Mini 4WD Racing at the Winter Show

in the Kids Zone at this years Waikato Winter Show is the Tamiya Mini 4WD race track, sponsored by the Frankton Model Shop. This track is purpose built to race the super fast Tamiya Mini 4WD race cars.

Buy the race car for $20 (2 x AA batteries required extra to cost of race car) at the track in the Kidz Zone at Brooklyn Court. Assemble it (snaps together with no paint or glue needed - takes about 15 minutes to build) and race it on our wicked track.

Children of all ages (with the assistance of an adult if a bit young) can purchase, assemble and race these amazing little cars and become part of a global hobby phenomenon

History

Mini 4WD was first created by the Japanese company Tamiya in 1982 as a powered variant of common plastic automobile model kits. Since then racing and tuning up mini 4WD cars have become a hobby for people across the world.

To feed on the high popularity of the cars, Tamiya commissioned Shogakukan, a Japanese publishing company, to produce two anime TV series based on the Mini 4WD cars: Dash! Yonkuro in 1989] by Zaurus Tokuda, Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go in 1996, Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go WGP, Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go MAX, and finally Let's & Go!! Tamiya, The Movie.

The latest Tamiya Mini 4WD model is the "Mini 4WD Pro", introduced in 2005. This is the fastest Mini 4WD product available out of the box, due to its super-efficient, completely redesigned internal layouts: polycarbonate body, double-shaft motor in the center, and the batteries on either side of the motor to allow low and balanced center of gravity.

Mini 4WD Assembly

Mini 4WD can be purchased at the Waikato Winter Show or from the Frankton Model Shop.  The race cars clip together without using any glue. The race car can be completed to a ready to race stage within 20 minutes. A wide variety of Tamiya Mini 4WD racers will be available for purchase and racing at the Waikato Winter Show. The car can is powered by AA batteries, including rechargeable batteries. Batteries will be available at the Frankton Model Shop track at the Winter Show.

The Mini 4WD body frame has a frontal bumper extending sideways to hold the rollers for the tracks. An optional plastic bumper for the rollers comes for the rear of the body. For 4WD (four-wheel drive), traditional models conjoin the front and back wheels with an aluminum rod; as for the Mini 4WD PRO series, the motor located in the center of the body powers both the front and back wheels. The assembly package should comes with grease for the gears. Mini 4WD's remain the same look as the larger radio control models of the same series. They have a plastic body, which attaches with a lock at the back of the car. Different Mini 4WD cars have differing aerodynamic wings on the plastic covers that create improved down force and stability.

The better you build your race car the faster it will go. The racing on the three lane Tamiya track will determine who builds them best.