How to race a Mini Z on track [skills]

[@EMU1]

Whenever I am at a new track, or on a new layout. I always walk the track, or around the track while my batteries charge before I go on for my first practice. I look at similar things that you mentioned, where I can straight-line as much as possible. What corners I need to compromise, in order to make more speed through the one before and/or the one after. The other things that I look for, because this is RCP and built like a puzzle, are things like tile height at the seams, or poor texture on the tiles. These things may change the line from what would be optimal on paper, to what would be optimal in practice. Sometimes a wider entry would be needed into a corner which has a bump or uneven tile height in the mid corner. So you can settle the car before the bump. Other corners where there may be a bump on the point of entry, a narrower entry may be more beneficial. It may take a little time to see these things. I walk around the track while others are practicing, looking at their cars, seeing if there are points in the circuit where the cars bounce, or unsettle, which you may not see from the drivers stand so easily. This allows you to make mental notes on where a change in line, to avoid certain areas of track may help you over the course of a race. It is something that you do not need to experience in practice, but can add in your practice time which may be limited, to maximize the time on the track from knowledge gained by other drivers time on track. When I marshal, I take these mental notes about the zone which I am marshalling. So even that time which is often seen as wasted as a driver, can be very useful to improve. You have 5-8 minutes to thoroughly examine the zone which you are marshalling, see which drivers go fast and what lines they are using in that section, and can compare with your own line. But also know that mirroring a competitors line may not be completely possible due to setup differences.

[@magnumcyclonex]

Great topic and talk! As a relatively new racer (less than 1 year), this is super helpful. Soon I'll watch the back catalog of videos you have already published. Back on this specific video, I really like the advice of going around the track and looking at it from different angles, and gauging where the lines are. Often times during practice, I stand in a spot that's unoccupied (usually on the far left/right ends) which gives me different perspectives. Sometimes, standing in those positions really help as the field of vision is clarified for certain areas of the track. I hope in future videos you can get into the mental aspect of RC driving. In my very beginner days, my eyes focused too much on my car (and others' cars) and not on the track or what's coming up ahead. This led me to "forget to turn" and crash as I was trying to avoid other faster cars or pass slower cars without considering what was up ahead. Now, I'm more focused on driving my lines but also keeping that peripheral vision handy when necessary. The second thing is somewhat of a corollary to the first, where if I'm behind and chasing someone, I am driving as good a line as possible and applying pressure on them to make a mistake (without making one myself) before I can pass, or if I'm the one ahead with someone tailing me, I need to defend my position as best I can as their car inches closer. Hope you can go into some discussion on what mental tips and fortitude drivers need or practice in both situations. This also applies to catching up from behind after a big crash, and having to maintain peak concentration to get back into the field and pass to make it back to the top.

[@WobbelyTable]

This is what I do this for! Thank you very much for the comment, and yes there will be vids on how i prep for race, how I race others, and how to and what to do in between races. And ofc the mental aspect of getting behind and how to calm yourself and keep going. Thank you so much for the comment, its because of people like you i do this 👍

[@TriAdX]

Great info. I just bought my first car last Friday and ran my first race (borrowed a setup car). It was a blast. Your videos will be a huge help this week!

[@WobbelyTable]

Thats great to hear, you are off on the right foot by starting here 👍 just remember my vids when you are about to buy some aluminium part 😄

[@s197gt6]

It's kind of hard to follow the race line when people behind u or in front of u can't hold the line lol. Mini Z racer problems😂

[@How-To-RC]

I hear ya. Especially when you are trying not to get taken out, it seems near impossible to follow lines when you have to constantly be prepared for evasion maneuvers

[@alpenjon]

Whow so insightful, thank you!

[@liljohn1064]

I always walk the track. I plan every apex and then attempt to tweak the fastest line for best momentum. All time is lost in poor cornering.