Prepare before adding speed
Read the model manual. Check wheel nuts, free suspension movement, tyre seating and steering travel. Use the specified battery chemistry and polarity. Follow the manual’s transmitter and car power-on sequence; test steering and throttle with the wheels clear of the surface.
Make the controls comfortable
Set steering trim so the car tracks straight. Reduce throttle range if your radio or model supports it. Set steering endpoints without forcing the servo against its stops. Practise moving away, stopping at a marker and turning in both directions before attempting a full lap.
Build a small practice circuit
Use soft markers in a clear area away from stairs, feet and pets. Start with an oval, then a figure of eight. Look a corner ahead instead of staring at the front bumper. Aim for ten clean laps at a comfortable pace; only add speed when you can repeat the line. Stop when the car slows unusually or anything binds.
Ten clean laps teach more than one fast lap and nine crashes.