Dee's Newbie Tips, Part 4

This noob tip is probably one of the easiest ways to improve your driving.  Most people starting out find it difficult to adjust the settings on your controller -- that's what I hope to help out with this time: the quick and easy way to dial in your controller and get even throttle response and steering control.

I know what you're thinking, "Dee, there are several kinds of controllers out there, how do you plan on covering all of them in one post?!"  That's easy.  I'm not.  And that's actually a good thing, if you think about it.  The simpler your setup is, the more universal the setup will be when you're going from controller to controller (as you improve, you'll want to try something new). 

First off is throttle high point (abbreviated HI-POT in some controllers.)  To get maximum speed in the shortest time possible, some newbies (like ME last year) will set theirs at 100 (or higher!) thinking this will equate to shorter lap times.  What it really does is cause the motor to max out its speed before you pull on the trigger all the way.  What use is the entire range of motion of the trigger if you hit max speed at 50 percent of the trigger pull?  Unless you're TJ, you will suffer through the turns.  The reason is simple: you have less speed-control because now you have half the distance of the trigger pull to use (pulling it more won't actually give you more speed!)  So, set your high point to 60-65 as a start, and go up or down from there depending on how your motor sounds - with practice, you can develop your hearing to pick out the max really easily.

Next is steering.  Ensuring you have an even left/right turn radius will definately improve your driving immensely.   Now there are MANY ways to do this.  I'll show you how I've learned to do it.  First, set your steering dual rate (Often abbreviated St. D/R on controllers) to 100 (or max it out), then turn down your left and right steering amount to about 40-50 percent.  Turn the car upside-down, and turn the wheel on the controller completely to the left.  While doing this, simultaneously increase the amount of steering until you can hear the servo gears max out.  This will sound very obvious (like a louder buzzing/humming noise) -- this is the servo stress point -- that is, pushing the steering just slightly past its max point.  (WARNING:  Continuing to increase the amount of steering after hearing the buzzing noise can strip and destroy your gears!  Don't say I didn't warn you!) 

Once you hear the humming/buzzing maxed out sound (actual technical term... j/k), back off the steering amount a few points (usually 1-3) and this will be your max left steering.  Then all you have to do is repeat with the right.

Now, you are ready to take it on the track and try out your new setup!  If the car is turning too fast, turn down the dual rate from 100.  Remember how we maxed this out?  Well, the reason we did this is because dual rate affects both right AND left steering.  You'll be slowing down your steering for BOTH directions, eliminating the need to adjust each one independently.  This not only simplifies your life, but will keep you consistent.  And that, noobs, is what will make you faster.