Area RC Racing Classes

Thank you to everyone for being patient as we refine and unify our Mini-Z racing rules. Every track does things a little differently, and rules can get confusing fast. Our goal is to make things clear, simple, and fair for everyone.

Our 3 Guiding Principles

Grow the Hobby
More racers, more shops, more products, more fun.
Support the Racers
RC is about dads, sons, families, and friends making memories together. These are the real VIPs.
Support the Hobby Shops and Tracks
These owners fuel the community. They deserve rules that help them survive and thrive.

Driver’s Class (50% Class)

Built for close, door-to-door racing. Great for beginners and veterans looking for fun, equal racing. New racers are paired with experienced ones to improve consistency and race craft. Every car is performance-matched thanks to the 50% throttle cap. To ensure a level playing field and eliminate battery advantages, only approved AAA batteries are permitted in this class. All approved batteries are readily available in the hobby shop.

RULES
• Kyosho Mini-Z only
• Approved AAA batteries only:
- Kyosho Speed House 800mAh
- Gens Ace 750mAh
- Reedy 800mAh
- EcoPower 1000mAh
• 50% throttle
• Stock remote
• Stock gearing (6T pinion)
• Stock Kyosho white-endbell motor
• Kyosho tires and T-plates allowed
• Kyosho 0 degree aluminum steering knuckles allowed
• Aluminum wheel nuts allowed
• Servo gear upgrades allowed
• Any body and wheel combo allowed

Why this class works
• Hobby Growth: Super easy, fun, cheap
• Racers: Minimal upgrades needed
• Hobby Shops: All stock parts, one brand to support

Kyosho Box Stock Class

A simple upgrade path for new racers. Lets drivers experience tuning and setup changes using only Kyosho parts, keeping costs and complexity down.

RULES
• Kyosho Mini-Z only
• AAA 1.25V max per cell
• Aftermarket remotes allowed
• Any gearing included in the box (max 9T)
• Stock Kyosho white-endbell motor
• Kyosho tires and T-plates allowed
• Kyosho 0 degree aluminum steering knuckles allowed
• Aluminum wheel nuts allowed
• Servo gear upgrades allowed
• Any body and wheels allowed

Why this class works
• Hobby Growth: Easy first upgrade class
• Racers: Learn setup without chasing every brand
• Hobby Shops: Easy to stock and explain

Stock Class (Unified Standard Stock)

Designed so racers running “stock” at one track can travel and race anywhere without being disqualified. This is the most universal ruleset we could create.

RULES
• Kyosho Mini-Z only
• AAA 1.25V max per cell
• Aftermarket remotes allowed
• Any gearing from the box (max 9T)
• Stock Kyosho white-endbell motor
• Any brand tires and T-plates allowed
• Any brand durability upgrades allowed (no performance hop-ups)
• Camber knuckles: 0 degrees
• Toe plate: 0 degrees
• Any body and wheels allowed

Why this class works
• Hobby Growth: Supports aftermarket brands and lowers cost
• Racers: One car works at multiple tracks
• Hobby Shops: Encourages collaboration between tracks

LM Class

Built for LM-style platforms while maintaining full Stock Class parity. This ensures fair and consistent competition within the LM category.

RULES
• Kyosho RWD Wide LM Mini-Z only
• AAA 1.25V max per cell
• Aftermarket remotes allowed
• Any gearing from the box (max 9T)
• Stock Kyosho white-endbell motor
• Any brand tires and T-plates allowed
• Any brand durability upgrades allowed (no performance hop-ups)
• Camber knuckles: 0 degrees
• Toe plate: 0 degrees
• Any body and wheels allowed

Why this class works
• Hobby Growth: Expands LM platform participation
• Racers: Equal performance within LM category
• Hobby Shops: Encourages LM body and chassis sales

Narrow Class

Built for Narrow platforms while maintaining full Stock Class parity. This class allows more flexibility in motor configuration while keeping competition balanced.

RULES
• Kyosho RWD Narrow Mini-Z only (any motor pod configuration)
• AAA 1.25V max per cell
• Aftermarket remotes allowed
• Any gearing from the box (max 9T)
• Stock Kyosho white-endbell motor
• Any brand tires and T-plates allowed
• Any brand durability upgrades allowed (no performance hop-ups)
• Camber knuckles: 0 degrees
• Toe plate: 0 degrees
• Any body and wheels allowed

Why this class works
• Hobby Growth: Cars are more scale and more appealing to new enthusiasts.
• Racers: Flexibility without leaving Stock structure
• Hobby Shops: Supports a wider range of parts and setups

AWD Class

AWD Mini-Zs are some of the most scale models available. They offer a completely different driving experience and are often more enjoyable outside of a traditional race environment.

