1/12th Scale Circuit Mini Beds MCC Buying Guide (Getting Started Racing Mini)

If you’ve decided you’d like to jump into the world of Mini Racing at Bedfordshire Model Car Club, here’s a quick guide intended to help your research and assist you in navigating the basics.

Disclaimer: This is not a performance guide! You’re best talking to the great and the good on a club race evening for that

Which “Car” models should I look at buying to get into 1/12th Scale Circuit Mini Racing?

As of January 2025 these Manufacturers and Models are the ones to think about buying new or second hand:

Kamtec Mini Racer – Product Page on Kamtec

Kamtec Mini Racer Pro – Kamtec Product Page

BattCave Jok3r – only available second hand

BattCave Jok3r-R – BattCave Product Page

Mardave Assassin Racer

Mardave Assassin MD24 Racer / Pro Racer

(this may also be referred to as “BL Racer” meaning “Brushless”)

Which Motor / Electronics should I look at buying to get into 1/12th Scale Circuit Mini Racing?

We run both Brushed and Brushless setups – but in 2025, the more popular setup is brushless.

With BattCave selling a Surpass Hobby combo including a Motor and ESC for £80 – running Brushless has never been so cost effective.

The Hobbywing “Combo” alternative is on sale for between £110-120

The rules for Mini Masters the series (the largest national series for RC Mini Racing) for Brushless Motors are largely:

The Surpass Hobby 100A ESC OR the Hobbywing Justock 60A ESC

With a 25.5 Turn Fixed Timing Motor (Again, either a Surpass Hobby motor available from BattCave or, the Hobywing Justock)

Will add more detail here in future and include links to Mini Masters The Series regulations.

Which Batteries Should I Buy?

If running Brushless, as mentioned above, you’ll want a 2S Lipo with about 4,000mah of capacity – this will be a “shorty hard case Lipo battery”

Which Steering Servo Should I Buy?

With many of the manufacturers now offering a “front mounted servo” option (with an optional extra bracket) the servo choices and costs have reduced to £10 or even less – with premium brands like Savox offering mini servos for no more than £17

I’ll link to some specific products in an update to this post

Which Tyres Should I Buy?

Some Contact Control Tyres for “Supastox” will be absolutely fine (and cost effective) for getting started. Don’t bulk buy, get started, destroy a couple of sets – then start thinking about fine tuning performance is my advice.

Any more questions?

Comment below