… after taking a little nap thanks to short course racing
This article was originally published in RC Driver’s October 2016 issue.
Do you remember M class?
It’s based on the M chassis platform from Tamiya and was often a big draw at many race facilities several years ago… you know… before the Slash/Short Course craze began its sweep across the hobby. This used to be the class to run if you wanted to keep it simple and affordable. Of course there were always options for making it complicated and expensive if that was your thing, but for many, it was a way to race without the added stress of needing the hottest hop-ups to be competitive and simply have fun on the race track. I am a basher by nature and have only participated in actual organized racing a handful of times. Most of those times were racing my Tamiya Mini Cooper.
Even though several M chassis kits have been discontinued, Tamiya still offers a few kits that are available, even if you have shallow pockets. A local hobby shop in Pasadena, Maryland has recently opened an indoor carpet track and has seen a surge in interest in M class kits. Monday nights are now known as M Class Monday. I a ended last week’s race just as a spectator and found myself checking out the Tamiya kits on the hobby shop shelves. This particular evening had only about 15 drivers but most M-Class Mondays could have upwards of 25+ participating. Chris Mathews, the owner of the track, tells me he’s seeing a steady increase in sales of the Tamiya kits. After speaking to some of the racers that night I have no doubt that this class is going to stick around this track for a while.
I’m not suggesting you give up your short course vehicle but if you want to try something a little different take a look at the Tamiya M chassis kits. They are super fun to drive and easy to work on. Check out your local track and ask about the M class for some on-road action.
