…but it’s fun and rewarding form of Radio Controlled Racing, and taming this beast is where all the fun is. I have heard it said many a time at the touring car races i frequent, that Nitro RC Truck racing appears too slow, too cumbersome, and just awkward looking.

While it’s true that on those dirt tracks, the larger Nitro RC Truck don’t hit top speeds like thier touring car brothers, and the dirt tracks are lumpy and bumpy, the challenges to driving these bad boys like a pro require a whole different approach you.

The most obvious difference with Nitro RC Truck racing, are the jumps. Altho on your first time out, your going to want floor it and go straight off into the great blue yonder, you should keep in mind… it’s a long way down. Hitting those jumps just right means landing on all fours, and on a spot on the track that sets you up for the next turn. These jumps range from a series of moguls, called a “rhythmn section”, to jumps as high as 6 feet. Not only should you learn to gun your acceleration just right coming into the jump in order to improve your lap times, but to keep your monster truck in one piece.

One more difference to overcome with offroad Nitro RC Truck racing, is getting used to less grip on the track. After all, this is dirt. Your going to have to adust your driving to take into account the heavier wieght of the monster truck, and all the sliding your vehicle might do if you don’t knock down how to handle all those dirt track turns. The most widely used tread today, the bow-tie, will only help your grip so much, and may feel like no grip at all, if you’ve been racing on indoor carpet up to this point. It’s a necesary adjustment to your driving style, and at first you may feel like your racing in oatmeal, by comparison. But don’t mistake this for a boring ride. Once you get good at throttle control and handling your big bad MT, you will soon appreciate the precision and skill it takes to turn your MT on a dime. The very fact that it is harder than touring car racing, makes it all the more enjoyable.

So my advice to you is, don’t sit back and stare at that Nitro RC Truck on the hobby store shelf. Buy it. And get out there and race at your local track. You will soon find yourself torn between which is your favorite, on-road or off-road.