More on R/C car drifting

We thought we'd follow up yesterday's post on R/C drifting with some more information, since R/C motoring is a certain staffer's winter hobby of choice (sadly, there's limited indoor racing opportunities for full-size cars). As is the case with full-scale drifting, it's possible to get sideways with just about any RC car, but usually the tires and suspension geometry are designed to prevent such behavior, and slides are typically followed with rollovers.

For those seeking a complete solution, companies such as Tamiya and Yokomo offer drift-specific models, with Yokomo getting extra bonus points for producing kits that include body shells such as the Nissan S15 and Toyota AE86 (pictured above). Purchasing such a vehicle as a "ready to run" (RTR) means that it's ready to go with the addition of a freshly-charged battery; those preferring to take a more hands-on approach can buy kits and spend several enjoyable hours working with tiny screws, inhaling paint fumes, and gluing together fingers.

If one already has an on-road 4WD "touring car", then some simple modifications will produce easy parking-lot slides. The tires are almost certainly the most critical component, as standard on-road tires are stickier than chewing gum on hot asphalt. Wrapping a spare set of tires in electrical tape does a great job of reducing traction, but those looking for a more robust DIY approach hit the local hardware store for some 2" PVC pipe. Saw it up into the appropriate length for tires, and apply it with the adhesive of your choice to a set of wheels. Yokomo sells its unique and innovative drift tires as separate components, and HPI has gotten into the act as well.