Thinking about a new URL

I like my blog...it's free and blogger suits my needs. But I am thinking of getting a Mini-Z URL where I can post more Mini-Z related stuff. I don't know what that would be exactly but until I find out I am trying to come up with an address. An obvious one would be www.128racing.com but that's already taken.

How about a little contest. Suggest a URL and if I actually do decide to use it I'll send you a little prize...or maybe I'll feature you on my new webpage. I will provide a warning though, I may just be lazy enough to never get my own Mini-Z domain so don't spend too much time thinking about it.

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The Future of Mini-Z

I was chatting with BW a few days ago and we were discussing the future of Mini-Z's. I don't know what kind of market share Mini-Z's hold in the RC world but I would like to hope that they are here to stay. This was also partially inspired by a thread started by lfisminiz where people submitted what they thought were the top 2 Mini-Z innovations. Here's my list of what I think are the goods and bads for Mini-Z

Good Things for Mini-Z

• xmods, zip-zaps and all other little cars that eventually bring people over to Kyosho quality.
• Mini-Z Racer.com forums - a source of info that can't be beat
• HFAY - competition at its best!
• Mini-Z Monster - nothing draws a crowd like a teenie weenie wheelie machine
• RCP - you can't race a car without a track.
• Lap Timers - because most people can't count past 8 when racing
  

Bad Things for Mini-Z
I am not trying to be negative here (okay maybe just a little) but there are a few things that I have seen that are particularly detrimental to Mini-Z's. This list contains items that affect both the new Mini-Z driver and seasoned racer (or addict) alike. Both communities have distinct needs.

• Uninformed shops -

  This one really hurts the newb driver. If someone pays $100+ ON A new Mini-Z and they can't figure out what replacement parts to buy that Mini-Z will sit on a shelf or in the bottom of a closet with all of the other broken toys. If a shop sells Mini-Z's I think all of the employees should at least know something substantial about Mini-Z's.
  

• Overpriced OEM hopups -

  Kyosho stuff is good but it's really expensive. Fortunately, PN and Atomic make some quality parts for 10-30% less than the Kyosho equivalent.

  
  
• Low Quality Hopups -

  This kind of ties into the uninformed shops issue. There are a few companies making complete garbage for Mini-Z's. If a shop doesn't knwo any better and they just sell crappy aftermarket parts that break bend or just don't work...that will nt keep people in the hobby.

  
  
• Limited distribution of aftermarket accessories -

  Even the good ones are hard to find sometimes. We all know where to get them but there is usually a shipping cost involved and we often have to order from more than one place.

  
  
• Lack of continuity between US and JPN markets -

  I think I find this one the most disconcerting. I can go online and see some cool stuff coming to Japan but it takes months to get to the states and sometime it doesn't even make it. Can you say F1 white bodies?

  
  

• Diminishing Quality Control -

  A kid bought a readyset from the LHS two weeks ago. He came in today and his Porshe 935 had a broken body clip. The glue just came undone. He bought a Modena ASC and as he was putting it on the chassis, the body clip fell off of that one as well. I don't know if Kyosho is cutting some corners on tHE ASC assembly line but it sure looks like it.

So what do you guys think? Do you agree with the good and bad that I've laid out here? I would love to hear some thoughts or even some counter examples to the points above.

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Spoon Scales Up

Mini-Z's tie up enough resources (time, money, etc) that I am not really interested in getting into another scale. I checked out the local 1/10th carpet track about a year ago and I was really tempted to get a touring car but I can't really commit to another day of racing. Nope...I can't fit one more day of racing into my week...but bashing is a different story...

My local Mini-Z running buddy picked up an RC18MT and I got a chance to run it around a little bit. I told him if he decided to keep it (he's notorious for flipping RC vehicles) that I would pick one up also. One of the DC guys had one for sale and his stuff is usually in pretty good shape so I figured this would be a good chance to get into it. Since I'll just be bashing (for now) I want to avoid dumping cash into bling hopups but we'll see how long that lasts.

The current rumor is that one of the local shops will have a 1/18th dirt track setup very soon...we'll see how long this bashing thing lasts. Specs and pics on the RC18 coming as soon as I get my last few new parts in :)