Remote control cars, affectionately known as ‘RC cars,’ have continued to find new fans with each generation since their introduction back in the late 1970s.
While not nearly as ubiquitous as they are today, RC cars began to take off in popularity in part because of various local events centered around the racing and exhibition of these exciting scale vehicles.
In 1979, Tamiya releases the Sand Scorcher and Rough Rider scale, off-road electric off-road kits. While there were earlier RC car kits, these vehicles helped launch was is often referred to by radio control aficionados as the “Golden Era of RC.”
Clubs were formed and local events were staged, and RC race cars began to take off.
RC Cars – Fast Fun for Kids of All Ages
As recently as 2020, RC car fans were asking on forums and social media whether others thought that the hobby was “dying” and if interest was waning.
But just a year ago, The Washington Post reported that,
“Remote-control or radio-control racing — RC, as it’s known to fans — isn’t new, but it is enjoying a booming resurgence sparked in large part by the pandemic. Stuck at home with nothing to do, people sought out hobbies to fill their time and get them outside. Newcomers to RC were hooked. And many who built and played with the racing machines as kids rediscovered the thrills of driving and the satisfaction of spending hours souping up cars that at the top end can reach speeds of 150 to 170 mph.”
And, as we know quite well here at Fundemonium, the passion for speed and fast RC cars – even among preschoolers – has not abated. This is why we continue to host local events for RC car racing including RC drift race cars.
Here’s the thing about RC cars, especially race cars: they can range from toy-grade cars designed for toddlers to top-end RC race cars that fetch over $5,000 apiece.
The good news is that today a parent can find cheap beginner RC cars that will not only provide both the thrills and the practice that young hands need to develop but are easy on the wallet.
Of course, the limitations of those cheap beginner RC cars means that your budding RC race car enthusiast will be wanting to up his or her game at some point. And, the truth is, this progression applies to “older kids” – adults and parents of younger children – who are getting into RC cars for themselves.
The good news is that there are plenty of great RC Cars for all skill levels and ages.
Three Great RC Cars for Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Drivers and Racers
Among the available beginner RC cars out there, the 
Brushed 1/24th Scale Road Car Kit stands out for both its sleek and stylish looks as well as its affordable and approachable price tag.
At just $79.99 you can step into the exciting world of RC car racing with a NASCAR-style machine that’s easy to assemble and easy to drive. And don’t worry about the Mini-Q being a kit – most of the precision assembly work has already been done at the factory.
As the product description points out,
“Final assembly is simple and quick using the illustrated, comprehensive owners guide. In addition, the knowledge gained from assembling the vehicle will aid in future maintenance and tuning with available option parts such as springs, tires, racing differentials, and more.”
Intermediate RC cars are designed to be challenging but not overwhelming for drivers.
The GT24 Subaru Impreza WRC 4WD Brushless 1/24th Scale Micro Rally Car from Carisma is a truly special kit that features an officially licensed rally car with scale realism.
At under $200, this gorgeous rally car replica just begs to be let outside! In the full-scale world, rally cars are raced on closed-off public roads, in timed competitions, one car at a time, and driving on dirt, pavement, and anything in between.
Part of the beauty of an RC car like the Micro Rally Car is that it can be driven indoors and out in a backyard with equal ease and agility.
In the realm of advanced RC cars, off-road and rugged terrain rules. The Mojave 4X4, 4WD 6S BLX Brushless 1/7th Scale Desert Truck is an RTR (Ready-to-Run) beast.
And, like the product description points out,
“Experience the speed and durability of ARRMA® bashing in a big way with the 1/7 scale brushless MOJAVE™ 6S BLX 4WD Desert Truck. Designed Fast and Designed Tough, it’s ready for extreme performance right out of the box, whether you’re thrashing through coastal sand dunes or blasting across concrete sidewalks.”
So, Where Can You Find Some Great RC Cars in Sonoma County?
With the diminishing number of craft and hobby stores everywhere, it is becoming a bit more challenging to find hobby-oriented toys and products. Which is a large part of why many people might try looking for an RC car by searching for local game stores.
And, while a well-stocked game store may have some RC toys, they’re not likely to have an extensive selection of RC race cars, for example.
So, what’s a prospective RC race car driver to do?
If you live in or near Rohnert Park – or pretty much anywhere in Sonoma County – the good news is that you can find plenty of options to choose from here at Fundemonium.
No need to Google “toy store near me” or “RC cars near me” when you can simply come to the best toy store in Rohnert Park that’s really much more than a toy store or even a hobby shop. In fact, you can find all types of fun RC cars, trucks, boats, tanks, and planes at Fundemonium. In addition, we offer expert RC car repair, regular local events for RC racing, and much, much more!
No matter whether you’re looking to buy your very first RC car, or you’re wanting to add to your collection of RC vehicles, Fundemonium is your go-to destination for everything RC in Sonoma County.
Looking for Great RC Cars? Fundemonium is the Place!
In addition to some of the best radio control cars on the market, we also have a variety of other RC toys and vehicles including trucks, planes, boats, tanks, and more. And we something for every age, skill level, and budget.
So, whether you want high-speed thrills, gritty climbing ability, or flying high and fast, we know that you’ll find some fun radio control toys to make it happen.
At Fundemonium, we’re more than just a toy, hobby, and game store. We are a “family fun experience” and fun place where families and hobby enthusiasts of all ages can meet and play. And when it comes to RC cars, we do more than just stock and sell them. If you have a problem with your RC car, for example, Fundemonium is home to Sonoma County’s premier RC car repair center.
We do our best to quickly respond to inquiries about remote control cars (and everything else we carry!) through our website, but you can also find an answer to your question by calling us.
If you’d like to speak directly with one of our Fundemoniacs during our business hours, you can call us at (707) 540-0701.
Thanks, and looking forward to seeing you soon!
