| The dawn of RC car racing began in the 1960's when | | | | 1976 is a great year for the RC models' history. |
| the first radio control system was available. The | | | | Tamiya, a renowned company from Japan, entered |
| difference between a normal vehicle as we know it | | | | the world of radio-controlled cars. Until '76, Tamiya was |
| and a model RC vehicle is its size. These small "road | | | | notorious for their highly detailed miniature car models. |
| runners" can be very fast and very precise. The | | | | Although they entered the market with very high |
| innovations in the radio control system and in the | | | | prices, their kits were sold in no time. In '79, the same |
| model's architecture, made them stronger, faster and | | | | company released their first real off-road buggies, the |
| easier to control. | | | | Sand Scorcher and Rough Rider. This was the |
| Small nitro methane engines were available from the | | | | beginning of a great company. Their early models are |
| 40's. In the mid '66 El-Gi, (Elettronica Giocattoli) from | | | | today collector's items, reaching the value of $3000. |
| Italy, released the first fully RC model. The car was | | | | Because of this popularity, Tamiya re-released some |
| available in shops in UK by December, the same year. | | | | of the early models in 2005. As expected, the |
| By the beginning of the 70's a British company, called | | | | products sold fast. |
| Mardave, began manufacturing RC models. They sold | | | | It would be a shame not to mention another great |
| commercial models all over the UK. | | | | company. In 1980, Schumacher Racing UK was the |
| In the early 70's several US companies began | | | | first company to release the ball differential technology. |
| producing models. Their products were at first 1/8 nitro | | | | This allowed model owners to adapt their racers to |
| powered kits. Their body was made of polycarbonate | | | | various terrain conditions very easily. Until then, |
| The most popular model engine of those times was | | | | on-roads had a solid axle. Thanks to the technology |
| the K&B Veco McCoy. With the passage of time, | | | | introduced by Schumacher Racing, switching from an |
| producers took time to experiment with different types | | | | elegant on-road to a rough off-road has never been |
| of heat sinks, engines, suspension types and larger fuel | | | | easier. This very same company was the one to |
| tanks. | | | | release CAT (Competition All Terrain) in 1986. In 1987 |
| US company Jerobee created in '74 the 1/12 nitro Cox | | | | the model won the international RC championship, |
| engine car. Several other companies created parts for | | | | being considered one of the best off-road buggies of |
| it. Afterwards, Jerobee became Jomac and started | | | | that time. |
| manufacturing electric models. | | | | |