202mph

How It All Began

My family actually got me into RC back in 1990.
Raced my first RC car (a gold pan RC10) at Fast
Lane (now Hot Rod Hobbies) and I was hooked.
My first big win was at the 1991 Thunderdrome
in Encino, California. It was there I witnessed
the Insane Speed Run—pretty much the
coolest thing I had ever seen in RC. After seeing
that, I was hooked on going very fast! Fast
forward to 2006, to RCCA’s World’s Fastest

Inside the RC Car Competition in Fontana, California, that

launched my focus on straight-line speed

World’s Fastest
running.

The Why
To say that this took a lot of work is an

RC Car
understatement. The drive and motivation
to devote so much effort into something like
this is one of most important parts of the
pursuit. My reasons why morphed over time.
It started out as a challenge in 2006 at the
Nic Case reveals his record-setting tech WFRCCC, where I surprisingly broke the (then
By Nic Case with Peter Vieira PHOTOS: Bryan Blaser current) record of 111mph. Soon after that, my
rocket scientist friend, Brad Williams, proved
mathematically that 200mph was possible.
“How fast does it go?” It’s the number one question you hear anytime someone sees RC in Years later, I built the RC Bullet in 2012—
expectations for some very fast speeds were
action, and we’re all fascinated by speed—the more, the better. And when it comes to going fast, on high. However, in the first two sessions,
one man stands out as RC’s most prominent overachiever, recognized by the Guinness World run after run, it seemed that the fastest the
Records, no less. That man is Nic Case. He’s the builder and driver of the world’s Bullet would go was 171mph. In March of 2013,
I decided to retire the Bullet and straight-line
fastest RC car: the 202mph RC Bullet. We’re pleased to have Nic himself tell speed running. At this point, I had exhausted
us the story of his record-breaking journey and what it takes to all my motivation to continue. On April 13, 2013,
push an RC car past 200mph. my 17-year-old nephew Chris was killed by a
hit-and-lie driver. I was devastated. Chris really
dug on all this speed-running stuff. I found new
motivation in diverting my grief over Chris’s
death into creative action, celebrating his
short life.

“Officially Amazing!” Nic

shows off the Guinness
World Record certificate
that confirms his
achievement.

FEBRUARY 2017 71
Inside the Steel gears and heavy-duty 4 Neu Motor 6 Castle Creations Power System (off the
belts spin the wheels. shelf, with a twist)
Bullet These motors were intended for RC
planes and helicopters, but I adapted The Bullet’s electronic speed control is a Castle Hydra HV 240 with a
The Bullet’s design came mostly from
them for use in my cars. Neu motors Phoenix HV 110 control board. Since this is an older version, it has no
several brainstorming sessions with my are powerful and efficient; these data logger. I protected it from current ripple with a large capacitor
good friend John Trino. We agreed to motors never reached anything over bank. I’ve also used Castle’s Phoenix HV 140’s with great success.
150°F.
keep the streamliner design layout but 7 Futaba FASST R614FF
completely eliminate the suspension. By 5 Carbon-Fiber Chassis Receiver
doing this, it would prevent the car At 12 pounds ready to go, the Bullet I added a 400mm boat antenna
requires a very stiff chassis. High- to the receiver, which threads
from squatting in the rear under
quality 3mm carbon fiber was used for up the back of the tail fin, to
acceleration and preventing a all pieces. Kinetic Composites cut all ensure that it's as far from
blowover. Another added benefit the carbon fiber; the aluminum parts the ground as possible.
were cut by Team Tamale; and the front
of no suspension was the elimination
of the CVD. The SR-11 was plagued with
axle and hubs were machined by John
Foister at BSR.
7
CVD’s failing. I decided to go with belts
instead of a shaft-drive because it was
easier to find a reduction ratio that 1 Industrial Drive Belts
The Bullet’s 6mm and 8mm drive belts are typically used for small
was close to 1.5:1. The Bullet’s chassis, machinery. I could get these in many different lengths, and generally opted
drivetrain, and several bodies were all for a bit of overkill on width. 4
designed via CAD in my spare time.
Kinetic Composites cut the
Bullet’s carbon-fiber parts.
1 6
2
Specifications
Total length: 36 in.
Width: 7 in.
Wheelbase: 21 in. 5
Weight: 12 lb.
Caster: 0 degrees
Differentials: Spools, front and rear
Motor: 1875Kv
Gearing: 75 x 34
Radio range: 1600 feet
Total horsepower: 12 (peak estimate)

Virtual wind-tunnel testing

guided the Bullet’s design,
rendered here in clay form
(far right).

The wheels are constructed of rigid

carbon fiber to run true at more
than 20,000rpm. 8 Full-Carbon Body
2 Custom Carbon-Fiber Wheels The Bullet’s all-carbon-fiber body was originally designed in modeling clay. Only two bodies were ever
run on the Bullet: Version 26 and Version 19. With the help of CD-adapco, I used a virtual wind tunnel
These wheels spun at roughly 23,000rpm during the 202mph
(computational fluid dynamics, or CFD) to get educated on the drag-to-downforce relationship. It is a
run. Tires and wheels are an area I put considerable effort
scientific tool that helped confirm whether my visualization was headed in the right direction. Several of
into. Over time, I tried all kinds of combinations of materials,
my designs had too much drag or not enough downforce.
adhesives, and processes. I use a common purple foam from
John’s BSR tires, expertly glued by John Foister himself. The
3-inch-diameter tire is on a custom-made carbon wheel,
which I fabricated one at a time. The weight-to-strength ratio is
superior, and the carbon wheels do not have the negatives of
aluminum.

