Today, the radio controlled car races are often held in places promoted by manufacturers and hobby stores.  Participating in official competition will bring a new element of excitement to your R/C hobby.  If you finish well, you will gain confidence.  Even if you don’t, you will learn from experienced racers operating cars with good performance that will help you improve your driving and your chassis.  You will also find different kinds of excitement from racing in an organized event than if you were racing with friends.

1. TYPES OF RACES
R/C car races can roughly be classified into two types: Sprint races and endurance races.  In most events, preliminary and final races are held and the winners are determined.
Sprint race: Completed over a short distance and period.  The winner is determined by time required to run the fixed number of laps, or by the laps completed in a fixed amount of time.
Endurance race: Completed over an extended period, from 30 minutes to several hours.  Battery changes or refueling will be required during the race.
*Usually, the finals run longer distance/time than the preliminaries.

2. APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION
Schedule of races may be announced at the hobby stores or in the magazines, such as Tamiya’s TCS Series.  In most events you must enroll prior to the event.  You are required to give the class (category) and frequency you will use, as well as your name, address and age.  In most cases, you cannot enroll the day of the event.

3. CONFIRMATION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS
Rules of racing events usually tell you how the race proceeds, how the winner is determined, how to group the models and the kinds of motors and batteries to use.  Sometimes, detailed regulations are provided to regulate the standard equipment of racing cars.  Confirm these rules and regulations beforehand and model or modify your car if necessary for compliance.  If you don’t understand some of the rules and regulations, you should check with the host organization.

4. PREPARATION BEFORE THE RACE
Prepare your car before the race event.  The most important is your radio control system, because during the race day, you will be requested not to turn on the transmitter except when it is your turn to race.  In some events, you are required to place the transmitter in custody of the host organization. 

5. THINGS YOU MAY NEED AT THE RACE TRACK
You should take a registration card or membership card with you, if anything like that is required.  Be sure to bring tools, glue and oil as well as things you use every day.  You may need to repair your car in the midst of competition so don’t forget to bring spare parts and accessories such as screws and bolts.  It is advisable, in the regards to the length of time of the event, having spare batteries is recommended.

6. REGISTATION AND CAR CHECK IN
Give yourself enough time to arrive early to the event for registration.  Registration is to confirm the class you will be racing as well as your frequencies and to let the organizer know you are attending.  Your delay for registration may cause you to miss the event.

7. BRIEFING FOR DRIVERS
Prior to the races, a briefing is held to let the contestants know the procedures of the competition.  Listen carefully, since how the races proceed, penalties for violating rules and other important details are explained.

8. MAKING UP RACING GROUPS
In a radio controlled model race, cars on the same frequency cannot compete at the same time.  Therefore, those who use different frequencies will make up a competing group.  Before the races, the combinations of the groups will be announced.  You should confirm which race you will be in and be ready when your race nears.

9. TURN ON YOU TRANSMITTER ONLY WHEN YOU ARE RACING
Using the same frequency at the same time may cause serious accidents.  During a race event, never turn on your transmitter unless it is your turn to race.  Any radio interference will result in hindering a smooth operation of the race, affecting the schedule of the day and frustrating other participants.

10. YOUR TURN TO RACE
Your name or number is called to inform you of your turn.  Most racing events hold two or three preliminary races, and then the finals are held.  A practice lap may be allowed prior to the actual race in some cases.

*PRELIMINARY HEATS
It is recommended to run the first preliminary heat steadily, giving the priority to complete the race.  When this is done, you can challenge the following preliminary for a better result.  Keep a clear mind during the heats and always consider that and accident or retirement will result in a wasted round.

*FINALS
Following the preliminaries, the top 10 qualify for the finals.  If you succeed in qualifying, do your best at the finals.  Finalists are generally regarded to have a high level of driving skill and competing among them is a great honor.  Try to fully display your ability to make the race exciting.  Your participation with highly skilled drivers will surely contribute to improve your own techniques and inspire your R/C enthusiasm.

11. AFTER THE RACE
You have run the complete distance and the race is over.  Switch off your receiver and transmitter immediately.  Although you may be anxious about the result, do not remain around the start/finish line, as you may be in the way of the officials.  Return to you pit area and prepare for the next competition.

12. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS AND COMMENDATION CEREMONY
After all the races are completed, the results are posted and the winners are honored.  The winners should be praised by applause.  Whether or not the competition is successful depends upon the attitude of everyone involved.

ALTERNATE FREQUENCYS
In some cases (particularly at the finals), you may be requested by the organizer to change your frequency band.  You should always have alternate frequency bands so that you can help the organizer to proceed smoothly.

MANNERS IN A RACE
Spirit of fair play is essential in any competition.  It is desirable to make a pleasant race event through the spirit of fair play by all of the participants.

*Yield the way when you are about to be passed by a faster car.
*If you hit another car, you should apologize but do not ask for one if you are hit.  Responsibility should not be claimed by anyone for any collisions during a race.
*After the race is over, clean the site.  No trash should be left behind.