 Assuming you've done your research and decided on where you'll be racing and what class you'd like to enter, it's time to purchase an appropriate motor for your car
Here are some quick tips to get you pointed in the right direction NOTE: Before you purchase a motor, be sure to check the most recent rules at your chosen track(s) as motor rules are often changing Brushed vs Brushless: With very few exceptions, all modern RC racing classes will use a brushless motor. One of our local on-road clubs (Overgeared Racing) does have a Spec Tamiya racing class that allows the use of a brushed motor but, to the best of my knowledge, most racers use a brushless motor in that class as well Fixed Timing vs Adjustable Timing: Much like brushed vs brushless, there is only one local racing class that requires a fixed timing motor and once again that's the Tamiya Spec Class at Overgeared Racing. Be sure to check the rules for the track and class you'd like to race at to confirm but it is very likely you'll be shopping for a motor with adjustable end bell timing UPDATE: (Winter 2024) - Overgeared Racing now requires FIXED TIMING 21.5t motors for Scale Spec class. If you intent to run Scale Spec class at Overgeared Racing, you'll need to buy a fixed timing, 21.5t motor. Popular options include ORCA, GravityRC, Reedy and Hobbywing Motor Turn: Again, you should double check the rules of the track and class you'd like to enter but if you're entering an on-road class, it is very likely going to be a 21.5 turn or 17.5 turn Sensored vs Sensorless: Some inexpensive brushless motors are "sensorless". These are often found in ready-to-run models or "basher" vehicles. You do NOT want a sensorless motor. For racing, you'll want a sensored motor. This means the motor will have an additional wire (a sensor cable) that runs between the motor and ESC and will allow for smoother/more precise control What Brand: There are several high quality motor brands on the market these days and as a beginner, choosing any of the well known brands should work for you. I will however highly suggest you choose a brand that is well supported at your local track so that you can get assistance from other racers on setting up the motor correctly Some popular brands include ORCA, Hobbywing, R1, Fantom and Motiv. Many others are also available and as a beginner, they will likely work well enough for you My Number One Recommended Brand: At our local on-road tracks, the number one brand is ORCA and that is the only brand I promote. Why ORCA? The motors are of excellent quality, very fast, durable and reasonably priced. ORCA also goes above and beyond to support our local clubs with prizes, gifts and other support so returning that favour to ORCA by purchasing their products will help continue this into the future. Additionally, virtually all of the fast drivers at our tracks run ORCA so you'll be able to get support from several people to ensure your end bell timing is set correctly, your gear ratio is appropriate and you may even have access to spare parts and upgrade parts if the day ever comes that you need them Where to buy: I sell ORCA motors exclusively. Your local hobby store may be able to get some other brands such as Hobbywing if you'd prefer. Please try to support those that support our hobby whenever possible If you're not able to buy from me or one of our local hobby stores, you can use this referral link to buy online from Amain Hobbies (I'll earn a small referral fee if you use that link) so you'll still be supporting McLeanRC New vs Used New motors can be pricey so you may wish to consider buying a good, used motor initially A new, high-end motor will likely cost between $150 - $250 A good, used motor will be somewhere between $50 - $150 Most of the fast racers will replace their motors every season or two so you should be able to find a nice, used motor that will have more than enough performance to get you started I occasionally have used motors for sale so feel free to contact me and ask. Otherwise, try posting a "wanted" ad on one of our local Facebook buy and sell pages: Comments are closed.
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