3 Dinogy Lithium Batteries

With some research, I found that Dinogy batteries put out more
watts than any other battery. When I changed to Dinogy packs,
I went from 171mph to 184mph! I used twelve 5000mAh cells in
series to deliver the needed horsepower.

72 RCCarAction.com FEBRUARY 2017 73

 Driving a
200mph
RC Car
Driving the Bullet is huge
responsibility; you have to
make sure you are confidently
going straight before
unleashing the massive power.
It’s important to be willing to
abort in an instant—safety is
paramount. Driving the Bullet
is an awesome experience;
the acceleration is very
impressive. It responds
in a predictable way when
steering, and decelerates hard
and confidently. Decelerating
is often overlooked on how
important it is.

Special
Thanks
I’m very grateful
to have these
outstanding
sponsors for this
quest. I appreciate
the crucial
backing from
these outstanding
companies:

Castle Creations
Neu Motors
BSR Racing Tires
Dinogy Batteries
The Science of Speed RW Racing Gears
Futaba
When I started this quest, many of the things we take for granted nowadays either weren’t CD-adapco
developed yet or not defined for speed running. At the time, brushless motors and lithium RC4WD
polymer batteries were just being introduced to the RC car market. Using Neu motors and Team Tamale
Ford
Castle speed controllers (normally used in RC helicopters) was a giant step in the right direction. Protoform
However, I learned very quickly that I needed more than just sheer horsepower.

Location, Location, Location long-range radio is a big deal. I have very important factor in going fast. combo specifically for speed-running
The first issue is having a location tested many, and Futaba is at the A stiff, reinforced body prevents the applications.
that is long, smooth, and safe enough top. Positioning the receiver antenna extreme forces of the air changing
to run on. Seems easy, but nice, flat, high and perpendicular to the ground the aerodynamics of your car. I Downforce Is a Must
paved surfaces that are large enough helps range as well. learned this the hard way! It’s a commonly held belief that
to achieve 200mph and smooth downforce equals aero drag. This
enough for a car running on 3-inch- Steel-Fortified Drivetrain 200mph-Rated Tires is not necessarily true. Having a
diameter tires are hard to find. Road Plastic or aluminum will not hold up I’ve put considerable effort into shape that is very slippery often
reflectors and parked cars are a against 12hp. Luckily, RW Racing developing a wheel/tire combination. translates into an unstable car that
danger that I stayed away from. machined hardened-steel 32-pitch At 200mph, wheel rpm exceeds can blow over.
pinions and spurs for me. 20,000, and the centrifugal force
Long-Range Required trying to pull the tires off the wheels
At 200mph, the RC Bullet covers Flexproof Body is tremendous. John’s BSR Racing
nearly 300 feet every second, so a Preventing body deformation is a Tires currently markets a wheel/tire

74 RCCarAction.com
 Nic Case’s Before the Bullet

RC Highlights 2006 2007 2008 2011

Electrified Front-wheel-drive car, Schumacher SR-11,
1990 / First car—RC10
Nitro TC3 prototype Mi-3 based Nitro TC3 based
1991 / First big win—Thunderdrome,
sportsman modified
1992 / First Insane Speed Run—first
134 mph 140 mph 161 mph 173 mph
RC car to go 80mph in competition
1994 / Nemesis to production
2000 / National Champion—Dirt Oval
Modified and Paved Oval Modified
2001 / Kimbrough 400 Champion
2006 / RCCA Speed Competition
Champion @ 134mph
(Guinness record)
2007 / RCCA Speed Competition
Champion @ 127mph—first RC
dragster under 1 .4 seconds
2008 / ISC Speed Competition
Champion @ 161mph (Guinness
and ROSSA record)

The Castle Hydra 240 speed control

is usually found in high-power boats.

Futaba 4PK Transmitter

There was no need to modify or boost the 4PK transmitter’s
output; it is long distance, right out of the box. The performance
of all my Futaba radios—3PJ, 4PK, and 4PX included—has just
been top-notch, with range upward of 1600 feet. That’s over a
quarter mile, which allows a full half mile of operating distance
when I stand at the midpoint of a run.

Mission Accomplished
On October 25, 2014, at St. George, Utah, my wife, Tracy, stepdad
Mak, and good friend Josh were there to support and witness
the RC Bullet achieve 202mph. Not bad for an amateur hobbyist!
With good friends, family, great sponsors, and off-the-shelf
Nic at a ROSSA event in Camarillo, California, in 2015,
electronics, we set a new world record and broke the 200mph
running a 2-cell car. Top speed: more than 105mph!
barrier. There were many people that helped throughout this
journey. I appreciate everyone’s support immensely. For now,
I consider myself retired from
2009 / Founder and President of the
straight-line speed running.
ISC, ran three events
Someone will break this record,
2010 / Sponsored by Associated, and I’ve always been at peace with
143mph with a 4-cell car that. Driving an Insane Speed Run
car on the Velodrome is the future
2011 / New York Times article; for me, along with having some Nic set his 2014 record with
carbon-fiber wheel fun racing dirt oval at my adopted Futaba’s best transmitter of the
home track, Hot Rod Hobbies. ✇ time: the 4PK.
2012 / The RC Bullet is born, 171mph
(Guinness and ROSSA record)
2013 / Nic turns 50, decides to retire
from speed running; Chris, his 17-year-
old nephew, is killed; Nic rethinks his
retirement; RC Bullet goes 184mph in
run in memory of Chris
2014 / Discovered the
decommissioned airport in
Utah, 202mph (Guinness and
ROSSA record) in memory of Chris
2015–16 / Retires from speed running;
returns to racing; Insane Speed Run at
Encino Velodrome, 89mph

76 RCCarAction.com