It doesn't matter if you are eight or eighty, if you love cars and enjoy tinkering about, then racing radio controlled cars can provide you with endless hours of fun and excitement. But there are hurdles that you have to cross before you get to the race track and, if you are a newcomer to the world of radio controlled cars then there are a number of things that you will need to think about.

Many people are amazed at just how exciting the world of radio controlled car racing has become in recent years with modern hobby cars reaching speeds of 60 mph and featuring complex suspension systems that can be tuned in much the same way as those of a real car. But perhaps the best feature of today's radio controlled cars is the wide variety of different vehicles available.

When the time comes to buy your first radio controlled car you will need to begin by considering three things:

1. Do you want to buy a ready-to-run vehicle or to build your own car from a kit?

There is no doubt that building your own car has many advantages, not least the fact that you will find it easy to maintain the vehicle and to make alterations to it if you choose to, but this is certainly not an easy option for the beginner. Although they are a little more expensive, for younger racers and to get you up and running quickly, you would probably be best advised to start with a ready-to-run car and then move on to building your own radio controlled car at a later date.

2. Do you want an on-road or an off-road vehicle?

On-road vehicles (on-road here refers to a smooth, paved surface rather than the road itself) are designed for speed and are clearly the option if you wish to race your car.

If, however, you are not principally concerned with racing then there are a wide variety of off-road vehicles available including trucks and buggies which can provide immense fun negotiating rough terrain, obstacle courses and even jumps.

3. Do you want an electric vehicle or a nitro powered car?

Electrically powered vehicles provide the simplest option and use rechargeable batteries. They are both clean and quiet but, for many hobbyists, they lack the realism that gives radio controlled car racing its true excitement.

Nitro powered vehicles, on the other hand, offer the sound (tuned pipe), sights (smoke) and smell (exhaust) of a real car. They do however require considerably more maintenance than their electric counterparts and this is something that the novice needs to take into consideration. Although the quality of nitro powered cars in the past left a lot to be desired, in recent years they have been greatly improved in terms of not only their performance but also their safety and reliability.

Having considered the options of ready-to-run or kit cars, on-road or off-road and whether you want an electric or nitro powered car, the next step is to visit your local supplier and take a look at the huge range of cars available.

Then its time for some practice before you head off to the race track.