy task. There’s no perfect formula or checklist for success; it’s about balancing all the elements and making the most of what you have. The best clubs seem to thrive because of their close interaction with racers, making everyone feel like they belong. When racers feel part of the club, they’re more likely to keep coming back and even lend a hand with tasks like promoting the club online or helping with track builds.

There are some truly fantastic clubs out there, and they require a lot of hard work to keep running. I hope racers appreciate the dedication of the organisers, especially at clubs with tracks that need hours of preparation for each race. Whether it’s a local buggy track or an indoor carpet layout, the effort behind the scenes is immense and deserves recognition.

If we all remember to support each other and keep the community spirit alive, our RC clubs can continue to grow and thrive for years to come.

Next weeks Hot Topic will be: 

Do We Get Enough Analysis Data from Our RC Cars?

We race with the latest motors and electronics, but have you noticed how little post-race analysis we actually do? Other hobbies like cycling, sailing, golf, chess, and even fishing record heaps of data, despite using less advanced technology.

Do you think having more data could improve your racing or just make things more complicated? Other than lap times, do you collect any extra race information?

 Please join in with the hot topic on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rcclubhub 

  RC Pit Talk: 

1/12 F1 Stock Car World Championships: Dentona RC Speedway Puts on a Show!

Last weekend, the 1/12 F1 Stock Car World Championships wowed the RC community with an unforgettable event at Dentona RC Speedway. Hosted in St George's Church in Denton, Manchester, the championship brought together 45 racers for a weekend of thrilling competition and top-notch entertainment.

The atmosphere was electric, thanks to the incredible efforts of Dave D Events Limited, who transformed the church into a world-class racing venue. The setup included monitor screens, stunning backdrops, laser and event lighting, red carpet and even a smoke machine! It was a visual spectacle that wouldn’t look out of place at a professional darts tournament. It really sets a new standard for RC events.

The racers were thrilled with the experience, and the Dentona RC team delivered a event to remember. One of the highlights was the finalist introductions. The racing was as impressive as the setup, with Anthony Wyper claiming the Senior World Title and Noah Bailey taking home the Junior Title. 

This event has raised the bar for what RC championships can look like. It’s the kind of show that can attract new racers to the hobby and inspire other clubs to dream bigger. Let’s hope more RC events follow Dentona’s lead and bring this level of excitement to tracks across the UK!

Photo Credit: Dentona RC Speedway

Is this the Next Generation of RC Racing ESC's? - Elceram RC

Elceram RC has just launched what could be the next step in electronic speed controller (ESC) technology. The standout feature of their new ESCs is an integrated LCD screen, which allows for easy adjustments, real-time monitoring, and post-race evaluation directly on the device. Interestingly, these ESCs break away from the norm by not featuring a cooling fan or visible heat sinks. Despite this, Elceram promises top-tier performance, and their innovative design has already attracted attention from professional racers. To support their launch, the company has enlisted a strong team of sponsored drivers to showcase the ESCs at major events.

Whether they live up to the hype will ultimately be determined on the track. But it raises some big questions for the RC community: Are these features something we’ve been missing? Could this innovation set a new trend for all future ESC designs? And will it spark an "ESC war" leading to higher prices across manufacturers?

Historically, many ESC releases have made bold claims about better performance, often backed by technical details that most of us can’t easily verify. Elceram’s approach, focuses on providing racers with evaluation data they can actually use. For instance, you'll be able to pinpoint the exact moment your motor started overheating during a race or confirm that it never got warm enough to hit peak performance.

Whether Elceram delivers on their promises or not, this is an exciting step forward. If nothing else, it could encourage other manufacturers to adopt similar features, pushing innovation across the industry. For now, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the track to see how these new ESCs perform under race conditions.

Photo Credit: Elceram RC

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