Author: Tony Phalen

As an avid RC enthusiast, Tony has been building, bashing and racing RC Cars for over 30 years. He has participated in every kind of surface racing events - 1/18 scale trucks, 1/10 scale TC, Rock Racers, Rally - if it had wheels, he's raced it! He's also worked on both sides of the industry fence; collaborating with many major manufacturers (as well as being a sponsored driver) to working for a high-profile industry magazine. During this time he has learned many tricks, tips and techniques and is sharing that knowledge on CompetitionX - the most informative RC website on the internet!

Futaba FP-T6NFK Woes

Futaba FP-T6NFK Woes

Question: Mr. Doc- I have the Futaba FP-T6NFK transmitter and a Tactic TCB 100 ESC Rec/Gyro. I'm looking for a set of crystals and don't ... Read More

Review: HPI Apache C1

Review: HPI Apache C1

When I get any vehicle for review, I have a whole process I go through prior to taking it out on its test run. I ... Read More

Review: DHK Maximus

Review: DHK Maximus

As RC fanatics, when someone mentions Monster Trucks we have a pre-set notion of what that is in our hobby. We think of 1/8th scale ... Read More

Review: Axial SCX10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Review: Axial SCX10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

I’m a racer and anything that isn’t going Mach 10 around a track just doesn’t get my RC blood pumping. However, a while back I ... Read More

Review: HPI Falken Porsche Sprint 2 Sport

Review: HPI Falken Porsche Sprint 2 Sport

HPI has been teaming up with quite a few big names in the real racing world. Full-size heroes like Ken Block, Dai Yoshihara and Vaughn ... Read More

Slippin’ an HPI over a Tamiya

Slippin’ an HPI over a Tamiya

Question: Hiya, Doc- Do you know if the HPI107201 '78 Trans Am has the proper wheelbase for a Tamiya TL01 chassis? I have had problems ... Read More

Review: Team Durango DEST210R

Review: Team Durango DEST210R

For a time there, off road was all about 2WD buggies and 2WD stadium trucks. Then, in rolled 2WD and 4WD short course trucks, short ... Read More

New To RC – Is Nitro the Way To Go?

New To RC – Is Nitro the Way To Go?

Question: Hi Doc, I'm looking for a bit of advice. My 11 year old son wants a nitro RC car and we have been looking ... Read More

Setting Up My HPI Baja 5B

Setting Up My HPI Baja 5B

Question: Hey Doc, My name is Edzry and I live in Malaysia. Can you give me some tuning tips for racing my HPI Baja 5B ... Read More

Setting Up My LTO Dirt Oval

Setting Up My LTO Dirt Oval

Question: Doc, I have only been into racing RC Dirt Oval for 3 yrs. I started out with an OFNA Dirt Oval car but was ... Read More

Gimme Gimme Gimme More Speed!

Gimme Gimme Gimme More Speed!

Question: Hi Doc, I currently upgraded from Open Stock to Superstock 1/10 onroad with a 10.5 brushless sensor system along with a Orion R10 Pro ... Read More

From Mad Monkey to Hot Little Monkey

From Mad Monkey to Hot Little Monkey

Question: Hey, Doc- I've recently bought an RTR Ansmann Mad Monkey. Initially it seemed to go bloody fast. On day 3 it still goes really ... Read More

Review: Team Associated RC8.2E RS RTR

Review: Team Associated RC8.2E RS RTR

Team Associated has been in the 1/8-scale arena for quite some time. Thanks to some killer engineering and a top-level racing team, their buggies become ... Read More

Converting a Traxxas Slash 4×4 to an STRC LCG Chassis

Converting a Traxxas Slash 4×4 to an STRC LCG Chassis

The Traxxas Slash 4x4 brought the fun of short course racing and the ease and power delivery of 4WD together in one package. While the ... Read More

Brushless Motor Confusion

Brushless Motor Confusion

Question: Hey, Doc- I currently own a Traxxas Rustler VXL and I love it (it is my first hobby-grade RC, mostly because I found this ... Read More