RULES
• Kyosho AWD Mini-Z only
• Any motor allowed (including brushless)
• Any Kyosho upgrades allowed
• Any tires allowed

Why this class works
• Hobby Growth: Highly scale appearance attracts new enthusiasts
• Racers: Unique challenge compared to traditional race platforms
• Hobby Shops: Allows customers to run the cars they are excited about

AAA Mini Open

For racers who want to push their Mini-Z to the limit. Brushless systems, high-end tuning, and advanced hop-ups allowed. This class keeps the spotlight on Mini-Z platforms instead of mixing them with 1/28 pan cars.

RULES
• Must be a Kyosho Mini-Z platform (PN R2.5W allowed)
• Must run AAA batteries

Why this class works
• Hobby Growth: Gives fast drivers a place to compete
• Racers: Unlimited tuning within the Mini-Z platform
• Hobby Shops: Boosts sales of Evo, brushless systems, and performance parts

Open Mod (1/28 Pan Car)

For the absolute fastest and most advanced mini platforms. Nexx, GL, Reflex, Team Associated RC28R, and more. If it is 1/28 and a pan car, it belongs here.

Sportsman

Designed for drivers who are new to high-performance 1/28 scale pan cars and are still developing race craft, consistency, and traffic management skills.

RULES
• 1/28 scale pan cars only
• Open to new and developing drivers only
• Race Director may move a driver to Open Class at any time if their performance and race craft are deemed competitive with the Open field

Open

For experienced drivers seeking the highest level of competition and performance.

RULES
• 1/28 scale pan cars only

Why this class works
• Hobby Growth: Provides a comfortable entry point for new mod racers
• Racers: Allows new drivers to learn without racing seasoned veterans immediately
• Hobby Shops: Makes high-performance platforms less intimidating and more approachable

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you allow Lexan bodies in Stock classes when most tracks do not?
Our goal is simple, make Mini-Z racing as fun and accessible as possible. A big part of the fun is how these cars look on track. Some racers enjoy running detailed bodies, while others like experimenting with 3D printed designs that add personality and creativity.

We also recognize that durability matters, especially for new drivers. Aftermarket bodies can be much more durable than traditional options, allowing racers to practice, learn, and race with confidence without constantly worrying about damaging their bodies.

Popular durable options like Jomurema bodies have been difficult to find due to availability. The PN Racing C9 body has become a great alternative, but it features a Lexan roof. Allowing Lexan gives racers more flexibility and access to reliable body options without limiting participation.

Can we use any wheels?
Yes. Wheel choice is dependent on the body you are running, since different bodies require different offsets. Because of this, we allow any wheels, including aftermarket options, so racers can properly fit their setups without unnecessary restrictions.

How many cars are required to run a class?
A minimum of 3 cars is required to run a class on race night. This ensures there are enough marshals to properly support the race.

In some cases, classes may be combined to make racing flow better. When that happens, it is always done with the agreement of the racers involved, not just at the discretion of the race director.

Are brass weights or T-plate clamps allowed in Stock classes?
Brass weights are not allowed in Stock classes, with one exception. T-plate clamps made of brass are allowed only if they match the same design and dimensions as the stock part. Extra-long or modified T-plate clamps are not permitted.

All Kyosho/Stock rules still apply. In the Kyosho class specifically, only Kyosho (Route 246) brass T-plate clamps are allowed.

We allow this because it can be considered a durability upgrade rather than a performance advantage. The goal is to maintain fair competition while allowing parts that help improve reliability and reduce breakage.

Why do you allow any motor, including brushless, in the AWD class?
The AWD class is designed for enthusiasts who already own AWD Mini-Z cars and want to get them on track. In most cases, there are not enough AWD cars to break the class up further by motor restrictions, and we don’t want to discourage participation by limiting what people can run.

AWD Mini-Zs are also more challenging to drive and tune compared to traditional RWD race platforms. Even with stock power, they can be difficult to get around the track consistently. In many cases, adding more power, including brushless systems, can actually make the car harder to drive rather than providing a clear advantage.

Ultimately, the goal of this class is simple: get more AWD cars on track, keep it fun, and give enthusiasts a place to run what they already have without unnecessary restrictions.

Why don’t you offer multiple brushless classes like Stock 2500, Super Stock 3500, Mod, Touring, etc.?
While we love competitive racing, our primary focus is growing the hobby. Highly segmented brushless classes tend to be very specialized and often require more time, money, and commitment to stay competitive.

We absolutely enjoy having experienced racers and those types of builds at our shop. However, creating multiple high-level classes can shift the environment away from what we are trying to build.

There are already many tracks that cater to that style of racing. Our goal is different. We want to create a space for the everyday hobbyist. A place where people can come in, have fun, race, and spend time with friends and family without feeling like they need a highly specialized or expensive setup to participate.

By keeping things simple and accessible, we lower the barrier to entry and keep the focus on fun, community, and growing the hobby.