• Scale and Size

  • 1/28 scale means the car is 1/28th the size of a full-size car.

  • They’re typically 6–7 inches long and weigh about 100–200 grams.

• Racing Environment

  • • • Races are often held indoors on foam tile tracks (like RCP or EVA tracks), which makes it possible to run events year-round and maintain consistent traction.

      • Tracks are designed with tight corners and open straights, emphasizing precision driving, throttle control, and consistency over outright speed.

      • Since it’s indoors and compact, a full club track can fit in a garage, basement, or small event space.

• Car Design and Technology

  • Chassis types:

    • RWD (rear-wheel drive) — agile and realistic driving feel.

    • AWD (all-wheel drive) — more stable and forgiving.

    • FWD (front-wheel drive) — popular for touring car-style handling.

  • Power systems:

    • Most use brushed or brushless motors powered by rechargeable AAA or small LiPo batteries (1S or 2S).

    • They can reach speeds of 20–40 mph (32–64 km/h) depending on setup.

  • Adjustability:

    • Even at this scale, racers can tune camber, toe, caster, damping, ride height, and gear ratios.

    • High-end cars use carbon fiber, aluminum, and ball differentials, just like 1/10 or 1/12 scale race cars.

•  Racing Classes

• Stock – slower motors, beginner-friendly.

• Modified – high-speed brushless setups for experienced drivers.

• Specialty classes – AWD, Formula 1.

Why try it?

• Compact and affordable compared to larger scales.

• Low maintenance and quiet, ideal for indoor temporary tracks.

• Deeply competitive, with regional, national, and world events (e.g., Kyosho Mini-Z Cup, PN Racing Worlds, 28SRA grand prix).

• Highly social — most clubs emphasize clean, close racing and setup sharing.

Getting Started with NIMRC 1/28 Racing

The NIMRC 28SRA Box-Stock class is the best entry point for new racers. All items below are legal in Box-Stock. Depending on your comfort level, the race runner may place you in a Novice group within Box-Stock until you gain confidence.  You can check out our classes page for more details.

Starter Car & Parts

• Kyosho MR-04 Mini-Z RWD ReadySet RTR — multiple body options (same kit).

• Front Spring Set — Kyosho MR-04 EVO2.

• Rear Suspension Plate Set (FRP) — get both 0.5mm and 0.6mm.

• Tires — start with these combos:

  • Front: Kyosho Super Low Height Slick Tire (4) (30 Deg)

  • Rear: Kyosho Mini-Z 11mm Wide Racing Radial Tire (4) (20 Shore)

• Transponder: Easylap Micro

Tools & Accessories

• Batteries: Any rechargeable AAAs

• Chargers: Any AAA charger

• Tools: Kyosho Mini-Z Tool Set2 (MZW120)

• Other tools: hobby knife, storage bag/tool box

• Tire Tape: 7mm (front) + 9mm (rear)

Upgrades for Later

• Tires: Experiment with different compounds for grip and balance.

• Bodies: Try new Kyosho AutoScale or unpainted shells.

• Radio: Upgrade to a Noble NB4 + Mini-Z adapter or Radiomaster MT12

Tips & Tricks

• Connect with NIMRC — for setup and tuning recommendations.

• Dial down steering on the stock radio for smoother cornering.

• 1/28 feels different from larger scales. Consistency > speed.

• Practice is the best upgrade. Smooth, wall-free laps win races.

Local Club/Track

Your local club or track is the best to start once you're ready to learn more.  While the community is growing, it's still a pretty fragmented niche within RC.  Your local club is going to have members who are eager to teach, like NIMRC (Northern Illinois Mini RC), if you’re nearby. 

You’ll get:

• Hands-on help from experienced racers.

• The chance to test drive different setups.

• Access to club-specific rules (classes, tires, motors, etc.).

• A welcoming community that’s great for beginners.

Tip: Just bring your curiosity — clubs often have loaner cars or members willing to let you try theirs - NIMRC does!

YouTube Channels 

Mini RC content is growing fast. Some standout channels include:

Online Communities

There are a few active discussion hubs where racers share tuning advice, setups, and race results:

• Facebook Groups

• Reddit

• Our socials!

Events & Livestreams

• Follow PN Racing World Cup, GL Nationals, or local regional races — many are streamed live or posted afterward.

• Watching top-level races helps you see clean driving lines, corner control, and racecraft in action.