You know what? I didn’t plan to get hooked. I just wanted a quick run in the school parking lot. Then the sun came up, the asphalt warmed, and I was chasing tenths like it was a real track. Small cars, big grin.
If you’re after an even deeper, pass-by-pass breakdown, check out my longer recap, “I Spent My Weekend Drag Racing RC Cars — Here’s What Actually Worked.”
The cars I actually ran
- Traxxas Drag Slash (’67 C10 body, VXL system, TSM drag mode)
- Team Associated DR10 (RTR, Reedy brushless)
- Losi 22S No Prep Drag Roller (built mine with a Hobbywing XR10 Pro and a 5.5T motor)
Three cars. Three moods. One very dusty lot behind the middle school.
Setup that didn’t make me cry
I kept it simple. Mostly.
- Tires: Pro-Line Reaction HP belted slicks on the Slash and Losi; JConcepts Hotties on the DR10 (tip: hit the pavement with Pro-Line street tires if you’re curious why they hook so well)
- Battery: Gens Ace 2S 5000 mAh 50C packs (2S only, by our club rules)
- Wheelie bar: Traxxas adjustable bar on the Slash; an Exotek bar on the Losi
- Radio: Traxxas TQi on the Slash; Spektrum DX5C for the other two
- A tiny tweak: -20% throttle expo to calm my launch finger
- Glue: Bob Smith CA on the sidewalls (no wobble, less drama)
I used a SkyRC GNSS to check times and speed. I don’t always trust “felt fast.” I like numbers. Coffee helps too.
For anyone hunting numbers ahead of track time, the drag-specific gearing calculator at PDV Racing saved me from a few bad pinion choices.
Real runs, real times
Let me explain how the morning went.
- Traxxas Drag Slash: first pass was a mess. I spun half-track and kissed a weed patch. After a quick tire wipe and a light coat of Sticky Kicks (very light), I found grip. Best clean run: 2.34 seconds to 132 feet at 48 mph. Gearing was 76/22. It felt slow off the hit but smooth past the 30-foot mark.
- Team Associated DR10: out of the box, it veers a hair to the right when the surface is dusty. I added two clicks of trim and a touch more preload on the left rear. Best run: 2.58 at 45 mph. Not a screamer, but steady. A great “bring a friend” car.
- Losi 22S build: this one is the spicy one. On a fresh patch, it launched straight and hard. Best run: 2.23 at 51 mph. I almost lost it at half-track when a light crosswind pushed it. The wheelie bar saved my bacon.
By the way, it’s funny. The Slash “felt” slower than the Losi. Then I checked the timer. Not slow at all. Just calmer. Calm is winning when your thumbs shake.
What I liked (and why I smiled)
- The Drag Slash makes launch control simple. TSM drag mode keeps the nose down, and it saves sloppy fingers.
- The DR10 is friendly. Cheap to fix. Kids can try a pass and not trash it.
- The Losi has that race feel. It tracks true when the prep is right. That car made me say “one more” like ten times.
Little joys count: the soft whine at full beans, the smell of warm rubber, the tiny burnout marks on chalk. That approachable, beginner-friendly vibe reminds me of when I drove a Bandolero racing car—simple, tough, and perfect for newcomers. A neighbor jogged by and asked, “How fast?” I said, “Fast enough to make me late for lunch.”
What bugged me (and what I changed)
- The DR10 stock tires don’t bite on cold asphalt. Slicks help a ton. Even a mild street prep helps.
- The Drag Slash motor can get toasty with tall gearing. I stuck a small fan on the motor can and kept it at 22T.
- The Losi punishes bad surfaces. If there’s loose grit, it will skate. I started wiping the lane with a towel between passes. Old-school, but it works.
Also, I snapped two body posts on the Slash after a wheelie gone wrong. Cheap fix, still annoying.
The lot, the weather, the vibe
We ran at 8 a.m. on Sunday. Light breeze from the left. About 68°F. I chalked a start line and used a little Trackmate tree a friend brought. Three ambers, then green. We lined up grocery carts as a wind break (don’t judge). A couple kids on scooters watched and counted us down like real starters. It felt goofy and serious at the same time.
Tiny tips that made big gains
- Clean the lane. A dry towel pass can drop a tenth. I don’t know why; it just does.
- Stand closer to the car at launch. Less radio jitter, straighter hit.
- Stagger your rear shocks: one thicker oil, one a bit lighter. Helps weight transfer without a wild squat (a tweak I stole from these chassis tricks for more grip).
- Keep a spare spur gear. Rocks happen.
- Tape the body where it rubs. Less flap means less wiggle at speed.
Side note: finding people willing to meet up at dawn for a “test-and-tune” session can be tougher than nailing a perfect 60-foot time. I stumbled across FuckPal while hunting for local hobby partners—it lets you filter by shared interests (RC cars included) and set up casual meet-ups without joining a formal club, so it’s handy if you need a reliable run buddy for those early-morning passes. If your idea of a social pit stop leans more toward adults-only after-hours fun around Tinley Park, the local swinger community shares the same open-minded, hobby-positive spirit—check out the Tinley Park swingers scene for event listings and private parties that make mixing friendship and thrills almost as effortless as launching an RC car straight down the groove.
And breathe. Sounds silly, but it steadies your thumb.
Who should get what
- New to no-prep? Grab the Team Associated DR10. Learn lines, then add slicks.
- Want set-and-send with safety nets? Traxxas Drag Slash. The TSM drag mode is worth it.
- Already tuning gear mesh in your sleep? Losi 22S Roller. Build it your way. Just watch traction.
If these pint-sized rockets ever leave you craving something with real pedals and a seat, my first-hand guide to shopping, testing, and buying racing karts will point you in the right direction.
My quick pros and cons
Pros:
- Crazy fun in small spaces
- Real tuning, real gains
- Parts are easy to find
Cons:
- Tires matter a lot (and they wear)
- Crosswinds are sneaky
- Stock setups need tweaks for dusty lots
Final lap
I showed up thinking I’d make five passes and go home. I ran twenty-seven. My best number was 2.23 at 51 mph with the Losi, but the most fun was a 2.34 with the Drag Slash, dead straight, no drama, crowd clap. Funny how “easy” ends up feeling fast.
Would I do it again next weekend? Oh, I already charged the packs.