I rolled my first comp in the second gate. Lost three points before I'd even figured out which line I was supposed to be on. Comp humbles everyone the first time. Here's how to get into it without making the same mistakes I did, and what to expect at your first event.
What micro crawler comp actually is
A timed run through a course of gates (pairs of markers) where you score points by passing cleanly between them. Touch a gate, miss a gate, reverse, or tip over and you lose points. Some events run penalty-only scoring where the lowest score wins. Others run a fixed time with the highest gate count winning.
Courses are usually 8 to 15 gates, run on natural rock or staged obstacles. A run lasts 3 to 5 minutes. You typically get two runs per class and the better one counts. Some events let you walk the course before your run.
The main org and classes
RCMCCA (RC Micro Crawler Competition Association) runs the main rule set for 1/24 events in the US. They publish classes by stock-vs-modified, body type, and motor class. Local events typically follow RCMCCA rules with minor variations.
Common classes:
- Stock class. Stock motor, stock ESC, stock tires (sometimes), specified body. The easiest class to enter; most beginners start here.
- Modified class. Aftermarket motor and ESC allowed. Brass and portals allowed. Anything goes within the class's tire size limits.
- Scale class. Stock-ish performance with detail-rich bodies. Judged partly on appearance.
- Open class. No restrictions. The unhinged race-spec rigs.
Confirm the local rule set before you build. Stock class on one circuit might allow things another circuit doesn't.
Finding events near you
- Local RC hobby shops. Many host monthly micro events.
- Facebook groups. Search for “[your city] RC crawler” or “micro crawler comp [state].”
- r/rccrawler and r/SCX24. Weekly event threads list upcoming comps.
- RCMCCA event listing. Their site publishes sanctioned events.
- Discord servers. Several active SCX24 and micro crawler servers post events.
If you can't find a public event, ask at a hobby shop. Many shops will host an impromptu event if there's interest.
Your first build (don't overbuild)
Resist the urge to spec a full comp build for your first event. You'll learn more from running a stock-class truck against people who know the course than from rolling your $700 comp rig in the first gate.
Stock class with the following gives you a competitive truck without overspending:
- Real servo (3Flow9RC Torrent or AGFRC A20CLS).
- Sticky tires (Pit Bull Growler if your class allows, INJORA S5 if not).
- Brass wheel and knuckle weights.
- Oil-filled shocks (INJORA 39mm or 43mm).
- Real charger and two or three batteries.
Total spend around $200 to $250 on top of the truck. Drive this for a season, learn what comp courses actually demand, then build up from there. Full comp build spec in the comp build guide.
What happens at an event
- Tech inspection. Officials check that your truck conforms to its class. Tires, motor, ESC, body, whatever the class specifies.
- Driver's meeting. Course walk-through, rule reminders, run order.
- Practice run (sometimes). Some events allow one practice pass.
- Timed runs. You queue up, start at the first gate, drive through the course while a marshall tracks your score.
- Results and awards. Usually small prizes or stickers for top three per class.
What to bring
- The truck. Obviously.
- Three to four charged batteries. Run time is short between heats.
- Spare servo. Servos die at comp.
- Spare CVD or dogbone set. Drivetrain failures happen.
- Hex driver set, threadlock, electrical tape. The minimum field repair kit.
- Tire cleaning gear. Sticky compounds get filthy fast.
- The transmitter and its batteries. Don't laugh, people forget.
- Snacks and water. Comps run long.
- Charger plus a wall plug or power inverter. Many venues don't have outlets near the course.
Things that will catch you off guard
- You drive faster than you should. Slow down. Almost every newcomer overdrives. The line you can do at 25% throttle you'll roll at 50%.
- Your usual lines won't work. Comp courses are designed to be unfamiliar. Walk the course if allowed.
- You'll lose more time on backward steps than on touching gates. Reversing into a gate to reset costs more than gently brushing one.
- Your servo will work harder than usual. Hot servos die. Take a break between heats and let things cool.
- Battery cutoffs are real. A pack that lasts 20 minutes on the trail might last 12 in a comp because you're using more current. Bring extras.
The mindset
Comp is more about consistency than peak performance. Cleaning gates is everything. A driver who scores 28 of 30 gates on every run beats the driver who scores 30 of 30 once and tips out twice.
Have fun. The community is great, most people will help you between heats, and nobody at a 1/24 comp event is taking themselves too seriously. If you tip the truck in the second gate, laugh, reset, and finish the run.
For the full comp build spec when you're ready, see the comp build guide. Track your build on the site so you can refer back to what worked at each event.