Too fast, too furious - and small, too

MANILA, Philippines - So, what’s up with the emerging national phenomenon of small racers and drifters? Everybody seems to be into the new-generation of remote-control race, drift, and off-road cars. You see them all over the metro, controlled by small kids, teenagers, adults and professionals.

I remember seeing such cars in the streets of Tokyo. I was fascinated by the precise driving skills and the technology used in these small cars. Back here, a group of RC car enthusiasts are trying to replicate the Tokyo scene with their customized RCs, which can range from gas- to electric-powered, pimped up with blinging rims and stickers. Everything about these miniature cars can be customized and is upgradable.

Xtreme Toys founder and CEO Mike Nocom — who sells RC cars and helicopters, air-soft guns and parts at SM Mall of Asia — heads the Philippine RC Drifters, which was founded in 2007 and has more than a hundred members speeding up in the racetracks. Mike says the group has no membership fee, all you have to do is register and bring your RC to the tracks and that’s it.

Mike’s vision is to encourage not only the youngsters but all Filipinos to get into the sport. “It’s not only a hobby, it’s a recreational activity for the whole family as well. The sport has become more affordable and competitive so everybody can play and drift.”

Many adults were once RC enthusiasts as kids and when they get back into the sport as adults, they are surprised at how it has changed. Now’s the time to remember how much fun it all was.

I recently had a chance to get my own RC car and tried drifting. I never thought it was that easy and thrilling. After I put my hand on the controller and began drifting and accelerating, I realized how much fun it was!

Of course, it’s different from actual driving (obviously, apart from the size of the cars — scaled at 1/10) since you take away the fear and danger factors. Yet, every breathtaking maneuver that’s possible with an actual car can be made with an RC car.

The latest innovation in RC cars include various models for off-road racing and drifting. They’re certainly not the mini four-wheel-drive toys that were popular early this decade. “RC” is short for radio or remote control, which means the driver is responsible for controlling his car instead of just putting it on the metal track and watching it go around by itself.

The RC hobby is all about skill and practice, or let me break it down for you: It’s 90 percent driver, 10 percent car. Then again, a good-quality car is a must. One of the most popular brands in the RC racing circle is Nanda Racing, known for its reasonable price, good quality and upgradability. These are definitely not the ones you see at department stores for kids. You may choose what model and size suits your style of playing and the terrain near you.

Probably the most popular remote-control models are cars, which include off-road buggies, truggies, monster trucks, drift cars and much more. There are also helicopters, boats, airplanes and tanks. They range from the type of cars you see in toy and electronics stores to the type of cars that companies like Nanda Racing offers.

Radio-control cars come in two basic forms: “toy-style” cars or trucks that are advertised during cartoon shows on television and sold at department stores, and the “hobby type” cars or trucks that are sold only at specialty shops, such as Xtreme Toys at SM Mall of Asia. They are available as build-it-yourself pro kits or “ready to run.”

Nanda specializes in the hobby-type RC car or truck. While the kit cars and trucks cost more at first, they are more race-ready, durable and faster than toy RC cars. You can also repair and upgrade this type, which is usually impossible to do with toy cars.

Off-road kits feature big tires, long shock absorbers and the ability to drive just about anywhere. They can handle jumps, dirt and other typical obstacles in your backyard, vacant lot, or at the Boom na Boom off-road track. While some RC off-road car and truck kits are meant only for race tracks, Nanda’s kits are meant for both the track and yard. Nanda offers off-road kits in electric and nitro versions as well.

On-road kits are less popular in the Philippines due to its necessity for an asphalt racetrack. However RTR drift cars are fast becoming popular for those who want to try RC.

The first thing most people do when they run their car or truck is race it up and down their street or neighborhood parking lot. Running an RC car will always bring out a crowd that is eager to find out what a speedy little car is doing zipping around the place. Meeting new people and telling them about your new hobby is one of the joys of RC. People have always liked miniature things, and anything you can control is even more exciting. Explaining everything about your car or truck is a great way to meet new people.

Just like biking or golf, racing an RC car is a great way to have fun and hang out with friends and acquaintances. Spending a day at the track is cheaper than a night at the movies with race or practice fees costing P400 for a whole day at Boom na Boom, Roxas Boulevard corner Buendia. You will quickly find a friendly person there who can give you advice and tips and other help, and eventually you’ll get a friend to two to go with you and have fun as a group.

Like any popular hobby, radio-control cars have a mass appeal that draws people in — often for life.

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Xtreme Toys is located at SM Mall of Asia. Call 211-3320, 0917-8617676. Log on to www.x3mtoys.com.